Wednesday September 30 9:00 am to 12:30 pm PDT "Read on" for Day 1 Program
Introduction of Forum Chair: Tony Letvinchuk, Managing Director, Macdonald Commercial Forum Chair: Chuck We, Senior Vice President, Western Canada, Hudson Pacific Properties
Where is GDP, employment growth and other economic fundamentals heading for 2020 and beyond? How are B.C. and Vancouver performing within the context of the remainder of the country and other major cities? What impact are federal and provincial government policies having on B.C.’s economy? This presentation will offer insights and perspectives on these and other trends and key fundamentals across Canada. Speaker: Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC World Markets Inc.
Insights into the path of epidemiology and where the pandemic is likely heading. Will there be a second large wave in the Fall or Winter of 2020/2021 or will there more likely be a series of shorter, smaller trends? What should we expect? What implications will there be for the overall economy in the Lower Mainland? What are the prospects and timing for a vaccine? Insights from a leading health professional on where COVID-19 could be heading and what lies ahead as we look for the pandemic to come to an end.
Speaker: Dr. Patricia Daly, Vice President, Public Health & Chief Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health
The ongoing transformation of Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland continues in the face of rising land and construction costs combined with NIMBYism and increasingly impactful political policies. How are developers responding to these constraints and overcoming barriers to entry? To what extent do planning policies differ among the various municipalities in the GVRA? What strategies should municipalities consider for rezoning and development applications?
Moderator: Brian McCauley, President & Chief Executive Officer, Concert Properties Panel: Virginia Bird, Principal, Pottinger Bird Community Relations Rob Blackwell, Senior Vice President, Development, Anthem Properties Group Greg Moore, Interim President & CEO, BCLC, Former Mayor, City of Port Coquitlam
Concurrent Sessions (Select A1, A2 or A3)
The Vancouver industrial market vacant space is almost nonexistent. What is driving this insatiable demand? To what extent is trade and the Port playing a role? How sustainable is this tight market? How are developers creating innovative solutions in order to provide much needed product into this very tight market, e.g. construction has started on Canada’s first multi-level industrial building in Burnaby. Is multi-story becoming a viable option? How are industrial strata developments impacting the market? Given the cost of land, are secondary markets seeing an increase in industrial activity?
Moderator: Steve Brooke, Senior Vice President, CBRE Limited
Panel: Beth Berry, Vice President, Industrial Development, Beedie Kleo Landucci, Chief Commercial & Corporate Affairs Officer, Ashcroft Terminal, Member of the PSA Group Jeff Miller, Head of Industrial, Oxford Properties Group David Owen, Chief Operating Officer, Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust
REAL ESTATE FORUMS CLUB (REF Club)
Vacancy in Vancouver’s multi-residential market has continued to be well under 2% as it remains a source of relatively more affordable housing. However, provincial legislation capping rent increases at 2.5% and soaring property taxes have put upward pressure on owners with older buildings that need updating. How is Vancouver’s new Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy impacting the market? Combined with high land and construction costs, will purpose built rental still be feasible? Is condominium development a better alternative?
Moderator: Cynthia Jagger, Principal, Goodman Commercial Inc. Panel: Shenoor Jadavji, President, Lotus Capital Anthony Lanni, Executive Vice President, Residential, QuadReal Property Group Dan Sander, Director, Hollyburn Properties Wendy Waters, Vice President, Research Services & Strategy, GWL Realty Advisors
Given the strong investor sentiment in the Canadian and Vancouver markets, many opportunities have emerged for entrepreneurialism in the real estate industry. Who are they and what are they doing? They are experienced at being innovative, thinking “outside the box” at times, and accessing well priced capital. They are often privately-owned firms. While they do not dismiss risk, they often have the ability to see value and reward where many others do not. What have been the most significant challenges that they have had to endure? How do they see opportunities unfolding in the future?
Moderator: Michael Hungerford, Partner, Hungerford Properties Panel: Byron Chard, President & CEO, Chard Developments Renee Merrifield, Chief Executive Officer, Troika Management Corp. Jon Stovell, President, Reliance Properties Oliver Webbe, President, Development, Darwin Properties Ltd.