From early spring to late fall 2022, we partnered with MircoHabitatto sustainably transform an outdoor patio space into a green urban farm. Taking place at our head office in Liberty Village, we set up several planting pots lining our top floor terrace, growing over 15 varieties of vegetables and herbs, including Oregano, Thyme, Mint, Rosemary, Cucumbers, Eggplants, Peppers, Beans, Tomatoes, Arugula, Swiss Chard and more. We’re proud to share that our Urban Farm harvested over 500 edible plants and 103.64 lbs of vegetables, edible flowers, and herbs. All were donated to Second Harvest (Canada’s largest food rescue organization) and redistributed to local food banks to help combat food insecurity in our neighbourhoods.
This sustainable initiative contributes to the greening of spaces; creates local, ecological, and resilient food systems; helps support our local community; and encourages biodiversity in our urban area.
Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at FCR encompasses all aspects of our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. Our values and our sustainability program guide our actions and supports our strategy of creating thriving neighbourhoods to generate value for businesses, residents, communities, and our investors. This project is a part of our 2020-2024 ESG Roadmap and is the next step in continuing our long-term sustainability goals and initiatives of achieving net zero by 2050.
Beginning in April 2022, our ESG team began their partnership with Microhabitat and kicked off planning for our first-ever urban farm that would take place from June to late October. Once the planting pots were installed and assembled, the Microhabitat team held in person and virtual workshops for our staff that provided an overview of the project, outlined the importance of urban farms, educated them on sustainable consumption awareness and the environment around food, and how they could make their own urban farms from home. By doing so, we were able to cultivate further sustainable change by informing, inspiring, empowering, sharing skills, knowledge, and building meaningful collaborative relationships with our staff by reconnecting them with nature.
Over the course of the season, our urban farm grew an abundance of vegetables and herbs for those in need. MicroHabitat’s team provided weekly visits, tended to the crops, harvested them, and winterized the garden at the end of the season.
Impacts of our MicroHabitat urban farm
The Environmental impact includes:
Greening our outdoor spaces
Reducing our environmental footprint
Reducing heat island effects (Cities have an average temperature of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius higher than the outlying areas. This phenomenon, known as a “heat island”, is due to the high concentration of built-up areas that absorb and re-emit heat from the sun)
Improving local biodiversity
Supporting pollinators with the presence of melliferous (honey producing) plants
100% ecological cultivation
Holistic approach with natural fertilizers, ecological automatic irrigation system, no use of chemicals
Ultra-local production that reduces food loss and greenhouse gas production by limiting transportation
The Social impact includes:
Mobilizing teams around a sustainable development project
Raising awareness and promoting healthy, local, and sustainable food
Improving the feeling of well-being and performance at work
Supporting Second Harvest – Canada’s largest food rescue organization
The Economic impact includes:
Added value to the property
Employee engagement
Team-building opportunity through education workshops
Innovative and sustainable positioning
Improvement of eco-responsible practices
MicroHabitatbelieves in urban farming for change. Their mission is to build a healthier society and world by reconnecting people with nature and their food. They do this by transforming unused spaces into urban farms. MicroHabitat believes in creating greener and more resilient cities through urban agriculture. Their ultimate goal is to cultivate cities to consume better and live better.
First Capital would like to thank MicroHabitat on the success of this sustainable pilot project. With over 500 crops harvested in a single season, our urban farm exceeded our expectations and provided an abundance of fresh produce and herbs for Second Harvest; giving back to the communities in which we operate. Since 2021, we’ve carried out several additional fundraising initiatives in support of Second Harvest donating over 939,000 meals. Click here to read how we achieved that.
We recognize and understand the importance of preserving our world and improving the environment we live in, and our urban farm is just one step on our ESG journey. Read more about our ESG goals and initiatives here and be sure to check out our 2020-2024 ESG Roadmap here.
This fall Teatro Verde, Yorkville Village’sfirst-class florist, gift, and décor shop, celebrated their 25 year anniversary. Hitting this momentous milestone comes as no surprise as their world-renowned floral creations and show stopping retail store have attracted many loyal customers. From A-list celebrities, international aristocrats, to Toronto’s finest hotels, their extraordinary pieces have left their clients wanting more for over a quarter century.
Taking inspiration from their travels and being immersed in various cultures around the world, their innovative and trend-setting approach to their practice has kept them ten steps ahead in the floral industry. Whether you’re looking for a romantic arrangement for a loved one, need an elite florist to beautify your wedding, are searching for one-of-a-kind gifts and home decor, or just want to enjoy a unique shopping experience, this is the place to go – you’ll leave the store with nothing but the best. Breath-taking designs, sophisticated style, and premier quality is engrained in all things Teatro Verde.
Meet co-owners Shawn Gibson and his partner Michael Pellegrino, the two who grew Teatro Verde into what it is today: a world-leading floral, décor, and gift shop. First Capital would like to congratulate them on reaching this tremendous milestone and for opening their brand-new retail store in Yorkville Village this fall.
Michael Pellegrino & Shawn Gibson in the Teatro Verde Store
Going Back to Their Roots
Rewind 25+ years back, Shawn and Michael had come from very different backgrounds. Michael was born in Italy, where he worked for several years as a professional landscaper. Plants, flowers, and creating glorious gardens were his specialty. Shawn grew up in Canada in a farming community, but the theatre is where he found his passion. He moved to New York City and attended Parsons School of Design studying décor and set design. Upon graduating, he worked on the sets of several famous Broadway plays such as CATS, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, and more. With this job came lots of travel so Shawn was able to immerse himself in various cultures around the world. Little did he know that these experiences would prove to be part of his key to success with Teatro Verde later in life.
Leaving both their professions behind and relocating back to Canada, the two began working in interior design and décor at Yorkdale Mall for special holidays, events, and activations. Impressed by their work, the mall’s management team took them over to Yorkville Village (then known as Hazelton Lanes) to work on similar projects.
