Wesgroup Properties

This month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Christina Cao to Wesgroup as part of CEOx1Day Canada. Christina spent the day alongside our President and CEO, Beau Jarvis, gaining firsthand insight into leadership at Wesgroup. Her experience included a visit to our ACE site on Commercial Drive, where she toured the project with our President of Construction, Rabih Zahnan, gaining a deeper understanding of how our developments come to life. Back at the office, Beau provided a deep dive into the #WesgroupWay, exploring how our culture and values drive decision-making. He emphasized how mutual trust, alignment, and autonomy are key to effective leadership. Later in the day, they were joined by our Vice President of Sustainability, Malcolm Shield to discuss how sustainability informs our long-term strategy. Programs like Odgers Berndtson's #CEOx1Day play a vital role in shaping the next generation of leaders, and we’re proud to be involved. Thank you, Christina, for your curiosity, thoughtful insights, and engagement throughout the day, we know you have a bright future ahead!

Construction is underway at Oak & 41st! This purpose-built rental project marks a major step forward in sustainable development. Designed to be fully electric, we’re going beyond code requirements to significantly reduce emissions. In B.C., the majority of building emissions come from natural gas. By choosing electricity, which is already low carbon, we’re creating a near zero-emissions building. While there aren’t many precedents for projects of this scale, Oak & 41st can serve as a model for the future. As long-term owners, we considered the future of energy use in buildings and saw an opportunity to move ahead with an all-electric design today. This project is about building for the long term with sustainability in mind.

Beau Jarvis, our President and CEO, joined 980 CKNW's Jas Johal to discuss how U.S. tariffs are impacting the Canadian construction industry and what can be done to support growth and affordability. Despite the challenges posed by rising costs of essential materials like steel and lumber, Beau highlighted the resilience of the industry and the innovative approaches developers are taking to keep projects moving forward. While increased costs put pressure on housing affordability, he emphasized that Wesgroup remains committed to delivering high-quality homes and commercial spaces that meet the needs of growing communities. Beau also underscored the importance of proactive policy solutions to help ease financial pressures on the construction sector. He encouraged government and industry leaders to explore ways to reduce tariffs on critical building materials and create policies that support a strong, sustainable housing market. Listen here (Beau featured at 12 minutes): https://lnkd.in/g8k2EfVP

We’re proud to see River District evolving into a thriving, complete community: a place where homeowners aren’t just moving in, but are choosing to stay as their lives evolve. This is exactly the case for Denise, one of our buyers at Harlin. After four years in the neighbourhood, she and her husband decided to upsize into a new apartment to accommodate their growing family, demonstrating the deep sense of connection that makes River District so special. Recently featured in The Vancouver Sun, Denise shares her experience alongside our SVP of Sales, Joey Coupland, who speaks to a growing trend: buyers committing to River District for the long term. With its waterfront setting, walkable streets, and vibrant public spaces, River District is more than just a place to live - it’s a place to put down roots and grow. A diverse mix of homes, from first-time buyer options to larger family residences, combined with community-focused amenities like rooftop lounges, co-working spaces, and green spaces, makes it a neighbourhood that evolves with its residents. Read More: https://lnkd.in/e3BVu9S8

Our construction team has been making great progress in River District this winter. At River District Energy, civil work is complete, roofing is nearly finished, and boiler system testing is set to begin next month. At Harlin, the final anchor has been installed and preparations for ground strengthening is complete. The densification stage is on track to wrap up by May, followed by the start of foundation work. At Ardea, excavation and shoring is now more than halfway complete. The most exciting milestone—Fynn, our purpose-built rental, is now complete, and residents are moving in this month! With each step, River District continues to grow into a vibrant community.

At Wesgroup, sustainability isn’t just a concept - it’s a fundamental value that shapes our decisions. Our vision? A future where sustainability is so deeply woven into our business that it becomes second nature. To foster collaboration and cross-departmental learning, we host 'Lunch N Learns'. A space to share knowledge, spark conversations, and gain insight into how different teams operate. Our latest session, led by our Vice President of Sustainability, Malcolm Shield, explored how every part of the business plays a role in advancing sustainability. This series is about building awareness and driving action; helping our teams understand the diverse functions across Wesgroup and the impact of #sustainability on decision-making. Over the next few months, we’ll dive into real-world case studies, personal carbon footprints, and the bigger picture of sustainability in our industry.

This #InternationalWomensDay, Wesgroup is proud to celebrate the incredible women in construction and our partnership with Canadian Construction Women (CCW). As of last year we have become a Gold Member Sponsor as part of our ongoing commitment to fostering diversity, inclusion, and growth in the industry. Through CCW, our team has gained valuable mentorship, networking opportunities, and leadership development, empowering women to thrive in construction. Our dedication to supporting women in the industry goes beyond sponsorship—we actively participate, host events, and create spaces for connection and collaboration. A special thank you to Pamela Armstrong, Director at Large on CCW’s Board, for her leadership in advancing meaningful initiatives for women in construction. Today, and every day, we celebrate the women shaping the future of our industry! #WomenInConstructionWeek

Beau Jarvis, our President and CEO, recently joined Neil Chrystal of Polygon Homes Ltd., Michael Geller of The Geller Group, Bob Rennie from rennie, and Mike Hurley, the Mayor of the City of Burnaby, for an insightful conversation about the state of real estate and development. During the discussion, Beau emphasized that while many policies and taxes are created with good intentions to improve housing, they often end up making it more challenging to build homes in a financially sustainable way. A big thank you to Conversations Live with Stuart McNish for hosting and facilitating this engaging and thought-provoking conversation. Watch: https://lnkd.in/gfPHUZAD

We were honoured to host Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Taleeb Noormohamed at our Oak & 41st site, where they recently announced a series of new funding measures from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Société canadienne d'hypothèques et de logement(SCHL), supporting the delivery of much needed housing across BC. At Wesgroup, we have seen firsthand how impactful initiatives such as the Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) can be in helping to get new homes built. Evan Lewis, our Senior Director of Development, highlighted the program's impact, stating: “The secure, reliable financing provided by CMHC is making rental housing viable in today’s challenging market. These investments help housing providers move projects forward, delivering much-needed homes and supporting well-paid construction jobs. We’re pleased to see this latest round of investment and the positive impact it will have on communities across British Columbia." Thanks to the ongoing support of the CMHC, Oak & 41st is currently under construction, with 20% of the 361 units designated as below-market.

We're thrilled to announce that Christina Cao has been selected to shadow our President and CEO Beau Jarvis for this year's #CEOx1Day program. This incredible program, powered by Odgers Berndtson, offers talented undergraduate students across Canada the unique opportunity to spend a day with CEOs. We’re proud to be part of a program that nurtures the next generation of leaders. Congratulations to all the finalists, we look forward to meeting you Christina Cao. #WeSeePotential