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Conference Agenda
OCTOBER 1, 2025
1:00 pm
Welcome + Acknowledgements
Main Stage
1:30 pm
The rebirth of Sen̓áḵw - the making of a modern Squamish Village
Main Stage
As the Project Lead for Westbank on this truly historic project, the largest partnership with a First Nation in Canada. The development of the first two phases of 2,500 rental apartments is through a partnership between Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation and Ontario Pension Trust - and the full development consists of 4 million square foot on a 10.5 acre parcel in the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver, part of the original 82 acre Reserve granted to the Squamish Nation in 1869, is groundbreaking in many ways.
Graeme Silvera will provide a wide spectrum context for the project, including history and background, regulatory context, advancement of reconciliation, market context, project features, and key challenges.
We kick off our conference with deep and wide spanning insights into what it takes to get a development of this size and scale launched.
Presenter:
Graeme Silvera
Principal
G Silvera & Associates
2:30 pm
Sub-Stream 1: The Future of Where
Venezia / Firenze
"The Future of Land Development in BC: From Reality to 2030"
What will land development look like in British Columbia by 2030? This session connects real-world experience with forward-looking insights into the policies, planning shifts, construction innovations, and technologies shaping the industry’s future. We’ll start with a refresher on the development lifecycle, then explore the forces driving change—from new legislation and building codes to AI-enabled project delivery. A future case study will illustrate how projects could evolve by 2030, followed by practical steps professionals can take to bridge the gap today. The session concludes with interactive Q&A and discussion to ensure participants leave with actionable takeaways to thrive in the decade ahead.
Presenter:
Jimmy Hansra, P.Eng., PMP
Principal Consultant at Unify Consulting
2:30 pm
Sub-Stream 2: The Future of Value
Siena - Lobby Level
"What’s Still Standing: Company Towns, Critical Infrastructure, and BC’s Next Economy"
BC’s company towns, formalized under the Instant Towns Act of 1965, once played a foundational role in building the province’s economy. Today, many of these resource-based communities are grappling with aging infrastructure, mill closures, and years of underinvestment. But what’s still standing offers a strategic opportunity. These towns remain essential to BC’s economic chain and hold the potential to support the next generation of energy, resource, and infrastructure projects if we commit to renewal.
Drawing from case studies, this session will highlight emerging models from Indigenous-led utilities to regional resource alliances, and discuss how to revalue these communities through infrastructure reinvestment and community-focused planning. The future of BC’s economy may depend not just on what we build next, but what we choose to repair and support.
Presenter:
Jada Basi, MCIP, RPP, LAI, CMC
Principal, CitySpaces Consulting
3:30 pm
An Evolution of Partnerships with First Nations
Main Stage
This powerful session examines how partnerships with First Nations has, and continues to evolve. We bring three incredible perspectives to the stage to discuss how partnership structures related to development continue to evolve and the challenges that must be navigated.
Panelist:
Mindy Wight, RI is the CEO of Nch'ḵay̓ Development Corporation.
Andrew Hungerford is a Partner at Hungerford Properties and Seven Generations Capital.
Graham Wood, RI is the CEO of Sacred Waters Developments.
Moderated by Keith MacLean-Talbot, RI, Partner at Grover Elliott
5:00 pm
Private Dinner Event (ticketed event)
Atlas Steak + Fish
Take part in a powerful evening with special guests including our conference speakers and panelists, the REIBC Board of Governors, our sponsors, and invited VIP's. Rub shoulders with industry influencers. Network with the who's who across the real estate spectrum.
Limited seating available.
Please note, this private event is not included with conference admission.
Tickets can be purchased online here.
Conference Agenda
OCTOBER 2, 2025
8:15 am
Welcome + Acknowledgements
Main Stage
8:30 am
"Alternate Realities: Hospitality’s Rise Amid Housing’s Fall"
Main Stage
What if the next five years tell two very different stories? In one universe, hotels and hospitality flourish—powered by new travel patterns, resilient demand, and global demographic shifts. In another, housing markets stumble under the weight of affordability crises, stalled construction, and disruptive capital flows.
In this provocative plenary, three experts explore these alternative universes—revealing how population dynamics, investment priorities, and the future of travel diverge in unexpected ways. Discover how the fortunes of hotels may rise precisely as other real estate sectors falter, reshaping the balance of the built environment.
Panelists:
Andrew Ramlo, RI, is Vice President, Advisory Services at Rennie Group
Carrie Russell, RI, AAIC, MAI, ISHC is Managing Director (Canada) at HVS
Andrew Tong, RI is Managing Director, Integral Strategic Real Estate
Moderated by Daniel John, RI, ICD.D, Program Head - Professional Real Estate at BCIT
9:30 am
Sub-Stream 1: The Future of Where
Venezia / Firenze
"Cohesive by Design: Real Estate and Infrastructure in Sync"
This session explores why, more than ever, real estate, municipalities, and utilities must align to create resilient and livable communities through integrated planning.
