THIS IS
SMARTCENTRES.

191

PROPERTIES AT KEY
INTERSECTIONS ACROSS CANADA

$11.9B

IN ASSETS

3500

acres of land

35.0M SF

Net Rentable Area

98.5%

Occupancy Rate

OUR STORY.

SmartCentres was founded with a simple vision: Make a better lifestyle accessible to all Canadians.
From Shopping Centres…

At first, our mission was retail focused, based on the belief that all Canadians deserve fair pricing for their weekly shopping needs. With a shared vision, we helped Walmart enter the Canadian market in 1994, and remain Walmart’s only real estate development partner in the world.

We have since expanded to every Canadian province, but have never lost sight of why we do what we do. As Canadians’ needs evolve, our offering continues to expand, while remaining true to our purpose and core values and continuing to leverage our land development expertise.

To City Centres…

Our experienced and entrepreneurial in-house development team is now focused on our publicly announced $14.9 billion transformation plan, “Project 512”. We are developing holistic master-plans for every property in our portfolio inclusive of rental apartments, condos, towns, seniors’ residences, self-storage, offices, retail, hotels and industrial.

Introducing SmartLiving

With our SmartLiving expansion into residential, we are not just building homes, we are redefining communities. These holistic communities are walkable, transit-connected neighbourhoods, with generous open spaces and parks, diverse housing types, employment opportunities, local activations and amenities. Learn More

Our HISTORY.

1989
Mitchell Goldhar set out to make retail more convenient and affordable in Canada

With a shared vision, he covertly helped Walmart enter the Canadian market.

Mitchell Goldhar set out to make retail more convenient and affordable in Canada
1994
SmartCentres opened its first Walmart in Barrie, Ontario

SmartCentres ultimately developed 176 Walmart stores across Canada.

SmartCentres opened its first Walmart in Barrie, Ontario
1999
SmartCentres formed a Joint Venture with Walmart

The Joint Venture owned 100 shopping centres.

SmartCentres formed a Joint Venture with Walmart
2003
First transaction With Calloway reit

CWT assets $100M CAD.

First transaction With Calloway reit
2014
PENGUIN PICKUP CONCEPT IS INTRODUCED

Over 100 locations today.

PENGUIN PICKUP CONCEPT IS INTRODUCED
2015
CALLOWAY REIT + SMARTCENTRES MERGE

Development platform moves to the REIT excluding Mitchell Goldhar. Mitchell Goldhar was elected Executive Chairman

CALLOWAY REIT + SMARTCENTRES MERGE
2016
SMARTCENTRES’ STRATEGIC FOCUS EVOLVES TO MIXED USE DIVERSIFICATION
SMARTCENTRES’ STRATEGIC FOCUS EVOLVES TO MIXED USE DIVERSIFICATION
2018
SMARTCENTRES FORMS DIVERSIFIED JV PARTNERSHIPS
SMARTCENTRES FORMS DIVERSIFIED JV PARTNERSHIPS
2019
SMARTCENTRES LAUNCHES SMARTLIVING TO ACCELERATE RESIDENTIAL GROWTH
SMARTCENTRES LAUNCHES SMARTLIVING TO ACCELERATE RESIDENTIAL GROWTH
2020
PROJECT “512”

A $13.5 B transformation of existing properties ‘from shopping centres to city centres’.

PROJECT “512”

Our ASSETS.

APARTMENTS

Live worry-free in a SmartLiving purpose-built rental apartment. Our prime, transit-friendly locations, thoughtful attention to detail, and resident-focused amenities let you enjoy life without compromise.

CONDOS

SmartLiving condos are designed with the perfect balance of form and function, both within the towers themselves and their surrounding amenities.

TOWNS

SmartLiving towns combine the best of single-family home and condo living, including exceptional amenities, features and services, all within our thoughtfully designed communities.

HOTELS

Smartliving’s values and concierge services extend to our hotels, offering travel experiences that recreate the comforts of home.

RETAIL

Smartcentres’ predominantly open-air walmart-anchored shopping centres offer canadians value and convenience for your weekly shopping needs.

OFFICE

Recognizing the importance of creating employment opportunities in our communities, we develop award-winning, world-class office buildings, attracting world-class tenants.

