From Young Professional to Urban Leader: Sarah Button’s Journey 

When Sarah Button joined the Rooftops Canada Young Professionals program in 2007, she came with an architecture background but little exposure to the housing sector. That quickly changed. 

Her onboarding in Ottawa gave her a strong introduction to co-op housing, and her placement in the Philippines immersed her in a transitional moment for the local co-op movement. While housing co-ops were still emerging, Sarah observed innovative models and even extended her internship to nearly a year. Beyond her host organisation, she visited housing developments, engaged in public education, built lasting friendships, and connected with a UN-Habitat planner, an encounter that sparked her future career in urban planning. 

Today, Sarah is the Executive Director of Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC), one of Canada’s largest non-profit housing providers with 1,700 units for 3,000 residents and ambitious plans for expansion. She credits her Rooftops experience with launching her housing career:

“Without that internship, I don’t know that I would have ended up in housing. It made me realize there was something I could do with my background that felt values-aligned, important, and urgent.” 

Sarah’s career and leadership continue to reflect the lessons she learned abroad: advocating for herself, valuing inclusion, and applying a global lens to local challenges.  And today, her organisation, CCOC, is not only a leader in affordable housing but also a proud Rooftops Canada donor, keeping the connection strong. 

Sarah’s story embodies what Urban October is all about: building inclusive, sustainable cities where housing is a right and communities can thrive.