Not long after this transition, a change in mall ownership was taking place and a rare opportunity presented itself. Michael and Shawn were approached to take over a local flower shop located inside the mall. Though they were hesitant at first, Shawn was confident in Michael’s natural green thumb and abundant knowledge of flowers and plants from his landscaping days. Engaging his own talents, he knew his set design and décor background would allow him to build the most eye-catching retail experience.
Taking inspiration from both of their backgrounds of theatre and landscape, Shawn had asked Michael and his sister what “Green Theatre” meant in Italian the night before signing the lease to what was about to bring them 25 years of success. “Teatro Verde”, the direct Italian translation, combines their past to make their future.
Upon opening, Michael and Shawn saw immediate success and a positive response from the Yorkville neighbourhood and beyond. This was the start of a very bright floral future.
Images inside of Teatro Verde
Elegant Arrangements & Fabulous Flowers
What differentiates them from other florists you ask? It’s clean, it’s chic, it’s pure, and it’s showy. If you want the best, this is where you go. If you want a reaction, that’s what you’re going to get.
Michael, Teatro Verde’s head florist, is always focused on finding the best quality flowers for his valued customers. He believes spending more time sourcing the best products available allows for the flowers to stand out and speak for themselves. The more an arrangement needs manipulating and prodding, the less attractive it becomes.
Doing Flowers is like cooking Italian food, it’s the best ingredients with very little manipulation… it’s very pure in its natural form so you don’t want to do a lot of process on it
Doing Flowers is like cooking Italian food, it’s the best ingredients with very little manipulation… it’s very pure in its natural form so you don’t want to do a lot of process on it
Michael takes pride in his craft. In fact, he spends 6-7 hours preparing his arrangements before opening every single day. Most florists subscribe to a finer flower service and lose control of their quality. This is not the case at Teatro Verde as Michael carefully sources his flowers from over 475 local and international suppliers. Their flowers are flown in from places like South America, Europe, and Israel, and hand-picked by Michael at local Ontario markets seasonally.
It is no wonder why Teatro Verde is the first-choice florist for Toronto’s elite. In fact, they provide weekly arrangements to the city’s most luxurious hotels including the Four Seasons, The Hazelton, Park Hyatt, and Shangri-La, and continuously send to the homes and residences of the city’s wealthiest patrons. It doesn’t stop there: Teatro Verde is a household name among celebrities and has serviced the likes of Lady Gaga, Sylvester Stallone, Madonna, Paris Hilton, Ellen DeGeneres, Martha Stewart, and more.
Every arrangement that leaves here, is an advertisement for the next arrangement… they’re show pieces
Michael Pellegrino putting together a flower arrangement
Retail Shopping Experience
While Teatro Verde is known for their bold floral creations, they also specialize in one-of-a-kind gifts and home décor. Shawn’s extensive background in set design, worldly travels, and décor expertise, have given him the tools to turn their retail store into a shopping experience. From top to bottom, the shop is filled with rare finds that you wouldn’t see in a regular gift shop. From unique candles such as Trudon or Baccarat from Paris, Lavatoro from Sicily, Dr. Vranjes from Florence, to rarities from Asia, the store brings worldliness and diverse cultures to Toronto.
Shawn is constantly staying in touch with what’s going on in the world and what’s available so he can try and bring the best to Toronto. By doing so, he fills a niche that isn’t there and believes that the key to a successful small business in this environment (especially post-pandemic) is just that.
Teatro Verde is an ever-evolving changing landscape like the world is. From season to season, year to year, we’re always keeping a pulse on pop culture, lifestyles, politics, and more
Teatro Verde is an ever-evolving changing landscape like the world is. From season to season, year to year, we’re always keeping a pulse on pop culture, lifestyles, politics, and more
Shawn’s approach to retail is that you can’t wait around for people to come to your store, instead you have to find ways to attract people in. Once you’re in, the goal is to desensitize you from all your problems in life and take you on a journey. Then they have what’s called “milk” at the back of the store (similar to convenience stores) which forces you to shop the entirety of the store so you don’t miss a section.
I used to work for Ed Mirvish who taught me so many retail tricks without even realizing it. He used to say that when designing full-page ads for his plays, ‘if you put one thing in the corner and you don’t like it then I’ve lost you but if I put 50 things in that corner, I’m bound to get you on one of those things
I used to work for Ed Mirvish who taught me so many retail tricks without even realizing it. He used to say that when designing full-page ads for his plays, ‘if you put one thing in the corner and you don’t like it then I’ve lost you but if I put 50 things in that corner, I’m bound to get you on one of those things
Teatro Verde has been a neighbourhood institution for over a quarter decade. Since Yorkville is a very well-established neighbourhood, Michael and Shawn know all their clients and have built very loyal relationships over the years. Not only have they captivated their audience and continue to deliver world-class products and service, but they listen to their customers. They understand their needs, wants, and are always looking for ways to go above and beyond.
Having moved locations a few times throughout Yorkville Village, they are thrilled with their new, larger location and know that this concept is only possible because of the community and its patrons.
Teatro Verde store front
First Capital congratulates Teatro Verde on hitting this tremendous 25-year milestone! Their success over the past quarter decade speaks to their unrelenting ability to deliver first-class floral arrangements, unique gift items and premier service. We’re fortunate to have them in Yorkville Village.
Be sure to check out their features in Dolce Magazine here, House & Home features hereand here, Toronto Star articles hereand here, Bloor-Yorkville BIA mention here, and so much more!
For more information on Teatro Verde, see their website here and don’t forget to give them a follow on Instagram here.
Head to Yorkville Village today and experience their exquisite flowers, gifts, and décor!
Centre Médical Mieux-Être , Montreal’s top tier medical clinic, is revolutionizing the dated approach to doctor visits and patient care. Tired of wasting time sitting at your local walk-in clinic and waiting weeks to receive your test results? This state-of-the-art medical concept works to alleviate some of our medical system’s burdens with their efficient waiting room policies, a hub of services that provides patients the utmost accessibility, a streamlined communication and patient coordination system, and so much more. Centre Médical Mieux-Être is a one-stop-shop for all your medical needs, all while providing the highest quality of service.
