Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate. What if the global geopolitical churn is actually creating opportunities to realign your portfolio?
In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, powered by First National, hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk are joined by Vlad Volodarski, CEO of Chartwell Retirement Residences, to discuss the massive demographic shift transforming Canada’s seniors housing sector. Vlad explains why the country faces a critical shortage of retirement living supply as the 80+ population accelerates over the next two decades. The conversation explores how operators are redefining seniors housing as a lifestyle-driven experience rather than a care-focused necessity, drawing lessons from Quebec’s successful retirement living model.
They also discuss the operational impact of the pandemic, the challenges posed by construction costs and regulation, and why Chartwell exited long-term care to focus on scalable retirement communities. The episode offers valuable insights for investors, developers, and anyone tracking the future of Canadian real estate.
What you will learn:
- Why Canada needs to build 200,000 seniors housing units in the next decade
- How to reposition seniors housing from a “last resort” to an aspirational lifestyle choice
- The Quebec advantage
- Why long-term care and retirement living don’t mix operationally
- The demographic math behind 20+ years of sustained growth
- How pandemic-era operational lessons are now embedded into Chartwell’s growth strategy
Vlad Volodarski is the CEO and Corporate Director of Chartwell Retirement Residences, Canada’s largest and most prominent seniors housing operator, with over two decades of leadership experience in the retirement living sector. Vlad has a background in mechanical engineering and accounting. He has navigated the evolution of seniors housing from a fragmented sector to a specialized, high-growth industry, serving as CFO, Chief Investment Officer, and ultimately CEO, a role he assumed in March 2020 during the pandemic.
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