UDI Webinar: Delivering Affordable Housing through Partnerships with Metro Vancouver

Our expert panel will provide crucial updates on Metro 2050, share the latest initiatives in affordable housing, and delve into the Metro Vancouver Housing Portfolio. Moreover, we will explore strategies for developers to collaborate efficiently with Metro Vancouver in order to deliver affordable housing solutions. By attending this webinar, you will gain actionable insights to drive social impact and create inclusive communities through your projects. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and make a meaningful difference. Register now to secure your spot!

Key topics we will explore: 

1) Broad overview of updates on Metro 2050
2) Affordable housing initiatives update 
3) Metro Vancouver Housing Portfolio

Please join us for this session from the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples. 

Panelists:  

Jonathan Cote, Deputy General Manager Regional Planning & Housing Development 
Jonathan is a passionate urbanist who has dedicated his career to building better cities. Prior to joining Metro Vancouver, Jonathan served two terms as the Mayor of New Westminster and has spent the past 17 years in local government. In his role as Mayor, Jonathan has served as the Chair of the Mayor?s Council for regional transportation and was the  Chair of Regional Planning in Metro Vancouver.  
 
Michael Epp, Director of Housing Planning and Development, Metro Vancouver 
Michael is a land use and community planner whose work has ranged from neighbourhood planning and visioning projects in New York City neighbourhoods, to managing planning departments in BC communities. As Director of Planning in the City of North Vancouver, Michael championed policies that significantly increased the rental and non-market housing supply, with the City of North Vancouver one of only a small number of municipalities that delivered targeted levels of housing. In his current role, Michael is leading the delivery of 2,000 new affordable homes across the region and advancing policies to help ensure at least 15% of new housing is affordable.  
 
Wendy Waters, Vice President, Research & Strategy, GWL Realty Advisors
Wendy Waters is a real estate professional with over 20 years of experience, 17 of them with GWL Realty Advisors (GWLRA) where she leads the company?s Research Services and Strategy team.  

GWLRA (a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada Life), manages the real estate investments of pension fund and institutional clients via direct investments as well as through its open-ended segregated funds.  The GWLRA Research Services & Strategy team provides strategic analysis to support and grow the $17 Billion in real estate under management in the office, industrial, retail and multi-residential rental asset classes.  This work entails tracking the economic, demographic and social drivers of real estate performance as well as the capital flow and market trends that shape returns. The latter includes the regional policy shifts that can influence development and investment viability.  The Research Team also provides research and analysis to support new developments, especially in the rental housing asset class where GWLRA has over 6000 units in the development pipeline nationally including three sites in the Metro Vancouver market. 

Wendy regularly publishes research at gwlra.com/research and shares insights on panels and as a keynote speaker in Vancouver and across Canada. She is active with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Urban Development Institute (UDI). Wendy has a Ph.D. in world economic history and lives in East Vancouver with her husband and two teenaged children.