In 2017, Alberta’s economy had a nation-leading 4.5% GDP growth. Calgary continues to lead the country in annual GDP growth per capita. What are the main factors responsible for this trend? Energy investment has not resurfaced on a significant basis. The impact of stalled pipeline construction, unexpected major oil pricing differentials, and U.S. tariffs have taken some toll on Calgary’s economy. How is Alberta expected to perform in 2020? Where are the key economic fundamentals heading?
Speaker:
Doug Porter, Chief Economist, BMO Capital Markets
The past twelve months have seen a continuation of the shifting political landscape across Canada, in the U.S., in Asia and Europe. One of Canada’s most prominent political commentators of the past 40 years will provide his insights on the results of the October federal election; the performance of new provincial governments elected in the past 18 months (Alberta, Ontario and Québec); the potential implications of the ongoing trade wars initiated by the U.S. with Canada, Mexico and China among other countries; the likelihood of the ratification of CUSMA; the post Brexit situation in the EU; and the U.S. political environment in preparation for the 2020 elections. What is the impact of all these trends on the Alberta economy?
Introduction:
William Plowman, Director, Commercial Solutions, Southern Alberta, FCT
Speaker:
Allan Gregg, one of Canada’s most recognized and respected senior social research professionals and political commentators.
Calgary has experienced various economic peaks and valleys that have been tied to swings in the energy market. To what extent are other economic engines becoming a bright light for the future of city beyond hydrocarbons? How many are aware that Calgary is one of the only North American cities that has both a major railroad and a major airline headquartered in the city? In 2018, why did the Economist rank Calgary as the most livable city in North America and No. 4 in the world? To what extent is the city’s economy becoming more diversified? What is being done to accelerate this trend? How will the ten-year strategic plan created last year advance this goal? A conversation with CEOs of major transportation/logistics and technology companies will examine several major success stories as well as these and other questions.
Mary Moran
Charles Duncan
James Lochrie
Marcos Lopez
Moderator:
Mary Moran, President & CEO, Calgary Economic Development
In Conversation with:
Charles Duncan, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, WestJet
James Lochrie, Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder, Wave
Marcos Lopez, Head of Shareworks by Morgan Stanley
A brief overview of commercial property tax trends in the City of Calgary. What has happened over the past five years? What are the implications for developers, owners and tenants? What steps can be taken to modify the impact?
Speaker:
Kyle Fletcher, Executive Vice President, Prairie Region, Property Tax, Altus Group
As Calgary’s office market moves to absorb its significant levels of vacant space, what do landlords need to understand about how the needs of tenants – in all industries – are evolving and changing? Markets in many other major cities are experiencing a surge and strong growth of coworking office environments. One result is a range of business models and solutions provided by a number of firms and the evolution of the concept of WorkPlace-as-a-Service (WaaS). This session will focus on the landlord and tenant decision drivers and response to the demand for this space, its amenitization, the implications for leasing, and how to properly assign value to flexible leases. To what extent are these and other changes in tenant office environments entering the Calgary market?
Alexi Olcheski
Wayne Berger
Scott Dutchak
Brett Koroluk
Erynn Lyster
Judy MacDougall
Moderator:
Alexi Olcheski, Principal, Avison Young
Panel:
Wayne Berger, Chief Executive Officer, Canada & Latin America, IWG
Scott Dutchak, Vice President, Corporate Real Estate & Sustainability, TELUS
Brett Koroluk, Vice President, Asset Management, Slate Asset Management L.P.
Erynn Lyster, Proprietress & Creative Director, The Commons Calgary
Judy MacDougall, Principal, Kasian
In 2007, city council created the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) with a mandate to revitalize the Rivers District beginning with the East Village. Inspired by some of the world’s most liveable places, the master plan established the framework for creating a vibrant, mixed-use, creative city neighbourhood. This presentation will focus on major developments that CMLC is leading at this time: the continued renewal of East Village (Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood), East Victoria Park and the highly anticipated BMO Centre Expansion (expanding the City’s Cultural and Entertainment District). What do these major developments mean for Calgary? Will these projects be catalysts that will lead to complementary private sector revitalization initiatives?