SELF-STORAGE

Smartcentres has partnered with smartstop to bring convenient, safe, bright, hassle free self-storage to our properties.

SENIORS’ RESIDENCES

SmartLiving is building forward-thinking seniors’ residences that provide a great lifestyle, no matter what age. Independent residences in a like-minded community surrounded by vibrant peers, SmartLiving has a community for you.

INDUSTRIAL

Modern, efficient, and well-located industrial spaces designed to suit a wide range of use with flexibility to accommodate manufacturing, processing, and distribution.

Our Team.

Close
Mitchell Goldhar

Mitchell Goldhar

Executive Chairman & CEO

Executive Chair of the Board since February 14, 2018. Mitchell Goldhar is the owner of the Penguin Group of Companies. Mr. Goldhar has been in the real estate development business for over 30 years. Since opening the first new Canadian Walmart store in Barrie, Ontario in 1994, Mr. Goldhar has developed over 265 shopping centres across Canada (including the development of 176 Walmart stores). Mr. Goldhar is a graduate of York University with a Bachelor of Political Science (1985), a Director of Indigo Books and Music Inc., a Director of Onex Corporation, a Director Emeritus with the SickKids Foundation and for 12 years has been an adjunct professor with the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management. Mr. Goldhar is also on the Advisory Board for the Canadian Sports Concussion Project and is owner of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club. Trustee of SmartCentres since July 8, 2005.

Close
Peter Slan

Peter Slan

Chief Financial Officer

Peter Slan was appointed Chief Financial Officer for SmartCentres REIT in October 2022. Prior to joining SmartCentres, Mr. Slan spent 23 years with Scotiabank. He joined the Real Estate Investment Banking group at Scotiabank in 1998. He spent 12 years in Investment Banking and Equity Capital Markets, focusing on both REITs and other investment trusts. Mr. Slan then spent six years as Scotiabank’s Senior Vice President of Finance, with responsibilities for Investor Relations, Sarbanes-Oxley, and other areas. Most recently, he served as Vice Chair of Scotiabank’s Global Wealth Management business. Mr. Slan has also worked for Ernst & Young LLP as a Chartered Professional Accountant focusing primarily on real estate clients. In addition to being a CPA, Mr. Slan also holds an MBA degree from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Close
Rudy Gobin

Rudy Gobin

Executive Vice President

Executive Vice President, Portfolio Management and Investments since June 1, 2015. Executive Vice President (Asset Management) of SmartCentres®  from January 2007 to May 2015. Executive Vice President, Finance and Operations of the Penguin Group, a private shopping centre development company in Vaughan, Ontario, from May 2001 to December 2006. Chief Financial Officer of Nexacor Realty Management Inc. (real estate subsidiary of Bell Canada) from March 1998 to May 2001. Mr. Gobin is a Chartered Professional Accountant, is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers, has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management.

Close
Allan Scully

Allan Scully

Executive Vice President

Executive Vice President, Development of SmartCentres since May 2015. Previously, Executive Vice President of Development of the Penguin Group from June 2006 to May 2015. Vice-President of the Penguin Group from September 2000 to June 2006. Project Manager of the Penguin Group from May 1998 to September 2000. Prior to joining the Penguin Group, Mr. Scully was Senior Market Consultant of Malone Given Parson from May 1993 to May 1998, and Market Consultant at Stamm Economic Research from August 1989 to May 1993. Mr. Scully holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the School of Planning, University of Waterloo and is a Professional Land Economist (PLE), designated by the Association of Ontario Land Economists.

Close
Paula Bustard

Paula Bustard

Executive Vice President

Executive Vice President, Development of SmartCentres since August 2019. Previously, Senior Vice President, Development of SmartCentres, from June 2017 to August 2019. Ms. Bustard originally joined the Penguin Group as an Assistant Project Manager in April 2004. She continued to progress through successive levels in development until achieving the level of Vice President in April 2014. Prior to joining the Penguin Group, Ms. Bustard was in Corporate Services, Facilities and Real Estate Strategic Policy and Projects at the City of Toronto from May 2002 to September 2002 and from May 2003 to April 2004. Ms. Bustard holds a Masters in Planning (M.P.I.) from Queen’s University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning, and an Honours BA from McMaster University. She has over 16 years of experience leading all phases of design and development of intensification and redevelopment projects, inclusive of retail, office and residential property types.

