7:00 AM

REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

8:00 AM

OPENING REMARKS: PROGRAM OVERVIEW

8:05 AM

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR ALBERTA AND CANADA: WILL THE STRONG MARKET CONTINUE OUT WEST?

The opening presentation will examine the economic fundamentals that are driving the Canadian Economy in general and the performance of Edmonton and Alberta in particular. Mr. Lefebvre will discuss a range of related issues including expected Canadian and U.S. interest rates for the next 12–18 months, the outlook for the Canadian dollar, market liquidity, energy prices and the rates of inflation and bond yields. Now that we are seeing an improving economic environment, where are the best opportunities for investment? How do the prospects for Edmonton compare with other major Canadian cities?

Speaker:
Mario Lefebvre, Director of the Centre for Municipal Studies, The Conference Board of Canada

8:30 AM

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE ALBERTA OIL AND NATURAL GAS SECTORS: IMPACT ON EDMONTON TODAY

This insightful presentation on the outlook for the Alberta energy sector over the short and medium term will focus on both major producers as well as junior explorers. Among the questions that will be examined – Where are oil and gas prices heading in the second half of 2012 and beyond? What are the implications of these energy prices for capital investment in Edmonton and Alberta? To what extent will the oil and gas sectors continue to evolve as two very different markets? How much research, exploration and development are likely to occur in the foreseeable future? How are junior producers performing in the current market and what lies ahead for them?

Speaker:
Matthew Foss, Associate Branch Head of Economics and Markets, Alberta Energy

9:00 AM

WHY INVEST IN EDMONTON? STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AS A CITY — HOW DOES EDMONTON PRESERVE AND BUILD ON THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE — WHAT IS THE EDMONTON STORY?

Hear from a panel of leading Edmonton based companies as they share their stories of success and how they have preserved and built on the competitive advantage the city has to offer. What is their formula and how can they continue to build on their achievements? In general, more companies need to do a better job of positioning their firms as the place where everyone wants to be for growing opportunity and quality of life. These leaders will show their cards and share real stories that have propelled them to be successful leaders in Edmonton and the province. The panel will also address the growing labour issues and how they see this question being addressed going forward as well as provide an extensive review on current and future investment trends in Edmonton and Alberta.

Moderator:
Irving Kipnes, Managing Director, Delcon Development Group Ltd.

Panel:
Paul Douglas, CEO, PCL Constructors Inc.
Timothy C. Melton, Executive Chairman, Melcor Developments Ltd.
Indira Samarasekera, President, University of Alberta

10:00 AM

MORNING REFRESHMENTS

10:20 AM

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (Select A1, A2 or A3)

Session A1:
AN ANALYSIS ON THE EDMONTON OFFICE MARKET FROM 50,000 FEET

With significant absorption in the downtown area, where is the office market going in Edmonton? There is limited supply of modern office space in the city and with the economy in Alberta heating up again, what options are present for tenants today and at what pace will landlords increase rental rates? With continued strength from the energy sectors resulting in increased space demands, where will significant sized deals be done? How will this affect the suburban office market and is it feasible to expect discussions for new office developments in both the downtown and suburban office markets? The panel will examine these questions and address the growth of the office market over the next 12–24 months.

Moderator:
Cory Wosnack, Principal, Avison Young Canada

Panel:
Randy Cameron, Senior Vice President, Dundee REIT
Murray Lange, Vice President, Real Estate, Aspen Properties Ltd.
Kathleen McCabe, Director of Real Estate Services, Stantec Inc.
Darin Rayburn, Executive Vice President, Melcor Developments Ltd.

Session A2:
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES FOR INVESTORS IN TODAY’S ENVIRONMENT

This session will examine the issues, challenges and opportunities for various classes of investors in today’s dynamic market. With a wall of capital sourcing product what strategies are they executing in order to continue to grow their portfolios? A wide-ranging panel discussion will then examine the following questions:

• Do current fundamentals support acquisitions?
• Is there any clarity in this market concerning the pricing of real estate?
• To what extent are CAPEX requirements factored into pricing?
• How do you value an asset today: cap rate, IRR, price psf?
• What challenges are investors facing when buying assets in Edmonton?
• What do they expect to do over the next year?
• What are the geographic or property type preferences?
• Is there a strong bias towards assets in urban vs. secondary markets among investors and lenders?
• How does the current debt environment impact your investment decisions?

