Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk sit down with Carolyn Parrish, Mayor of Mississauga, to explore bold policy solutions to Canada’s housing crisis. Mayor Parrish shares how her city is driving development through innovative incentives like deferred development charges, streamlined approvals, and long-term tax reductions for rental apartments. She also addresses strategies for overcoming NIMBYism, encouraging family-sized units, and simplifying zoning to accelerate growth. Packed with practical insights, this conversation highlights how municipalities and developers can collaborate to increase housing supply, improve affordability, and build more sustainable urban communities.

What you will learn:

Carolyn Parrish is the Mayor of Mississauga, bringing extensive public service experience from her roles as both a municipal councillor and former Member of Parliament under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. With 13 years of experience as a city councillor, she has emerged as a pioneering voice in addressing Canada’s housing crisis through innovative municipal policy reform. In this episode, Mayor Parrish discusses her transformative approach to housing development, including the implementation of development charge deferrals, streamlined approval processes, and strategic incentives for builders. Her administration’s successful initiatives have resulted in processing over 14,000 housing applications, representing a dramatic increase from previous years, and establishing Mississauga as a model for municipal housing policy reform. 

The post Fixing Housing Affordability: Mayor Carolyn Parrish on Mississauga’s Bold Strategy appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

Recorded live on the sidelines of the Southwest Ontario Real Estate Forum, in this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk welcome Ryan Mounsey, CEO of Urban Insights, to discuss his National Housing Acceleration Blueprint, a data-driven strategy to create 3.5 million homes in Canada by 2031. They unpack the three pillars of the plan: boosting housing supply, securing funding, and speeding up delivery. From converting retail centres and leveraging government land to modular construction and streamlined approvals, Ryan shares practical and actionable solutions that can be implemented simultaneously to address the housing crisis. 

What you will learn:

Ryan Mounsey, CEO of Urban Insights, is a leading expert in urban planning, economic development, and affordable housing. With over 25 years in public and private sectors, including senior roles in Kitchener and Waterloo, he has managed landmark projects like the Barrelyards, CIGI Campus, and School of Pharmacy. Holding a master’s in urban design from U of T, Ryan authored the National Housing Acceleration Blueprint, offering innovative, data-driven strategies to build 3.5 million Canadian homes by 2031 through supply, funding, and speed initiatives.

The post The Blueprint for Building 3.5 Million Canadian Homes by 2031 with Ryan Mounsey, CEO of Urban Insights appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

Recorded live on the sidelines of the Southwest Ontario Real Estate Forum, this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast has hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk welcoming Kelsey Boland, Senior Director of Investments at Fitzrovia, to discuss his company’s bold move into purpose-built student housing. Kelsey outlines how Fitzrovia is redefining the student rental experience with amenity-rich, fully furnished units designed for year-round living. 

He explains the strategy behind the Waverly brand, the decision to prioritise entertainment districts over campus proximity, and why institutional-grade student housing is a major growth opportunity in markets like London, Kingston, and potentially Quebec. Discover how Fitzrovia is raising the bar for student living in Canada.

What you will learn:

Kelsey Boland is the Senior Director of Investments at Fitzrovia, specializing in student housing and multi-residential development. With a background in asset management and real estate investment, including notable roles at Slate Asset Management and CI Financial, he brings extensive experience in portfolio management and strategic acquisitions. His career highlights include managing over $1.14 billion in office assets across Canada and transitioning into the purpose-built student housing sector. At Fitzrovia, Kelsey leads the company’s expansion into institutional student-oriented housing developments across Southern Ontario markets, focusing on creating premium, amenity-rich residential experiences in key university cities like London, Kingston, and Guelph. 

The post From Dorms to Destination Living: The Student Housing Shift with Kelsey Boland, Senior Director of Investment at Fitzrovia appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

Recorded live on the sidelines of the Southwest Ontario Real Estate Forum, this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast has hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk welcoming Mike Bradley, the long-serving Mayor of Sarnia, Ontario. With 38 years in office, Mayor Bradley shares deep insights into the evolution of Sarnia, from a petrochemical stronghold to a clean energy hub, while maintaining a debt-free city. The conversation explores the real estate implications of cross-border tensions, strategies for sustainable growth, and the critical role of public-private partnerships. A must-listen for anyone navigating development in border cities or interested in resilient municipal leadership.

