Platinum Sponsors

Registration and Continental Breakfast




 

Conference Co-Chairmen:
Bob Dhillon, President & CEO, Mainstreet Equity Corp.
Tyler Seaman, Vice President,
    Global Principal Investment, Oxford Properties Group Inc.

A leading economist will offer insights and forecasts on the short-term and long-term outlooks for the Canadian economy, including the direction of interest rates, commodity prices, bond yields, inflation and economic growth. What is the future direction for energy costs, the rate of inflation, and immigration and population growth patterns in major cities across the country? What impact will weak manufacturing conditions have on employment growth? What is the projection for the GTA market versus western Canada, and which areas will benefit?

Benjamin Tal, Senior Economist, CIBC World Markets
 

The speakers in this session will provide an analysis of the subprime crisis and its impact on debt and equity markets in both Canada and the U.S. The first speaker will examine the U.S. landscape and the second speaker will provide the “made in Canada” version. What caused the subprime loan losses? Are there more losses to come? How long will it take for the market to evolve through a period of protracted adjustment and what will be the long-term impact on the price of risk and capital for debt and equity for real estate
transactions?

Victoria Wagner-Aloia, Director, Financial
     Institutions Ratings, Standard & Poor’s, New York

Benjamin Tal, Senior Economist,
     CIBC World Markets
 

An overview of the apartment market and investment trends in major cities across Canada. Who are the largest owners across Canada and who is buying and who is selling multi-unit residential properties at this time? Public market activities, portfolio sales, cap rates, and foreign buyer interest will also be discussed.

Brett Miller, Executive Vice President & Senior
   Regional Director, Eastern Canada,
   CB Richard Ellis Limited
 

Session A1
STRATEGIES TO GENERATE REVENUE AND INCREASE YOUR INCOME WITHOUT RAISING RENTS



This session will examine effective strategies, amenities and innovations that will provide a new revenue stream in your building. The speakers will address a range of initiatives including cable marketing agreements, laundry room and parking services, renting out party rooms, amenities fees, advertising opportunities in common areas, and
strategies to reduce move-outs.

Moderator:
Daniel Acre, Vice President, Ontario, Cogir Management Corporation Inc.

Panel:
Richard Adamson, President & CEO, SmartCity Inc.
Rick Ellis, President, ELLIS Consulting Group, U.S.
Greg Stokes, Manager, Consumer Major Accounts,
   Rogers Cable Communications Inc.

Session A2 
FROM A CAPITAL MARKETS PERSPECTIVE, ARE APARTMENTS OVERPRICED? SHOULD CAP RATES BE HIGHER?


The current yields of many of the multi-family REITs are significantly higher than the prevailing cap rates of the underlying assets. This session will discuss the current investment market for multi-family real estate and the apparent disconnect between current REIT yields and prevailing cap rates in major Canadian markets. The panel will discuss recent trades and how vendors have not adjusted their pricing expectations to reflect the changes in the investment market due to the global liquidity crisis of August 2007. The significant decrease in the number of transactions since Q4-2007 suggests vendors and purchasers view the market quite differently. Will transaction levels stay low until vendors and purchasers both agree the investment market has changed?

Moderator:
Drew Koivu, Director, Multi-Residential,
   BMO Capital Markets Real Estate Inc.

Panel:
Alan Calderon, Vice President & Senior REIT Analyst,
   European Investors Inc., New York
Karine MacIndoe, Real Estate/REIT Analyst,  
   BMO Capital Markets
Dennis Mitchell, Portfolio Manager, Sentry Select Capital Corp.
Gregory Romundt, President & CEO, Centurion Property Associates Inc.

Session A3
MARKET MELT-DOWN: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE U.S.


The subprime debacle and recent capital markets turmoil have affected the apartment industry across the U.S. How will this play out for the last quarter of 2008 and into 2009? Have prices bottomed out or is a further decline in prices expected? What is the outlook for the U.S. housing market overall including rent growth, occupancy, net absorption and new supply? Where are the best opportunities for Canadian investors?

Moderator:
Ugo Bizzarri, CFO & Vice President, Acquisitions,
   Timbercreek Asset Management Inc.

Panel:
Peter Donovan, Senior Managing Director,
   CB Richard Ellis Inc., U.S.
Kevan Gorrie, Director, Global Asset Management,
   Oxford Properties Group Inc.

