In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam connect with Meggen Janes, Executive Director of the Canadian Brownfield Network and the principal at Geosyntec. Join them as they discuss the growing importance of addressing environmental contamination in commercial real estate. Meggen shares her insights on brownfield redevelopment, the challenges of navigating environmental permits, and the need for streamlined processes. The episode also highlights success stories and the lack of financial incentives for brownfield development in Canada compared to Europe and the US.

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to the episode and guest
• Importance of addressing environmental contamination in Canada
• Meggen’s background and experience in the industry
• Role of the Canadian Brownfields Network in reclaiming brownfield land
• Barriers to brownfield redevelopment
• Streamlining the approval process and aligning interests
• Off-site liability and risk mitigation
• Success stories of brownfield redevelopment in Toronto
• Lack of financial incentives and government support

More about our guest…

Meggen has worked in the Canadian brownfields sector for more than 25 years. Prior to joining Geosyntec in 2021, she was the Director of Soil and Groundwater Management and Brownfield Approvals at Waterfront Toronto. She spent six years on the CBN Board of Directors before being named executive director. She served the Board in a number of roles, including the past four years as the co-chair of the conference committee.

In her own words: “I’m enthusiastic for this new challenge, which allows me to continue engagement with my friends and colleagues in the Canadian Brownfields Network.” “Tammy has created a strong foundation for this organisation, and I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to further CBN’s expansion, enhance the membership value, and introduce new programming to reach both our long-standing and new members across the entire breadth of our country.”

Episode Resources

• Meggen Janes on LinkedIn
• Canadian Brownfield Network Website
•  Geosyntec Website
• Aaron Cameron on LinkedIn
• Adam Powadiuk on LinkedIn 
• First National Website

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On this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Adam Powadiuk and Aaron Cameron speak with Craig Beattie, Founding Partner and CEO of Perimeter Development Corporation.

Topics covered include:

• Perimeter’s strategic approach to urban development and a commitment to fostering community growth
• The transformation of Kitchener’s old automotive plant into Google’s largest Canadian office
• The adaptive reuse projects and their impact on the local real estate market

More about our guest…

Craig heads the Perimeter team, guiding them through all phases of development from initial acquisition to the completion of award-winning projects. With over twenty-five years in the industry, he recently held increasingly senior roles in leasing and development at First Gulf Corporation.

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Episode Resources:

• Craig Beattie on LinkedIn
• Perimeter Development Corporation Website

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam connect with Kalen Anderson, CEO at UDI Edmonton Metro, the unified voice and expert resource for the real estate development industry in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. Kalen discusses her urban planning background, her role at UDI, and her passion for housing. She highlights UDI’s advocacy for the real estate industry and its collaboration with municipal regulators. The conversation covers Edmonton’s growth, downtown revitalization, and Kalen’s vision for the city’s future, emphasizing the importance of a pro-business environment and attracting investment.

Topics covered include:

• Kalen Discusses her Background in Real Estate
• UDI’s Mandate and Importance in Urban Planning
• Transitioning from City Planner to UDI’s CEO
• Growth and Development of Edmonton
• Overcoming Challenges of Resistance to Development and Rezoning 
• Downtown Revitalization Challenges
• Kalen’s Vision for Edmonton’s Future

More about our guest…

Kalen Anderson is a registered professional planner with a personal and professional commitment to building sustainable partnerships with communities, cities, and city regions. She is the Chief Executive Officer for the Urban Development Institute – Edmonton Metro and previously served as Vice President of Capital Planning and Chief Planner with the National Capital Commission in Ottawa, as well as a Planning Director and senior leader at the City of Edmonton for over a decade. 

She is a collaborative decision-making, successful relationship-builder, and strategic communications expert. A passionate and dedicated city-builder, Kalen’s leadership is founded on a broad understanding of urban and regional policy, economic development, and community engagement to support growth and change.

