Metro Van Comissioner to discuss growth strategy

Metro Vancouver commissioner Johnny Carline will look into the region's distant future during this month's NAIOP Vancouver breakfast meeting.
Carline will provide an overview of the Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy during the NAIOP event May 26 at the Hyatt Regency.
A draft of the plan, entitled Metro Vancouver 2040: Shaping Our Future, has been out since last November and is now undergoing reviews by various stakeholders and other groups.
The draft says Metro Vancouver's vision for the future will be achieved "by embracing and applying the principles of sustainability, not least of which is an unshakeable commitment to the well-being of current and future generations and the health of our planet, in everything we do."
Carline, also the region's chief administrative officer, has strived to be a strong voice in the sustainability movement. Since taking up his post in 1997, he has launched the award-winning Sustainable Region Initiative (2001), which NAIOP's e-mail blast on the breakfast notes, made the sustainability movement "a political fact of life" in Greater Vancouver.
Metro Vancouver is the regional governing body for the local metropolitan area and its two million inhabitants. The group's responsibilities include water, sewer, drainage and solid waste management systems as well as regional growth management, air quality, regional parks and affordable housing.

Here's a link to the planning document: http://ow.ly/1MPqM.

Segal to speak at NAIOP breakfast

Legendary philanthropist, entrepreneur and real estate investor Joe Segal will share his views on the commercial property market during this month's NAIOP breakfast in Vancouver.
Segal , founder of Vancouver-based venture capital and development company Kingswood Capital, will explain why he has been actively investing in commercial real estate this year despite the global economic downturn. Kingswood launched in 1979 after Segal built the Fields department store chain, turned it into Zeller's and then sold the operation to the Hudson's Bay Company.
Among his many other pursuits, he has also built a clothing-store business, expanded First National Properties, formerly Block Bros., into a land development and property-investment powerhouse, acquired several clothing manufacturing companies and spearheaded the creation of Simon Fraser University's downtown campus.
the company formerly known Block Bros. into a land developm
During these years the company acquired many other clothing manufacturing companies.
In 1985, Mr. Segal acquired national retailer Collegiate Sporting Goods from Imasco. In 1986, he merged Collegiate with Sports Experts and became Chairman of both.
In 1988, Mr. Segal was instrumental in the 150 million dollar acquisition of Block Bros., a Western Canadian company in the land development and property investment field which now operates as First National Properties.
Mr. Segal served on the board of Simon Fraser University for over 12 years & was Chancellor for 6 years. In 1989, Mr. Segal was one of the individuals instrumental in establishing the Simon Fraser University Harbour Center downtown campus. Meanwhile, he has worked with, and financially supported countless charities, and provided the building virtually free of charge that now serves as the home of Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee (VANOC).
The NAIOP breakfast will be held Wednesday (instead of its usual Thursday) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, starting at 7:30 a.m.