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People and Companies News for Week Ending July 3, 2026
- NAIOP has changed its name to the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. The group said the new name builds on the association’s longstanding industry leadership while positioning it for the future. In addition, the CREDA label “more clearly communicates the breadth of its members’ work and the full scope of commercial real estate development they represent. Today’s members are creating a wide range of property types that support businesses, communities and critical infrastructure, including multifamily housing, retail destinations, logistics and fulfillment facilities, office buildings, mixed-use developments, data centers and other projects that shape how people live, work, shop, connect, innovate and thrive.”
- Forthlane Capital Partners has appointed Connor Kitchen as the head of its new office in Calgary. The office opening marked Toronto-based Forthlane’s expansion into Western Canada. Kitchen will lead the firm’s growth and client relationships across Alberta and the broader Western Canadian market. Kitchen will work in the Calgary office alongside Senior Fund Accountant Cornelia Geib.
- Full-service brand operator SIR Corp., has named Steven Pelton as the company’s new president and chief operating officer, effective July 13. He is succeeding Paul Bognar, who is entering retirement. Pelton was formerly president and CEO of Aegis Brands, which owns and operates the St. Louis Bar & Grill chain and holds the master franchise for the Sweet Jesus ice cream locations in Canada. Before then, he was a senior vice-president at Recipe Unlimited Corporation (2015-2019) and co-founder and CEO of the Landing Group of Restaurants.
- Joanne McNamara will leave Oxford Properties to become CEO of British Land. McNamara serves as Toronto-based Oxford’s executive vice-president for Europe. She joined Oxford in 2010 and has more than 20 years of real estate industry experience. Due to a maximum six-month notice period, McNamara is expected to join British Land by November 30 at the latest. Prior to joining Oxford, she worked at Hammerson and DTZ.
- Breno Lima has joined CBRE Investments as a director and client solutions officer, based in Toronto. Lima has about 16 years of experience across institutional and private wealth markets in Canada. Most recently, he served as vice-president at Slate Asset Management in Montreal.
- Valan‘s board and executive team have been revamped following the valve manufacturing company’s sale to private-equity investment firm Birch Hill. Ivan Velan, Peter Velan, Rob Velan and Tom Velan. Patrick Duncan, a partner at Birch Hill, has been appointed chair of the board. Joshua Lundy, Jim Mannebach and Shauna Gamble joined the board as Birch Hill nominees, while Daniel Desjardins, Edward Kernaghan and Suzanne Blanchet remain independent directors. Desjardins has been named lead director. Mannebach retired as CEO and stepped down as board chair but will remain a director and assist with the transition.
- The OIM Group has appointed Damon Knights as a vice-president and head of residential lending. He moved to OIM from a leading Canadian financial institution, where he served as vice-president of sales and distribution in its personal banking segment. Knights has more than two decades of experience in banking, lending and financial services.
- Arcadis has strengthened its Vancouver team with the appointments of Maren McBride as principal and landscape architect, Antoine Henry as senior project manager, and Sahar Safaie as disaster and climate risk management specialist. McBride brings more than 17 years of experience in landscape architecture, urban design, and planning, and will help expand Arcadis’ landscape architecture and urbanism practice across Western Canada after previous roles with Dialog and PWL Partnership Landscape Architects. Henry, a civil engineer with 18 years of experience in transportation infrastructure projects, joins from Arcadis’ Paris office and has also held positions with Bouygues Construction and Eiffage. Safaie brings nearly 20 years of expertise in climate adaptation and disaster risk management, most recently leading Sage On Earth Consulting and previously working with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, The World Bank, Klohn Crippen Berger, and Pomeroy Engineering Consultants. Founded in 1888, Arcadis employs more than 34,000 people globally and provides services across architecture, engineering, environmental management, asset management, and business advisory.
- Activate has appointed Scott Shultz as chief technology officer. Shultz is a seasoned technology executive and AI strategist with more than 30 years of experience leading tech innovation and growth for some of North America’s leading organizations, including Exeter Finance, Topgolf, and Main Event Entertainment. Winnipeg-based Activate ranks as the world’s leading active gaming company, says the firm. Activate has more than 75 locations across Canada, the U.S., Denmark, France, Finland, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.A.E.