Owned and created by certified occupational therapist and serial entrepreneur Remi Boulila. Remi has grown his business into a fully realized network of medical centres that provide diversified and accessible health care throughout the Montreal region. He opened his first location in 2019 at First Capital’s Place Viau leasing 5,000 sf and has since expanded his footprint twice, almost tripling in size. Not only has he opened three additional locations, but he was also at the forefront of medical support and hospital relief efforts throughout the pandemic – a testament to his success and entrepreneurial spirit.
Humble Beginnings
Remi Boulila, a Montreal native, grew up surrounded by all things medical. Several of his family members are physiotherapists so naturally he followed in their footsteps. He attended the University of Montreal achieving his bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy and went on to graduate with a Master of Science in the same field. Following his passion further, he began his career as an occupational therapist and worked at a local Montreal hospital. During his time there, he always appreciated the convenience of having all health services from testing stations like radiology and screening to having almost every kind of medical specialist on staff, all in one place.
While he always wanted to open his own medical business outside of the hospital one day, he knew he’d be faced with the inefficiency and slow flow of the clinic style medical system. He then asked himself if there was a better way and wondered why we couldn’t offer the same hospital level quality and efficiency, outside the hospital. From there, his “Hub of Services” concept was born as his main goal was to revolutionize doctor visits and patient care. Like all great entrepreneurs, he had found the solution to a problem.
By this time, Remi began bringing his concept to life.
Revolutionary Business Model
When you step inside Centre Médical Mieux-Être, you will never wait longer than 15 minutes to see a clinician, nurse, or doctor. No longer will patients need to sit around in waiting rooms anticipating their follow ups. The same goes for receiving test results; with almost every kind of medical practitioner on staff and in one place, your results from one test will be sent to your specialist and shared with you almost immediately. In fact, Remi’s second expansion at Place Viau included a brand-new radiology screening and x-ray facility so patients wouldn’t need to go elsewhere – accessibility at its finest.
His “Hub of Services” business model is truly a modern convenience. Patients can have minor surgery, see their family doctor, and have a full prenatal follow-up, all under the same roof. Here are the types of services and specialists they have on site:
Family Medicine
Laboratories
Family Medicine Group (GMF)
On-site laboratory services
General Practitioners
Blood Tests
Emergency Medicine (minor)
Specialist Doctors
Rehabilitation
Urology
Physiotherapy
General Surgery
Occupational Therapy
Psychiatry
Message Therapy/Orthopedics
Gastroenterology
Acupuncture
Gynecology
Nutrition Care and Education
Otorhinolaryngology
Kinesiology
Internal Medicine
Social Work
COVID-19 Relief Staff
Reliability, equality, and professionalism are at the heart of Centre Médical Mieux-Être’s working method while maintaining high standards of quality medical care. Their consistent patient satisfaction is reflective of their doctors, nurses, and support staff’s excellent care and attention to detail. Rest assured, your health is their priority.
COVID-19 Relief Efforts
Only a few short months after opening his first location at Place Viau, Remi was faced with combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the virus’s spread in North America, Remi and his physicians kept a close eye on how the virus was spreading and were able to predict and prepare for escalating cases in Canada – they saw it coming.
Immediately, they prepared themselves for what was coming by stocking up on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and testing kits, setting up strict protocols to ensure the safety of both their patients and staff, and readying their facilities to properly triage and care for incoming COVID patients.
In fact, they became one of the first government designated COVID-19 testing and triage centres in Quebec. While everything was locked down around them, they were seeing upwards of 100 COVID-19 patients a day, totalling over 150,000 to date.
It is success stories like these that help shape the neighbourhoods in which we operate. It is evident that Remi and his outstanding team put the health of their community first and were key supporters during unprecedented times.
From COVID-19 relief efforts, to providing diversified, top notch, efficient, and accessible healthcare for everyone, Centre Médical Mieux-Être has become the first-choice healthcare provider for the Montreal community.
Now in its fourth year at Place Viau, First Capital couldn’t be prouder of Centre Médical Mieux-Être’s well-earned success. Remi’s entrepreneurial mindset not only garnered him his own practice but has single-headedly revolutionized his patient’s doctor visits and patient care for the better. His state-of-the-art concept and innovative approach to medicine is a positive change.
Going forward, Remi plans to expand Centre Médical Mieux-Être and open 10 more clinics across Montreal in the next 5 – 7 years and we look forward to watching them grow and thrive.
To book an appointment and to explore their expansive list of services, head to their website here and go check them out at Place Viau or any of their other three locations today.
Keep an eye out for updates and announcements by following them on Instagram here and Linkedin here.
Burger Drops is one of Toronto’s premier smash burger restaurants that has become a destination spot for the Liberty Village community, their GTA neighbours, and beyond. Owned and created by former Aloette Sous Chef, Greg Bourolias, Burger Drops has modernized the classic smash burger, and the proof is in the patty. Using nothing but the best ingredients; quality, detail, and precision is the Burger Drops way. What started from a friend’s backyard birthday party and sold-out weekend pop-ups, has grown to a fully realized brick and mortar store in the heart of Toronto’s Liberty Village.
In our latest Tenant Spotlight, we take you through the Burger Drops story and how Greg Bourolias and his team built their burger empire from the ground up. It is success stories like these that shape our neighbourhoods and urban communities by helping them thrive, grow, and become gathering places.
As long as he can remember, Greg has always had a passion for food. Growing up in a big Greek family, some of his fondest memories come from his family’s Sunday dinners. His father owned a successful restaurant and Greg’s passion for cooking grew by watching him in the kitchen and seeing the joy food brought to their customers, friends, and family.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Greg became a professional chef and worked in some of Toronto’s most beloved restaurants. His expertise, skill, and natural talent that he garnered from his childhood really paid off.
