Tsawwassen Mills, a hybrid shopping centre including factory outlets and premium fashion, built and managed by Ivanhoé Cambridge in B.C., has been awarded “Best Outlet Centre” at this year’s annual MAPIC Awards in Cannes, France. The MAPIC Awards were created in 1996 to reward excellence, innovation and creativity in retail real estate.

The 1.2 million square foot shopping centre is fully-enclosed and is one of Canada’s largest malls. It features five distinct shopping neighbourhoods – Fashion, Outdoor Life, Coast Salish, City, and Nature. Opened in 2016, Tsawwassen Mills features 180 brands, more than half of which are outlet stores, and includes first-to-market retailers such as: Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and Pro Hockey Life.

“We are honoured to be recognized on an international scale as an industry leader,” said Claude Sirois, president, retail, Ivanhoé Cambridge. “From the start, our objective for this development was to capture the attention of a truly global audience, which makes receiving this award a significant milestone for our community of stakeholders.”

The MAPIC Awards qualifies applicants based on tenant mix, location and architecture and finalists are selected by an esteemed jury of trade and commercial real estate professionals. Selected winners on this year’s list alongside Tsawwassen Mills included Nike, Nespresso, iFLY World and Prado.

“We’ve experienced a lot of growth in one year, which we attribute to identifying a market need in the Lower Mainland,” said Ruby Paola, vice president of leasing, Ivanhoé Cambridge.

“Tsawwassen Mills was designed to meet many shopping needs from outlets to premium brands, while providing a variety of family-friendly entertainment options. Our multiple-offer approach has enabled us to service the surrounding communities while growing as a tourist destination.”