- Allied Properties REIT has named Craig MacIntyre as its new CFO, effective July 29. MacIntyre has nearly two decades of experience in capital markets, corporate finance, strategic transactions, investor relations, and portfolio management. Most recently, he served as vice-president of investments amd corporate development at Choice Properties REIT, where he headed acquisitions, dispositions, capital allocation, and strategic initiatives.
- Capital Power has appointed Kevin Macintosh as vice-president of finance and CFO. Macintosh has more than 30 years of financial experience. He now leads the company’s treasury, financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, tax and investor relations. He is also responsible for Capital’s enterprise risk management processes. Prior to joining Capital, he served as vice-president and controller for Suncor.
- Cameron Stephens Mortgage Capital has appointed Steve Cameron as president and CEO. Scott Cameron, a company co-founder, has transitioned to the role of executive chairman, remaining actively engaged in credit oversight, investment committee leadership, and the firm’s most important investor relationships. Scott Cameron co-founded the company with George Frankfort in 2004 and helped grow assets under management to $12 billion from $50 million. Steve Cameron joined the firm in 2011 as is credited with becoming the “operational and strategic force behind its most significant growth period.”
- Evan Kirsh has left his position as president of Starlight U.S. Residential LP to pursue other career opportunities. Kirsh served as president of the limited since the inception of its predecessor in 2021. Daniel Drimmer, CEO of the LP and parent Starlight Invesments, praised Kirsh for his valuable contribution to the LP throughout his tenure, crediting him with playing an important role. Drimmer has assumed the role of the LP’s president and day-to-day responsibilities for it, withs support from team members.
- Ugo Bizzarri, founder and executive chair of Hazelview Investments has received a Rental Housing Canada Lifetime Achievement Award. The award program recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact on Canads’s rental-housing sector through leadership, advocacy and a commitment to building better communities across the country. Bizzari co-founded the company now known as Hazelview in 1999 and has grown a former domestic investor and operator into a global investment firm with $11.2 billion in assets under management across 19 offices in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Hong Kong. Hazelview has owned and managed approximately 34,000 rental homes across six provinces and 21 cities in Canada, supplying 1,442 rental homes as of March 31.
- H&R REIT CFO Larry Froom will have a reduced workload over the coming weeks as he recovers from recent medical procedures. During that period, Cheryl Fried, the REIT’s executive vice-president of finance, will serve a CFO on an interim basis. Fried joined H&R in 2006 as the organization’s controller and vice-president of accounting befrore she was appointed EVP of finance in 2014.
- Fondaction has promoted Stéphan Morency to president and CEO following the retirement of Geneviève Morin. Morency brings more than 25 years of experience in finance, including over 15 years at Fondaction, to his new position. He is recognized for his leadership and expertise in sustainable finance and impact investing, says the asset management company.
- Twyla Purschke has become the head of commercial real estate at the University of Alberta. She previously serve as the U of A’s head of real estate. She joined the university in 2023 after working with a number of real estate firms in the private sector.
- Grosvenor Property Canada has announced a series of promotions, revamping its senior leadership team. Graham Drexel has been promoted to chief operating officer and CFO. Robert Duteau has been named executive vice-president of investment. He will lead investment and asset management across Canada. Meanwhile, Michael Ward has become executive vice-president of development, and Jane Goode has been named executive vice-president of people and performance.
- Avison Young has appointed Jordan Lovett as a principal and managing director in Ottawa. Lovett entered the commercial real estate industry in 2018 after working as an investment banker specializing in complex financial transactions. He will focus on growth, market share and business development throughout the Ottawa market while overseeing a multi-disciplinary team, said the company.
- Irfan Shariff has been appointed chief operating officer at Vancouver-based Hungerford Properties. Shariff was promoted from his previous position as senior vice-president of investments. He has been with Hungerford for almost 11 years.