Back in 2018, Greg was working as a Sous Chef at popular Toronto restaurant, Aloette. Although he enjoyed his role, he always dreamt of opening his own restaurant one day. Cheeseburgers were one of his favourite comfort foods and who doesn’t love a classic burger? From there, he started experimenting and asking himself, “what does my ideal burger taste like?” and eventually came across the smash burger concept.
Burgers are a universal love language
– Greg Bourolias, Burger Drops’ Chef & Owner
Burgers are a universal love language
– Greg Bourolias, Burger Drops’ Chef & Owner
When he’s passionate about something, Greg is someone who dives 100% all in and his smash burger concept is no exception. He began testing out different ingredients and flavour profiles, sharing his creations with friends and family. Everything was perfected – from the fat to meat ratio, caliber of bun, temperature and minutes on the grill, balance of toppings, complexity of condiments, to the harmony of spices and seasoning. This kind of love and attention to detail is still incorporated in everything they do to this day.
During the process of perfecting his product, the small, but mighty Burger Drops community continuously shared their burgers on social media and Toronto foodies were taking notes. That summer, friends of Greg asked him to cater their birthday party, so he and his girlfriend Kat walked in with their portable Blackstone barbeque and made some smash burgers. Not only were the burgers a hit among the guests, but the couple had shared them on social media which caused even more buzz and excitement. People wanted to know where they could get their hands on these mouth-watering marvels!
From their growing social media presence and ongoing requests from followers, he decided to hold a pop-up event. Without any experience, Greg rented a unit at College and Bathurst on Canada Day and the overflow of guests endlessly lined the streets of Toronto. From there, Burger Drops really took off and they held 5 more pop-ups which hosted hundreds of guests – many of which had seconds!
Fast forward to the beginning of March 2020 – Greg had a whole summer’s worth of pop-ups booked. He knew his business was rapidly growing and was confident he could take it far and wide. At this point, Greg was working six days a week at Aloette and using his one day off at the pop-ups. Greg decided to take the entrepreneurial leap and pursue his Burger Drops dream full-time.
Not even two weeks later, the unexpected happened. The pandemic forced Greg to cancel all their spring and summer pop-ups to avoid any in-person events. He had to figure out a way to get his burgers to people as the demand kept growing. Pivoting in the face of adversity, Greg came up with the idea to do pre-orders and curb-side pick ups. Luckily, the apps and technology needed to support this was growing for the survival of the food service industry. The wait was finally over; upon introducing this new feature to guests via social media, their pre-orders were fully sold out daily – a significant milestone for Greg, his team, and growing business.
By the time the leaves started to change, business was booming for Burger Drops. Their pre-orders had been selling out all summer, they engaged in several successful partnerships with other local restaurants, their social media had thousands of followers, and guests from all over the GTA and beyond were flocking to the city to try their iconic smash burgers.
Though their COVID-safe pre-orders and curb-side pick ups were wildly successful, Greg knew this would not be sustainable for guests having to wait outside in the cold winter months. As fun as the pop-ups were, they weren’t a long-term option. The business was steadily growing, their menu was expanding, and more and more people wanted their food.
This inevitably triggered the idea of opening their first permanent, brick and mortar store. Greg wanted something that could sustain more guests, support their growth, the convenience of a stationary fully functioning kitchen, a gathering spot for their guests, and most importantly a place to call home. A fully realized retail store also meant they could finally build a lasting relationship with neighbourhood members.
Coincidentally, First Capital’s very own Toronto foodie, Susanna Cheng, was a loyal customer of Burger Drops from the start. She had attended almost all of their sold-out pops and pre-orders and continuously suggested they open a store with us. When Greg was ready to make the retail plunge and take Burger Drops to the next level, he knew just who to call.
Fostering the relationship between Greg and our super leasing team, we were able to find a space that fit his every need right here in the heart of Liberty Village. Previously a Poutinerie, this two-level 1900+ sf space provided the perfect layout including a fully built-out kitchen, ample storage, and space for guests to sit. Not to mention its accessibility along Atlantic Ave and adjacency to the highly trafficked King Street West made for the perfect recipe. Everyone loves burgers, but because of the residents around Liberty Village, the neighbourhood is always supportive and ready to welcome local, small businesses such as Burger Drops.
We’re honoured to have some of the best guests in Toronto… They’re always gracious and excited to try our food. With Liberty Village, you can feel the support from our local community.
– Kat Gaskin, Burger Drops’ Director of Creative & Community
We’re honoured to have some of the best guests in Toronto… They’re always gracious and excited to try our food. With Liberty Village, you can feel the support from our local community.
– Kat Gaskin, Burger Drops’ Director of Creative & Community
Burger Drops opened its doors in September 2020 and has become a Liberty Village institution, as well as a destination spot attracting people from all over Toronto, the GTA, Vaughan, Barrie, Milton, Waterloo, and beyond – it is no secret their burgers have become a Southern-Ontario sensation.
Their food needs no introduction – the flavours, textures, and freshness speak for themselves. Their most popular burger, the Double Original, is Burger Drops in a burger. Its flavour profile is Greg’s idea of the most perfect cheeseburger. From burgers and chicken sandwiches to veggie patties; curly, crinkle, and cheese fries; paired with a classic soda and choice of decadent dessert – they’ve refined a classic combo with a twist.
A simple burger and fries doesn’t really command a lot of respect but we care about our food and everything that goes into it… We love what we do and we love our people, so why not feed them the best?
– Greg Bourolias, Burger Drops’ Chef & Owner
A simple burger and fries doesn’t really command a lot of respect but we care about our food and everything that goes into it… We love what we do and we love our people, so why not feed them the best?
– Greg Bourolias, Burger Drops’ Chef & Owner
Everything is perfected. From Burger Drops’ famous Jalapeño Relish, never frozen AAA beef, in-house pickles, hand-crafted condiments, to using Martin’s Potato Rolls (their go-to puffy, pillowy-soft bun). Even their cheese sauce is hand made and created in-house for quality assurance. Desserts are not an afterthought either; they hand-mix their whipped cream, make their own brown butter cereal crumb, and self-caramelize their salted caramel.
