Canada
People & Companies News for Week Ending January 24, 2025
- RE/MAX Integra co-founder Walter Schneider has been appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada as a member. The news release on Schneider’s appointment describes him as “an esteemed business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist.” He is credited with growing Hamilton-based RE/MAX Integra into Canada’s top-selling organization in the industry and stimulating local economies. RE/MAX Integra says it is the largest master franchisor within the RE/MAX system and represents 30% of the of the RE/MAX broker/owners and sales professionals worldwide. For more than two decades, Schneider’s family foundation has supported health and social-related causes, including the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation.
- CMLS Financial has appointed Jessica Toppazzini as vice-president and managing director of its Western Canada operations, effective Feb. 5. Toppazzini most recently served as a principal of Avison Young and managing director of the commercial real estate services firm’s Vancouver office. She made history as Avison Young’s first female managing director of a Canadian office. Before being promoted to that role, Toppazzini served as a senior vice-president in Avison Young’s Vancouver office and founded the firm’s B.C. valuation and advisory team. Founded in 1974, Toronto-based CMLS ranks among Canada’s largest mortgage-service companies. RESAAS recently appointed her to its advisory board. Toppazzini’s expertise in commercial real estate is expected to contribute to RESAAS’s market expansion and strategic initiatives. Vancouver-based RESAAS is an award-winning technology company serving the global residential and commercial property sectors. Toppazzini has garnered several honours during her career, including a 2023 Connect Canadian Women in Real Estate Award.
- RESAAS has expanded its Commercial Data Exchange (CODE) platform to support the retail asset class. The expansion addresses a long-standing challenge for institutional landlords managing extensive retail portfolios, says the company. The platform offers a secure, centralized space where landlords can share real-time leasing availabilities directly with brokerages and tenants. By leveraging AI to streamline data distribution, RESAAS enables institutional landlords across North America to market their properties more efficiently, reducing vacancies and enhancing connectivity within the commercial real estate sector, according to the firm.
- Canada Life Asset Management has named Robin James as its new head of U.K. property. He succeeds Michael White, who retired in December 2024. James brings more than 28 years of real estate fund-management experience to Canada Life, having previously served as head of transactions for the U.K. and Ireland at LaSalle Investment Management. Before then, he was head of real estate investment at a sharia-compliant merchant bank and held a director role in JLL’s capital markets team.
- Trent University has appointed Jesse McKenna as its CEO-in-residence for 2024-25. McKenna heads Toronto-based Fengate Real Estate and sits on Trents 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 other boards, including the Real Property Association of Canada and Seasons Retirement Communities.
- Katlyn (Katie) Cooper has joined MLT Aikins as an associate lawyer in Regina. Cooper’s commercial/corporate law practice focuses on commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions, banking and commercial lending, and corporate governance. She joined MLT Aikins after serving for about three years as in-house legal counsel for Information Services Corporation in Regina. Before then, she served as an associate, articling student and summer student with Miller Thomson in Saskatchewan’s largest market.
- 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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