Thursday, October 29 9:00 am to 12:30 pm CDT "Read on" for Day 2 Program
Forum Chair: Jim Ludlow, President, True North Real Estate Development
Introduction: Tom Thiessen, Executive Director, BOMA Manitoba Interviewer: Jon Love, Chief Executive Officer, KingSett Capital
In conversation with: Jim Ludlow, President, True North Real Estate Development
Concurrent Sessions (Select B1, B2 or B3)
Under normal market conditions, no other real estate property category has attracted as much chatter in recent years as retail. Once a favourite of investors, this property type has been facing many increasing challenges for some time. But COVID-19 resulted in a considerable number of stores and restaurants to close due to healthy and safety government mandates. In a pandemic, certain types of retail have become the most vulnerable property type. This panel discussion will examine a wide range of key issues that both landlords and retailers have been dealing with in the current situation. How have malls performed vs. power centres vs. grocery anchored centres vs. street retail? With the surge in online shopping due to mandated closure of most retail outlets, what happened once stores, malls and restaurants reopened? How are brick and mortar going to co-exist with online shopping? How can landlords redefine the onsite retail experience for shoppers? This session will examine these and other trends pertaining to the future of the retail property market.
Moderator: Rennie Zegalski, Principal, Capital Commercial Real Estate Services Inc.
Panel: Peter Havens, General Manager, CF Polo Park, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited Angela Mathieson, CEO, CentreVenture Development Corporation Mauro Padula, Vice President, Leasing, Western Region, SmartCentres REIT Trevor Thomas, Vice President, Retail, JLL
Given the strong investor sentiment in the Canadian market, major opportunities have emerged for entrepreneurialism in the real estate industry. In the Winnipeg market, who are some of them and what are they doing? They are experienced at looking for innovation. 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 are they managing through the pandemic? Do they see opportunities unfolding in the future as the economy recovers with aging inventory of existing buildings and the potential to repurpose assets from one use to another, e.g. transforming aged inventory into new buildings, repurposing B class industrial into retail?
Moderator: Martin McGarry, President, MMI
Panel: Bryce Alston, Director, Alston Properties Karl Loepp, Chief Operating Officer, Private Pension Partners Sam Sidhu, President, Whiteland John Stroich, President & Managing Director, LS Properties and Green Valley Management
An insightful discussion about investment activity in the Winnipeg market over the past nine months. The session will begin with a brief overview of what happened over this period of time – prior to the pandemic and after it arrived? The panel will address a range of questions including: What have been the major challenges facing investors trying to buy assets in Winnipeg? With the continued access to very low-priced capital, is there a growing interest among buyers as the year moves to an end? How much of a disconnect is there between supply and demand of product? Where will cap rates be by 2021? Are there challenges in valuations that create issues for investment activity? What needs to happen in order for investment activity to grow?
Moderator: Bryn Oliver, Principal, Capital Commercial Real Estate Services
Panel: Brian Bastable, Managing Director, Slate Asset Management LP Phil Brown, Vice President, Acquisitions & Leasing, Industrial, Hopewell Development LP David Hanick, Chief Legal Officer, Starlight Investments Gord Wiebe, CEO & Principal, Corpfin Capital
Concurrent Sessions (Select C1, C2 or C3)
While 60% of the province’s population is concentrated in the capital city, communities such as Brandon, Portage la Prairie and Steinbach are hitting above their weight when it comes to growth and new development. Some may call them “sleeper” communities, but they have awakened the interest of big players. In Portage la Prairie, A region of 20,000 has locked down $1.2 billion worth of new investment. Downtown Brandon has a number of projects that are breathing new life into formerly abandoned buildings. The first phase of Steinbach North Business Park with commercial, office, retail and services on nearly 80 acres of land opened last summer. This session will examine the state of the secondary markets including the question of what impact did COVID-19 have on these communities once it accelerated in March. Where are we now?
Moderator: Todd Labelle, Senior Associate, Investment, Land, Retail, Avison Young
Panel: Steve McMillan, Vice President, Planning Services, VBJ Developments Eve O'Leary, Executive Director, Portage Regional Economic Development, Portage la Prairie Bob Schinkel, Owner & CEO, Schinkel Properties
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Last year, multi-unit residential moved to the top of many preferred property portfolios for a growing number of investors. Major immigration trends and strong employment contributed to a high demand scenario resulting in record low vacancy rates in many major cities and mid-markets. Then came COVID-19 resulting in accelerated unemployment and a steep decline in immigration. Concerns immediately were raised about rent collection related to the ability of unemployed tenants to pay but government programs enabled many tenants to pay their rent. How has the multi-residential market performed since March? Is it still an ideal property class to be in? What impact are lower financing costs, lower utility costs, lower repair and maintenance costs and non-existent CAPEX having on the value of these assets? Have changes in CMHC mortgage insurance had any impact on apartment values? This session will provide insights into operations, communications and management during the pandemic along with the aforementioned questions.
Moderator: Rod Slaughter, Vice President, Altus Group
Panel: Craig Gilpin, Chief Operations Officer, Ironclad Developments Inc. Frank Koch-Schulte, Vice President, Edison Properties Cornelius Martens, Principal, Marwest Group of Companies Arni Thorsteinson, President & Principal, Shelter Canadian Properties Limited
A panel discussion that will focus specifically on the debt market and try to determine what borrowers can expect heading into 2021. Who are the major sources for conventional mortgages in Winnipeg? How are insured lenders adjusting to recent CMHC policy changes? How has the dramatic drop in bond yields in 2020 impacted loan rates? How has land development and construction financing availability changed? How are lenders assessing risk and stress testing transactions? To what extent do lending strategies vary amongst banks, credit unions, lifecos, and other entities? As a result of continuing COVID-19 uncertainty, are there any property classes that lenders are avoiding, reducing exposure to, or increasing pricing for?
Moderator: Ron Margolis, President, Margolis Capital, Commercial Mortgage Professionals Panel: Rick Bachalo, Vice President, Mortgage Investments, The Canada Life Assurance Company TJ Lee, Director, Commercial Origination, MCAP Raj Patel, Vice President, Commercial Real Estate, Public Sector and Supply Chain, RBC Royal Bank Cynthia Wepruk, Director, Business Financial Centre, Assiniboine Credit Union
EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLE: KEY QUESTIONS ON THE MINDS OF LEADERSHIP AND INVESTORS: HOW WILL YOU DELIVER PERFORMANCE DURING COVID-19 AND ONCE IT ENDS?
An insightful examination of the challenges, trends, and issues facing CEOs and real estate investors as they manage their business through the pandemic, and what are their thoughts on the outlook for 2021. Some of the questions that will be examined include:
As we move through the pandemic, what do you consider to be the greatest opportunities and risks to your business at this time? What strategies are you pursuing as a result?
What stories can you share with us about leadership, optimism, philanthropy and human resiliency that emerged during the past seven months?
What are the “silver linings” that will emerge from this pandemic?
What are the key steps that you are taking to grow your business now: are you playing defense or offense? When do you expect to shift from “survival” mode to long term strategic thinking?
What are the most significant challenges, trends, risks and opportunities for investors and owners in the Winnipeg market?
Moderator: Jim Ludlow, President, True North Real Estate Development
Panel: Mark Chipman, Executive Chairman, True North Sports + Entertainment Rosanne Hill Blaisdell, Managing Director, Harvard Developments Inc. Sandy Shindleman, President & CEO, Shindico Don Solman, Vice President & CFO, James Richardson & Sons, Limited