Close
Fernando Vescio

Fernando Vescio

Senior Vice-President

Appointed as SVP HR and Corporate Services of SmartREIT, June 1, 2015. Previously, SVP HR and Corporate Services for Smartcentres, a private shopping centre development company. Mr. Vescio also held the position of Vice-President at Amec, a global engineering consulting company where he was responsible for North America’s HR function. Fernando holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Finance degree from University of Toronto, is a Certified Human Resources Executive (C.H.R.E.) Canadian and is Human Resources and Compensation Committee Certified (C.R.C.C.C.).

Close
Dan Markou

Dan Markou

Executive Vice President & Chief People and Culture Officer

Appointed Executive Vice President & Chief People and Culture Officer for SmartCentres on September 11, 2023. Mr. Markou brings over 27 years of human resources and culture experience gained in senior leadership positions across various industries and organizations such as Bombardier Aerospace, Molson Coors and most recently, over sixteen years at Shaw Communications as the EVP & Chief People and Culture Officer.  Mr. Markou holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Toronto, majoring in Labour-Management Relations, a postgraduate diploma in Human Resources, as well as various certificates from Queens University, the University of Michigan, Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania), and Harvard Business School.   Mr. Markou also serves on the Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish Canada.

 

Mitchell Goldhar

Mitchell Goldhar

Executive Chairman & CEO
Peter SlanPeter Slan

Peter Slan

Chief Financial Officer
Rudy GobinRudy Gobin

Rudy Gobin

Executive Vice President,
Portfolio Management & Investments
Allan Scully

Allan Scully

Executive Vice President,
Development
Paula Bustard

Paula Bustard

Executive Vice President,
Development
Fernando Vescio

Fernando Vescio

Senior Vice-President,
Human Resources and Corporate Services
Dan Markou

Dan Markou

Executive Vice President & Chief People and Culture Officer

Our Board of Trustees.

Close

Janet Bannister

Managing Partner, Staircase Ventures

Staircase Ventures

Managing Partner

Janet is the Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures.  Staircase recognizes that founders are the bedrock upon which companies are built and therefore provides unparalleled dedication to accelerating founders’ development and performance.

Prior to launching Staircase Ventures, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s largest and most active early-stage investors.

In addition, Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem; she is the Co-Chair of C100 and on the Boards of Communitech in Waterloo, Vector Institute in Toronto, and Ivey Business School.  She is also a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab.

In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in Canada.  Subsequently, she led the Kijiji Global business, launching the website in new countries and accelerating growth in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Janet also spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley where she helped transform eBay from a Collectibles to a mainstream marketplace.  She started her career as a Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble and then joined McKinsey & Co. where she was an Engagement Manager.  She also founded and built a successful consulting business and was CEO at a venture-backed start-up prior to joining Real Ventures.

Janet was a varsity long-distance runner and competed internationally in triathlons.  Today she balances her active lifestyle with being a wife and mother to her 17-year-old son.

Garry Foster

Chief Executive Officer, Cortleigh Capital Inc.

Cortleigh Capital Inc.

Chief Executive Officer

Trustee of SmartCentres®  since May 1, 2013. Vice Chairman, Deloitte Canada from 2006 to 2013 and the National Managing Partner of Deloitte’s Technology, Media and Telecommunication practice from 1998 to 2006. Mr. Foster was a member of the Deloitte’s board of directors from 2004 to 2012. He previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Baycrest Foundation, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Mr. Foster has served as the Chair of the Presto Fare Card Committee since August 2015. Mr. Foster is also currently the Chief Executive Officer of Cortleigh Capital Inc., a director and Chair of the audit committee of Real Matters Inc. and since June 2017 a director of Payments Canada. Mr. Foster is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (1974) and a Masters of Business Administration from Schulich School of Business (1975) and an ICD.D certification from the Rotman School of Business (2009).