Randy Magnussen
Michael Brown
Moderator:
Randy Magnussen, Chairman, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation
Speaker:
Michael Brown, President & CEO, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation
Aside from the risks that have been assigned to the Calgary economy since 2014, the credit market has remained active. While real estate continues to attract strong amounts of capital, how are lenders and sources of debt and equity capital viewing Calgary? Where is the cost of capital heading? Who are the most active lenders in this market and what are they looking for? How are they assessing a deal and pricing it? Are there any property classes that lenders are avoiding, reducing exposure to, or increasing pricing for? How will the strategies vary among the various types of debt lenders – from major banks and MICs to credits unions and private sources? How much market share do non-bank lenders now have? How available is construction financing and loans for smaller to larger assets and projects?
David Loo
Elvira Dubé
Ricardo Estrada
Jessica Harland
Kris Heron
Moderator:
David Loo, Vice President, Finance, Hopewell Development
Panel:
Elvira Dubé, Senior Vice President, Commercial Mortgages, Addenda Capital Inc.
Ricardo Estrada, Senior Director, Commercial Mortgages, Prairies & Territories, Sun Life Financial
Jessica Harland, Vice President, Real Estate Finance, CMLS Financial
Kris Heron, Partner, MillarForan
This session will examine the performance of multi-residential in Calgary with a focus on purpose-built and the rental market. The discussion will open with an overview of homeownership and rental demand. What direction are they heading? What are the implications for rental rates and home prices? How much purpose-built apartment construction is underway? How strong is investor interest in Calgary rental assets? Where are sale prices and rents headed for the remainder of 2019 and into 2020?
Samuel Dean
Paul Battistella
Robert Moskovitz
Marcel Parsons
Kimberly Poffenroth
Moderator:
Samuel Dean, Senior Vice President, Capital Markets, Multi-Family Alberta, JLL
Panel:
Paul Battistella, Managing Partner, Battistella Developments
Robert Moskovitz, Vice President, Development & Operations, Landstar Communities
Marcel Parsons, Vice President, Asset Management, GWL Realty Advisors
Kimberly Poffenroth, Vice President, Business Development & Market Analysts (Alberta), Urban Analytics Inc.
Peter is an economist, investment strategist, advisor, author podcaster and public speaker on issues vital to the future of energy and Canada’s role in meeting evolving energy demand. He will provide clarity around the common facts and fallacies pertaining to the energy markets in Canada and specifically Alberta. What is expected to happen with oil prices in 2020 and beyond? How will the results of the federal election impact the future of energy sector in this province?
Introduction by:
Matt Rachiele, Manager Director, Calgary Brokerage, Colliers International
Speaker:
Peter Tertzakian, Executive Director, ARC Energy Research Institute
Notwithstanding the sluggish office market and economic softness of the past few years, development activity carries on in various parts of Calgary. The session will examine a number of projects to determine the primary market fundamentals and other factors responsible for these developments. With various station plans for the future Green Line underway, how much transit-oriented development is there likely to be? Discussion will also include: the 84-acre master planned West District with about 2,700 units and 5,500 jobs in office and retail; one of the purpose-built rental projects; the Greenwich development along Highway 1; and the continued activity in the “established areas” of the city like Kensington.
Fraser Dyer
Patrick Briscoe
Graeme Melton
Travis Oberg
Jacob Weber
Moderator:
Fraser Dyer, Senior Director & General Manager & Research, Valuation & Advisory, Altus Group
Panel:
Patrick Briscoe, Vice President, Development, Graywood Development
Graeme Melton, Vice President, Community Development, Calgary, Melcor Developments Ltd.
