7:00 AM 

REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

8:00 AM

OPENING REMARKS: PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Introduction of the Forum Chair:

Forum Chair:
Avtar Bains, President, Premise Properties

8:05 AM

LOOKING FORWARD: ECONOMIC & REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK

The last few months have been rocky for some parts of Canada. As we enter the second half of the year what are the expectations for economic growth in BC and Metro Vancouver? Will BC keep pace with the rest of Canada or lead the way? How is Canada, British Columbia and Vancouver placed internationally? What impact will the continued growth in the US have on Canada? This presentation will focus on employment, GDP growth, interest rates, inflation and real estate conditions, as well as economic developments around the world.

Speaker:
Benjamin Tal, Chief Economist, CIBC World Markets

8:35 AM

ENERGIZING THE ENERGY MARKETS

Hear from one of the country’s foremost experts as they review and examine the current state of the energy market in Canada and its role on the international stage. What opportunities still exist for BC? How can BC be a real player in the energy sector and what does that mean for Vancouver?

Speaker:
David Keane, President, BC LNG Alliance

9:05 AM

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: FOREIGN INVESTMENT ACTIVITY IN VANCOUVER

It’s no secret that Vancouver has benefitted from investment from Asia, particularly China. Some suggest that this is just the beginning and that in the coming years Asian investors will turn to Canada more often, with more wealth. With an in-depth knowledge of the Asian market and the Vancouver landscape, this panel will examine what impact they expect to see in the coming years – and what opportunities exist.

Moderator:
Douglas Goold, Director, National Conversation on Asia, Asia Pacific Foundation

Panel: 
Bruce Clarke, President, Peterson
Jim L. Szabo, Vice Chairman, CBRE Limited | Capital Markets
Stephen Wong, Managing Director, Atelier Capital Partners Inc.

10:00 AM

MORNING REFRESHMENTS

10:20 AM

In just over a year the frenzy of new office construction will come to completion. With over 2.2 million square feet of space on the market who are the winners and who are the losers? Is there demand for new inventory and if so, from which sector? What happens to the older product? What will the Vancouver office market look like in 2016? Will it mark the end of a 10-year office boom, or is there more to come? Are developers and leasing agents banking on LNG and tech?

Moderator:
Pete Morrish, Principal, Canada ICI

Panel:
Scott Coates, Managing Director, KingSett Mortgage Corporation
Chris Enns, Vice President, Trez Capital
Carol Frketich, Regional Economist, BC, Market Analysis Centre, CMHC
Herman Kwan, Managing Director, MCAP Development Finance Group
Scott Weiss, Vice President, Real Estate Lending, BC Region, CWB

Book Sponsor:

Over the next 5 years over 25% of the population will be over the age of 50. While people are working into the later years of life, many owners and managers struggle with working with a younger, tech-savvy, socially connected generation as well as who will take over the business when they finally retire. Who is stepping up to effectively manage this growing concern? What is the right formula to build a good transition plan? How do companies manage the diverse interests, needs and expectations of multi-generational teams? What approaches are organizations taking to keep talent in an effort to groom them for leadership?

Moderator:
David C. Bentall, Founder, Next Step Advisors Inc.

Panel:
Colin Bosa, CEO, Bosa Properties Inc.
Carmen S. Theriault, Partner, Wealth Preservation, Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP
David Wesik, Vice President, Corporate Development & Operations, Wesgroup Properties
Dr. Benjamin Yeung, Executive Chair & CEO, Peterson

11:20 AM

One might assume that with a busy port, proximity to the US border and the number of head offices in the retail sector the industrial market would be overwhelmed with demand. But is this the case? How is the retail market impacting the industrial sector today? Is it true that Vancouver is losing out to markets like Calgary? What solutions are there to increasing inventory? Are these solutions viable – and if so – why hasn’t anyone taken the plunge? And what does the panel really think about multi-story warehousing property?

Moderator:
Paul Tilbury, COO, Dayhu Group of Companies

Panel:
Darren Cannon, Executive Vice President, Colliers International
Murray DeGirolamo, Executive Vice President, Hopewell
Chris Holtved, Senior Portfolio Manager, Real Estate, HOOPP | Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan
Jeff Miller, Vice President, Industrial, Oxford Properties Group
Todd Yuen, President, Industrial, Beedie Development Group

In 2014, investors took the plunge buying more Lower Mainland apartment buildings than in previous years. With intent to retrofit or demolish these buildings, this heightened activity is a case of little supply, high-demand. What is driving investors? Is it lower mortgage and interest rates or is it simply to have a piece of Vancouver dirt? Who is buying up these properties? Is this a new trend or just good timing?

