(Connect has handed out its third-annual Canadian Women in Real Estate Awards. This story profiles Sandy Upson, an Avison Young valuation specialist based in Ottawa.)

By Amy Wolff Sorter

Sandy Upson Avison Young’s director of Canadian valuation and advisory services, brings more than a decade of experience in land-use planning and commercial real estate, including more than six years focused on valuation and advisory. She launched Avison Young’s valuation and advisory services practice in Ottawa, becoming the first in-person valuation professional in the office.

Her project work includes valuations for InterRent REIT in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, as well as the Zibi large-scale, mixed-use, phased waterfront development that straddles Ottawa and Gatineau, Que. She also provides annual and quarterly valuation mandates for portfolios owned by Main + Main and Hazelview.

She supports Avison Young’s broader Canadian platform, increasing capabilities in multifamily housing, land redevelopment, and institutional advisory services. Her cross-market experience, paired with her municipal planning background, gives her a unique edge—especially in markets where development potential intersects with policy, density and land use regulation.

These are just some of the reasons why Connect Canada CRE honoured Sandy Upson with a 2025 Canadian Women in Real Estate Award. The awards celebrate the achievements and inspirational stories of women who have reached respected leadership positions and taken on mentorship roles.