Travis Oberg, Senior Development Manager, West Campus Development Trust
Jacob Weber, Vice President, Development, Royop Development Corporation
The repurposing of a building is a strategy that often requires some creative thinking. As Calgary’s current office vacancy rate sits in the mid-20%, the conversation is growing about repurposing some of these assets predominately into multi-residential. What is involved in such an adaptive re-use strategy? What are the expected and unexpected costs to consider? How much support is required from the city, and its approval process? Who would move into these converted spaces? What other repurposing strategies have creative entrepreneurs undertaken? This session will examine various case studies and what role municipal policies can play in facilitating this process.
Greg Kwong
Marco Civitarese
Brian Rowland
Ken Toews
Moderator:
Greg Kwong, Executive Vice President & Regional Managing Director, Alberta, CBRE Limited
Panel:
Marco Civitarese, Chief Building Official & Manager, City of Calgary
Brian Rowland, Associate, Zeidler Architecture
Ken Toews, Senior Vice President, Development, Strategic Group
No other real estate property class has attracted as much chatter in recent years as retail. Once a favourite of investors, this property class is now facing many increased challenges. Calgary has witnessed Canadian, U.S. and European retailers opening stores, closing them or looking for fresh approaches to their formats. While there is a range of views on how online shopping is impacting the Canadian retail market, it is clear that the landscape is shifting. With a vacancy rate of below 5%, how are regional malls performing vs. power centres vs. strip centres vs. grocery anchored centres vs. street retail? This session will examine these and other trends, and discuss the facts and fallacies pertaining to the evolution of the Canadian retail real estate market from an investor, developer and retailer perspective.
Robert Walker
Matthew Dunn
Karen Hachey
Doug Porozni
Eve Renaud
Moderator:
Rob Walker, Senior Vice President, Colliers International
Panel:
Matthew Dunn, Area Real Estate Manager, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada
Karen Hachey, Senior Director, Leasing, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited
Doug Porozni, President, Ronmor Developers Inc.
Eve Renaud, Vice President, Rencor Developments Inc.
Notwithstanding the economic issues, Calgary was still Canada’s fastest growing metropolitan area based on the 2016 census and is now the 4th largest CMA in the country. This session will examine the various communities that surround Calgary. What is the level of real estate activity in these markets? For example, Airdrie – just six kilometres north of Calgary’s city limits – is poised to reap the benefits of growing demand for residential and industrial land in the region. What developments are on the horizon for adjacent communities such as Balzac, Cochrane, High River and Rocky View? To what extent are lower taxes, population growth, appropriate infrastructure, and favourable municipal planning policies and approval processes attracting developers and investors?
Jonathan Ryder
Jorden Dawson
David Kalinchuk
Thilo Kaufmann
Bernie Morton
Moderator:
Jonathan Ryder, Partner, Dentons Canada LLP
Panel:
Jorden Dawson, Director, Industrial Development, Beedie
David Kalinchuk, Economic Development Manager, Rocky View County
Thilo Kaufmann, General Manager, Assets, Qualico Communities Calgary
Bernie Morton, Chief Administrator Officer & Director of Emergency Management, City of Chestermere
To what extent has Calgary’s industrial market proven a desirable commodity? Vacancy in 2019 Q1 was 7.6% notwithstanding the absorption of almost 2 million sq. ft. of new supply that was added to inventory. What factors are responsible for this demand? Are eCommerce and the logistics sector the key as tenants seek state-of-the-art space with greater efficiency? Forecasts have predicted some tightening market conditions and slight growth in net rent values. To what extent are new projects locating outside of the city in surrounding rural municipalities due to overall cost factors and timing of approvals? What notable developments are underway or in final planning stages?
Paul Marsden
Phil Brown
Jeff Hyde
Reg Johnston
William Secnik
Moderator:
Paul Marsden, Executive Vice President, Partner, Industrial Sales & Leasing, Colliers International
Panel:
Phil Brown, Vice President, Acquisitions & Leasing, Industrial, Hopewell Development
Jeff Hyde, Senior Vice President, Development Prairies, QuadReal Property Group
Reg Johnston, Owner, RJ T&L Consulting Ltd.