- Tracy Taylor has joined Cresa Alberta as a senior vice-president, specializing in advising suburban office and industrial tenants and owner-users. With more than 27 years in commercial real estate, Taylor brings a 360-degree perspective shaped by experience on the occupier, agent and owner sides of the industry. She began her career on the occupier side before transitioning into brokerage and later joining a local investor/landlord, gaining han ds-on insight across all major asset classes. Prior to joining Cresa Alberta, Taylor returned to industrial sales and leasing before serving as executive managing Director and managing principal of Cushman & Wakefield’s Calgary office, where she led the company’s strategy and overall performance.
- Brookfield Properties has appointed Greg Jobagy as a vice-president based in Calgary. Jobagy moved to Brookfield Properties after spending three-and-a-half years with Slate Asset Management. He previously held asset manager and analyst positions with Triovest, CBRE and Colliers.
- Scott Thon will become independent chair of the Aecon Group board, pending his re-election in June. Thon will succeed John Beck, who will not stand for re-election. In recognition of his 60-year contribution to Aecon during his entire career, Beck receive the title of chairman emeritus. Thon has served as Aecon’s lead director since 2024, after joining the board in 2021. He has held several senior positions in the energy sector for the past 40 years and currently serves as an executive officer and director of Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
- Former Conservative federal cabinet minister Rona Ambrose has been elected to ATCO‘s board. Ambrose, who held nine cabinet portfolios in former prime minister Stephen Harper’s government, is the newest member of the Calgary-based global energy, housing, security and transportation company’s board. Ambrose also served as the leader of the Opposition between 2015 and 2017.
- Altus Group has promoted Terrie-Lynn Devonish to managing director for Canada from chief legal officer. Devonish is credited with helping to guide Atlus through its strategic transformation since she joined the company in 2021. In addition, Jason Lo has returned to Altus as the firm’s Canadian general manager of software and data. He initially joined Altus through its acquisition of RealNet in 2014.
- Christian Mayer and Elias Mulamoottil have been appointed to expanded global leadership roles at Colliers as the Toronto-based commercial real estate and investment management firm restructures senior management ahead of the retirement of longtime executive Chris McLernon. Mayer has been named global chief financial officer and CEO of commercial real estate, adding oversight of the company’s largest operating platform to his existing finance responsibilities. Mulamoottil has been appointed global chief investment officer and CEO of engineering, where he will oversee growth of the engineering business, including the pending integration of Ayesa. The appointments took effect immediately and are part of Colliers’ long-term growth strategy.
- Joel Hunter has assumed his duties as the new president and CEO of TransAlta after his appointment was announced in November 2025. He succeedsJohn Kousinioris, who retired at the end of April. Hunter was promoted from his former position of vice-president and CFO. Kousinioris will serve as a strategic advisor to Hunter and the company’s board for six months. He spent four years as president and CEO after joining the company in 2012 as chief legal officer before taking on more senior positions, including president of TransAlta Renewables from 2017 to 2021.
- Andrew Sjogren has been named president of the GTA division at Minto Group, taking on responsibility for the company’s operations and development activities across the Greater Toronto Area. Sjogren joined Minto after holding senior leadership positions in the residential development sector and is expected to focus on advancing the firm’s pipeline of mixed-use and high-density housing projects in one of Canada’s most competitive real estate markets.
- Anuj Kadyan will join CBRE as chief technology and transformation officer on May 15, bringing more than 17 years of experience advising global AI, cloud and technology companies while at McKinsey & Company. Kadyan, currently a senior partner and co-leader of McKinsey’s technology services practice, will oversee technology and operational transformation initiatives at CBRE. The said his appointment is intended to strengthen the company’s use of data, artificial intelligence and digital strategy to improve client services and operational efficiency.
- Concert Properties has appointed Catherine Roome as president and CEO, effective May 26. She succeeds the late Christine Bergeron, who died in February after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Roome brings more than three decades of leadership experience spanning infrastructure, regulation and public-interest organizations. Read Connect’s expanded story on Roome’s appointment.
