Lions Gate Hospital expansion approved

A new acute care facility for Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver has been approved by the B.C. government.

The new acute care building will be a six-storey tower with 108 beds, eight new operating rooms and a medical-device reprocessing department. The plan includes more single rooms for people and expanded surgical services.

The tower will be located on the site of the hospital’s former Activation Building, which was demolished in spring 2017. The estimated cost of the new acute care building is $166 million, with funding provided by government through Vancouver Coastal Health and a fundraising campaign by Lions Gate Hospital Foundation.

“With the approval of the business plan, we are now officially moving forward with the new acute care tower at Lions Gate Hospital, so residents on the North Shore can access state-of-the art, quality public health care,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “I know community members have advocated for years for this to happen, and our government is proud to take this next big step.”

A new acute care building at Lions Gate Hospital is required to better support the health-care needs of patients living on the North Shore and meet current seismic standards. Having served the community since it opened in 1961, the south acute tower has outdated and obsolete patient-care delivery areas.

A separate $26-million project to replace the hospital’s 1961 power plant on the Lions Gate Hospital site is underway.

In 2015, the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation received a $25-million gift from North Shore resident and local entrepreneur Paul Myers to support the future development of Lions Gate Hospital. In recognition of Myers’ gift, the hospital’s south acute tower was named the Paul Myers Tower in his honour. This name will be transferred to the new acute care facility.

Developers weigh in on market drivers

Canadian respondents to a global survey of real estate developers with at least USD $250 million (CAD $322 million) worth of projects in progress are generally in sync with their international peers in gauging positive and negative market influences. Recently released results from Altus Group indicate that, collectively, the 400+ C-suite and senior executives see more opportunity than threat in technological advancements, social change and a less economically stratified society.

Earlier this year, the international research firm, IDC, polled these leading real estate players on 11 forces that could potentially affect development demand, developers’ proficiency in supplying product and/or their return on investment. A largely optimistic outlook emerges, albeit with the qualification that respondents were asked to weigh in on market drivers like housing affordability and investment in public infrastructure that, in some cases, may be more theoretical than real.

In addition to its global makeup, the survey sample represents a diverse portfolio mix that offers a revealing snapshot of where global investment is going. Notably, mixed-use development is the most active sector, capturing 20 per cent of development underway.

Presuming that residential is a significant component of those mixed uses, that further underscores housing’s prominence. Stand-alone multifamily rental and ownership projects account for another 28 per cent of reported activity. The remaining breakdown is: 16 per cent office/commercial; 15 per cent industrial; 12 per cent retail; 7 per cent hotel; and 2 per cent government or institutional projects.

Positive, negative and neutral factors

A significant majority of the survey participants endorse housing affordability, immigration, environmental regulations, public infrastructure investment and the expectations of the millennial demographic as positive impacts. Only a minority view any of the 11 market drivers as an outright negative impact, while upwards of a quarter of respondents decree that six of the 11 forces wield no sway over the development pipeline.

More evidence of housing’s relative importance might be drawn from the fairly low level of threat attached to changing commercial occupancy patterns, such as the rise of co-working space. The greatest share of respondents — 46 per cent — categorize these trends as positive; 35 per cent call them negative; and 19 per cent say they have no impact.

Respondents are most blasé about transportation technology, such as electric vehicles, autonomous public transportation and the spectre self-driving vehicles. Fully half of them attribute little clout, good or bad, to these emerging trends.

Perhaps more surprisingly, 31 per cent of respondents are unfazed by taxes and 28 per cent identify the development approval process as a neutral factor. However, this seems to complement other findings of Altus Group’s trends report.

“Government regulation is a barrier to market entry, but if already developing in a market, it has a lesser impact on a firm’s decision to leave,” the report concludes. “Fifty-nine per cent say that government regulation has a high impact on their desire to enter a market, but only 26 per cent say that government regulation has a high impact on their desire to leave or avoid a market.”

Reflective of a dataset with interests in North America and Europe — 24 per cent of respondents are active in the United States; 17 per cent in Canada; 12 per cent in the United Kingdom; 11 per cent in Germany; and 10 per cent in France — cross-border trade policy triggers more concern than the 10 other market drivers addressed in the survey. More than a third of respondents suggest it has a negative impact on projects and decision-making.