Mitchell Goldhar

Executive Chairman & CEO

Executive Chairman & CEO

Executive Chair of the Board since February 14, 2018. Mitchell Goldhar is the owner of the Penguin Group of Companies. Mr. Goldhar has been in the real estate development business for over 30 years. Since opening the first new Canadian Walmart store in Barrie, Ontario in 1994, Mr. Goldhar has developed over 265 shopping centres across Canada (including the development of 176 Walmart stores). Mr. Goldhar is a graduate of York University with a Bachelor of Political Science (1985), a Director of Indigo Books and Music Inc., a Director of Onex Corporation, a Director Emeritus with the SickKids Foundation and for 12 years has been an adjunct professor with the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management. Mr. Goldhar is also on the Advisory Board for the Canadian Sports Concussion Project and is owner of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club. Trustee of SmartCentres since July 8, 2005.

Gregory Howard

Partner, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Partner

Trustee of SmartCentres® since July 2, 2015. Greg Howard is a senior partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms, and is one of Canada’s pre-eminent real estate lawyers. His wide-ranging expertise includes commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, development projects, project financing, commercial leasing, real estate investment trusts, private equity funds, workouts, strategic planning and corporate matters. He has been recognized as one of the country’s leading real estate lawyers by Chambers Global, The Legal 500, Real Estate Law and numerous other sources. He obtained his LL.B. (with Honours) from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 1978 and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1980.

Sylvie Lachance

Managing Director, Tribal Partners Canada Inc.

Tribal Partners Canada Inc.

Managing Director

Ms. Lachance is since 2017 Managing Director of Tribal Partners Canada Inc., a company involved in the development of industrial and commercial buildings across Canada. From 2010 to April 2017, Ms. Lachance was Executive Vice President, Real Estate Development for Sobeys Inc., a retail and food distribution company. Prior to joining Sobeys Inc., she was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Capital Reality Inc. She previously held senior real estate positions with both regional and national grocery retailers.

Ms. Lachance holds a MBA from McGill University in addition to a law degree from Université Laval and was admitted to the Québec Bar in 1982. She is a certified director (ICD.D) of the Institute of Corporate Directors and serves as a board and investment committee member of BTB Real Estate Investment Trust.

Jamie M. McVicar

Corporate Director

Corporate Director

Chief Financial Officer then Vice President Finance and Administration at Devonian Properties Inc., a property development company, from October 2000 to October 2011, whose job responsibilities included overseeing the preparation of audited financial statements for several joint venture investment vehicles and corporate financial statements.

President of Newell Post Developments Ltd., a property development company, from June 1998 to June 2000. Legal counsel for Oxford Development Group, a property development company, from 1988 to June, 1998.

Mr. McVicar is formerly a Director of Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp., Trustee of SmartCentres® since December 4, 2001 and has served as a member of SmartCentres’ Audit Committee since 2004. Mr. McVicar has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta (1980), Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario (1981) and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Toronto (1982).

Sharm Powell

Corporate Director

Corporate Director

Trustee of SmartCentres® since May 31, 2019, Sharm Powell’s 30-year career, spanning real estate, banking, brokerage and investments has provided her with diverse experience from both the principal and intermediary sides of the business. This includes investing for Canada’s largest pension fund, investment banking with a major Canadian bank and investment sales with the largest global brokerage firm.

Ms. Powell has extensive experience in property acquisitions, sales, development and redevelopment (including mixed-use and site intensification projects) and structuring long-term joint ventures. She also has experience in the areas of public and private market financing (including equity, debt, convertible debentures and mortgages) as well as mergers & acquisitions, public market takeovers and corporate restructurings.

Most recently, she was a Director at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and was head of its Real Estate Investments team for Canada. During a portion of her tenure at CPPIB, Ms. Powell also headed CPPIB’s US Retail and its US Multi Family (rental apartment) real estate investments and property portfolio. While at the fund, Ms. Powell studied the impact of e-commerce on shopping centres and the impact of disruptive technologies on real estate. Ms. Powell’s role included a focus on stewardship, environmental, social and governance (ESG) awareness and accountability/transparency to stakeholders.

Prior to joining CPPIB, Ms. Powell worked for eight years on the National Investment Team (Toronto) at CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), the largest commercial real estate services company in the world, and spent eight years at BMO Capital Markets in its investment banking group in Toronto, focusing primarily on public real estate companies and REITs. Prior to this, Ms. Powell worked at McLeanco Realty, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank Securities, providing real estate advisory services to public and private institutional real estate clients.

Ms. Powell holds a BA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

Michael Young

Principal, Quadrant Capital Partners, Inc.