William Secnik, Senior Vice President, Investments, Fiera Real Estate
This session will examine investment activity in the Calgary market, starting with a brief overview of some of the most significant transactions that have occurred over the last twelve months. What property classes appear to be favoured by investors? What are some of the challenges investors face when looking to acquire assets in this market? When it comes to Calgary, what is the perceived value of buildings that are facing low rent and high vacancy? Who has the strongest interest in the Calgary market, e.g. pension funds, lifecos, investment funds, REITs or private investors? How does the investment market in Calgary compare with other Canadian cities? Looking ahead, what can be expected of cap rates in 2020 in each property class?
Jason Cottle
Michael Cornelissen
Rob Kumer
Kevin Leon
Moderator:
Jason Cottle, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets Real Estate Group
Panel:
Michael Cornelissen, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions, LaSalle Investment Management
Rob Kumer, Chief investment Officer, KingSett Capital
Kevin Leon, President, Crestpoint Real Estate Investment Ltd.
The session will examine the dynamic scope of initiatives and policies that the City of Calgary is undertaking in a challenging fiscal environment to assist landlords and developers in proceeding with new projects as well as retrofitting existing buildings over the short and long term. Discussion will include Centre City Enterprise Area, pop-up or interim uses in vacant spaces, crucial work within the Established Area including potential City investment that leverages private capital, and evaluation of potential levy payments by developers to address dated infrastructure. How can these initiatives aid developers that work in established communities and facilitate continuous improvements in Calgary?
Chris Ollenberger
Sarah Alexander
Kathy Davies Murphy
Grace Lui
Thom Mahler
Kathy Oberg
Moderator:
Chris Ollenberger, Managing Principal, QuantumPlace Developments Ltd.
Panel:
Sarah Alexander, Manager, Growth Funding & Investment, City of Calgary
Kathy Davies Murphy, Manager, Growth & Strategic Services, City of Calgary
Grace Lui, Director, Strategic Initiatives & Government Relations, Alberta Health Services
Thom Mahler, Manager, Urban Strategy, City of Calgary
Kathy Oberg, Managing Partner, B&A Planning Group
Technology is changing the world at an unprecedented speed and the real estate industry is not exempt from this transformation. The intersection of real estate and technology is referred to as PropTech in addition to smart buildings, smart cities and other terms. It has been said that “Technology changes exponentially; organizations change logarithmically.” You need to understand it, embrace it, and bring it to your decision table at all levels of management. What are examples of technological innovations that can impact your real estate assets, your overall portfolio, your firm, and your clients? Discussion will focus on various examples of PropTech initiatives, the outcomes, challenges and risks and the impact to the local/Alberta economy. Where is technological transformation heading and how do we best prepare for it?
Jennifer Sicilia
Tim Coldwell
Michael Rijavec
David Simpson
Moderator:
Jennifer Sicilia, Vice President & General Manager, RYCOM Corporation
Panel:
Tim Coldwell, President, Chandos Construction
Michael Rijavec, Senior Project Manager, Capital Management/Project Management, Alberta Health Services
David Simpson, General Manager, Bow Valley Square, Oxford Properties Group
A roundtable discussion with diverse group of senior real estate executives as they provide their insights on the Calgary market for the remainder of 2020 and beyond. What do they see occurring over the next twelve months? What is their strategic thinking going forward? What factors are key to their decision-making? As investors? As developers?
Murray DeGirolamo
Tony Astles
Tom Burns
Randy Ferguson
Blair Welch
Moderator:
Murray DeGirolamo, President, Hopewell Development
Panel:
Tony Astles, Managing Partner, Head of Canadian Real Estate Services, BentallGreenOak (Canada) LP
Tom Burns, Executive Vice President & COO, Allied Properties REIT
Randy Ferguson, President, Strategic Group
Blair Welch, Founding Partner, Slate Asset Management L.P.