“Rising trade tensions throughout a number of regions globally are adding to cost pressures in numerous markets, both real, via disputes and tariffs (e.g. steel, rebar and other commodities affected by recent tariff actions), and speculative, based on continued uncertainty about future implications of changes to economic, political and trade agreements,” the report observes.

Canadian sentiment diverges from the pack

A further breakdown of national perspectives reveals that Canadian respondents are the most pessimistic, with 40 per cent deeming cross-border trade policy to be a negative force and only 20 per cent calling it positive. In contrast, 40 per cent of American respondents see cross-border trade policy as positive and 31 per cent see it as negative.

Canadians also voice the strongest reservations about the development approval process — with both the highest percentage of respondents, at 38 per cent, categorizing it as negative and the lowest percentage, 30 per cent, calling it positive. Meanwhile, the majority of respondents from the U.S., the U.K. and Europe perceive the development approval process as positive. Michael Brooks, chief executive officer of REALPAC, is quoted in the report, offering further context for Canadian misgivings.

“In addition to continuous cost pressures on development generally, many cities are dealing with unaffordable housing. This disparity can often start at the development stage with unexpected taxes and charges that often get passed onto the end-occupier through increased cost or rent,” Brooks notes. “There is an increased imperative for policy makers to be upfront and clear about all fees and charges developers will be accountable for when embarking on a new project. This will help ensure they are developing appropriate project budgets and will move the entire process along with less delay.”

Although a majority of Canadian respondents identify environmental regulation as positive, they are somewhat less enthusiastic than their peers from other global regions — registering a 65 per cent approval rating versus 80 per cent of respondents from the U.S. and 83 per cent of participating Europeans.

Meanwhile, Canadians are most upbeat about immigration, even in a broadly supportive field, with 85 per cent of respondents calling it positive and only 5 per cent judging it negative. The largest proportion of detractors, deeming immigration negative, are Americans (13 per cent) and Australians (12 per cent). The smallest share of respondents viewing immigration positively are Europeans (73 per cent) and Asians (74 per cent).

International LAMP lighting designs honoured

LAMP has announced its 2018 international lighting design winners. The awards were presented in Vancouver, honouring the best in established, emerging and student designers from around the globe. Two Canadians were among the winners.

“BALANCE was a clever subject and we were very impressed by the diversity of lights,” says Ingo Maurer. “LED is certainly a big improvement in our daily technical life, but it is very important not to miss the following element of light: The essence of light. Congratulations to the winners. Keep on going and think of the light that pleases its core and our souls!”

This year’s first place winners and runners-up in each category are:

Established
First place – Mito by by Tom Fereday and Rakumba Lighting of Melbourne, Australia
Runner-up – Boom by Stickbulb/RUX Studios from New York City, USA

Emerging
First place – Highwire by Anony Studio, Toronto, ON, Canada (Photo above)
Runner-up – Bolla by Giulia Liverani for OliveLab from Turin, Italy

Student
First place – Driftwood by Nathan Sui from Mississauga, ON, Canada
Runner-up – Arch by Noah Howells from Boone, North Carolina, USA

“We are excited to be recognized by such an incredible panel of judges, whose work we greatly admire. We are honoured to win the Emerging Designers Award; it’s very encouraging for us as we hope to expand the Anony line,” said Anony Studio co-founder Christian Lo.

The student first place winner receives a $500 Award & Professional Internship/Mentorship with ANDLIGHT, the emerging winner receives the $1,000 Light Resource Award, and the established winner receives Inform Interiors $2,000 Grand Prize Award.

Co-working firm Spaces expands in Canada

Spaces, an Amsterdam-born co-working firm, plans to open 15 more locations in Canada in the next two years. Its newest location in Toronto is 127,158 square feet, making it the company’s largest location in North America .

Spaces offers a shared office environment. Users of co-working space are often self-employed, frequent travelers, and work in either small start-up companies or with smaller non-profit organizations. The individuals and organizations who rent co-working space also vary across numerous industries

“We’re witnessing a dynamic shift in the way organizations and professionals think about their workspace. Traditional offices are becoming less desirable to a growing segment of the working population. People want open, bright, collaborative workspaces — they want to be inspired,” said Tobin Davis, executive vice-president with Colliers International, Toronto in a press release.

Spaces Gastown, the newest location in Vancouver, totals 120,393 square feet. The building features patios, exterior green walls, a rooftop terrace, glass floors and a lobby designed to resemble a rainforest.