Moderator:
Al Poettcker, President & CEO, UBC Properties Trust

Panel:
Ward Jones, President, WIP Investment Corporation
Hani Lammam, Executive Vice President, Cressey Development Group
Anthony Lanni, Vice President, Asset Management, Residential, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP
Daniel Sander, President, Hollyburn Properties Ltd.

Session B3:
WORKING WITH FIRST NATIONS – AN OPEN DISCUSSION

What opportunities exist in working with First Nation’s groups? What unique challenges do investors face? What are some key points to consider in working with first nation’s groups interested in development? Who are the leaders? What are some examples of successful projects?

Moderator:
Stefan Moores, President, The Castlemain Group

Panel:
Clint Davis, Vice President, Aboriginal Banking, TD Bank Financial Group
Chris Hartman, CEO, TFN Economic Development Corporation
David Jimmie, CEO, Squiala First Nation
Eric Van Maren, Partner, Van Maren Group of Companies

12:20 PM

RECEPTION

LUNCHEON

1:00 PM

Speaker:
Iain Black, President & CEO, Vancouver Board of Trade

Mega malls, designer outlets, new US retailers, downtown vacancies…what’s the story? Retail is ever evolving on the Lower Mainland and in the last 3 years this sector has seen both ups and downs. From the failed launch of Target to Victoria’s Secret moving in downtown, the announcement of a Nordstrom’s to the redevelopment of King George Station, the Park Royal renovation…and on and on. What other changes can we expect to take place? Who is driving the retail train? Are all sectors performing well? Which ones are struggling? Which mixed-use projects are working? Which ones are slow to fill?

Moderator:
Jennifer Podmore-Russell, Real Estate Advisory Leader, Deloitte

Panel:
Stephen Knight, CEO, Sitings Realty
Scott Lee, Principal & Director, Northwest Atlantic (BC) Broker Inc.
Clint Mahlmann, CEO & Executive Vice President, London Drugs Limited
Bob Tattle, Vice President, Anthem Properties

Now that the US seems to have found its footing, are there still good opportunities in the US for investment, or it becoming too expensive? Are Canadian REITs still buying up product in Arizona, California and other parts of the States? What other markets offer opportunity for growth and development? Which classes hold the best opportunity for growth – both long term and short term? Who are the major players? How have interest rate changes impacted the game?

Moderator:
Amy Erixon, Principal & Managing Director, Investments, Avison Young

Panel:
Mark Hannah, Director, Nicola Crosby Real Estate
Mark Hannah, Director, Nicola Crosby Real Estate
Anthony Miachika, Managing Director, USA, Terrizona Investments
Richard Weir, Executive Vice President, Real Estate & Development, Bosa Development Corporation

Learn how the demographics in Vancouver have changed in the last 10 years and how they are expected to change in the coming 10. What impact does this have on residential, commercial and retail activity? What shifts are taking place and how should investors start planning? Is change inevitable and if so, what does that look like? Is Vancouver unique, or are there lessons to be learned from other international cities and market?

Speaker:
Dr. Tsur Somerville, Director, UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate & Real Estate Foundation of BC Professorship in Real Estate Finance

2:45 PM

AFTERNOON REFRESHMENTS

3:05 PM

CLOSING ROUNDTABLE: TOP PREDICTIONS

Drawing on their experience, trials and tribulations, successes and wins this panel of national senior real estate executives will share their predictions for the second half of 2015 and first part of 2016. If they were to take a gamble where would they place their bets? What trends do they see developing for Vancouver and the Lower Mainland? Who do they turn to as they plan for the future?

Moderator:
Avtar Bains, President, Premise Properties

Panel:
Remco Daal, President & COO, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP
Michael Kitt, Executive Vice President, Canada, Oxford Properties Group
Mark Renzoni, President & CEO, CBRE Limited
Bill Tucker, CEO, Omicron Canada

4:00 PM

CLOSING COMMENTS