Alberta’s 2026-27 budget confirms higher provincial education property taxes and a series of fee adjustments that will affect commercial property owners and businesses across the province. Non-residential ratepayers will see a 4.25% increase in the provincial education property tax levy. Non-residential education property tax rising to $4.17 per $1,000 of assessed value (up from $4.00 in 2025 and $3.76 in 2024). Residential rate increasing to $2.84 per $1,000 of assessed valu

Calgary Co-op has introduced a new mixed-use grocery location, signalling an evolution in how essential retail is being embedded within higher-density development. Unlike traditional suburban formats characterized by larger standalone buildings and surface parking, this concept is integrated within a residential development and oriented toward walkable access. The approach reflects broader intensification trends across Calgary, where retail is increasingly positioned within..

Oxford Properties has listed a prominent multi-building office complex in downtown Toronto for sale, marking one of the more significant office dispositions currently in the Canadian market. The offering reflects continued repositioning within institutional office portfolios as owners evaluate capital allocation, asset performance and long-term leasing fundamentals in core urban markets. Large-scale listings in major Canadian cities underscore the broader recalibration occurr

Recovery efforts in Jasper are progressing, and by the end of 2027 the majority of the Municipality of Jasper’s approximately 370 businesses, hotels and residences lost in the wildfire are expected to be rebuilt. Full community restoration is projected within five years.   A key driver behind this progress is the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC), a partnership between the Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada. The JRCC is overseeing the long-term rebuild strategy

After more than 25 years telling Calgary’s business stories, David Parker is stepping into retirement — and our industry owes him a sincere thank you.   David was more than a columnist. He was a connector within Calgary’s development and commercial real estate community. He showed up to announcements, openings, groundbreakings and industry events not simply to report, but to understand the people behind the projects. He built genuine relationships with developers, brokers, in

Calgary is seeing record levels of new home construction while market conditions begin to moderate. Recent reporting highlights elevated housing starts and strong construction activity across the region, even as sales activity cools and inventory levels rise. The combination signals a market transitioning from peak demand toward greater balance. Sustained residential construction supports employment, trade activity and population growth — all of which influence retail demand,

The City of Calgary has approved two additional office-to-residential conversion projects focused on below-market housing in the downtown core. HomeSpace Society will redevelop the vacant five-storey brick office building at 1000 8th Avenue S.W., which has been unoccupied for approximately two years. Trellis Society is also moving forward with the conversion of vacant office space at 441 5th Avenue S.W. Both projects continue Calgary’s strategy of adapting underused downtown

A recent Western Investor  article highlights growing concern among business owners across British Columbia that street disorder — including vandalism, open drug use and repeat non-violent incidents — is increasingly affecting the day-to-day functioning of commercial properties. Retailers and employers report that persistent disorder is straining operations, increasing security requirements and complicating efforts to maintain welcoming business environments. Importantly, man

According to new population projections from Statistics Canada, Alberta could overtake British Columbia as the third most populous province in Canada as early as 2038. In nine out of ten scenarios, Alberta's population surpasses B.C.’s by 2050, with projected growth reaching 6.5 to 8.1 million. Demographers attribute this rise to two key factors: strong interprovincial migration and a younger age profile, which supports natural population growth. With more young families stay

More than a century after debuting the Fairmont Palliser, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced a second Calgary hotel—this time near Stampede Park. Dubbed Fairmont Calgary, the new mixed-use tower will feature 225 hotel rooms, a spa, meeting spaces, and 100 residences. The project is a direct response to the transformation of Calgary’s Culture + Entertainment District and is being developed in partnership with Truman. While site details have not been confirmed, the propert

Calgary’s economy is expected to post 2.4% GDP growth in 2026—up from 2.1% last year and the strongest among major Canadian cities, according to the Conference Board of Canada. The report acknowledges headwinds like soft oil prices, fewer housing starts, and slowing migration, but points to steady job creation and major infrastructure projects like the $6.2B Green Line LRT as key momentum drivers. While job growth will slow from the 30,000 new roles added in 2025, Calgary’s u

Construction is officially underway on the first of three hotels planned for Calgary’s Stampede Park. The 13-storey, 320-room Autograph Collection by Marriott broke ground this month and is set to open in 2028. Backed by a $330 million investment from Truman, this project is a cornerstone of the evolving Culture + Entertainment District and a key complement to the expanded BMO Centre. Site preparation—including demolition and utility relocation—began in July 2025, with excava

Minto Apartment REIT, one of Canada’s largest rental housing landlords, is going private in a $2.3 billion all-cash transaction. Crestpoint Real Estate Investments, in partnership with longtime property manager Minto Group, will acquire the trust at $18.00 per unit, a 35% premium over recent trading levels. Minto’s portfolio includes 7,600 rental units across 28 properties, including four Calgary assets totaling 665 suites. While occupancy remains high (96%) and average rents

Edmonton was the first Canadian city to introduce a derelict residential tax, applying a significantly higher property tax rate to abandoned or severely neglected homes to push owners toward redevelopment or remediation. Now, the city is examining whether similar tools could apply to commercial properties that have sat vacant, deteriorated, or unused for extended periods. City administration has been directed to explore how derelict commercial buildings could be defined, regu

Saks Global, the retail conglomerate behind Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus, filed for bankruptcy protection this week. Less than a year after the headline-making merger that aimed to create a North American giant. The $1.75B US financing package now in place will keep stores open for now, but the court's filing reveals staggering liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion. The company cited supply chain disruptions and vendor confidence as key fact

When looking across small and mid-sized businesses, the distinction between goods and service firms is also a distinction in where they operate. Goods-producing businesses are largely concentrated in retail, manufacturing, and wholesale activities, while service-oriented firms are spread across professional and business services, construction, hospitality, and health-related fields. Firms that blend both models tend to show up most often in retail, construction, and manufactu

Deloitte’s Future of Real Estate in Canada  report suggests a cautious but improving outlook for 2026, with capital slowly returning to the market and leasing decisions becoming more deliberate. Economists are forecasting stronger residential investment growth and a modest rebound in non-residential investment as borrowing conditions improve. At the same time, performance across asset classes remains uneven. Industrial, multi-family, and data-centre properties continue to lea

A European-backed data centre proposal could represent up to $12.8 billion in investment across Alberta, positioning the province as a major hub for AI-capable computing infrastructure. The project, led by Data District (Alcral AG) in partnership with Technologies New Energy PLC, begins with a €780 million first phase in Olds, north of Calgary, with long-term plans targeting 1 gigawatt of capacity across multiple facilities. Key drivers behind Alberta’s selection include: Abu