- B+H Architects has hired Janine Grossmann as its new senior director of business development, architecture and Design. Based in Toronto, she will lead interior design business development across the firm’s Toronto and Vancouver studios. Grossmann brings more than 30 years of experience shaping the strategy and design of commercial, institutional, and hospitality projects ranging from 5,000 to about 4 million square feet.
- MBI Brands, the parent company of quick-service restaurant chains Mary Brown’s Chicken and Fat Bastard Burrito, has promoted Karen Tam to president and CEO. Tam previously served as CFO and chief development officer after joining the company in July 2025. She is credited with playing a pivotal role in the company’s infrastructure and operating models.
- Arup has appointed three senior leaders in its Toronto office. Adrian Sheppard will serve as rail project director, while Chris Teolis becomes an associate principal and Americas region data and AI leader, and Susanne Manaigre holds the role of rail operations and maintenance leader. Arup is a global engineering, design and consulting team. The firm said the appointments strengthen its capabilities across rail delivery, infrastructure systems integration and digital advisory services.
- Brian McPhee has been promoted to vice-president of infrastructure west at Ledcor. He will lead major projects and operations across Canada. In this role, he will strengthen industry partnerships, guide executive strategy, and support continued growth across Ledcor’s infrastructure teams, said the company.
- David Colla has joined the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board as a senior managing director and global head of credit investments. He will be a member of the organization’s senior management team. He succeeds Andrew Edgell, who will remain with CPPIB as a senior advisor after holding senior leadership positions for the past 18 years.
- Heidi O’Neill has been named the next CEO of Lululemon, bringing more than three decades of experience in global apparel, footwear and brand strategy. Based in Vancouver, she will take on the role September 8, 2026, following a long career at Nike where she helped scale the business through product innovation, digital transformation and global market expansion. Her appointment follows an extensive search by the board and comes as the company looks to accelerate growth, strengthen brand relevance and expand internationally.
- Windmill Development Group has reshaped its leadership as Founder Jonathan Westeinde transitions from CEO to executive chair while long-time executive Jeremy Reeds steps into the CEO role, and industry veteran Adam Molson joins as a partner responsible for development. The changes position Windmill for its next growth phase, with Westeinde focusing on strategic direction and partnerships, and Reeds assuming full operational leadership to drive disciplined expansion across the company’s $5-billion Ontario pipeline. The addition of Molson—formerly with The Daniels Corporation—further strengthens the team’s expertise in sustainable and purpose-built rental development, aligning with Windmill’s focus on delivering housing that balances affordability, environmental performance, and financial returns, said the company.
- Veriforce Canada has partnered with ADM Aéroports de Montréal to enhance contractor compliance and training management across the airport authority’s operations, introducing a centralized solution through SafeContractor Canada to streamline oversight in a highly regulated, live-airport environment. The platform will provide real-time visibility into contractor qualifications, certifications, and training records, enabling more informed decision-making while reducing administrative burden from onboarding through site access, while supporting stronger governance, accountability, and the safe, efficient delivery of development initiatives across ADM’s projects.
- Ontario Power Generation has marked a milestone of planting more than 10 million trees and shrubs across Ontario over the past 25 years, the provincially owned electrical utility announced. The plantings were supported by $12.5 million in funding to more than 30 partners, including Indigenous groups, non-profit organizations, conservation authorities, and Forests Canada, its largest collaborator and a key facilitator in expanding participation. The large-scale initiative has strengthened biodiversity, supported climate-change mitigation, and contributed to healthier, more resilient landscapes by improving soil stability, water retention, and protection against flooding and drought, while also creating jobs in nurseries, restoration, and long-term land stewardship and supporting sectors such as agriculture, forestry, recreation, and tourism., said OPG. In addition to tree planting, the company has restored more than 500 acres of wetlands and 500 acres of grasslands, aligning with national conservation goals such as protecting 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030.