Session A4
GAIN A MARKETING EDGE WITH A CANADIAN FIRST: FRPO’S CERTIFIED RENTAL BUILDING PROGRAM




The Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) recently launched the Certified Rental Building Program (CRBP) for rental housing in Ontario – a first in the North American market place. This industry accreditation program allows residential rental housing providers to positively distinguish their buildings from the competition while providing tenants (consumers) with a “quality assurance” alternative when selecting their apartment home. The speaker in this session will provide a detailed overview of the program’s components and metrics included in the Certified Rental Building Program. Learn more about the program that allows landlords and property managers to differentiate their buildings through embracing a defined set of standards, a rigorous audit regime, and a “leveraged brand marketing” model to provide tenants with the first ever “quality assurance” program in Ontario’s rental marketplace. 

Moderator:
John Stang, Senior Vice President, Rental Operations,
   Minto Apartments Limited

Speaker:
Ted Whitehead, Director of Certification,
   Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario
 

Session B1
TENANT RISK MANAGEMENT: FROM INCEPTION TO TERMINATION

As the overall financial strength of tenants has weakened, rental arrears have become a critical issue for owners. Gain insight into emerging issues in tenant management including major repairs, human rights, submetering, and above guideline rent increases. The speaker in this session will also examine best practices and the biggest pitfalls for tenant selection and how to manage the landlord/tenant relationship to maintain a revenue stream. Evidence and strategies for terminating tenancies and responding to tenant applications at the Landlord and Tenant Board hearings will also be discussed.

Moderator:
Brent Merrill, President & CEO, MetCap Living Management Inc.

Speaker:
Joseph Hoffer, Partner, Cohen Highley LLP

Session B2 
ACQUIRING DEBT FINANCING IN A POSTSUBPRIME ENVIRONMENT: WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE AVAILABILITY AND PRICING OF CREDIT AND RISK IN TODAY'S MARKET?





What has happened to the pricing and availability of debt financing in Canada in the current post-subprime environment? What has been the impact on underwriting and lending practices? Can borrowers expect to experience a further tightening of sources of capital and a further widening in spreads over the next twelve months? What are the major sources of debt financing and what are the yield expectations in today’s market? How much more equity will be required from borrowers?

Moderator:
Jeremy Wedgbury, Managing Director, Commercial Mortgages,
   First National Financial LLP

Panel:
Gary Chaplin, Regional Director, Origination, CIBC Mortgages Inc.
Ron Findley, Assistant Vice President & Regional Director,
   Toronto Mortgage Investments, The Great West Life Assurance Company
Vlad Volodarski, CFO, Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT
Bill Zigomanis, Managing Director, Multi-Unit Residential Mortgages,
   TD Canada Trust

Session B3 
ATTRACTING HUMAN CAPITAL: RECRUITING AND RETAINING TOP QUALITY TALENT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION
A noted apartment marketing consultant and trainer, Rick Ellis will share his 27 years of experience and expertise in finding and developing top talent in the apartment industry. This entertaining and insightful presentation will provide proven strategies for successfully managing key human resource challenges in the current environment. Issues that will be discussed include: the high cost of finding talent and the higher cost of losing good talent; compensation is not everything, but it is most things; the CEO’s role as coach and mentor, and dealing with generational talent – are millennials really that different from the boomers? Rick will also examine the top best places to work and share what these employers can teach all of us in the apartment market.

Moderator:
Derek Lobo, CEO, DALA Group of Companies / ROCK Apartment Advisors

Speaker:
Rick Ellis, President, ELLIS Consulting Group, U.S.

Session B4 
TOWER RENEWAL PROJECT: TECHNOLOGIES AND INITIATIVES TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR BUILDING
(RETROFIT STRATEGIES PART 1 OF 2)




The speakers in this session will examine a range of best practices featured as part of the Tower Renewal Project, spearheaded by Mayor David Miller. Acquire detailed technical information on how to extend the service life of the building envelope and optimize thermal performance of high-rise residential concrete towers. Issues to be discussed include state-of-the-art thermal over-cladding, combined heat and power systems, solar hot-water
heating, and on-site waste management. Economic paybacks and funding initiatives will also be addressed.

Moderator/Speaker:
Michael McClelland, Principal, E.R.A. Architects

Speaker:
Graeme Stewart, Project Architect, Tower Renewal,
   E.R.A. Architects
Natalie Maniates, Program Manager, Multi-Unit
    Residential Buildings, City of Toronto
Eleanor McAteer, Senior Engineer,
   Toronto Energy Efficiency Office
 

Session C1 
ENERGY RETROFITS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENTS THAT INCREASE PROFITS: PROGRAMS AND TECHNOLOGIES
(RETROFIT STRATEGIES PART 2 OF 2)


Greening real estate is an investment that makes good business sense as the value of the building will increase. Instead of spending on non-renewable energy costs, invest in assets that reduce those costs and create free cash flow. That free cash flow improves the value of the building. This talk will be on the financial models and measures that help the investor determine the right level of investment to make to achieve the desired return. Issues to be discussed will include energy retrofit programs, smart meters and water
conservation initiatives.