Moderator:
John O’Bryan, Vice Chairman, CBRE Limited

Panel:
Phil Gillin, Senior Managing Director, Head of Canadian Property Investments, Sunlife Assurance Company of Canada
John McKinlay, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP
Bruce Traversy, Principal, Dundee Real Estate Asset Management
Dave Young, Senior Vice President, CBRE Limited

Session A3:
THE NEW WORKFORCE: ATTRACTING, RETAINING, DEVELOPING AND ENGAGING FUTURE LEADERS

One of the biggest challenges facing Edmonton today is the shortage of talented personnel. Many companies are struggling to find and maintain younger staff to help develop their organizations. With baby boomers starting to retire and a smaller pool of talent in Gen Y and Gen X, organizations must focus on succession, develop younger talent, and create an attractive work environment. The panel will share their best strategies for successful planning and developing young talent in a heated economy.

Moderator:
Michael Bacchus, CEO, Conroy Ross Partners Limited

Panel:
Angela Fong, Chief Corporate & Human Resources Officer, AIMCo
Ashif Mawji, CEO, Upside Software
Jared Smith, CEO, Incite Marketing
Krista Uggerslev, Applied Research Fellow JR Shaw School of Business, NAIT

11:25 AM

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (Select B1, B2, B3 or B4)

Session B1:
HAS THE APARTMENT MARKET OUT-PERFORMED ALL OTHER ASSET CLASSES IN EDMONTON? WHAT IS THIS SECTOR LIKELY TO DO IN THE NEXT 12–18 MONTHS?

For many, the staple of any well-diversified real estate portfolio are still multi-family properties. Investor confidence in this sector continues to attract funds from a broad range of sources. The predictable yields and strong cash flows continue to keep this sector as the one of the most reliable of all the real estate asset classes. The growth of the apartment market, not only in Edmonton but also in other major urban centers, has not resulted in a deathwatch for cap rates and apartment investment values. Why does this continue to be the case? This session will examine the major investor trends and their risk tolerance, as well as the opportunities for innovation within this asset class. How are occupancy rates in major markets across the country? How much new development is currently underway in Edmonton? Where are cap rates at this time and what direction are they likely to take in 2012?

Moderator:
Derek Lobo, President, ROCK Advisors Inc.

Panel:
Allan Carr, Senior Vice President, Midwest Property Management
Bob Dhillon, President & CEO, Mainstreet Equities Corporation
Amit Grover, Vice President, Multi-Family Sales, Colliers International Edmonton
Mark Kenney, Chief Operating Officer, CAP REIT
Kevin Screpnechuk, President, Screpco Investments Corp.

Session B2:
THE EDMONTON BAROMETER — AN UPDATE ON THE INDUSTRIAL MARKET

With the changing economy, industrial real estate development has been directly affected as various sectors look for opportunity. As commodity prices increase, there is a renewed interest in industrial markets. Is this a false recovery? How have land prices, lease rates and industrial development been affected? The panel will review projections for 2012 and 2013 and outline potential market activity trends that help decision making in this transitioning market. What are the trickle down affects from oil prices? What are drawbacks other than costs and labour? How have other cities addressed the impact of similar commodities? What are the solutions? What is the long-term impact of oil on the industrial sector?

Moderator:
Andy Horvath, Partner, Cushman & Wakefield Ltd.

Panel:
Bill Bird, Senior Vice President, Industrial, WAM Development Group
Murray DeGirolamo, Vice President, Industrial, Western Canada, Hopewell Development Corporation
Kelly Pawlik, Director, Industrial Leasing, Oxford Properties Group
David Warkentin, Senior Vice President, Investments, GPM Investment Management

Session B3:
WILL CAPITAL AND CREDIT REMAIN CHEAP AND ACCESSIBLE IN 2012?

While lending policies and spreads have not returned to pre-2008 levels, the past year saw an increase in the availability of well-priced debt capital in Canada. This session will focus specifically on what borrowers can expect in 2012 and 2013. Some of the questions that will be examined include: How much debt capital will be available for commercial mortgages and from what sources? Who will be the major providers in Canada and what will they be looking for? How will the strategies of banks, insurance companies, pension funds and other institutions vary from those of private sources of debt capital? How will lenders be evaluating a deal in next year’s market? How will risk be priced? What is likely to happen with loan spreads, amortization periods, loan to value ratios, and recourse? What property classes will lenders be avoiding, reducing exposure to, or increasing pricing for? The panel will also ask whether the CMBS market will ever return and whether it matters if it does.