Quadrant Capital Partners, Inc.

Principal

Michael Young is President of Quadrant Capital Partners, Inc. which he founded in November 2003. From January 1994 to October 2003, Mr. Young served as Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Investment Banking for CIBC World Markets. Mr. Young was appointed Global Head of Real Estate for CIBC World Markets in 1997. He has been Trustee of SmartCentres® since November 2003 and currently serves as Lead Independent Trustee. He served on the Board of Acasta Enterprises, Inc. from June 2017 until his resignation in February 2018. Mr. Young was a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Milestone Apartments REIT from March 2013 until April 2017, when Milestone Apartments REIT completed a “going private” transaction with Starwood Capital Group as the purchaser. He was a Director of Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. from March 2011 and a Director of Brookfield Homes from 2007. On March 12, 2015 Brookfield Residential Properties completed a “going private” transaction with Brookfield Asset Management as the purchaser. Mr. Young holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Western Ontario. He is a member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

COMMITTEES.

AUDIT COMMITTEE
Close

Janet Bannister

Managing Partner, Staircase Ventures

Staircase Ventures

Managing Partner

Janet is the Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures.  Staircase recognizes that founders are the bedrock upon which companies are built and therefore provides unparalleled dedication to accelerating founders’ development and performance.

Prior to launching Staircase Ventures, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s largest and most active early-stage investors.

In addition, Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem; she is the Co-Chair of C100 and on the Boards of Communitech in Waterloo, Vector Institute in Toronto, and Ivey Business School.  She is also a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab.

In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in Canada.  Subsequently, she led the Kijiji Global business, launching the website in new countries and accelerating growth in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Janet also spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley where she helped transform eBay from a Collectibles to a mainstream marketplace.  She started her career as a Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble and then joined McKinsey & Co. where she was an Engagement Manager.  She also founded and built a successful consulting business and was CEO at a venture-backed start-up prior to joining Real Ventures.

Janet was a varsity long-distance runner and competed internationally in triathlons.  Today she balances her active lifestyle with being a wife and mother to her 17-year-old son.

Garry Foster

Chief Executive Officer, Cortleigh Capital Inc.

Cortleigh Capital Inc.

Chief Executive Officer

Trustee of SmartCentres®  since May 1, 2013. Vice Chairman, Deloitte Canada from 2006 to 2013 and the National Managing Partner of Deloitte’s Technology, Media and Telecommunication practice from 1998 to 2006. Mr. Foster was a member of the Deloitte’s board of directors from 2004 to 2012. He previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Baycrest Foundation, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Mr. Foster has served as the Chair of the Presto Fare Card Committee since August 2015. Mr. Foster is also currently the Chief Executive Officer of Cortleigh Capital Inc., a director and Chair of the audit committee of Real Matters Inc. and since June 2017 a director of Payments Canada. Mr. Foster is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (1974) and a Masters of Business Administration from Schulich School of Business (1975) and an ICD.D certification from the Rotman School of Business (2009).

Sylvie Lachance

Managing Director, Tribal Partners Canada Inc.

Tribal Partners Canada Inc.

Managing Director

Ms. Lachance is since 2017 Managing Director of Tribal Partners Canada Inc., a company involved in the development of industrial and commercial buildings across Canada. From 2010 to April 2017, Ms. Lachance was Executive Vice President, Real Estate Development for Sobeys Inc., a retail and food distribution company. Prior to joining Sobeys Inc., she was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Capital Reality Inc. She previously held senior real estate positions with both regional and national grocery retailers.

Ms. Lachance holds a MBA from McGill University in addition to a law degree from Université Laval and was admitted to the Québec Bar in 1982. She is a certified director (ICD.D) of the Institute of Corporate Directors and serves as a board and investment committee member of BTB Real Estate Investment Trust.

Jamie M. McVicar

Corporate Director

Corporate Director

Chief Financial Officer then Vice President Finance and Administration at Devonian Properties Inc., a property development company, from October 2000 to October 2011, whose job responsibilities included overseeing the preparation of audited financial statements for several joint venture investment vehicles and corporate financial statements.

President of Newell Post Developments Ltd., a property development company, from June 1998 to June 2000. Legal counsel for Oxford Development Group, a property development company, from 1988 to June, 1998.

