CanadaCanada CRE News In Your Inbox.
Sign up for Connect emails to stay informed with CRE stories that are 150 words or less.
People & Companies News for Week Ending November 1, 2024
- The UHN Foundation has received a record-setting $30-million donation from real estate developers John D’Angelo, Giuseppe Maio, Claudio Memme – partners at Toronto-based HBNG Holborn Group – their wives, and the HBNG Charitable Foundation. The large gift, unveiled at Toronto’s Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival, will support the construction of a new $1.1-billion, 15-storey surgical tower at Toronto Western Hospital, set for completion in 2028. This transformative project, part of the UHN Foundation’s $300-million fundraising campaign, is expected to make substantial improvements in patient care by adding 82 private rooms, critical-care beds, and 20 advanced operating rooms equipped with robotic and imaging technology. The surgical tower will play a crucial role in increasing healthcare capacity in Ontario and is projected to boost surgeries by 20% to help address the province’s wait times and surgical backlog. The UHN Foundation raises funds for Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Rehab, and the Michener Institute of Education. The foundation seeks to drive forward healthcare advancements and improvements in patient experiences through impactful community contributions.
- Daniel Simunac, co-CEO of Stonebridge Financial, has been recognized in the Benefits and Pensions Monitor 2024 Hot List of top industry professionals. Stonebridge is a leading Toronto-based firm specializing in private debt and credit solutions. The company provides financial services to a diverse clientele, focusing on infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, real estate, and corporate sectors. Originally co-founded with significant support from Canada’s largest insurance companies, Stonebridge became fully independent in 2021 and now manages $3.2 billion in assets. Since its founding in 1998, Stonebridge has been committed to promoting sustainable and socially responsible finance. Simunac’s extensive experience in private debt-portfolio management spans nearly 25 years, including leadership roles with major financial institutions across North America and Europe. Before joining Stonebridge, he led two Canadian commercial lending institutions to top-tier status and underwrote $15 billion in loans across key sectors. He is active with the Association for Corporate Growth and created the Lending in Commercial Real Estate course at Real Property Association of Canada, which he continues to teach. Simunac’s inclusion in BPM’s Hot List reflects both his individual accomplishments and his contributions to advancing the investment industry.
- LaSalle Canada Property Fund (LCPF), the core Canadian real estate fund managed by LaSalle Investment Management, has been awarded a five-star rating by the 2024 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB.) With that rating, the LCPF placed first in its category for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts. GRESB also named LCPF the Real Estate Sector Leader for all Americas Private Diversified Funds, recognizing it as first out of 112 funds in this segment. Scoring 90 out of 100 on the GRESB annual assessment, the LCPF demonstrated leading sustainability initiatives in real estate asset management, with other LaSalle funds worldwide receiving four-star and five-star GRESB ratings. LCPF’s portfolio spans approximately 9.4 million square feet in Canada’s major cities and emphasizes sustainable practices across industrial, multi-family, office, retail, and mixed-use properties, as well as select developments. Noteworthy properties in the LCPF portfolio include Montreal’s Maison Manuvie, which achieves net-zero carbon performance; Ottawa’s 275 Slater, now undergoing LEED certification; and the Tricont logistics properties in the Toronto suburb of Whitby, Ont., designed to meet LEED Silver standards.
- Spark Real Estate Software has acquired Juniper, a digital platform provider specializing in homeowner care and warranty services for residential developers. Vancouver-based Spark said the acquisition expands the firm’s capabilities beyond sales and marketing, now covering completion, warranty management, and homeowner care to support the entire real estate development lifecycle. Since its 2019 launch, Vancouver-based Juniper has quickly grown to serve over 12,000 units across 60 projects for leading Canadian developers. Spark said its integration of Juniper underscores the firm’s dedication to providing a comprehensive management platform for new developments, from marketing and sales to post-sale customer care.
- Genesis Land Development has appointed Travis McArthur as senior vice-president and general counsel. McArthur will be part of the Genesis executive team, overseeing all legal functions and contributing to key areas like land acquisition, development, financing, sales, and homebuilding operations. His extensive background includes over 12 years in private practice, representing various stakeholders in the real estate sector, including developers, homebuilders, and financial institutions. Genesis operates as an integrated land developer and residential homebuilder in the Calgary Metropolitan Area, managing a portfolio of residential lands and serviced lots. Over the past three years, the company has significantly expanded its asset base, and McArthur’s expertise is expected to support continued growth.
- KV Capital, an Edmonton-based real estate financial services firm, has appointed Mike Sagert as vice-president of CMHC multi-family mortgages. Moving to KV from CMLS Financial in Calgary, Sagert will leverage his nearly 20 years of experience in the multi-family mortgage sector, including significant work with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC.) Known for his skills in strategic planning, investor relations, and credit underwriting, Sagert brings valuable expertise to KV’s CMHC-insured financing division, said the company. He will be based in Calgary, contributing to KV’s mission to enhance financing options for developers across Canada. Founded in 2006, KV manages approximately $500 million in assets and has funded about $1.5 billion in investments across private businesses, real estate, and mortgages. KV is a licensed mortgage brokerage in Alberta, Ontario, and B.C.
- ◦Lease
- ◦Sale/Acquisition
- ◦Development
- ◦People
- ◦Recruitment