- The Canadian Real Estate Association has elected Garry Bhaura of Brampton, Ont., as chair of its board of directors for 2026–2027. Bhaura, a realtor and broker-owner with more than 25 years of experience, is recognized for his leadership and longstanding service within the profession and broader realtor community. He previously served as president of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board from 2018 to 2019 and has contributed to numerous committees at both TRREB and CREA. His contributions have been acknowledged with several honours, including the Community Service Award from the Real Estate Institute of Canada..
- Allied Properties REIT has nominated Mario Barrafato as a board member. He has 25 years of experience working for REITs, most recently as CFO with Choice Properties REIT. He is slated to replace Antonia Rossi, who is not standing for re-election. Allied has also announced that Nathini Nalingham will leave her CFO post. She will retain the position until October 30 to help with her successor’s transition into the role. The moves follow Allied’s announcement that Michael Emory has resigned as executive chair. Allied’s independent board members decided not to renew Emory’s three-year employment contract and he agreed not to see re-election as a trustee. Emory is Allied’s founder and served as president and CEO until Cecilia Williams succeeded him in those roles as part of a leadership transition in 2023. At that time, he signed the three-year employment contract. The move comes as Allied is seeking to accelerate debt reduction and improve its balance sheet.
- JLL has hired Mark Seliskar to lead its life-sciences operations across Canada. A licensed professional engineer, has deep expertise in pharmaceutical and life- sciences facilities management, to support clients navigating complex regulatory requirements and operational challenges in highly controlled environments, most recently as general manager at Sodexo Québec.
- Stantec has promoted Arliss Szysky to executive vice-president of its infrastructure business in North America, the firm’s largest and one of its fastest-growing operating units. She has succeeded Susan Walter, who is retiring after leading the firm’s infrastructure business for six years and guiding it through sustained growth and two corporate strategic plans. Szysky has been with Stantec since 2004, when she joined the company as a transportation engineer.
- Société immobilière Bélanger has renewed its employee-benefits program and extended its long-standing partnership with local businesses to provide corporate discounts for apartment developer, owner and manager’s staff. The perks include discounts on Latulippe work-gear purchases, easy access and preferred rates at Natilus Plus fitness facilities and privileged relaxation spaces to foster better mental health and self-care amid the fast pace of the real estate market.
- SLC Management has appointed Sonny Kalsi, as president and CEO. The move comes after SLC completed its acquisition of full ownership of BGO. Kalsi is the co-founder and co-CEO of BGO. Steve Peacher remains executive chair of SLC. John Carrafiell, co-founder and co-CEO of BGO, has been named sole CEO of BGO. Both SLC and BGO are subsidiaries of Sun Life.
- LGI Healthcare Solutions has named Luc Gagnon as chief technology officer. He has held tech-related executive positions with the Government of Canada, along with Health Canada and Telus Health and MediSolution, among other organizations. LGI provides a comprehensive portfolio of software solutions at the heart of healthcare facilities’ critical infrastructure. The firm serves facilities in Canada, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and France.
- Starlight Investments and Vancouver FC of soccer’s Canadian Premier League have renewed their Take Flight program. Presented by Starlight, the program is the club’s premier community ticket-donation initiative. Take Flight allows corporate partners to sponsor blocks of seats that are donated directly to local youth, charitable organizations, and families who might otherwise not have the opportunity to experience a professional soccer match. Vancouver FC plays out of the suburb of Langley, B.C. The CPL aims to provide a place for Canadian professional players to develop their skills and advance their careers while also helping to produce talent for Canada’s national men’s team.
- Functionalab Group has promoted Anne-Valérie Guidollet to CEO as part of the firm’s CEO-succession plan. She moves up from her role as chief commercial officer, the position she held since joining the firm in 2024 with the plan to be elevated to the top executive position. Guidollet succeeds Francis Maheu, the company’s founder and CEO. Functionalab operates 63 medical-aesthetics clinics through its subsidiary Dermapure.
- EBC has named Ghyslain Deschamps as president and CEO, effective April 15. This transition reflects a spirit of continuity, built on many years of close collaboration between Marie‑Claude Houle, who has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 1999, and Deschamps, said the company. The two are credited with, together, playing a key role in reinforcing EBC’s position as one of Canada’s foremost construction companies.
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