“The co-working revolution has firmly taken hold, thanks to the tremendous demand from a wide spectrum of potential occupants who have realized the benefits of community, flexibility, and cost,” said Colin Scarlett, executive vice-president with Colliers International, Vancouver.

National home sales activity creeps higher in August

A slight increase in national home sales activity has been recorded between July and August 2018, according to recent statistics from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).

National home sales activity climbed 0.9 per cent from July to August 2018, marking the fourth consecutive monthly gain. However, sales activity is still below levels seen in most other months, going all the way back to early 2014.

About half of all local markets recorded a sales increase between July and August this year, led again by the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), along with increases in Montreal and Edmonton.

Actual (not seasonally adjusted) activity fell 3.8 per cent year-over-year in August 2018, largely due to declines in major urban centres in British Columbia.

“The new stress test on mortgage applicants implemented earlier this year continues to weigh on national home sales,” said Barb Sukkau, CREA president, in a press release. “The degree to which the stress test continues to sideline home buyers varies depending on location, housing type and price range.”

“Improving national home sales activity in recent months continues to obscure significant differences in regional trends for home sales and prices,” added Gregory Klump, CREA’s chief economist. “Moreover, recent monthly sales increases are diminishing, which suggests that the recent rebound may be starting to lose steam.”

The number of newly listed homes remained unchanged between July and August, as new supply increases in the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA) and Montreal made up for declines in the GTA and Winnipeg.

With the increase in sales and new listings unchanged, the national sales-to-new listings ratio crept up to 56.6 per cent in August, compared to 56.2 per cent in July. The long-term average for the sales-to-new listings ratio is 53.4 per cent. Based on a comparison of the sales-to-new listings ratio with the long-term average, approximately two-thirds of all local markets were balanced in August.

There were 5.2 months of inventory nationally at the end of August 2018, a result that is in line with the long-term average.

The Aggregate Composite MLS Home Price Index (MLS HPI) climbed 2.5 per cent on an annual basis in August 2018. Apartment units posted the largest annual price gains in August (+9.5 per cent), followed by townhouse/row units (+4.3 per cent). For freestanding homes, one-storey and two-storey single-family home prices remained relatively unchanged on a year-over-year basis in August (+0.4 and -0.4 per cent, respectively).

The 17 housing markets tracked by the MLS HPI, which now includes home prices in the Hamilton-Burlington and the Niagara Region, have seen varying trends. Home price gains are falling on a year-over-year basis in the Lower Mainland of B.C., where the GVA saw gains of 4.1 per cent, while the Fraser Valley saw increases of 10.7 per cent. Prices in Victoria climbed 8.5 per cent on an annual basis in August, while other regions on Vancouver Island experienced price increases of 13.6 per cent.

In the Greater Golden Horseshoe, home prices increased on an annual basis in Hamilton-Burlington (+7.2 per cent), the Niagara Region (+6.6 per cent), Guelph (+5.5 per cent) the GTA (+1.4 per cent) and Oakville-Milton (+1.2 per cent). Meanwhile, Barrie and District saw home prices drop 2.7 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

In the Prairies, benchmark home prices fell on a year-over-year basis in Calgary (-2.2 per cent), Edmonton (-2.1 per cent), Regina (-4.8 per cent) and Saskatoon (-2.3 per cent).

Ottawa saw home prices climb 7.1 per cent (led by an 8.2 per cent increase in two-storey single family home prices), while Greater Montreal saw prices increase by 5.9 per cent, led by a 6.3 per cent increase in two-storey single family home prices. Greater Moncton experienced price increases of 4.8 per cent, led by a 7.5 per cent increase in two-storey single family home prices.

The actual (not seasonally adjusted) national average price for a home sold in August 2018 climbed one per cent year-over-year to just over $475,500.

Once removing the GVA and GTA, two of Canada’s most expensive housing markets, from the equation, the national average price falls to just under $382,000.

Groupe Prével celebrates 40th anniversary

On September 11, 2018, Groupe Prével celebrated its 40^th anniversary at Station F-MR with over 600 guests. Prével was founded as a family business in 1978 and now employs over 100 team members. The company’s history is characterized by a vision that combines innovation with a deep love of the city of Montreal, and a mission to protect access to property and to counter urban sprawl, all while leaving a legacy of built heritage that promotes diversity.

