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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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Matt Young, President and CEO of Republic Developments, a Toronto-based city builder focused on creating transformative communities that enrich the lives of those who live, work, and play together. 

Join us as we discuss Matt’s journey in commercial real estate, his decision to start his own company, and the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt shares his experiences with the city planning process and stresses the importance of presenting a clear vision for a project for quick approvals. The conversation also touches on financing and capital raising for new real estate projects and the impact of interest rates on the real estate market, particularly the condo sector. Matt highlights the need for various amenities and attractions to draw people to a community.

Topics covered include:

• Matt Young’s Journey in Commercial Real Estate
• Building Industry Experience
• Starting Republic Developments
• The Nuts and Bolts of Developing a Large-Scale Project
• Negotiating City Planning and Raising Capital for Projects
• Impact of Interest Rates on the Real Estate Market and Condos
• Strategies for Creating Vibrant Communities
• Incorporating Psychology and Sociology in Design
• The need for Design Flexibility and Incorporating  Technology in New Projects

More about our guest…

Matt founded Republic in 2019 after a 10-year career helping to grow some of Canada’s largest development firms. Matt is responsible for the oversight and management of Republic and remains focused on project development, acquisitions, human resources, and capital-raising activities.

With 14 years of experience in the real estate development industry, Matt has built a track record of executional excellence, having managed the development of over 15,000 units to date representing approximately 12.2 million square feet and a development value of over 13.5 billion dollars.

Prior to founding Republic, Matt was VP of Development at Capital Developments, where he led all development activities for over seven years and helped grow the business from a start-up builder into one of Toronto’s preeminent development organisations.

Matt is an avid cyclist and the co-founder of UNC (United Nation of Cyclists), a cycling club and racing team dedicated to growing the sport by creating a more inclusive, diverse, and welcoming rider environment. He also sits on the real estate committee for the SHN Foundation, which supports the Love Scarborough campaign, and the fundraising committee for the Hold Em’ For Life charity challenge.

 

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Paul Chaput, Senior Vice President at Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a company specialising in commercial real estate investment and sales, capital markets, and market research.

Join us as we discuss the buyer-seller market in Alberta and Western Canada, including the impact of COVID-19, changing interest rates, and the influx of people moving to Alberta on demand and commercial real estate prices. We also delve into the differences between the Calgary and Edmonton markets, the profile of buyers and sellers in different markets, and the future of real estate in Western Canada. Don’t miss out on these valuable insights into the commercial real estate market in Alberta and Western Canada!

Topics covered include:

• A closer look at Institutional Property Advisors (IPA)
• The impact of COVID-19 and changing interest rates and fee structures by CMHC
• Impact of people moving to Alberta on real estate affordability 
• Differences between Calgary and Edmonton markets
• Profile of buyers and sellers in the market
• Development challenges, central infills, and high-density projects in Edmonton
• Availability of land and quick entitlement process in Calgary
• The future outlook for the Western Canadian market

 

More about our guest…

“We’re seeing an influx of people moving to Alberta, but it’s not because of an oil boom. It’s more about affordability factors and job opportunities. People can have a good quality of life here without breaking the bank.” Paul Chaput

Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Paul Chaput is a market leader in the disposition and acquisition of multifamily properties throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba provinces. Well-versed in all aspects of the multifamily market, Paul and his team have successfully transacted with developers, pension fund advisors, REITs, insurance companies, and high-net-worth private parties.

Before joining IPA, Paul worked for CBRE Limited and Avison Young. He received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. Paul is a well-regarded speaker and guest lecturer at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business and several Real Estate Forums. He is also a member of the Commercial Real Estate Advisory Committee, which advises the Real Estate Council of Alberta on the commercial aspects of the industry.

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Anne McMullin, President and CEO of the Urban Development Institute (UDI), a non-partisan and non-profit association for real estate advocacy to pave the way for tomorrow’s cities.

Topics covered include:

• Introduction and Background of Anne McMullin
• Purpose and Mission of UDI 
• Importance of Increasing Housing Supply in BC
• Recent Legislation and Progress
• Impact of Housing Crisis on Industrial and Commercial Real Estate
• Excitement about Upcoming Legislation and Collaboration

More about our guest…

“The most important thing for a Board is to look for people who have integrity, intelligence, experience, and a diversity of views.” Anne McMullin

Anne has more than 20 years of professional experience in communications, government relations, and public engagement. She is the President and CEO of the Urban Development Institute (UDI), an association of the real estate and building industry that creates communities, supports thousands of B.C. jobs and drives billions of dollars in economic activity. 

Over her 20-year career, Anne has worked as the President and General Manager of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, as a Director of Communications at what is now Port of Vancouver, and as the President of the BC Salmon Farmers’ Association. She was also a Reporter at 107.1 Mountain FM in Squamish and what is now Global TV in Vancouver.

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Emily Hanna, Managing Partner of Investments at Crown Realty Partners, an integrated investment and management firm for commercial real estate.

Topics covered include:

• Emily’s journey from a PhD in Economics to real estate 
• Adapting to changes: Placing ESG front and center
• The value and importance of investing in Infrastructure
• The impact of remote and hybrid models on commercial real estate

More about our guest…

Emily is Managing Partner, Investments at Crown Realty Partners, overseeing the firm’s capital raising and ESG functions. She works with the acquisitions, finance, and asset management teams to develop Crown’s responsible investment strategies. Emily is Chair of Crown’s ESG Committee and a voting member of Crown’s Investment Committee, which provides oversight and governance over the firm’s investment decisions.

An active member of the real estate community, Emily is a Past President of NAIOP of the Greater Toronto chapter and Toronto Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). She also served on the Ted Rogers School of Management Real Estate Advisory Council. Currently, Emily is also a member of the Investment Committee of St. Clement’s School.  

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Avtar Bains, President of Premise Properties.

Topics covered include:

• Starting in the real estate industry and falling in love with it
• Early career challenges
• Importance of relationships and value addition for clients
• Changing landscape of real estate ownership in Canada
• A decision to focus on a family real estate portfolio
• Investment strategy across different asset classes
• Importance of positive cash flow and market potential
• Predicting the next real estate cycle

More about our guest…

Avtar founded Premise Properties, a privately owned real estate investment and development company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2012. He is responsible for its overall business, including the origination and execution of long-term investment strategies and objectives.

Prior to establishing Premise Properties, Avtar spent over thirty years with Colliers International, most recently as Executive Vice President of the National Investment Team. During his tenure, Avtar represented clients with a particular focus on development and investment properties.

In addition to leading Premise Properties, Avtar currently holds four board positions with Morguard North American Residential REIT, Peterson, Primaris REIT, and UBC Properties Trust.

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