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam connect with Denis Jones, President and CEO of the Deveraux Group of Companies. Join them as they delve into the fascinating world of commercial real estate. Denis, the President and CEO of Deveraux Group, shares his unique journey from being a doctor to becoming a successful real estate investor and developer. Discover how Deveraux Group has grown to be a major player in the rental market, with thousands of units in its portfolio and exciting development plans. Get insights into the challenges and opportunities in the market, financing strategies, and future expansion plans. Don’t miss out on this engaging conversation.

Topics covered include:

• Dennis’ Real Estate Journey
• Business Expansion with a portfolio of 5,500 units and 3,700 in the pipeline
• Rental Market Challenges and Opportunities
• Designing Amenities for Rental Properties
• Financing Strategies for New Projects
• Future Plans and Expansion
• Optimism for the Rental Market 
• Importance of a Diversified Growth Strategy

More about our guest…

With over 23 years of work experience, Denis remains a passionate and visionary leader in the construction and management of multi-family apartment complexes. His mission is to create and deliver quality, sustainable, and affordable housing solutions for diverse communities across Western Canada. As the President and CEO of the Deveraux Group of Companies, he leverages his medical background, business acumen, and real estate expertise to drive innovation, growth, and performance for the group and its investors.

Denis has been leading the Deveraux Group of Companies since 2008. The business is a diversified group of companies involved in the construction and management of apartment communities. Through the Auctus property income fund, Denis has enabled accredited investors to participate in the group’s projects and benefit from the steady income and capital appreciation of the properties. He has also overseen the development and execution of new business strategies, leases, contracts, and partnerships, as well as the management of operations, finance, and human resources. He has successfully expanded the group’s portfolio, market share, and reputation in the industry while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam connect with Donna Monkhouse, Executive Director of the Alberta Residential Landlord Association (ALRA). Donna discusses her real estate background, ARLA’s mission to educate and advocate for landlords, and the range of services ARLA provides, such as training and resources. 

They explore the negative perception of landlords, rental rate affordability in Alberta, and the potential impact of rent controls. Donna highlights the challenges faced by small landlords and the importance of education and communication for a balanced rental market. The conversation concludes with thoughts on Alberta’s rental market future and affordable housing needs.

Topics covered include:

• ARLA’s mandate and services
• Perception of landlords in the media and public
• Affordability of rental rates in Alberta
• Efficiency of the rental dispute resolution system
• Risks of rent control and increased regulations
• Challenges faced by small landlords
• Importance of educating landlords and tenants
• Future of the rental market in Alberta

More about our guest…

Donna has over 25 years of experience in commercial and residential real estate. She is a Property Manager with vast experience in residential, commercial, industrial, and condominium real estate assets. She is experienced in day-to-day operations and effective team management. She is a self-starter and ensures projects are expedited efficiently and effectively. She understands the value of goals and objectives and ensures they can be met or makes the necessary changes to meet them. Donna has excellent communication and people skills, which are essential to any organization. She is an exceptional problem solver, decision-maker, and detail-oriented.

Episode Resources:

• Donna Monkhouse on LinkedIn
• ALRA Website
• Aaron Cameron on LinkedIn
• Adam Powadiuk on LinkedIn 
• First National Website

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam connect with Trevor Casey, Development Manager at Nch’ḵaỷ Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Squamish Nation. Trevor discusses his work with the Squamish Nation, highlighting their economic development goals and recent equity partnership in real estate projects. He details the SNO development, a significant project involving 11 towers and 6,000 units, which emphasizes reducing vehicle dependency and improving transit. Trevor notes challenges like environmental contamination but praises the support from Vancouver and Westbank Development Corporation. He also mentions the Squamish Nation’s future land use planning and expresses pride in the SNO project’s impact.