For over 40 years, Prével has worked on projects and neighbourhood revitalizations, and built over 11,000 homes, earning the company several awards including that of the Governor General of Canada.

Prével is known for its ability to optimize space and provide outstanding customer service. It is a pioneer of landscaped roofs and urban chalets, and is committed to integrated public spaces, green spaces, services and local businesses into its projects, in order to help revitalize neighbourhoods. Prével has also contributed nearly $6 million to the Social Housing Contribution Fund over the last 10 years.

“Forty years ago, I set out to make my own contribution to society, with freedom and enjoyment. This is how Prével was founded. Since then, we have worked to revive abandoned buildings, contribute to the preservation of heritage, transform obsolete urban spaces and restore life to the city through housing,” said Jacques Vincent, founder and shareholder of the company, in a press release. “I think we are making a real difference for our city’s history and leaving a lasting legacy. More importantly, we are encouraging first-time home buyers with prices that – at all cost – allow Montréalers to be owners in their city.”

Construction Lending Q&A: Jeremy Wedgbury, First National

Construction activity is on the upswing across Canada — particularly in the apartment sector – thanks to increasing risk capital flows in response to strong demand for new buildings. How long will this trend last and what factors are driving it? We asked Jeremy Wedgbury, Senior Vice President, Commercial Mortgages at First National, to share his insights from decades in construction lending.

Where is lending activity strongest?

Definitely in the rental apartment sector, and for two reasons: there is significant demand for new apartments and more capital available than ever to fund construction of this asset class.

What’s fueling consumer demand for apartments?

Population growth; many years of product undersupply, which has resulted in a substantial aging of rental stock; the fact that single-family homes and condos are out of reach for many first-time buyers; and a powerful demographic shift that has led baby boomers to divest their homes in favour of upscale apartments.

It sounds like you are surprised by inflation in rental rates.

It is surprising how quickly rents have escalated, but that’s due to the demand and undersupply factors I mentioned. The stars have aligned for the sector and, as Canada’s largest apartment lender, they’ve aligned for First National. We see that right across Canada.

Where is the capital coming from to fuel apartment construction?

CMHC created their Flex Financing program spring 2017, which is aimed at incenting new apartment construction by offering up to 95 per cent loan to cost compared to 75 to 80 per cent for conventional construction financings.

Building affordable units is the goal but the program’s definition of affordable means that only a certain percentage of the units must be affordable, not all units. As well, affordability is judged in the context of competing rents in the local neighbourhood. Therefore, it’s not unusual to see apartment units funded by this program charging rents close to $2,000 a month. The incentive was designed to bring for-profit developers into the apartment market, and it’s working.

Has there been a change in CMHC’s and First National’s appetite for construction loans?

CMHC has always supported construction lending and First National has as well. What’s changed is that developers are recognizing the value of building and owning rental apartments, which has created more demand for financing, and the Flex program has certainly been there to satisfy this demand. By the way, Flex is also a great gateway product for our insured term loan business.

How does the Flex program serve as a gateway to term takeout financing?

One of the compelling features is that once an occupancy permit is granted, term loans are made available. Conversely, in a conventional construction deal, a term loan does not fund until the lease-up is complete, which often takes another eight to ten months as apartment owners search for the right tenants and strive to achieve the highest rental rates. In a rising interest rate environment, a lot can happen in that period to term loan servicing costs, so this feature is a significant advantage for borrowers. For First National, it also means we can package the construction and term loan together, mitigate borrower risk, and provide greater certainty to a project’s economics.

Before we conclude, congratulations on reaching $25 billion in commercial mortgages under administration.

Thanks. We’re very excited to have achieved this milestone during First National’s 30^th anniversary. It validates what we’re doing to help clients meet their objectives while building our position as Canada’s largest commercial mortgage lender.

For more information, visit https://www.firstnational.ca/home.

Atlantic Canada’s green building leaders and innovators honoured

Winners of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) Leadership and Green Building Awards announced. Recipients were honoured at the 2018 CaGBC Atlantic Chapter Conference and Tradeshow as part of BuildGreen Atlantic.

The CaGBC is a non-profit organization working to advance green building and sustainable community development practices in Canada. The annual awards recognize individuals and organizations that show outstanding leadership in the industry, and those who have made a significant contribution to the CaGBC’s mission and goals in advancing green building in Atlantic Canada.

