Canada
People & Companies News for Week Ending December 13, 2024
- The City of Toronto has appointed Jason Thorne as its new chief planner. Thorne spent a decade as Hamilton’s general manager of planning and economic development. He will assume his new role on December 30, a year after the departure of Toronto’s previous planning chief, Gregg Lintern. The role has been filled on an interim basis by Kyle Knoeck, Toronto’s former zoning manager. Thorne’s other experience includes serving as engineering firm Stantec’s Canadian urban places sector lead, planner-in-residence at the University of Waterloo and director of policy and planning for Metrolinx, among other positions.
- Anahita Jami has been appointed as the director of sustainability (ESG) at CIMA+. She joined the company in February 2024 aa senior sustainability advisor. The Laval, Que.-based consulting engineering firm offers services related to buildings, project management, infrastructure, energy, transportation, and more. Jami brings extensive experience in sustainability, having previously served as an energy efficiency and bioenergy project manager with the CSA Group. She also held research and program management roles at the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium and the University of Toronto.
- Patti Parente, vice-president of development at A&W Food Services of Canada, has announced her retirement, effective March 28, 2025, after more than 25 years with the Vancouver-based company. Parente has played a key role in A&W’s success, building a strong team of development executives and fostering partnerships within the real estate industry, said the company in a news release. She will continue to provide leadership over the coming months as the company transitions its development leadership. A&W ranks as Canada’s second-largest quick-service hamburger chain.
- JLL has added six industry leaders to its Greater Toronto Area industrial real estate brokerage team. Luis Almeida has been appointed as an executive vice-president. He also serves as president of SIOR’s Canada Central chapter. Also joining JLL are Daniel Smith (senior vice-president); Kevin Irandoust (associate vice-president); Rodrigo Silva (associate vice-president); Jakub Vidimlic (senior sales associate), and Kausi Vickneshwaran (transaction manager.) All of the new team members joined JLL from Lee & Associates in Toronto. Read the full story on their appointments.
- Windmill Developments has announced three leadership appointments that aim to showcase the company’s dedication to sustainability and social impact. Jenny McMinn has been named a partner and will be responsible for communications and impact. She previously served as managing director at Windmill’s sustainability advisory arm, Urban Equation. With more than 15 years of experience in green building and community development across North America, McMinn will focus on broadening Ottawa-based Windmill’s sustainability initiatives to include social sustainability. Her role will involve popularizing the One Planet Living framework in North America, identifying new partnerships, and attracting socially conscious investors. Scott Pickles has been appointed managing director of Urban Equation, bringing over 20 years of expertise in architecture, development, and sustainability. A former development Manager at Windmill, Pickles has also held senior leadership roles at Avison Young and the City of Calgary. In his new position, he will expand Urban Equation’s sustainable advisory services, helping clients, including pension funds, developers, and landowners, achieve impactful and measurable outcomes. Graeme Hussey joins Windmill as director of affordable housing, a new role that highlights the company’s approach to tackling housing challenges. One of Canada’s leading experts in affordable housing, Hussey previously served as president of Cahdco, an Ottawa-based non-profit housing developer. With 15 years of experience in affordable housing projects, he will focus on creating innovative, cost-effective solutions to increase housing accessibility. This appointment underscores Windmill’s commitment to addressing both environmental and social sustainability within its development projects, said the company.
- The Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) has appointed three new interim board members for EnerQuality as the company enters a growth phase. The interim board includes Gord Cooke, president of Building Knowledge; Brian Johnston, former CEO of CreateTO; and Peter Saturno, president of Midhaven Homes. Following OHBA’s acquisition of full ownership of EnerQuality in September 2024, the board will provide guidance on strategic direction, define future board requirements, and oversee the search for a new CEO. The incoming CEO will focus on expanding EnerQuality’s role as Ontario’s leading provider of professional training and education for the residential construction industry, alongside its energy certification services, said OHBA. EnerQuality, Canada’s foremost certifier of energy-efficient homes, will continue its successful energy labelling programs, which include ENERGY STAR for new homes and multi-family projects, Net Zero and Net Zero Ready, EnerGuide, and R-2000 certifications. The company, originally founded by OHBA and the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance in 1998, is being positioned to lead OHBA’s external education initiatives and provide essential training to its members and the broader industry. With these new appointments and strategic initiatives, EnerQuality aims to strengthen its impact on Ontario’s residential construction sector while advancing energy efficiency and sustainability standards, said the OHBA.
- ◦Lease
- ◦Sale/Acquisition
- ◦Development
- ◦People
- ◦Recruitment