Topics covered include:

• Trevor explains the role of Nch’ḵaỷ Development Corporation
• Discussion on the historical involvement of First Nations in real estate development
• Trevor discusses First Nations’ decade-long development partnerships in Vancouver
• Background on the SNO development
• The community engagement aspect of the SNO projects
• The collaboration with Westbank Development Corporation

More about our guest…

Trevor Casey is the Development Manager at Nch’ḵaỷ Development Corporation, with over ten years of experience in the real estate business in Canada. Nch’ḵaỷ Development Corporation was set up in 2018 to develop and manage the nation’s business. Together, we will show leadership, demonstrating to the world how Indigenous Peoples are influencing Canada positively, as much as Canada has had a profound impact on Indigenous Peoples. 

The Squamish Nation consists of 23 villages and is comprised of descendants of the Coast Salish Aboriginal people who lived in the present-day Greater Vancouver area, Gibson’s Landing, and the Squamish River watershed. The Squamish Nation has occupied and governed the territory since before recorded history. Its culture is rich and resilient.

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Sheila Botting, Principal and President of Americas Professional Services at Avison Young. Join us as we discuss the challenges of housing affordability in Canada and the current state of the office market. We explore potential solutions, such as converting older office buildings into residential units, and discuss the impact of remote work on office space requirements. 

Sheila shares her experiences and insights on creating a hybrid work model and designing office spaces for collaboration, professional development, and employee well-being. Don’t miss this engaging conversation on the future of housing and office spaces!

Topics covered include:

• Introduction of Sheila Botting and her background in CRE in North America
• Canada’s housing affordability challenge and the supply-demand imbalance in Toronto
• Sheila suggests converting older office buildings into residential units
• The impact of remote work on office space requirements
• Importance of designing office spaces to accommodate different work styles and roles
• Sheila discusses the future of the office market
• Sheila’s experience with a flexible working model
• Emphasis on creativity and innovation in the commercial real estate industry

More about our guest…

Over her 36-year career in North American real estate, Sheila Botting has deservedly earned the moniker of a “go-to” commercial real estate advisor. She is currently a member of Avison Young’s Global Real Estate Executive. Throughout her executive real estate career, Sheila has led several multidisciplinary real estate teams and assignments across the industry with owners, investors, and corporate occupiers alike.

At Avison, her mandate is accelerating growth across the Americas for the company’s professional services platform, including corporate real estate, consulting, project management, valuation, and real estate and infrastructure advisory. The firm’s recent integration of GVA in Europe provides a substantive platform to accelerate America’s growth and marketplace opportunity.

Before Avison Young, Sheila was a Senior Partner and Canadian Real Estate Leader with Deloitte LLP and President of Deloitte Real Estate Inc. In this role, she led many substantive assignments worldwide across both public and private sectors, including Deloitte’s corporate real estate strategy and implementation program across Canada. This transformative workplace opportunity redeveloped the firm’s occupier portfolio of some 2 million with major developments at Toronto’s Bay Adelaide East Tower, Montreal’s Deloitte Tower, and others across the country. 

Her vision and expertise helped Deloitte transform its “Workplace of the Future,” resulting in significant workplace improvements, productivity gains, and cost savings, along with creating a prototype “Smart Building/Workplace.” In 2016, Toronto Life named Deloitte Tower Toronto the “best new office workplace.” Before Deloitte, Sheila was Executive Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield, a leading full-service professional firm and a global partner. Sheila led the Canadian professional services operation, including real estate valuation and advisory services for the industry’s most prominent investors, owners, and corporate occupiers. 

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview John Baird, a retired politician and the ex-foreign Minister of Canada. John is currently a senior advisor at Bennett Jones and Eurasia Group. Join us as we delve into John’s career in politics, discussing his inspiration, challenges, and thoughts on the current state of the Canadian economy. John shares his concerns about low productivity, lack of innovation, and high debt levels, as well as his views on Canada’s relationship with the US and other countries. Don’t miss John’s insights and priorities for the next Canadian government.

