Established in 1980; Primary activity is to provide brokerage and investment advice for investors in the commercial real estate market and to identify suitable business opportunities and required project and equity financing.
Personalized professional service is provided to a select client base, many of whom reside off-shore.
We have represented investors from Africa, The Indian sub-continent, Dubai, Iran, UAE, the EU, Hong Kong, and the US over the years. Canada is well recognised as a safe and secure haven with a sound economy, and strong banking sector as a member of the G7
Vancouver in particular is favoured as a safe haven for foreign capital for Chinese, Russian, Latin American and Iranian investors amongst others. The New Yorker Magazine in May 2014 called Vancouver one of the worlds new ” Superstar Cities ” on par with London, Paris and Milan. This in turn is resulting in a housing affordability crisis for the local market.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit ( August 2014 ) Vancouver is ranked the third most livable city in the world, behind Melbourne and Vienna. Toronto ranks number 4, followed by Calgary.
Main focus has been the acquisition and sales in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec of
- Income Properties
- Apartment Complexes
- Office Buildings
- Shopping Centres
- Industrial Buildings
- Hotels/Motels
INVESTOR FUNDS
The Company has access to significant off-shore and local funds to make quick investment decisions without having to arrange financing prior to closing, including equity participation for projects up to $800 million Euros.
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE
Provided land assembly, site acquisition and re-zoning services for the location of the first Ismaili Centre and Jamatkhana in North America, in Burnaby, BC.
As secretary of the development board, acquired development and construction experience for the architecturally acclaimed $17 million centre; represented the community at public hearings, coordinated media and community relations, architect selection, engaging the general contractor, organizing the ground-breaking and opening ceremonies and commissioning the building.
The ground-breaking was performed by the Lt. Governor of B.C, the Honourable H.P. Bell-Irving. The facility was opened in 1985 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan.
The first Ismaili Centre in Canada was opened by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in the presence of His Highness The Aga Khan and Premier Bill Bennett of BC on 23rd August 1985.
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
As Chair of Canada Place Corporation, oversaw the management and operation of this important Federal Government facility in downtown Vancouver’s waterfront, and was engaged in the expansion for a major new convention centre with the Vancouver Port Corporation. This project of $883 million was completed in April 2009, in time for Canada hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler.
Front Row from Left to Right: Mayor Phillip Owen of Vancouver, Citizenship Judge, Premier of BC Mike Harcourt, Federal Minister Dr. Hedy Fry, Chair Farouk Verjee
At over 2 million square feet Canada Place provides a venue for high profile and high-security events such as the Clinton – Yeltsin summit in 1993, The commonwealth Heads of Government meeting and the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC). Canada Place is also the venue for “Canada Day” on July 1st every year, with approximately 80,000 people attending the national celebration the second largest in the country.
Welcoming HRH Prince Phillip at Canada Place
Over the years has overseen the operations of the Gifford Hotel on Robson Street, in downtown Vancouver, the Coach House Inn, a full service hotel in North Vancouver (now the Holiday Inn), and apartment buildings in Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton.