What you will learn:

Mike Bradley is the long-serving Mayor of Sarnia, Ontario, with an impressive 38-year tenure spanning 11 elections. With a unique background that includes holding a real estate license and previous experience at REMAX, Mayor Bradley brings valuable insights into both municipal leadership and property development. Under his leadership, Sarnia has transformed from a traditional petrochemical hub into Canada’s green energy center, embracing renewable energy initiatives while maintaining its crucial role in the national economy. Notable achievements include guiding Sarnia to become one of Canada’s few debt-free cities, leading housing development initiatives in Southwestern Ontario, and fostering innovative partnerships between business and labor sectors.

The post Real Estate Resilience in a Border City with Mayor Mike Bradley, City of Sarnia appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

Recorded live at the Southwestern Ontario Real Estate Forum, in this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk chat with Ted Davis, COO at Avison Young, about the evolving landscape of Canadian commercial real estate. Ted shares insights on current market corrections, the importance of price discovery, and why Southwestern Ontario is now a core market. They delve into the impact of technology and data on the brokerage business, discussing how information commoditisation and the rise of alternative assets are reshaping client expectations and service delivery. A must-listen for anyone looking to understand the future trajectory of Canadian CRE.

Long Summary

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

Recorded live at the Southwestern Ontario Real Estate Forum, in this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk chat with Ted Davis, COO at Avison Young. Ted, with his expanded Canadian purview, offers a candid look at the current state of commercial real estate. He discusses why the market is undergoing a correction, highlighting the crucial need for price discovery through increased transactions. Ted explains how Southwestern Ontario has transformed into a core market, driven by population growth, logistics, and affordability.

The conversation then pivots to the future of the industry, challenging the traditional “hockey stick” growth model and suggesting a period of more modest, flat stability in the next cycle, influenced by interest rates and construction costs. Ted details how the brokerage business, being transaction-based, will adapt by focusing on enhanced data, guidance, and advisory services. They explore the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous vehicles on urban planning and asset utility (e.g., downtown parking). The discussion also touches upon the increasing institutional investment in alternative assets like real estate and the need for greater data sophistication and regulatory oversight (like ESG reporting in Europe) to meet evolving investor expectations.

What you will learn:

Ted Davis is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Avison Young, a global commercial real estate services firm. With over twenty years of experience in the business, Ted oversees operations across Canada, giving him a unique perspective on national real estate patterns and strategies. His expertise spans various service lines including valuation, project management, consulting, property management, brokerage, and debt. Ted is a strong advocate for process-driven management and leveraging technology to enhance client services in a rapidly evolving industry.

The post Navigating Cycles, Price Discovery & Future Growth with Ted Davis, COO of Avison Young appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

Recorded live at the Toronto Land Development Forum, in this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast,  Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk welcome Ben Rogowski, COO at Canderel Group, for an honest look at the turbulent landscape of Canadian condo development. Rogowski unpacks why current economics don’t support new builds, even with free land, and how high deposit requirements, construction costs, and slower closings are reshaping the market. He shares how experienced developers are shifting from condo to rental projects, why patience and partnerships are critical, and the role the government might play in the future. It’s a must-listen for anyone navigating or investing in Canadian real estate today.

What you will learn:

Ben Rogowski is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Canderel, a leading Canadian real estate development and management company celebrating its 50th anniversary. With extensive experience across commercial and residential real estate sectors, he oversees business strategy and development operations across seven major Canadian markets. Ben brings valuable insights into current market challenges and opportunities, particularly in navigating the complexities of residential development in challenging economic conditions. His expertise spans property management, asset management, and development, overseeing a portfolio of over 20 million square feet of commercial space and 20,000 residential doors.

The post From Condos to Rentals: Adapting Real Estate Strategies with Ben Rogowski, COO at Canderel Group appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, recorded live at the Land and Development Conference in Toronto, hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk sit down with Brian Salpeter, Executive Vice President of Development at Cadillac Fairview. Brian shares his unique journey from lawyer to developer and how CF has evolved from its 1994 restructuring to become Canada’s premier real estate platform with $29 billion in assets under management.