Topics covered include:

• John’s interest in politics and career choice
• Concerns about the Canadian economy
• Challenges in the housing market
• Canada’s relationship with the US and other countries
• Top priorities for the next Canadian government

More about our guest…

John Baird is a Senior Advisor to various enterprises and a former Senior Cabinet Minister in the Government of Canada. An instrumental figure in bilateral trade and investment relationships, Mr. Baird has played a leading role in the Canada-China dialogue and worked to build ties with ASEAN countries.  In addition, Mr. Baird has worked closely with international leaders to strengthen security and economic relations with the United States and Middle Eastern countries.

A native of Ottawa, Baird spent three terms as a Member of Parliament and four years as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as President of the Treasury Board, Minister of the Environment, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, and Member of the Canadian Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean. Before entering federal politics, Mr. Baird spent ten years in the Ontario Legislature, where he served as Minister of Community and Social Services, Minister of Energy, and Government House Leader.

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Randy Gladman, Senior Vice President, National Lead, and Development Advisory at Colliers. Join us as we discuss the challenges and opportunities in real estate development. We cover the need for more affordable housing in Toronto and Vancouver, the difficulties developers face in getting projects approved, and the negative perception of developers. Discover how collaboration between developers and the Government can help address the affordability crisis and meet the rising demand for affordable housing.

Topics covered include:

• Development Challenges in Toronto and Vancouver
• The gap between Supply and Demand of Affordable Housing
• Difficulties in Getting Projects Approved
• The Need for Greater Collaboration between Developers and Governments
• Tackling the Negative Perception of Developers
• The Role of Developers in Building Cities
• Addressing the Affordability Crisis with Collaboration and Support
• The Impact of NIMBYism (Not in My Backyard) on Development
• Effect of Elections on Development Policies

More about our guest…

Randy has more than 17 years of experience in commercial real estate development, leading projects from initial acquisition through the design, approval, site servicing, construction, and disposition processes. In every project he undertakes, Randy focuses on ensuring project objectives are met in conformity with the client’s strategic goals, thereby building a successful client relationship throughout the project lifecycle. Throughout his career, Randy has assembled and managed development design and approval teams of external consultants, including civil engineers, planners, architects, surveyors, and lawyers. 

To ensure projects proceed to construction, he is skilled in pursuing required entitlements, including official plan amendments, rezoning, site plan approvals, minor variances, and building permits. Additionally, Randy has earned a reputation in the industry for fostering strong relationships with municipal staff, community stakeholders, and politicians to expedite project approvals.

Randy is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the International Council of Shopping Centres, and the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association. He has also authored articles about architecture, urban development, and the future of transportation. He earned his MBA at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management in 2006, where he first discovered his passion for land development.

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Sarah Segal, CEO of simplydbs, a company that empowers CRE decision-makers with resident and user data. The company is a trusted third-party feedback platform for commercial real estate. 

Join us as Sarah explains how their products, such as “Shape Your Space,” improve property operations and amenities through resident feedback. She also highlights the positive impact of customer feedback on improving satisfaction and discusses the importance of educating residents about new technology like Wi-Fi thermostats. Overall, the conversation delves into innovative solutions and the value of data analysis in the real estate industry.

Topics covered include:

• Introduction and Background of Sarah
• simplydbs’s Data Collection and Insights
• simplydbs’s  product portfolio for CRE developers
• Value and Benefits of simplydbs Products
• Implementation for Developers
• Implementation for Small Property Owners
• Impact of Customer Feedback on Customer Satisfaction
• Educating Residents on Technology
• Sarah’s Perspective on Creating Value in Real Estate

More about our guest…

With over 20 years of experience in the Canadian and Global CRE markets, Sarah has successfully created an extensive network within all industry sectors. She has a strong background in sourcing, executing, and closing complex international and domestic real estate transactions and a history of creating new revenue streams and divisions within organizations. 

Sarah’s transactional industry experience includes client and deal origination, brokerage, property, debt, and equity sourcing. She is adept at setting up teams and oversight, client relationship management, property/portfolio strategy analysis, consulting, asset underwriting, financial analysis, and due diligence. Her organizational expansion experience includes creating new revenue divisions, developing and revising sales strategy, and creating new or shifting existing assets to scale. 

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