Leslie Fang

Leslie Fang knows how to raise money.

Fang, a principal in BGO Canada’s investment management group in Toronto, has generated millions of dollars for his company, clients and charitable causes.

Fang serves as one of BGO’s deal officers responsible for the firm’s investment platform across all asset classes and all clients in Canada. He leads, underwrites, and orchestrates closings of real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and development transactions.

He is also responsible for structuring a variety of debt instruments, including short-term bridge financing, long-term mortgage, and construction financing transactions. In addition, he also provides strategic and underwriting support across portfolio management teams.

Over the past two years, he has been instrumental in driving BGO Canada’s client strategies across multiple markets, said a colleague who nominated him for his Next Gen Award. In particular, he has led two key investments in the firm’s multi-family residential portfolio, including the two-phased investment of $174 million in Montreal.

Fang also headed BGO’s first joint-venture with an institutional partner, which over the last 24 months has expanded with follow-on investments in Victoria and Burlington, Ont., and two investments in Kitchener, Ont. Together, the deals total $440 worth of investment. One of the Kitchener investments, the ArtHaus project, was selected as the NAIOP Toronto 2023 Investment Deal of the Year.

Fang has also been instrumental in creating and executing the investment strategy for BGO’s first Canadian Value Add Fund (CVA), said the nominator. He led the successful closing for the first two CVA transactions in both Montreal and Toronto, which included a complex co-investment/debt structure with an existing BGO client.

He also oversaw the formation of a partnership between BGO and a third-party operating partner.

“Since Leslie’s introductory discussion with this partner in February 2023, the partner has brought to BGO at least five compelling residential opportunities on an off-market basis, two of which are now complete,” said the nominator.

Prior to joining BGO, Fang was a relationship manager in Toronto Dominion Bank’s real estate debt segment. He started his career in commercial real estate at Equitable Bank as a debt capital markets summer analyst.

When he isn’t serving his company and clients, Fang supports commercial real estate industry, community and charitable causes

He is the co-founder and lead organizer of the Toronto Real Estate Rally industry charity ping pong tournament, launched in 2023 in partnership with Starlight Investments. In that first year, Fang galvanized about 16 industry teams and 300 participants to raise approximately $60,000 for Habitat for Humanity and Kids Help Phone.

This year, teams from 21 leading firms combined to dedicate $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity Canada.

Fang also dedicates time outside of work to teaching and providing mentorship to young people from diverse backgrounds. He currently serves as an industry mentor of the Project Destined global program, which provides students from across the globe with training in real estate, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

For the past seven years, Fang has served as a civilian volunteer for the Canadian Forces Air Cadet program’s 818 Toronto Falcons Regiment at Moss Park Armoury. He is currently transitioning to the Canadian Forces Reserves as a cadet instructor.

“Leslie’s remarkable combination of real estate investment acumen, experience leading teams and complex transactions, and commitment to volunteerism within the real estate industry and broader community make him a deserving recipient of this recognition,” said his Next Gen Award nominator.