Canada
People & Companies News for Week Ending February 7, 2025
- GWL Realty Advisors (GWLRA) has garnered two OPEX awards: Best Strategic Business Transformation Program 2025 and Best Achievement in Driving Change and Transforming Organizational Culture 2025. The awards were given on January 28 in Miami during the OPEX Week, Business Transformation World Summit. The Global OPEX and Business Transformation Awards recognize organizations in multiple industries that show exceptional operational excellence, achieve significant transformational change, and foster positive corporate cultures. The Best Strategic Business Transformation Program award highlights GWLRA’s accomplishments, which include more 30 large transformation projects completed and $8 million in recurring annual business benefits, with more than 40% of employees involved in these initiatives, said the Toronto-based company. GWLRA cited dedication to its people as the basis for the Best Achievement in Driving Change and Transforming Organizational Culture award. Over 600 employees completed the firm’s in-house operational excellence training. GWLRA achieved Diversio Certification, improved company’s inclusion score, and to date has implemented more than 20 staff-led ideas, resulting in 80% of employees feeling aligned with the firm’s goals. GWLRA’s journey towards operational excellence began in 2018 with the formation of the Business Excellence and Innovation team.
- RE/MAX has announced that Christopher Alexander will be concluding his tenure as president of RE/MAX Canada, the country’s largest network of real estate agents. Alexander will continue in his current role until March 3 and will serve in a consultative capacity until June 30. He will remain involved with the RE/MAX brand as a brokerage owner in Ontario and as a consultant to the RE/MAX Europe region. Following Alexander’s departure, Erik Carlson, CEO of RE/MAX Holdings, will oversee the firm’s Canadian operations until a new leader for RE/MAX Canada is appointed.
- Genesis Land Development has announced the retirement of two senior executives, Wayne King and Arnie Stefaniuk, effective January 31. King joined Genesis in 2017 and served as CFO before transitioning to senior vice-president of information systems and special projects. He is credited with playing a key role in the Calgary-based company’s growth. Stefaniuk, a long-standing leader since 2000, was instrumental in shaping community developments as vice-president of regional planning. King and Stefaniuk’s contributions have significantly impacted Genesis and the Calgary metropolitan region, said the company.
- The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Toronto has announced the opening of applications for the 2025 edition of its Pathways to Inclusion mentorship program. Pathways to Inclusion targets under-represented groups in the commercial real estate, development and urban planning sectors. Applications are open until February 21 for aspiring and entry-level professionals residing in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Selected applicants will receive a one-year free ULI membership, industry mentoring through a March event and access to additional education and networking opportunities.
- MaRS Discovery District has appointed commercial real estate industry veteran Andrew Joyner to its board of directors. The Toronto-based innovation hub supports more than 1,200 Canadian science and technology companies. Joyner is the managing director at Toronto-based Tricon Residential, where he oversees the company’s Canadian rental-housing portfolio, including the development and operation of purpose-built rental communities with mixed and innovation uses. With a background in private equity and real estate investment, he brings expertise in strategic growth, asset management, and capital partnerships to the MaRS board. He previously worked with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s real estate group.
- The federal government has reappointed André Hébert to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) board for a two-year term. Hébert, a board member since 2019, has more than 40 years of experience in information technology with expertise in strategic leadership and organizational transformation. His continued leadership supports CMHC’s mission to advance housing solutions and improve affordability for Canadians, said the government in a news release. As a federal Crown corporation, CMHC plays a key role in housing finance, policy, and program delivery, contributing to the stability and accessibility of Canada’s housing system. Hébert is a long-time Air Canada executive, currently serving as the airline’s head in technology. He is based in Montreal.
- Trent University has appointed Jaime McKenna as its CEO-in-residence for 2024-25. McKenna heads Toronto-based Fengate Real Estate and sits on Trent’s board of governors. McKenna leads all aspects of Fengate’s real estate group. Her duties cover asset management, development, investment, financial reporting and governance. She also serves on a number of other boards, including the Real Property Association of Canada and Seasons Retirement Communities. Seasons is a Fengate subsidiary.
- Connect CRE Canada is now accepting nominations for its 2025 Canadian Top Brokers Awards. Would you like to recognize a commercial real estates sales or leasing specialist who excelled as the market faced numerous challenges in 2024? Nominate a candidate today.
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