Moderator:
Brandon Kot, Vice President, Origination, Canada ICI Capital Corporation

Panel:
Rick Bachalo, Vice President, Mortgage Investments, Western Canada & Portfolio Management, The Great West-Life Assurance Company
Chris Fowler, Chief Operating Officer, CWB Group
Scott Russill, Portfolio Manager, Mortgage Investments, AIMCO 
Don Schultz, Director, Real Estate and Hospitality, ATB Corporate Financial Services

12:25 PM

INFORMAL LUNCHEON & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY

LUNCHEON REFRESHMENTS

12:45 PM

LUNCHEON KEYNOTE

Speaker: TBA

1:00 PM

KEYNOTE LUNCHEON SPEAKER

Speaker:
Honourable Alison Redford, Premier of Alberta

1:45 PM

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (Select C1, C2 or C3)

Session C1:
A CHANGING LANDSCAPE — THE IMPACT OF U.S. RETAILERS AND LEASING IN THE EDMONTON MARKET

How are retailers performing in the improving economy and what new retailers are setting up in Edmonton? As shoppers become more discerning, could multiple sales platforms become the new normal in retail? What creativity and innovation can owners of retail space use to remain the most relevant attraction for the consumer? With the continued wave of new U.S. retailers coming into Edmonton, what impact has this had on current retailers and how has the traditional business model had to adjust? In addition, how are retailers adjusting to the increased activity of online shopping? The panel will also discuss land and construction prices.

Moderator:
Lance Frazier, Broker, DTZ Barnicke

Panel:
Lec Mroczek, Manager, Real Estate & Development, Tim Horton’s
Tom Munro, Vice President – Real Estate & Store Development, Overwaitea Food Group 
Cameron Naqvi, Vice President, Leasing & Development, Cameron Development Corporation
Gregory Orysiuk, Director, Retail Leasing, Oxford Properties Group

Session C2:
BRANDING YOUR BUILDINGS & REAL ESTATE ORGANIZATION BETTER: UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW TO USE IT

The world of real estate marketing is at a tipping point. From the old days when a few print ads, a brochure and some hoarding was all it took to create a line-up of buyers on opening day, to the new world where social media, digital media, and traditional media must be combined and filled with journalism-style stories to earn a prospect registration, the entire rule book has been re-written. How can you play-to-win in this new arena? How do you get attention in today’s media marketplace? What role do traditional media play in a digital world? How can you use social media to your advantage? How can you make sure your real estate development is noticed, and that the right people are reaching out to your sales team?

Ever since the recession hit like the proverbial ton of bricks, a “new normal” has been the hallmark of success. This session will provide concrete, tangible steps you can take back to the office and apply immediately to your marketing efforts, and a timely perspective on the new realities of new home marketing. Whether you are building residential urban towers, master-planned communities, suburban town homes or recreational offerings, you’ll leave this session with great ideas that can help you succeed.

Speaker:
David Allison, President, Braun/Allison Inc.

Session C3:
EFFECTIVE BOOMTOWN POLICIES — THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN FORT McMURRAY

This panel discussion will examine the market fundamentals and dynamics of activity in Fort McMurray and provide an update on the discussion at last year’s Forum. What are the trends and opportunities in Fort McMurray? What is the current real estate play in this city and what are the prospects over the next 5 to 10 years? What are the challenges around attracting retail, expanding housing and provisioning post-secondary residence? Are the servicing issues improving? Has the Government of Alberta helped or exacerbated the issues and challenges over the last 12 months?

Moderator:
John Ross, Managing Director, Avison Young Canada (download presentation)

Panel:
Dennis Doherty, President, Pacific Investments and Developments
Michael Evans, Executive Director of Stakeholder Relations, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (download presentation)
Bradley Gingerich, Senior Vice President, CBRE Limited
Ron Mosher, Senior Vice President, Camgill Enterprises Ltd.

2:45 PM

AFTERNOON REFRESHMENTS

3:00 PM

FINAL COMMENTS: EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON EDMONTON

Summarizing the broad range of issues raised during the conference a panel of well-respected senior real estate executives will share their insights and perspectives on what they believe are the most critical issues and market trends facing their business plans and the industry in general over the next year. Taking into consideration the current economic condition and the numerous discussions from the day’s events, they will provide the last word on the Edmonton Real Estate market. What changes need to be addressed for Edmonton to continue to grow?

Moderator:
Phil Milroy, President & CEO, Westcorp Properties Inc.

Panel:
Michael Cooper, President & CEO, Dundee Real Estate Asset Management
Blake Hutcheson, President & CEO, Oxford Properties Group
Scott Hutcheson, Chairman & CEO, Aspen Properties Ltd.
Andrew Megson, President, Springwood Land Corp.

4:00 PM

CLOSING COMMENTS

Craig Sneddon, Partner, KPMG LLP

4:05 PM

CHAIRMAN’S RECEPTION