Mr. McVicar is formerly a Director of Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp., Trustee of SmartCentres® since December 4, 2001 and has served as a member of SmartCentres’ Audit Committee since 2004. Mr. McVicar has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta (1980), Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario (1981) and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Toronto (1982).

COMPENSATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Close

Janet Bannister

Managing Partner, Staircase Ventures

Staircase Ventures

Managing Partner

Janet is the Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures.  Staircase recognizes that founders are the bedrock upon which companies are built and therefore provides unparalleled dedication to accelerating founders’ development and performance.

Prior to launching Staircase Ventures, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s largest and most active early-stage investors.

In addition, Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem; she is the Co-Chair of C100 and on the Boards of Communitech in Waterloo, Vector Institute in Toronto, and Ivey Business School.  She is also a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab.

In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in Canada.  Subsequently, she led the Kijiji Global business, launching the website in new countries and accelerating growth in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Janet also spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley where she helped transform eBay from a Collectibles to a mainstream marketplace.  She started her career as a Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble and then joined McKinsey & Co. where she was an Engagement Manager.  She also founded and built a successful consulting business and was CEO at a venture-backed start-up prior to joining Real Ventures.

Janet was a varsity long-distance runner and competed internationally in triathlons.  Today she balances her active lifestyle with being a wife and mother to her 17-year-old son.

Jamie M. McVicar

Corporate Director

Corporate Director

Chief Financial Officer then Vice President Finance and Administration at Devonian Properties Inc., a property development company, from October 2000 to October 2011, whose job responsibilities included overseeing the preparation of audited financial statements for several joint venture investment vehicles and corporate financial statements.

President of Newell Post Developments Ltd., a property development company, from June 1998 to June 2000. Legal counsel for Oxford Development Group, a property development company, from 1988 to June, 1998.

Mr. McVicar is formerly a Director of Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp., Trustee of SmartCentres® since December 4, 2001 and has served as a member of SmartCentres’ Audit Committee since 2004. Mr. McVicar has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta (1980), Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario (1981) and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Toronto (1982).

Sharm Powell

Corporate Director

Corporate Director

Trustee of SmartCentres® since May 31, 2019, Sharm Powell’s 30-year career, spanning real estate, banking, brokerage and investments has provided her with diverse experience from both the principal and intermediary sides of the business. This includes investing for Canada’s largest pension fund, investment banking with a major Canadian bank and investment sales with the largest global brokerage firm.

Ms. Powell has extensive experience in property acquisitions, sales, development and redevelopment (including mixed-use and site intensification projects) and structuring long-term joint ventures. She also has experience in the areas of public and private market financing (including equity, debt, convertible debentures and mortgages) as well as mergers & acquisitions, public market takeovers and corporate restructurings.

Most recently, she was a Director at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and was head of its Real Estate Investments team for Canada. During a portion of her tenure at CPPIB, Ms. Powell also headed CPPIB’s US Retail and its US Multi Family (rental apartment) real estate investments and property portfolio. While at the fund, Ms. Powell studied the impact of e-commerce on shopping centres and the impact of disruptive technologies on real estate. Ms. Powell’s role included a focus on stewardship, environmental, social and governance (ESG) awareness and accountability/transparency to stakeholders.

Prior to joining CPPIB, Ms. Powell worked for eight years on the National Investment Team (Toronto) at CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), the largest commercial real estate services company in the world, and spent eight years at BMO Capital Markets in its investment banking group in Toronto, focusing primarily on public real estate companies and REITs. Prior to this, Ms. Powell worked at McLeanco Realty, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank Securities, providing real estate advisory services to public and private institutional real estate clients.

Ms. Powell holds a BA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

Michael Young

Principal, Quadrant Capital Partners, Inc.

Quadrant Capital Partners, Inc.