“I am very pleased to congratulate this year’s CaGBC Leadership Award, Green Building Excellence winners, who represent some of the very best minds, innovators and projects in the Atlantic Canadian green building industry,” says Lara Ryan, regional director, Atlantic Chapter of the CaGBC.

“I believe that individual leadership and commitment to affect change is critical in moving toward a low carbon economy that will benefit all Canadians.”

The winners of this year’s leadership awards are:

Inspired Educator

Cape Breton University, the first energy self-sufficient campus in North America.

Emerging Green Leader

Shannon O’Connor, co-chair of the CaGBC Atlantic Emerging Green Professionals committee

Green Building Champion

Barb MacDonald, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)

Government Leadership

SolarHomes Program, Efficiency Nova Scotia & Nova Scotia Department of Energy

Green Building Pioneer

Judy Wall, East Port Properties

Volunteer Leadership – Chapter

Natalie Irwin, EfficiencyOne (Efficiency Nova Scotia)

Excellence in Green Building – New Construction

The Maple, Southwest Properties

Excellence in Green Building – Existing Building

Metropolitan Place, owned by Choice Properties REIT

Zero Carbon

The Wilkinson Warehouses, owned by East Port Properties

IICRC acquires the ICRA certification and assessment programs

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) announced it has acquired the performance assessment and certification programs of the International Cleaning and Restoration Association (ICRA).

Performance assessments demonstrate the level at which a person can perform requisite tasks in a given work designation.

The IICRC said it will recognize ICRA assessment certificates, registered assessors and training providers and welcomes those currently registered or certified by the ICRA.

According to a press release, uniting these programs within the IICRC will make the industry less divided. “Developing all certifications under one roof allows greater exchange of information. The outcome is better training products available to the entire industry.”

For further information about certifications or assessment contact the IICRC at [email protected].

All other ICRA membership activities will revert back to regional associations.

REMI Network earns three 2018 COPA nominations

The REMI Network has received three nominations for the 2018 Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA). This follows last year’s gold performance, when it was named Best Trade Media Website for 2017.

The awards, presented by Masthead Online, recognize editorial and design excellence in four categories of digital publications: academic; business; consumer; and media. This year, the REMI Network is again a finalist in the business category for Best Trade Media Website.

Michelle Ervin is a finalist for Best Industry Feature for her exploration of the potential costs and logistical complications of maintaining, and ultimately replacing, windows and mechanical equipment in the growing numbers of ultra-high-rise condominium towers, exceeding 50 storeys. Barbara Carss is a finalist for Best Investigative Article or Series for three articles examining how new tax policies could affect commercial real estate.

“When we launched the REMI Network in 2013, it was always our vision to become Canada’s leading source for industry news targeting commercial real estate professionals,” says Kevin Brown, president of MediaEdge Communications Inc. “Simply to be nominated for these COPA awards is a tremendous honour, and a good indication that our vision has become a reality.”

The 2018 award winners will be announced on November 14.

Partners REIT sells nine Western Canada properties

Partners Real Estate Investment Trust (Partners REIT) announced today that it has agreed to sell nine of its 10 properties in Western Canada. The remaining property in Manitoba will continue to be marketed for sale. The sale is still subject to a number of closing conditions but is expected to close on Oct. 22, 2018.

The sale of the properties from Partners REIT western portfolio — including the sale of its largest property in the West, Mariner Square in Campbell River, B.C. — is expected to result in net cash proceeds of approximately $50 million after the payment of related mortgages and transaction expenses.

Following the sale of its properties in its Western portfolio, the REIT will hold 24 retail properties in Ontario and Quebec (1.9 million square feet of leasable space). It has now retained BMO Capital Markets to broker the possible sale of some or all of its 11-property Quebec portfolio, which is valued at approximately $190 million.

EllisDon selected for Kamloops Patient Care Tower

EllisDon Infrastructure has been selected as the preferred proponent to design, build, finance, and maintain a new Patient Care Tower at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, B.C.

EllisDon Infrastructure will design, build and partially finance the Patient Care Tower project, as well as maintain it for a 30-year period.

“We are very excited to have been selected to build the new Patient Care Tower at Royal Inland Hospital,” said Ben Deeley, vice president at EllisDon Capital. “We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Interior Health and providing residents of Kamloops and the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap region with a much-needed modernized facility and improved healthcare.”

