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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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Julian Schonfeldt, CIO at CAPREIT. 

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to Julian Schonfeldt 
• Discussion on CAPREIT’s data-driven investment approach
• Explanation of CAPREIT’s ESG commitment and its focus on energy-efficient buildings
• Exploring CAPREIT’s fiduciary and social obligations
• The concept of positive leverage and its relation to CAPREIT’s acquisition strategy
• The challenges of managing properties and reputation management

More about our guest…

Julian Schonfeldt joined CAPREIT in 2022 and is the Chief Investment Officer. He brings tremendous capital markets experience, having already been a trusted advisor to CAPREIT in his most recent role as Managing Director in the Real Estate Group at RBC Capital Markets. At RBC Capital Markets, Mr. Schonfeldt was responsible for equity and debt capital market transactions, mergers and acquisitions transactions, strategic advisory assignments, and the valuation of major assets and portfolios. 

Julian has raised over $15 billion of equity and debt capital and advised on over $10 billion of M&A transactions in the real estate industry. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Carleton University and holds his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), and US Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designations.

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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron and Adam interview Katie Maslechko, the CEO of the Rental Protection Fund. 

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to the Rental Protection Fund and its goals
• Funding and support for nonprofits and co-ops
• Early success and partnerships
• Potential federal government support
• Challenges with existing federal programs and the need for tailored solutions
• Benefits of engaging with a fund as a broker or vendor

More about our guest…

Katie is an award-winning real estate professional with a decade of senior leadership experience. She has an impressive track record of building strategic partnerships across the private development, non-profit, and government sectors to deliver innovative, community-building projects. As Director of Development for Vancouver-based real estate developer Beedie, she was at the helm of groundbreaking projects, including a unique public-private-philanthropic partnership to deliver affordable housing and childcare in the City of Burnaby. 

Katie also chairs the Urban Land Institute’s Public-Private Partnership Product Council, comprised of leaders in city-building from across North America in public, private, and quasi-public roles, who gather regularly to discuss innovative partnerships and best practices to spur equitable development and social impact in cities and communities. She previously served as a non-profit board director and on the Urban Development Institute’s Women of UDI Committee.

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On this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Adam Powadiuk and Aaron Cameron speak with David Ward, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Canadian Urban.

Topics covered include:

• How Canadian Urban manages $1.2 Billion and consistently ranks #1
• Why rental rates are set to skyrocket
• Overcoming today’s fundraising struggles and landing big investors
• How ESG became the main focus for real estate investment
• Where to find the best real estate opportunities in 2024

More about our guest…

David brings over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate to his role at Canadian Urban, where he oversees all of the company’s service offerings, including strategy asset management, performance analysis, leasing, acquisitions and dispositions, financing, and property management. David is a former President of Toronto NAIOP and served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of NAIOP Corporate in Washington, D.C.

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On this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Adam Powadiuk and Aaron Cameron speak with Andrew Joyner, Managing Director for Head of Multi-Family at Tricon Residential.

Topics covered include:

• The effects of interest rates on apartment buildings
• Challenges and opportunities for rental housing developers
• How to survive the housing market rollercoaster
• Rate cuts, liquidity, and the future of real estate

More about our guest…

Andrew leads Tricon Residential’s Canadian multi-family rental platform, where he designs and implements strategy, sources investment opportunities, and oversees teams responsible for development, construction, and asset management. Before joining Tricon in 2016, Andrew held senior roles at CPP Investments in Toronto, focusing on North American real estate investments, and at Hines in London, UK.

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On this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Adam Powadiuk and Aaron Cameron speak with Tony Irwin, Director and Interim President at the Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations (CFAA).

Topics covered include:

• How CFAA shapes the Canadian rental housing landscape
• Changing the perspective toward rental housing
• The long road to GST reforms and their impact on housing
• GST extensions and government grants
• Future housing policies and changes

More about our guest…

Tony is currently the President and CEO of the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO). Before joining CCFA, he held several senior roles in the financial services and insurance industries. From 2005 to 2009, Tony was the Executive Director of the Justin Eves Foundation, a non-profit organisation that provides scholarships and bursaries to young people with learning disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, Tony has played significant roles in politics, serving as a Senior Advisor to an Ontario Premier and Executive Assistant to the Leader of the Official Opposition.

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