Principal

Michael Young is President of Quadrant Capital Partners, Inc. which he founded in November 2003. From January 1994 to October 2003, Mr. Young served as Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Investment Banking for CIBC World Markets. Mr. Young was appointed Global Head of Real Estate for CIBC World Markets in 1997. He has been Trustee of SmartCentres® since November 2003 and currently serves as Lead Independent Trustee. He served on the Board of Acasta Enterprises, Inc. from June 2017 until his resignation in February 2018. Mr. Young was a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Milestone Apartments REIT from March 2013 until April 2017, when Milestone Apartments REIT completed a “going private” transaction with Starwood Capital Group as the purchaser. He was a Director of Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. from March 2011 and a Director of Brookfield Homes from 2007. On March 12, 2015 Brookfield Residential Properties completed a “going private” transaction with Brookfield Asset Management as the purchaser. Mr. Young holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Western Ontario. He is a member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Close

Garry Foster

Chief Executive Officer, Cortleigh Capital Inc.

Cortleigh Capital Inc.

Chief Executive Officer

Trustee of SmartCentres®  since May 1, 2013. Vice Chairman, Deloitte Canada from 2006 to 2013 and the National Managing Partner of Deloitte’s Technology, Media and Telecommunication practice from 1998 to 2006. Mr. Foster was a member of the Deloitte’s board of directors from 2004 to 2012. He previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Baycrest Foundation, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Mr. Foster has served as the Chair of the Presto Fare Card Committee since August 2015. Mr. Foster is also currently the Chief Executive Officer of Cortleigh Capital Inc., a director and Chair of the audit committee of Real Matters Inc. and since June 2017 a director of Payments Canada. Mr. Foster is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (1974) and a Masters of Business Administration from Schulich School of Business (1975) and an ICD.D certification from the Rotman School of Business (2009).

Mitchell Goldhar

Executive Chairman & CEO

Executive Chairman & CEO

Executive Chair of the Board since February 14, 2018. Mitchell Goldhar is the owner of the Penguin Group of Companies. Mr. Goldhar has been in the real estate development business for over 30 years. Since opening the first new Canadian Walmart store in Barrie, Ontario in 1994, Mr. Goldhar has developed over 265 shopping centres across Canada (including the development of 176 Walmart stores). Mr. Goldhar is a graduate of York University with a Bachelor of Political Science (1985), a Director of Indigo Books and Music Inc., a Director of Onex Corporation, a Director Emeritus with the SickKids Foundation and for 12 years has been an adjunct professor with the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management. Mr. Goldhar is also on the Advisory Board for the Canadian Sports Concussion Project and is owner of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club. Trustee of SmartCentres since July 8, 2005.

Gregory Howard

Partner, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Partner

Trustee of SmartCentres® since July 2, 2015. Greg Howard is a senior partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms, and is one of Canada’s pre-eminent real estate lawyers. His wide-ranging expertise includes commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, development projects, project financing, commercial leasing, real estate investment trusts, private equity funds, workouts, strategic planning and corporate matters. He has been recognized as one of the country’s leading real estate lawyers by Chambers Global, The Legal 500, Real Estate Law and numerous other sources. He obtained his LL.B. (with Honours) from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 1978 and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1980.

Sylvie Lachance

Managing Director, Tribal Partners Canada Inc.

Tribal Partners Canada Inc.

Managing Director

Ms. Lachance is since 2017 Managing Director of Tribal Partners Canada Inc., a company involved in the development of industrial and commercial buildings across Canada. From 2010 to April 2017, Ms. Lachance was Executive Vice President, Real Estate Development for Sobeys Inc., a retail and food distribution company. Prior to joining Sobeys Inc., she was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Capital Reality Inc. She previously held senior real estate positions with both regional and national grocery retailers.

Ms. Lachance holds a MBA from McGill University in addition to a law degree from Université Laval and was admitted to the Québec Bar in 1982. She is a certified director (ICD.D) of the Institute of Corporate Directors and serves as a board and investment committee member of BTB Real Estate Investment Trust.

Sharm Powell

Corporate Director

Corporate Director

Trustee of SmartCentres® since May 31, 2019, Sharm Powell’s 30-year career, spanning real estate, banking, brokerage and investments has provided her with diverse experience from both the principal and intermediary sides of the business. This includes investing for Canada’s largest pension fund, investment banking with a major Canadian bank and investment sales with the largest global brokerage firm.

Ms. Powell has extensive experience in property acquisitions, sales, development and redevelopment (including mixed-use and site intensification projects) and structuring long-term joint ventures. She also has experience in the areas of public and private market financing (including equity, debt, convertible debentures and mortgages) as well as mergers & acquisitions, public market takeovers and corporate restructurings.

