Continuum REIT issuing IPO for $1.5B apt. portfolio

RENX  Residential  •  Apartments, Investment  •  Ontario, Toronto / GTA, Ottawa

Canada’s newest REIT is seeking to raise up to $354 million through its initial public offering.  Continuum REIT will be based in Toronto and own a portfolio of Ontario rental apartment properties valued at about $1.5 billion.

Ronmor hires CEO, looks to leverage large land bank

RENX  Residential, Commercial  •  Office, Land, Retail  •  Alberta, Calgary

Ronmor, a Calgary-based private real estate company, has added new and younger blood to its management team as it looks to take advantage of its huge land bank and grow its residential business. Dallas Wingerak is Ronmor’s new CEO.

North American to transform Dorval CBD

Residential, Commercial  •  Montreal Gazette

The heart of Dorval’s commercial sector could soon undergo a major transformation with the construction of a massive new residential development of approximately 950 residential units in a half-dozen apartment and condo towers by Markham-based North American Development Group.

Sidewalk Labs, Waterfront Toronto have tentative deal

Residential, Commercial  •  National Post (Sub. required)  •  Globe and Mail  •  Toronto Star

Sidewalk Labs and Waterfront Toronto have reached a tentative deal on a controversial smart-city project that will see the Google sister company develop a smaller amount of Toronto’s waterfront than it had proposed, sources said.

Too many barriers to rental: Urban Analytics

Residential  •  Vancouver Sun  •  Business In Vancouver

Various taxes and policies by all levels of government have not resulted in the development of enough new purpose-built rental apartments to keep up with renter demand in Metro Vancouver, says Michael Ferreira, managing principal with Urban Analytics.

Surrey’s downtown plans under review

Residential, Commercial  •  Business In Vancouver

The City of Surrey intends to create a concentrated business district and expand its downtown core southward to accommodate the approved SkyTrain extension along Fraser Highway. A station means greater residential density should come to an area of detached homes.

Canadian Tire distribution centre cuts energy use 46%

Commercial  •  Sustainable Biz Canada

Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC-T) will soon be celebrating a one-year anniversary — its distribution centre in Caledon, Ont., was officially  LEED certified in November 2018. Achieving the certification has resulted in enormous savings at the centre.

Shopify tops forecasts for 17th consecutive quarter

Commercial  •  Ottawa Citizen  •  Financial Post  •  CBC

Ottawa’s e-commerce technology giant Shopify (SHOP-T) announced Tuesday it had exceeded third-quarter revenue forecasts by a significant margin while operating losses were smaller than expected.

Drones set to deliver at Edmonton International Airport

Commercial  •  Canada Newswire  •  Edmonton Journal

Drone Delivery Canada Corp. (FLT-X) announced it has entered into a commercial agreement with the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority for the purpose of establishing the world’s first airport drone delivery hub at Edmonton International Airport.

How the Oilers skated circles around city council

Residential, Commercial  •  Edmonton Journal  •  Global News

OPINION: “Rogers Place has added to the vibrancy of downtown for those who can afford to take part in those activities,” says Jay Scherer,  author of Power Play. “But . . . there is an argument both for and against Rogers Place.”

Ex-Winnipeg mayor eyes new stadium lease pitch

Commercial  •  Winnipeg Free Press  •  CBC  •  CTV

After threatening to play hardball in negotiations with former Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz over the renewal of the lease on the Shaw Park site, a council committee has opted to throw a change-up.

Leaders hopeful feds make good on infra promises

Commercial  •  Daily Commercial News

Leaders of national construction associations say they are hoping the Liberal minority government will maintain the commitment to long-term infrastructure funding it set out in its first term in office.

Tim’s struggle to stay relevant to a new generation

Commercial  •  Financial Post

In May 2018, it seemed Tim Hortons’ (QSR-T) reputation was done for. Swept up in a year of bad business decisions, angry franchise owners and internal acrimonious rows, all laid out on a public platform, left the chain’s image in shambles.

Eye-popping losses: Can HBC survive?

Commercial  •  Toronto Star  •  CBC

OPINION: A Thursday evening in Toronto, the lingering days of autumn. On the fourth floor of the Bay (HBC-T) at Yonge and Bloor the housewares department appears lonely, unloved. A display table bears a small sign for Anthropologie Home.

ERES acquires Dutch residential portfolio for $99M

Residential  •  Globe Newswire

ERES REIT (ERE-UN-X) announced today it has agreed to purchase from a third party a portfolio of nine properties containing a total of 294 residential suites in five attractive locations in the Netherlands for $99 million Cdn.

REIT third-quarter financial results

Commercial  • 

Morguard North American Residential REIT, (MRG-UN-T), Canada Newswire 

Slate Retail REIT, (SRT-U-T), Business Wire

Are Tarion’s moves to address condo cancellations enough?

Residential  •  Globe and Mail (Sub. required)

Critics of Ontario’s new-home regulator, Tarion Warranty Corp., are warning its latest efforts to provide more consumer information on the risks inherent in pre-construction condominium purchases don’t go far enough toward leveling the playing field between vendors and hopeful buyers.

Kitchener approves granny flats, tiny homes

Residential  •  CBC  •  CTV

More granny flats, carriage houses and tiny houses could pop up in Kitchener next year. During Monday night’s meeting, Kitchener councillors approved rules to allow the additional dwelling units as part of a new residential bylaw.

Tiny East Vancouver lot listed for $108,000

Residential  •  Vancouver Sun

For sale, a tiny piece of land on a street of mostly older homes near Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. It measures a skinny six-by-90 feet and is on sale for only $108,000. The listing is blunt: “CANNOT BUILD TINY HOME.”

B.C.-made tiny homes available on Amazon for $49K

Residential  •  Vancouver is Awesome

A product from Vancouver company Nomad Micro Homes is one of the most recent additions to mega-retailer Amazon’s lineup. Their mostly prefabricated tiny home, The Cube, is now available to purchase online for $49,000 Cdn plus $4,000 shipping.