The Town of Collingwood is marking YIMBY Week 2026 by shining a light on local efforts to tackle the affordable housing shortage, with officials and volunteers rallying residents to say “yes in my backyard” to new housing solutions. The week-long campaign, which runs from May 25 to 31 across Simcoe County, saw the town’s Affordable Housing Task Force pose for a photo alongside staff and elected officials, encouraging neighbours to learn about and join the push for more inclusive neighbourhoods.
“It’s about breaking down the barriers that stop good projects from being built,” said Jack Vanderkooy, chair of the task force, during a flag raising ceremony on Monday. He noted growing community support for the YIMBY movement, which stands in contrast to NIMBYism, the “not in my backyard” opposition that often stalls housing developments.
The campaign is led by Redwood Park Communities, a Barrie-based charitable organization founded in 2009 by Tim and Rhonda Kent. Redwood started the YIMBY movement locally in 2019, and it has since grown to include proclamations from Collingwood, Orillia, Midland, Tay, and Clearview this year.
Collingwood’s own housing crunch underscores the urgency. According to the task force, the town is short at least 1,300 affordable homes, with average rents sitting around $2,200 a month across all types of units. Many households spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing, and some live in substandard conditions.
As part of YIMBY Week, the task force is hosting a community conversation today called “Land with Purpose: Affordable Housing Opportunities for Faith & Community Organizations.” The event aims to connect faith groups and nonprofits with practical ways to help address the gap.
Collingwood has already been recognized for its housing innovations. Its Affordable Housing Master Plan, approved by council in October 2023 with 27 recommendations, led to programs like the Rapid Additional Residential Unit initiative. Since 2023, that program has issued over 70 building permits and provided more than $280,000 in grants, winning the Peter J. Marshall Municipal Innovation Award in 2025.