What really makes them stand out is their incredible attention to detail, use of the highest quality ingredients, top notch made-to-order freshness, talented professional chefs and team, and everything is made in-house with love and care. In fact, their produce, meat, and other ingredients are shipped fresh to their doorstep every morning. You know when you enter the Drop Shop or order delivery online, you’re getting simply the best.
Now in it’s second year here in Liberty Village, First Capital couldn’t be prouder of the sheer success and well-deserved admiration Burger Drops has received. In fact, they were named #26 in Yelp’s top places to eat in Canada (all voted in by the people), their veggie burger placed in the top 9 ofToronto Life’s best burgers in the city (list includes beef burgers as well), and have been featured in BlogTO twice: read the most recent one hereand the other here.
The future of Burger Drops is bright, and we look forward to seeing them grow even more. From searching for their second location, expanding their team to innovating their menu, they are thriving more and more everyday!
Be sure to give them a try at their Drop Shop at theShops of King Liberty and keep an eye out for updates and special announcements on their website and Instagram.
We’re pleased to share that we’ve been recognized for the first time as one of Canada’s 2022 Greenest Employers by Mediacorp Canada and The Globe and Mail. Now in its 15th year, this special designation recognizes the employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their organizations. These employers have developed exceptional sustainability initiatives – and are attracting people to their organizations because of their environmental leadership.
From our properties to our corporate practices, we’ve been at the forefront of environmental awareness in the Canadian Real Estate industry for over a decade. We’re always building out our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) programs, and regularly rethinking and upgrading our policies as showcased in our yearly ESG reports, 2020 – 2024 ESG Roadmap, andTenant Sustainability Operations Guide to name a few. This honourable recognition speaks to our primary ESG goal of becoming sustainable and environmentally conscious in every aspect of our business – which in turn is integral to our overarching strategy of building thriving urban neighbourhoods.
“Sustainability initiatives, whether they focus on creating a healthier indoor environment, reducing our carbon emissions, or developing community engagement programs, all further our company’s purpose of having a positive impact on our tenants and communities”
Over the past decade, our ESG initiatives have evolved. Back in 2006, one of our first ESG-based initiatives was our commitment to construct our new buildings usingLEED Standards – a globally recognized designation of environmentally responsible design and construction practices. We were the first Canadian retail developer to do so and have since expanded on this commitment that now exceeds 3.8 million sf of LEED certified space across our portfolio – a proud achievement indeed.
Not only do our ESG commitments cover our construction and development practices, but they also extend to our biodiversity and carbon footprint goals. In fact, last year we strategically installed 3beehiveson the rooftops of several buildings that have continued to thrive in their environments and increase the area’s biodiversity. With last year’s installation, we now have a total of11 beehives and planto install 5 more this summer. Bees are essential to the survival and future of the world’s ecosystems and food supply. As a result of harsh pollutants and scarce green space in urban settings, bee populations have struggled. With the help of initiatives like ours, the bee population across Canada has steadily increased in the last 5 years. Byintroducing morebeehives within our properties, we are excited to see those numbers rise one hive at a time.
Some of our busy bees and their honey at Cedarbrae Mall in Scarborough, ON – this hive houses over 70,000 bees!
In preparing for the future of sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint, our goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. As part of our strategy to achieving this goal, we’ve invested in LED lighting systems across our portfolio. In fact, we’re proud to share that in 2020 we completed our five-year initiative to convert our parking-lot lighting to energy-efficient LEDs. This will reduce our properties’ annual parking lot electricity expenditure by over 50%! It is initiatives like these that bring us one step closer to achieving our 2050 net zero emissions goal.
Not only are we investing in initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint, but we’re also providing ways for our neighbourhoods to do so as well. In fact, we’ve invested in projects like ourElectric Vehicle (EV) charging stations initiative to install EV chargers across our entire portfolio by 2024. Just last year, we installed a total of 90 EV charging stations that brought our total up to 250 and in keeping up with our 2024 target we plan to install over 200 more this year and next. By installing EVs at our properties, we’re providing the necessary infrastructure, making it easier for our neighbourhoods to choose EVs and reduce their own carbon footprint.
We’re also spreading our sustainability efforts into local communities as well. Our employee-led, non-profit Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation recently partnered with Second Harvest to help fundraise and support the food-rescue organization in major cities across Canada. This event raised an outstanding $281,000, which provided 562,000 meals for Canadian families facing food insecurity. These funds rescued and redistributed over 780,000 pounds of food, and as a result, prevented 2.9 million pounds of greenhouse gases from entering our atmosphere – the equivalent of taking 400 cars off the road this entire year.
Many of our initiatives including ourFCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation, beehive implementation, EV Charging Stations, and LED lights have come as a result of our2020-2024 ESG Roadmap. This five-year roadmap outlines our strategically detailed plans and aligns a series of actions and measurable goals that allows us to hold ourselves accountable and stay on track to reach our ESG targets. What’s especially unique about this roadmap is that it’s integrated into every area of our business, allowing for us to move more cohesively and have a profound impact on our neighbourhoods and the environment.
“The greening of FCR has hardly peaked and needs constant refining. Sustainability is a journey and we’ve only just begun.”
Being recognized as one of Canada’s 2022 Greenest Employers not only speaks to our ESG excellence, but also our talented employees, tenants, shareholders, and other stakeholders who help us along this sustainable journey. Each step we take towards a more environmentally sustainable future, means a better, cleaner, promising future for all.
We’re proud to be recognized for our extensive ESG efforts over the past decade and would like to thank Media Corp and The Globe and Mail for this honourable recognition. Learn more about it here.