Moderator:
Sandy Mandel, President, Sanford Mandel & Associates Inc.

Panel:
Lisa Botticella, Supervisor, Service Programs,
   Toronto Water, City of Toronto
Peter Mills, COO & Co-CEO, Stratacon Inc.

Dan Predojevic, Program
   Manager, Business Markets 
   Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.
Tim Stoate, Associate Director, Mandate Related
   Finance, Toronto Atmospheric Fund

Session C2 
GREAT MARKETS ACROSS CANADA: STRATEGIES FOR SELECTION         




How does the supply of multi-unit residential properties and the demand dynamics differ in major apartment markets across Canada? How does this compare with investor pricing in these markets? What are the differences in vacancy levels, cap rates, yields, and access to finance? The speakers in this session will provide a detailed analysis of issues that are currently influencing investment opportunities in key multi-unit residential markets.

Moderator / Speaker:
Vince Brescia, President & CEO,
   Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario

Panel:
Daniel Drimmer, President, TransGlobe Property Management Services
Roberto Geremia, President, Boardwalk REIT
Alf Hendry, CEO, Homestead Land Holdings Limited
Tom Schwartz, President & CEO, CAP REIT

Session C3  
WEALTH TRANSFER & SUCCESSION PLANNING: HOW TO DIMINISH CAPITAL GAINS TAX  




The speakers in this session will examine the challenges of maintaining control of a family business and perpetuating its success from generation to generation. A range of legal, financial and tax issues will be discussed including freezes and reversible freezes, retention of control, family shareholder agreements and butterfly alternatives, and how to preserve and grow one’s wealth through a diversification plan, donations, endowment funds and reinvestment plans.

Moderator:
David Bloomstone, Vice President & Director, Commercial Brokerage,
   Realty Group, TD Securities Inc.

Panel:
Laura Barclay Herod, Associate Portfolio Manager,
   TD Waterhouse Private Investment Counsel Inc.
Jack Bernstein, Senior Tax Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP
Barry Green, CEO, Greenrock Property Management Limited

Session C4 
ADD VALUE TO APARTMENT PROPERTIES WITH A CUSTOMIZED TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY







Learn how to enhance your property’s profitability, marketability and operational efficiency through the use of technology strategy. Every stage in an apartment’s life cycle will be discussed including technology master planning, profit-building approaches to “going green”, “technomenities” for different customer segments, and market differentiators that boost your marketing programs and bottom-line revenues.

Speaker:
Herb Hauser, President,
   Midtown Technologies LLC, U.S.
 

FINANCE
TABLE 1 - Lender’s View
Jeremy Wedgbury, Managing Director, Commercial Mortgages,
   First National Financial LLP

TABLE 2 - Borrower’s View
Ugo Bizzarri, CFO & Vice President, Acquisitions,
   Timbercreek Asset Management Inc.

BUY & SELL STATEGIES
TABLE 3 - A Western Perspective
Bob Dhillon, President & CEO, Mainstreet Equity Corp.

TABLE 4 - An International Perspective
Tyler Seaman, Vice President, Global Principal Investment,
   Oxford Properties Group Inc.

TABLE 5 - A Coast-to-Coast Perspective
Tom Schwartz, President & CEO, CAP REIT

TABLE 6 - Working for the Buyer
Derek Lobo, CEO, DALA Group of Companies/ROCK Apartment Advisors

TABLE 7 - Working for the Seller
Gregory Bell, Vice President, Multi-Residential,
   Cushman & Wakefield LePage Inc.

OPPORTUNITIES IN SMALLER MARKETS
TABLE 8
Aik Aliferis, Principal/Broker, Primecorp Commercial Realty Inc.

MARKETING & SALES STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
TABLE 9
Sheryl Erenberg, President, Sheryl Erenberg & Associates

NEW STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING THE VALUE OF YOUR BUILDING
TABLE 10 - Financial & Business Management Strategies
Lorrie King, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP

TABLE 11 - Energy Retrofit & Ancillary Income Streams
Mark Kenney, Vice President, Operations, CAP REIT

OPEN FORUM
TABLE 12 - Bring Your Questions
Daniel Drimmer, President, TransGlobe Property Management Services

TABLE 13 - Bring Your Questions
Roberto Geremia, President, Boardwalk REIT