Quebec pledges more rent supplements to boost its affordable housing supply.

According to a recent report from the CBRE, demand for multi-family housing is stronger than ever in Canada and, as such, developers are shifting their focus to purpose-built rental housing. The CBRE says multi-family starts rose 52.2 per cent over the five-year average in 2014 as a result of low vacancy rates and a lack of affordable home ownership opportunities.

As part of a $2-billion residential housing investment plan aimed at Quebec seniors, Réseau Sélection has embarked on its flagship project, Rosemont-les-Quartiers, a mixed-use development designed to meet the requirements of the aging baby-boomer population. Under the plan, Réseau Sélection is committed to the development of 30 new seniors-focused residential complexes in Quebec over the next five years.

After pesticide claims baby’s life and hospitalizes four kids, their Fort McMurray property manager reacts to worst nightmare

Sequel 138, a 97-unit affordable housing development located at 138 Hastings St. in Vancouver, B.C., has entered construction. The project offers low to moderate-income families and individuals access to affordable condominiums and rental apartments.

The Unité de travail pour l'implantation de logement étudiant (UTILE), a non-profit organization focused on student housing in Quebec, has launched a new trilingual website for students seeking housing information in Montréal. The site, Likehome.info, was developed after survey results from over 11,000 students revealed a need to improve the City’s ability to offer proper living conditions to students. Information is available in French, English and Mandarin.

A 17-storey luxury hotel in downtown Vancouver, known as the Viva Suites Hotel, has been acquired by CIBT Education Group’s (CIBT) wholly owned subsidiary, Global Education City Holdings Inc. (GEC), with the intent to convert it into a 230-bed student housing development for foreign students. The total value of the project, including purchase price and renovations, is approximately $37-million.

A 74-unit affordable rental housing development has officially opened in Ottawa, Ont. The complex, located at 140 Den Haag Dr., offers housing for low-income individuals and families as well as persons with disabilities.

Residents of the Northwest Territories continue to have access to a range of affordable housing options as a result of a combined investment of $18-million from the federal and provincial governments. Over the course of five years, the government funding will be delivered through an extension to the region’s Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) agreement.

A $657,000, four-unit affordable housing development in Prince Albert’s West Flat neighbourhood has officially opened. The project, which was financed by the Government of Saskatchewan and the P. A. Community Housing Society Inc. (PACHSI), an Aboriginal housing provider, will provide rental housing for small families.

A 331-unit, five-building rental complex, located in Surrey, B.C., has been acquired by the Calgary-based Mainstreet Equity Corporation (Mainstreet). The property was purchased for $33.7-million and brings Mainstreet’s total Vancouver/Lower Mainland B.C. apartment portfolio to just over 2,700 units.

Finding access to smoke-free rental housing in Nova Scotia is now just a click away, thanks to the launch of a new website by Smoke-Free Nova Scotia (SFNS). The free website allows Nova Scotians to browse a searchable registry of smoke-free multi-unit rental housing developments and condominiums to find available housing in smoke-free buildings.

The City of Vancouver issued $2.83-billion in building permits last year, exceeding previous records set before the recession in 2008. Building permit values increased 28 per cent, year-over-year, from 2013 and 77 per cent from 2008. Several multi-family rental developments were key contributors to the substantial gain.

According to a report from the Real Property Association of Canada (REALpac), the Canadian multi-family sector contributes approximately $24-billion to Canada’s economy on an annual basis. This number includes revenue generated through construction, investments, ongoing maintenance and operations, and job creation.

The Silver Sage Elder’s Lodge, a 26-unit affordable housing development, has entered construction in Regina, Sask. The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are contributing $2-million toward the development of 16 one-bedroom units and Silver Sage Holdings Ltd. will provide an additional $5.05-million for the remaining 10 two-bedroom units.

The Hope Centre, a 25-unit affordable housing development for Aboriginal youth and adults, has officially opened in the municipality of Sooke, B.C. The four-storey building is geared towards individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The project features 18 studio apartments, seven one-bedroom apartments and ground level commercial space.

A new affordable housing development in Kelowna will provide 50 apartment units for seniors and 20 townhomes for low to moderate income families in the area. Thanks to financial investments from the Governments of Canada and B.C. as well as the City of Kelowna, the project will redevelop an existing Pleasantvale Homes building, located on Kelowna’s Richter St.