The project will be completed in two phases and will consist of the new Patient Care Tower as well as significant renovations to the existing emergency department, pediatrics, post-anaesthetic recovery unit and the morgue. The new Patient Care Tower will be designed and constructed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, helping to create a healthy and healing patient environment and workplace.

Members of EllisDon Infrastructure include:

Respondent team lead: EllisDon Capital Inc.
Equity providers: EllisDon Capital Inc.
Design-Builder: EllisDon Infrastructure
Architect: Parkin Architects Ltd./Kasian Architects
Service Provider: EllisDon Facility Services Inc.

The $417.2-million project will be funded by the Ministry of Health and Interior Health, the Thompson Regional Hospital District and the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.

“This project will help to modernize Royal Inland Hospital, and will improve patient care for residents of the entire region,” said Doug Cochrane, Interior Health board chair.

Construction on the new tower is slated for completion by early 2022 and renovations by 2024.

WeWork in bad faith on non-compete agreements

WeWork has released 1,400 low-wage employees from non-compete agreements and relaxed restrictions on another 1,800 middle management and professional staff under pressure from the Attorneys General of New York and Illinois. Their joint investigation uncovered blatant misuse of a practice meant to safeguard against the sharing of confidential corporate information and/or the loss of clients that could occur if competing companies entice away influential employees.

The office space provider, which offers clients access to shared accommodations and associated workplace services, is now the second-largest private office tenant in New York City. About 100 senior executives, accounting for 3 per cent of the company’s U.S. based workforce, will still be bound to the original non-compete agreements that were previously broadly required. These threatened punitive consequences for staff in positions ranging from cleaner to interior designer or architect if they took a job with a similar company within one year of leaving WeWork.

“Too often, non-compete agreements are misused, especially when it comes to low-wage workers — limiting employees’ mobility and opportunity, and preventing businesses from hiring the best person for the job,” admonishes New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood. “Workers should be able to take a new job without living in fear of a lawsuit from their former employer.”

Under the terms of the settlement WeWork signed today, it will notify all former employees who have left the company within the past 12 months to inform them the policy has been rescinded. The company will also be required to report to the New York Attorney General at six-month intervals until the fall of 2020.

Mid-level managers and professional staff will now be subject to modified non-compete provisions, limited to a six-month period and only for employment that is a directly comparable position based within a 15-mile (24-kilometre) radius of the previous WeWork employment. This is considered in line with reputable applications of disincentives to career mobility.

“Today’s settlement should serve as an example for all businesses,” Attorney General Underwood says.

Wood WORKS! BC recognizes wood leadership

Wood WORKS! BC recognized leadership in structural and architectural wood use by local governments at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention. Five local governments were presented with 2018 Community Recognition Awards for use of wood in their community projects.

The province-wide awards are presented annually to communities that have been exemplary advocates for wood. This may be demonstrated through the specification of wood in a community project and/or through visionary initiatives that work toward building a community culture of wood.

The 2018 recipients are:

LMLGA — Lower Mainland Local Government Association: City of Surrey for the South Surrey Operations Centre | Township of Langley for the Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre. MERIT: City of Coquitlam for Rochester Park.

AKBLG — Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments: Village of Radium Hot Springs for the Radium Hot Springs Community Centre and Library. MERIT: City of Kimberley for the Civic Centre North Wall Replacement.

NCLGA — North Central Local Government Association: Village of Hazelton for the Upper Skeena Recreation Centre | Town of Smithers for the Smithers Airport. MERIT: City of Quesnel for South Quesnel Park.

Recipients of awards for Southern Interior Local Government Association and Vancouver Island Local Government Association will be announced when presented at their respective area association conventions in the spring.

“We congratulate these five local governments for their leadership and vision by choosing wood for their new community structures,” said Lynn Embury-Williams, executive director of Wood WORKS! BC.

“Through their new wood projects, these communities have realized wood’s many benefits including cost-effectiveness, a reduced carbon footprint and enhancement of their streetscapes through beautiful and expressive new buildings. They have also demonstrated that traditional and new technologically advanced wood products and building systems can be used effectively and distinctly in many types and sizes of civic buildings.”

Walmart addresses food waste in Canada

Food waste is a global issue with substantial repercussions in terms of both food security and the environment. Through its Food Waste Solution Search the Walmart Foundation plans to fund proposals from eligible non-profit organizations working to reduce food waste and loss in Canada.