The conversation covers CF’s strategic approach to portfolio balancing, moving beyond their traditional retail and office focus to embrace multifamily and industrial development. Brian discusses the challenges and opportunities in retail transformation, including how CF is reimagining former department store spaces and creating mixed-use communities around their shopping centers.

Topics we discuss:

Brian Salpeter is the Executive Vice President of Development at Cadillac Fairview, bringing over 30 years of experience in real estate and law. He began his career as a lawyer in Montreal in 1994, where his first client was Cadillac Fairview during its CCAA restructuring. After 20 years in legal practice, he joined CF in 2015 as Senior VP Development, working on projects across Eastern Canada before taking on national development responsibilities in 2024.

The post Retail Evolution, Office Markets, and Development Timing with Brian Salpeter, Vice President of Development at Cadillac Fairview appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

Recorded live at the Toronto Land Development Forum, in this episode of the  Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk sit down with Ryan Zizzo, Founder and CEO of Mantle Developments, to explore actionable strategies for sustainable construction in Canada. From mass timber and modular housing to innovative low-carbon materials, Ryan offers insights into future-proofing developments while boosting profitability. The conversation covers financing green building projects, aligning with European sustainability standards, and leveraging new programs like CMHC’s modular mortgage insurance. Whether you’re a developer, investor, or policymaker, this episode delivers practical guidance on transforming sustainability from a buzzword into measurable, climate-resilient outcomes in real estate.

What you will learn:

Ryan Zizzo is the Founder and CEO of Mantle Developments, with over 15 years of experience in sustainability, embodied carbon, life cycle assessment, and climate resilience. A 2024 Canada’s Clean50 Award winner, Ryan has shaped embodied-carbon regulation in Canadian construction. He has taught graduate courses at Toronto Metropolitan University and Finland’s Metropolia University, and is committed to advancing net-zero, climate-resilient infrastructure. His work bridges industry and academia to deliver future-proof, low-carbon development solutions that go beyond energy efficiency.

The post Modular, Mass Timber and the Low-Carbon Future of Construction, with Ryan Zizzo, Founder and CEO of Mantle Developments appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

Recorded live at the Toronto Land Development Forum, on this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast,  Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk welcome Jim Ritchie, President of Tridel Group of Companies and President and CEO of Deltera. Together, they explore the evolution of Toronto’s condo market. Jim shares lessons from Tridel’s 90-year history, including brand-building, project viability in a high-cost environment, and adapting to market shifts. From investor-driven booms to today’s end-user focus, he discusses why customer experience and strategic risk management are essential for long-term success. Listeners gain a behind-the-scenes look at how a leading developer is navigating today’s complex real estate landscape.

What you will learn:

Jim Ritchie is the President of Tridel Group of Companies, one of Canada’s most respected condominium developers with a 90-year legacy in residential construction. With over four decades of experience at Tridel, Jim has worked across multiple departments and helped oversee the company’s growth to delivering approximately 90,000 homes throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Under his leadership, Tridel has maintained its reputation as a premium developer known for customer care excellence and quality construction.

The post Toronto’s Condo Evolution Through the Eyes of Jim Ritchie, President of Tridel appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the CRE podcast. 100% Canadian, 100% commercial real estate.

In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, recorded live on the sidelines of the Land and Development Conference in Toronto, hosts  Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk sit down with Nadine Leblanc, SVP Housing Policy and Programs at CMHC. Nadine shares how CMHC evolved from its post-war roots into a key player in today’s housing market. They discuss changes to the MLI Select program, the role of modular construction, and innovative financing tools aimed at solving Canada’s housing crisis. A must-listen for anyone involved in housing, lending, or development.

Topics we discuss:

Nadine Leblanc is the Senior Vice President Housing Policy and Programs at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), bringing nearly two decades of experience in housing finance and policy development. With a background in financial auditing and risk management, she has held several executive positions at CMHC, including Chief Audit Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Risk Officer during the pandemic.

The post Innovating Housing Finance: What’s Next for CMHC with Nadine Leblanc, SVP Housing Policy and Programs at CMHC appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.