Introducing 1071 King Street West: First Capital and Hullmark’snew mixed-use development featuring an iconic flatiron design, a neighbourhood park, a convenient new extension of the West Toronto Railpath, and more! The completed building will span 14 storeys, comprised of 227 purpose-built rental residential units, an abundance of amenities, and approximately 6,000 square feet of new retail space fronting along the busy King Street West corridor. This stylish development is designed to pay homage to Liberty Village’s industrial history, while incorporating modern architectural elements that are sustainably focused. We’re proud to be a part of the neighbourhood’s ongoing growth and revitalization, with 1071 King Street West creating a new gateway into Liberty Village.
Rendering of 1071 King St. West
Our Partnership with Hullmark
When we first purchased the property, our initial interest was sparked by its strategic location in the middle of our larger Liberty Village portfolio and its proximity to ourhead office. In addition to being one of the last remaining development sites along this dense corridor, the site has terrific transit adjacency, vehicular access, and great proximity to neighbourhood amenities.
In 2018, we partnered with Hullmark, a private real estate investment and development firm specializing in mixed-use developments in downtown Toronto. 1071 King Street West marked our first strategic partnership with Hullmark, having recently finalized our second joint venture partnership with the acquisition of 102 Atlantic Avenue in Liberty Village. Hullmark also owns and manages several properties in the Liberty Village neighbourhood, so our aligned vision for the area makes for a successful partnership.
Hullmark is excited to partner with First Capital on this new flatiron project! We look forward to bringing new residential and retail opportunities to the Liberty Village neighbourhood, and look forward to seeing this project come to fruition.
Hullmark is excited to partner with First Capital on this new flatiron project! We look forward to bringing new residential and retail opportunities to the Liberty Village neighbourhood, and look forward to seeing this project come to fruition.
In designing the building, we were inspired by the property’s unique triangular shape bounded by King Street West to the north and the Metrolinx GO Train corridor to the south. Together with the design architect BDP Quadrangle, we decided to take advantage of the site’s shape and develop a new iconic landmark for Liberty Village.
Did you know there’s only a handful of flatiron-shaped buildings in Toronto? 1071 King Street West will be the first of its kind in Liberty Village.
Paying homage to the rich industrial history of Liberty Village, this stylish building will feature a red brick facade and punched windows – respecting the neighbourhood’s heritage character. Not only does the building’s façade pay tribute to the area’s brick and beam warehouse-style buildings, but it also helps to mitigate heat loss, reducing the building’s total energy consumption and ecological footprint. Additionally, this project will incorporate a geothermal system that will provide sustainable heating and cooling for the entire building. First Capital is committed to incorporating ESG principles in all of our projects as outlined in our 2020-2024 ESG Roadmap.
Did you know geothermal systems harness the earth’s natural underground temperatures and results in net zero emissions?
In addition to its historical design and ESG focus, 1071 King Street West will also feature key public realm amenities including a new public park and community gathering spot. It will also tie into a planned extension of theWest Toronto Railpaththat will better connect the neighbourhood and increase its accessibility to the city’s west end. The planned Railpath extension will conveniently link Liberty Village to the new SmartTrack GO station planned near First Capital’s King High Line project to the west. Ultimately, the project will take advantage of this unique public amenity and connectivity opportunity, attracting more residents to the neighbourhood.
Aiding Toronto’s Housing Supply Shortage and Rejuvenating Liberty Village
This iconic flatiron landmark will work to better serve the neighbourhood through its integrated city mobility, new retail space for everyday shopping, and the introduction of purpose-built rental housing amidst Toronto’s ongoing housing supply shortage.
1071 King Street West is part of our significant Liberty Village portfolio which includes over 500,000 sf of retail and commercial GLA, along with over 500 existing rental residential units. To complement and enhance our portfolio, we identified a further need for well-designed, amenity-rich residential rental space in Liberty Village. 1071 King will differentiate itself given its unique design, public realm, and convenient location.
– Jennifer Arezes, Vice President, Development, First Capital
1071 King Street West is part of our significant Liberty Village portfolio which includes over 500,000 sf of retail and commercial GLA, along with over 500 existing rental residential units. To complement and enhance our portfolio, we identified a further need for well-designed, amenity-rich residential rental space in Liberty Village. 1071 King will differentiate itself given its unique design, public realm, and convenient location.
– Jennifer Arezes, Vice President, Development, First Capital
This project aligns with our super urban strategy of creating vibrant mixed-use neighbourhoods that meet the needs of everyday urban life – bringing together people, public spaces, retail shopping and services, public art, and access to public transportation. Our 1071 King Street West flatiron development is our next pursuit in doing so as we continue our contribution in helping Liberty Village thrive. We couldn’t be more excited for the future of this neighbourhood and are proud to be a part of its ongoing growth.
Currently, we expect to begin construction by the end of 2022 and anticipate the completion of this project by 2025.
More updates to come!
A special thank you to the following Project Team:
We’re proud to share that First Capital has once again been named one of Canada’s Top Small and Medium Employers for 2022 by Mediacorp Canada andThe Globe and Mail. Now in its 9th year, Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers is an editorial competition that recognizes the small and medium employers (SMEs) that offer the nation’s best workplaces and forward-thinking human resources policies. Companies are evaluated based on leadership in employee culture, benefits & total rewards, communication, training & education, and community involvement
We’re honoured to have been named one of Canada’s Top SMEs for the third year in a row. This speaks to our ongoing goal of fostering a rewarding, inclusive, enthusiastic, and supportive workplace – where everyone is able to bring their best selves to work and are given the necessary tools they need to succeed.
We’re honoured to have been named one of Canada’s Top SMEs for the third year in a row. This speaks to our ongoing goal of fostering a rewarding, inclusive, enthusiastic, and supportive workplace – where everyone is able to bring their best selves to work and are given the necessary tools they need to succeed.
Our “Everyone is Welcome” stairs at our offices in Liberty Village – an ED&I initiative!