US$1.5 million is available to support organizations with the ultimate goals of preventing loss, maximizing donations of usable food and minimizing waste that ends up in landfills. The Walmart Foundation seeks to support programs with experience formulating, proposing and implementing food waste reduction efforts.

Kathleen McLaughlin , chief sustainability officer, Walmart, Inc., and president of the Walmart Foundation said this announcement will add to their “efforts to help accelerate momentum to reduce and prevent food waste and alleviate hunger in Canada by investing in infrastructure to move excess perishable food from facilities and farms to the charitable meal system, funding innovative initiatives and advancing successful, existing programs.”

This initiative builds on the Walmart foundations commitment to award US$15 million to organizations that help food waste reduction and strengthen charitable food recovery in Canada and the retailer’s commitment to reduce waste in its own operations and achieve zero waste in Canada and other key markets by 2025.

Applications will be considered in these three areas:

Prevention: Stopping waste from occurring in the first place
Recovery: Redistributing food to people
Recycling: Repurposing waste as energy, agriculture and other products

Requests between $300,000 and $1,000,000 will be considered for funding and the deadline to apply is Oct. 19, 2018.

New Fanshawe College campus opens in London

The new $66.2 million state-of-the-art hybrid academic facility designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and Philip Agar Architect at Fanshawe College in downtown London, Ont. has officially opened.

The 114,000 square foot building has been transformed from a historic 19^th century department store into an urban college campus with space to accommodate 1,600 students, staff and faculty. The new seven-storey building will house the Schools of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts and Information Technology. The structure includes a setback three-storey addition above the original building with a façade featuring colourful metal panels and varying densities of frit on the glazing.

Some of the original features and materials were incorporated into the newly built facility, such as reclaimed wood joists, a tin ceiling and locally-made yellow brick. The building retains its original stone façade and awning on Dundas Street. The former Kingsmill’s department store’s adjacent red brick annex, meanwhile, was taken down, restored and replaced. The pneumatic tube messaging system and the original store safe are both on display.

The ground floor of the building features a student-run restaurant, a two-storey biofilter living wall, amphitheatre seating and an open corridor that links the Dundas and Carling Street entrances. The academic program provides students with five culinary labs, a raked-seating demonstration lecture theatre, a teaching restaurant, four classrooms and 11 computer labs. The fourth floor features student terraces.

“The building site is 55 metres long and narrow, so in order to bring in daylight and enhance the transparency, a light well and staircase in the centre of the building extends to the second-floor main event space,” said Sydney Browne, principal at Diamond Schmitt Architects, in a press release.

The new campus is the largest single project by Fanshawe College, which is southwestern Ontario’s biggest community college.

Manitoba partners with private sector to develop True North Square

The Manitoba government has announced it will provide up to $11.95 million in tax increment financing (TIF) to support the development of True North Square public plaza in downtown Winnipeg.

The funding is for the development of the plaza and residential tower at 225 Carlton St. — the area will include green space, a water feature and programmable space. Funding will also be provided to support the development of a new residential tower to be connected to The Sutton Place Hotel and Residences at 224 Carlton St. The Sutton Place development will feature retail space, restaurants and be connected to Winnipeg’s existing skywalk system.

Jim Ludlow, president of True North Real Estate Development said this project is “the largest privately developed real-estate venture in Winnipeg’s history.”

“More Winnipeggers are choosing to live downtown and grants such as these keep the momentum of downtown revitalization going by stimulating private investment,” said Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton in a press release.

Tax increment financing is a financing tool that governments use to encourage economic growth and development through incremental taxes created by significant new development. A requirement for TIF support to residential development is that 10 per cent of the units in the residential towers be affordable. The local government is considering removing this requirement for the True North Square project.

Manitoba is “open for business,” said Wharton. He also added that there’s no risk to tay-payers. “These TIF projects protect taxpayers against the risk of losses when developments are delayed or anticipated tax revenues do not materialize… there are no up-front payments and the province only pays from incremental taxes collected.”

According to Colliers International Winnipeg Office Market Report 2018 Q2, Manitoba’s real GDP is expected to grow at a rate of two per cent in 2018 and the $400-million True North Square development is playing a major role in revitalizing Winnipeg’s downtown.

An official grand opening for the plaza is set for September 27.

Positive, negative and neutral factors

Canadian sentiment diverges from the pack

MASI Design Awards

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