The talk will highlight a case study based on New Zealand’s Hobsonville Point project, where a comprehensive masterplan, robust design guidelines, a reflective Design Review Panel and local Māori (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) worked together to ensure infrastructure-first development, architectural quality, and seamless governance, to build over 10,000 homes. These tools fostered trust, creativity, and equitable delivery across public and private stakeholders.
Attendees will see how such a framework—combining master planning, guidelines, and structured review—can provide BC with a tested blueprint for cohesive community building. By 2030, BC can replicate these principles—embedding infrastructure, design excellence, and cross-sector alignment from the earliest stages, delivering communities that are larger, better connected, and enduringly resilient.
Presenter:
Graham Carter, RI
Founding Partner at Maven Consulting Limited`
9:30 am
Sub-Stream 2: The Future of Value
Siena - Lobby Level
"The New Paradigm: Case Studies in Adopting Technology "
Jon Burbee, RI, demonstrates the adoption of technology, data, and AI practices in portfolio asset management. From public to private sector, learn how these state-of-the-art tools are used to better understand the condition and depreciation of buildings, and how the use of proptech can inform reinvestment or disposal decisions.
Presenter:
Jon Burbee, RI
Director, Business Development at Gordian
10:30 am
Future Proofing Your Business: The Role of Technology in Real Estate Legal Services
Main Stage
This discussion will explore how technology is reshaping the future of real estate legal services in British Columbia. From emerging trends like AI and automation to the practical impact of tech adoption on efficiency and client experience, our experts will share insights on how firms can adapt and thrive. We’ll discuss the evolving roles within the industry, the importance of collaboration across professionals, and the mindset needed to embrace innovation. With a focus on real-world applications and forward-looking strategies, this conversation aims to help attendees' future-proof their practices in a rapidly changing landscape.
Panelists:
Kelly Fry, Team Lead & Realtor, Keller Williams Ocean Realty
Adina Dragasanu, Team Lead & Realtor, Oakwyn Realty
Dan Boisvert, Notary, Notaries at Northgate
Steve Roxborough, Lawyer, Merchant Law
Moderated by Pablo Rodriguez, President of Dye & Durham (Canada)
11:25 am
Lunch + Networking
12:15 pm
Special Presentation: Real Estate Compensation Fund
Main Stage
Presenter
Anna Solnickova, BBA, CPA, CGA, RI
Executive Officer, Real Estate Compensation Fund
12:30 pm
Sub-Stream 1: The Future of Where
Venezia / Firenze
"The Turning Point: Tsawwassen’s Sustainable Future"
Tsawwassen is charting a bold course for the future. With the recent adoption of a Sustainability Charter and the development of a new Land Use Plan, the Nation is laying the foundation for long-term prosperity rooted in balance — between growth and stewardship, innovation and tradition, opportunity and responsibility. This session will explore how these planning tools are shaping real estate development today and ensuring that the benefits extend to future generations of Tsawwassen people. The vision is clear: sustainable development is more than a strategy — it’s a legacy. The question is, how will we rise to the challenge of building it?
Presenter:
Komal Shaikh, Director of Lands, Tsawwassen First Nations
12:30 pm
Sub-Stream 2: The Future of Value
Siena - Lobby Level
"The Power and Potential of Economic Reconciliation"
This session explores the intersection of economic reconciliation, Indigenous rights, and real estate development in B.C. Through dialogue led by REIBC's Past President, Troy Abromaitis, RI, participants will examine how equitable approaches to land use and development can support Indigenous self-determination, foster meaningful partnerships, and create more sustainable and inclusive economic opportunities across the province.
Presenter:
Troy Abromaitis, RI, Senior Development Manager, Musqueam Capital Corporation
1:30 pm
Beyond the Deal: Building the Future with First Nations Partnerships
Main Stage
The future of British Columbia’s economy is inseparable from the future of its First Nations. Across the province, Indigenous Economic Development Corporations like Sacred Waters Development are driving projects that advance self-determination and prosperity. But no Nation succeeds alone — sustainable growth requires trust, respect, and truly reciprocal partnerships.
This plenary brings together leaders shaping what these collaborations can look like, including examples such as Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the KPU Communities Trust, to explore what makes partnerships work — and why they matter now more than ever. The big question: are we ready to reimagine partnership not as a transaction, but as a shared path forward?
Panelists:
Graham Wood, RI, is CEO of Sacred Waters Development
Jaret Lang, is President and CEO of KPU Communities Trust
Gayle Bedard, is Associate Vice President, Indigenous Leadership at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Moderated by Len Pierre, CEO, Len Pierre Consulting.
2:30 pm
How Soon is Now? The Future of Affordability
Main Stage
Powerful forces are converging: soaring population growth, shifting demographics, rising interest rates, affordability crises, and global economic uncertainty. In this data-driven keynote, Brendon Ogmundson, Chief Economist for the BC Real Estate Association, unpacks the economic trends that could make — or break — the market of tomorrow. Some signals point to opportunity, others to risk. One thing is certain: by 2030, the landscape will look very different. The only question is… which way will it tip?
Presented by Brendon Ogmundson, Chief Economist, BC Real Estate Association
3:30 pm
Closing Remarks & Thanks
Main Stage
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