This recognition covers a number of our programs and initiatives including our extensive benefits package, employee-led ED&I Council,ESG initiatives, and FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation. It also covers the progress we’ve made in our People & Culture programs and practices, including our highly sought-after Summer Intern Program, COVID-19 support resources, learning and development, employee engagement program, social media strategy, community involvement, and overall wonderful company atmosphere.
Being recognized as one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for the third consecutive year is rooted in the excellence and talent among our 350+ employees nationwide. Our employees are at the core of our success, and we wouldn’t be who we are today without them.
Since the first cohort joined us in 2017, we’ve had many talented young professionals come through our intern program who kicked off their careers and ultimately made their mark in the Canadian Real Estate industry. We’re looking for the next generation of budding Real Estate professionals to revolutionize and push our industry forward. Do you have what it takes?
Our Intern Program gives interns access to enriching opportunities to start and accelerate their careers. First Capital interns have the unique opportunity to gain real, meaningful work experience, all while gathering insights into the areas of our business that are most relevant to them. Our program is uniquely hands-on, allowing our interns to shadow and work alongside our leaders on exciting new projects and strategies. This gives them real work experience they can put on their resumes and tools they need to succeed in their respective fields in the Real Estate industry.
Did you know we received over 3800 applications for 13 positions we had in our Summer Intern Program in 2021?
In addition to day-to-day assignments, interns have access to a series of learning and networking events, practical job searching skills, and mentorship sessions from our leaders. Some of these include weekly departmental information sessions to explore new areas of the business, ongoing socials to network and grow connections, end of term Capstone Project presented to the Executive leadership, and much more. In fact, our most recent cohort was treated to an end of term “Intern Day”, where they attended a presentation of our ESG Beehive Initiative, a career building workshop, and were provided a delicious team lunch. Our goal is to provide all our program graduates with a good grasp of our business, a career search plan, and lots of great friends and connections.
This program spans from May to August and we offer positions in virtually all departments including Asset Strategy, Investments, Leasing, Development, Information Technology, Marketing & Communications, People & Culture, Finance, Legal and many more. There’s truly something for everyone!
“In the summer of 2021, I join the First Capital REIT internship program as a Leasing Intern! This experience has taught me various skills of negotiation, creative thinking and working with a collaborative hardworking and highly knowledgeable team. First Capital has exposed me to a team with one common goal – To establish thriving communities that go beyond the standard framework of a regular landlord.
I was later brought on the team as a leasing coordinator once the internship concluded. The First Capital Team has been a great support and guide for my career path within the real estate sector. Special thanks to my Senior Leasing Manager, Leah Feeley who has been a great mentor and superior through this journey. “
– Andrew Chiaino – FCR’s Leasing Coordinator
“In the summer of 2021, I began my internship with First Capital as a Marketing & Communications Intern. As a fresh graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University, I was given the right tools and learning opportunities needed to further my career beyond my academic knowledge and experience. Thanks to my outstanding mentors at FCR, I have gained invaluable marketing skills in strategy, campaigns, creative writing, graphic design, and so much more.
In the fall of 2021, I was hired on as a full time Coordinator and am extremely grateful to be part of such a dynamic, collaborative, and positive team that helps me reach my career goals – I look forward to my future here at FCR!”
– Sophie Dewitte, FCR’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator
“My 2021 summer internship with FCR has been a wonderful learning experience. I worked with the IT department and was guided by my incredible mentor Brad Edey, Director of Data & Automation. I have applied a lot of what I’ve learned in school while also learning advanced skills from fellow interns, co-workers, and mentors.
FCR has an excellent and diverse workplace environment. Aside from my technical training, I was really impressed and felt educated during their Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion informative sessions and weekly Power Hours for interns.
Upon completion of my summer internship, I was hired on as a full time Data & Automation Analyst – I look forward to my future here at FCR!”
-Thao Tran, FCR’s Data & Automation Analyst
CEO’s Capstone Project
Each summer, our interns also take part in the CEO sponsored Capstone Project that ties all the foundational elements of the internship program — practical work experience, collaboration, research and innovative problem-solving. Students work together across their disciplines and look for ways to drive creativity and innovation within our portfolio of mixed-use real estate. This special project spans the entirety of the program and is presented to our Executive Leadership Team at the end of the four-month term. Talk about real work experience!
Our 2021 Interns presenting their Capstone presentation to our Executive Leadership Team
Why First Capital?
At First Capital, we offer a dynamic and diverse environment that allows for all our employees to grow and be successful. Our goal is to change the face and pace of Real Estate, and that all starts with our team. We’re serious aboutEquity, Diversity, & Inclusion, are passionate about ourEnvironmental, Social, and Governance goals and initiatives, and have an extensivePublic Arts Program. In 2021, we partnered with The Globe and Mail on their Women’s Collective, was recognized as one of , and named one of the top honourees for The Globe’s Women Lead Here Annual Report.
Need help with your resume? Check out our blog on resume trends, tips, and tricks you should be thinking about here.
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In the Fall of 2021, theFCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation partnered with Canada’s largest food rescue organization,Second Harvest, in an effort help to combat food insecurity. This philanthropic organization works across the supply chain, from farm to retail, to capture surplus food before it ends up in landfills.
Thanks to the generous donations from our staff and corporate partners, we’re proud to announce our total amount raised is an outstanding $338,000, which will provide 939,168 meals for Canadian families facing food insecurity. These funds will rescue and redistribute over 939,168 pounds of food, and as a result, will prevent over 3.5 million pounds of greenhouse gases from entering our atmosphere – the equivalent of taking 491 cars off the road this entire year.
The FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation is an employee-led organization that supports registered charities and philanthropic initiatives that support the neighbourhoods in which we operate. Since its inception in 2020, we’ve been solely focused on food insecurity – one of our foundation’s four main pillars, beside mental health, youth initiatives, and social justice. We’re proud to have continued our mission to combat food insecurity in Canada this past fall.
Did you know 1 in 7 Canadians face food insecurity everyday?