Most recently, she was a Director at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and was head of its Real Estate Investments team for Canada. During a portion of her tenure at CPPIB, Ms. Powell also headed CPPIB’s US Retail and its US Multi Family (rental apartment) real estate investments and property portfolio. While at the fund, Ms. Powell studied the impact of e-commerce on shopping centres and the impact of disruptive technologies on real estate. Ms. Powell’s role included a focus on stewardship, environmental, social and governance (ESG) awareness and accountability/transparency to stakeholders.

Prior to joining CPPIB, Ms. Powell worked for eight years on the National Investment Team (Toronto) at CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), the largest commercial real estate services company in the world, and spent eight years at BMO Capital Markets in its investment banking group in Toronto, focusing primarily on public real estate companies and REITs. Prior to this, Ms. Powell worked at McLeanco Realty, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank Securities, providing real estate advisory services to public and private institutional real estate clients.

Ms. Powell holds a BA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

Michael Young

Principal, Quadrant Capital Partners, Inc.

Quadrant Capital Partners, Inc.

Principal

Michael Young is President of Quadrant Capital Partners, Inc. which he founded in November 2003. From January 1994 to October 2003, Mr. Young served as Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Investment Banking for CIBC World Markets. Mr. Young was appointed Global Head of Real Estate for CIBC World Markets in 1997. He has been Trustee of SmartCentres® since November 2003 and currently serves as Lead Independent Trustee. He served on the Board of Acasta Enterprises, Inc. from June 2017 until his resignation in February 2018. Mr. Young was a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Milestone Apartments REIT from March 2013 until April 2017, when Milestone Apartments REIT completed a “going private” transaction with Starwood Capital Group as the purchaser. He was a Director of Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. from March 2011 and a Director of Brookfield Homes from 2007. On March 12, 2015 Brookfield Residential Properties completed a “going private” transaction with Brookfield Asset Management as the purchaser. Mr. Young holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Western Ontario. He is a member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

ESG Sub-Committee
Close

Janet Bannister

Managing Partner, Staircase Ventures

Staircase Ventures

Managing Partner

Janet is the Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures.  Staircase recognizes that founders are the bedrock upon which companies are built and therefore provides unparalleled dedication to accelerating founders’ development and performance.

Prior to launching Staircase Ventures, Janet was Managing Partner at Real Ventures, one of Canada’s largest and most active early-stage investors.

In addition, Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem; she is the Co-Chair of C100 and on the Boards of Communitech in Waterloo, Vector Institute in Toronto, and Ivey Business School.  She is also a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab.

In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in Canada.  Subsequently, she led the Kijiji Global business, launching the website in new countries and accelerating growth in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Janet also spent four years at eBay in Silicon Valley where she helped transform eBay from a Collectibles to a mainstream marketplace.  She started her career as a Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble and then joined McKinsey & Co. where she was an Engagement Manager.  She also founded and built a successful consulting business and was CEO at a venture-backed start-up prior to joining Real Ventures.

Janet was a varsity long-distance runner and competed internationally in triathlons.  Today she balances her active lifestyle with being a wife and mother to her 17-year-old son.

Sylvie Lachance

Managing Director, Tribal Partners Canada Inc.

Tribal Partners Canada Inc.

Managing Director

Ms. Lachance is since 2017 Managing Director of Tribal Partners Canada Inc., a company involved in the development of industrial and commercial buildings across Canada. From 2010 to April 2017, Ms. Lachance was Executive Vice President, Real Estate Development for Sobeys Inc., a retail and food distribution company. Prior to joining Sobeys Inc., she was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Capital Reality Inc. She previously held senior real estate positions with both regional and national grocery retailers.

Ms. Lachance holds a MBA from McGill University in addition to a law degree from Université Laval and was admitted to the Québec Bar in 1982. She is a certified director (ICD.D) of the Institute of Corporate Directors and serves as a board and investment committee member of BTB Real Estate Investment Trust.

WORK WITH US.

A career at SmartCentres means you join a team of talented individuals all working towards building a closer, more connected Canada. It is the chance to impact the design of future communities, experiences and lifestyles.

This website uses cookies to provide necessary site functionality and improve your online experience. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies as outlined in our Privacy Policy.