Our foundation set an initial goal of $50,000, encouraging staff, their friends and family, as well as our corporate partners to donate through our online portal. FCR then matched all employee donations dollar for dollar, doubling our support for Second Harvest. With every dollar equalling two meals, this initial goal would’ve provided 100,000 meals – but did we ever surpass this goal!
The FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation kicked off this charitable initiative with an employee-led fundraising walk through seven of our urban neighbourhoods across Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. We also offered a virtual attendance option to allow for all staff to participate and join in on the cross-country event.
Immediately, we were overwhelmed with the generosity of our amazing staff and corporate partners, and we couldn’t be more thankful to those who participated. By October’s end, our staff fundraising had come to a close, yet we continued receiving corporate donations through November and December. In our final push to raise funds for Second Harvest, we held an internal Holiday Draw that raised an additional $4,000 in just one week – a remarkable achievement for FCR staff.
First Capital staff joining our Neighbourhood Walk in Liberty Village
About Second Harvest
Aligning with our charitable goals, as well as ourESG objectives, Second Harvest actively works to solve our nation’s food insecurity issue. In Canada, $49 billion worth of perfectly good, edible food goes to waste every year due to cosmetic imperfections, confusion around best before dates, and errors in labeling or packaging. This wasted food often ends up in landfills and produces methane gas. Methane is a harmful green house gas that adds to climate change. In fact, if methane or food waste were a country, it would be the world’s third largest polluter behind China and the US. By diverting this perfectly good food from landfill and using it for its intended purpose – feeding people – there is a significant environmental benefit as well.
This really aligns with our ESG goals here at First Capital. It is important to us to have positive impacts on the environment and participating in fundraisers like this one, only increases our efforts
– Meaghan Bach, FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation Co-Chair
This really aligns with our ESG goals here at First Capital. It is important to us to have positive impacts on the environment and participating in fundraisers like this one, only increases our efforts
– Meaghan Bach, FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation Co-Chair
This wasted food has the potential to feed millions of hungry people as Canada produces enough to feed almost double its population. Second Harvest fights this problem by providing surplus food to local social programs across Canada, free of charge. By providing free food to these charitable organizations, it in turn helps to expand their capacities as they can spend the funds that may have otherwise been spent on food, on their core programs and support resources. To provide these charitable organizations with free surplus food, they often host fundraising events and lean on corporate donations for support.
Generally, we do not receive any funding from the government and rely solely on the generosity of individual and corporate donors like FCR. We truly could not do what we do without companies like you!”
– Corey Smith, Vice President, Philanthropy at Second Harvest
Generally, we do not receive any funding from the government and rely solely on the generosity of individual and corporate donors like FCR. We truly could not do what we do without companies like you!”
– Corey Smith, Vice President, Philanthropy at Second Harvest
As one of Canada’s leading REITs, we are active in over 148 neighbourhoods across the country. With that in mind, the goal of our 2021 Fall Fundraiser was to ensure all neighbourhoods in which we operate would be supported, portfolio wide. Our $338,000 raised will provide 939,168 meals for community members in need across Canada.
First Capital would like to thank our staff, corporate sponsors, Second Harvest, and our Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation for the outstanding success of our 2021 Fall Fundraiser. We couldn’t have done it without the support and remarkable generosity of those who participated, fundraised, and supported this charitable event.
Going forward, the FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation has some exciting plans for 2022 and 2023! Stay tuned for special updates including volunteer opportunities, charitable events, and the announcement of our next pillar of focus (one of mental health, youth initiatives, or social justice).
For more information on our 2021 Fall Fundraiser, listen to our newest episode of The Explainer podcast here – also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts Read more on our FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation here Read more about Second Harvest here
Follow us on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook for updates on our foundation and all things First Capital
For the third consecutive year, we are honoured to have been named one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers by Mediacorp Canada and The Globe and Mail. This esteemed award recognizes organizations who demonstrate excellence and best practices in the workplace for employee support and success. Each year, applicants are evaluated on leadership in employee culture, benefits & total rewards, communication, training & education, and community involvement.
“Our ongoing goal is to foster a professional, rewarding, dynamic, and enthusiastic work environment where everyone feels welcome and free to express themselves”, says Sommer Stewart Senior Director, People & Culture. “In supporting our employees, we offer competitive compensation, generous employer-paid benefits, training & education resources, and opportunities to grow their careers”. To name a few, we provide every full-time employee with a $3500 academic fund to further their education, an exceptional summer internship program, employees and their family members can receive up to $2,000 in mental health benefits, as well as extensive wellness packages to fit the diverse needs of our employees.
We recognize that fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable work environment is at the centre of every successful organization and remains at the core of our values. By creating a safe and respectful work environment that embraces different perspectives and lived experiences, we strive to inspire everyone to become their best selves. As a Canadian company, we understand the importance of ED&I in the workplace as it reflects the diverse communities in which we operate. We’re continuing to evolve, educate ourselves, become more socially accountable, and build on our understanding of ED&I. In doing so, we created our employee-led ED&I council in 2020 to improve our workplace and support our staff.
This fall, the FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation held a charitable walk in seven of our neighbourhoods across Canada in support of Second Harvest. Focusing on food insecurity, our goal was to raise at least 100,000 meals. With FCR’s match, every $1 we raised, translated to 4 meals for those in need. Our amazing staff exceeded this total and raised an outstanding $50,744 which was doubled by FCR ($101,488), translating to a total of 202,976 meals for hungry Canadian families.
As COVID-19 has continued to affect our workplace environment, our goal is to ensure the safety of our employees upon returning to the office. This fall, we implemented a hybrid work model where fully vaccinated employees have the flexibility to work three days in office and two days at home. During this time, we also introduced flex work hours to fit the diverse needs and schedules of each employee.
Being recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for the third consecutive year is a testament to the excellence and talent among our 350+ employees nationwide. Our employees are at the core of our success, and we wouldn’t be where or who we are today without them.
