Page 4 – First Capital

In our commitment to support and help our neighbourhoods thrive, we actively add art to public spaces at our properties across the country. Our newest installation, Lighten Up, comes from renowned Toronto artists Christine Leu and Alan Webb of LeuWebb Projects. This new sculpture, located at 3080 Yonge Street, presents an aura of levity and joy on a bustling city corner downtown.

This unique piece is inspired by the neighbourhood’s active members and overall environment, hoping to catch the eye of those going by. Its bright and shiny design is meant to engage the public by providing a moment of wonder, joy, and dismay while bringing the charm of the neighbourhood to life. The seven striking balloons are designed to embody this very moment, right at the corner of Yonge and Lawrence.

Did you know that each cast aluminum balloon weighs between 600 and 800 pounds?

Photos by Doublespace Photography

Christine Leu and Alan Webb, the artists behind 3080 Yonge Street’s Lighten Up, are the owners and creators of LeuWebb Projects, a renowned art and design studio located in Toronto. The two share a background in architecture but have similarly gravitated towards the arts. Since 2011, Christine and Alan have built an impressive portfolio, completing over 20 site-specific installations both locally and internationally. Their ongoing artistic focus is finding new ways to engage the broader public through creative practice, whether that be interactive light and sound pieces at Nuit Blanche, temporary installations, or more permanent sculptures such as Lighten Up.

Just before the pandemic hit last year, Christine and Alan were asked to submit a design proposal for First Capital’s 3080 Yonge Street invited art call. Upon researching our arts program, they were impressed by the scale of our public art portfolio and prepared to make a submission.

It [FCR’s arts program] really offers a lot of opportunities for artists but also a lot to the general public
– Christine

Christine and Alan began by visiting the site to absorb the surroundings and atmosphere. From the busy Yonge and Lawrence intersection, to our many tenants and city-goers, to the TTC Subway stop; Christine and Alan could feel the rush of the neighbourhood and immediately had a moment of inspiration. Alan imagined a bunch of escaped balloons that have been trapped underneath the canopy. This would ultimately create a sense of joy and levity at a bustling Toronto street corner.

Maybe your eye catches one of these bright balloons above you and you have a moment with a different perception of the city
– Alan

Considering other perspectives and interpretations, Christine and Alan had also envisioned a singular balloon situated in the ground planter away from the others. They liked the idea of showing a contrast of emotions, exhibiting a feeling of deflation amidst the city’s liveliness.

For most people, the impact of the pandemic came with great uncertainty and unpredictability. Since the piece was designed and conceived pre-pandemic, the creative duo never could have expected what was to come. From the supply chain sourcing of aluminum alloy and its price fluctuations, to one of their extended team members catching COVID, Christine and Alan faced it all. Despite their challenges, it’s easy to see how this vibrant and engaging art piece brings colour and vibrancy to 3080 Yonge Street. Going forward, they have some exciting potential new projects coming up, including a monument for Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. They’re also recent winners of a commission to create a curatorial plan and arts project for a yet-to-be-named Canadian municipality – more details to come in the fall.

Thank you, Christine and Alan, for creating such a beautiful and unique piece for 3080 Yonge Street. You can now see Lighten Up in person at the corner of Yonge and Lawrence in Toronto. To explore more of Leuwebb’s portfolio, head to the following links below.

Website: leuwebb.ca
Instagram: @leuwebb

Want to learn more about our arts program and hear from LeuWebb Projects? Head to our newly refreshed arts page here and check out our episode of The Explainer here.

The Devenish is a fashion and culture hub in Calgary’s Mount Royal neighbourhood. Continuing our Tenant Spotlights, we’re highlighting one that has expanded her footprint in The Devenish twice in just four years. From a humble 900 sf of retail space to 4,000 sf today, Kate Hewko has grown a budding e-commerce empire and become Calgary’s top destination for all things fashion.

In tandem with her growing business, Kate gives back to her local community, participating in several of the city’s largest charity events and fundraisers. From styling top celebrities to being featured in several renowned fashion magazines, Kate’s accomplishments serve as a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit.

Kate Hewko inside her store located in The Devenish

Before becoming a fashion mogul, Kate began with a degree in economics from the University of Western Ontario, and a diploma in fashion marketing from the International Academy of Design & Technology. With a clear passion for fashion, she knew she wanted to start her own small business.

Although she had an eye for fashion and emerging trends, design was never something she studied, nor had interest in. Shortly after graduation, she started a small women’s boutique carrying emerging designers that unfortunately never took off. With a slight pivot, she started a similar small online jewelry store. Upon launch, she faced familiar issues such as slim profit margins and not enough reach.

Kate then made the career-changing realization that her business model needed to be self-branded, instead of selling other people’s jewelry. She began looking for manufacturers who would make smaller batches, so she could start producing her newly self-branded Kate Hewko jewelry – a change that ultimately proved incredibly successful.

It wasn’t long before she needed to keep up with the growing success of her brand, deciding to open a retail store to support it. Searching around town, she wanted to be on 17^th avenue in Mount Royal – the life and cultural heart of Calgary. The Devenish was the perfect spot, checking all of her boxes, with the added bonus of its historic design and heritage status. Beginning with a 900 sf unit, she opened her first ever retail store just two weeks before giving birth to her third child – an incredibly challenging time for her!

Within her first few months of opening at The Devenish, it quickly became apparent that she wasn’t going to make it from her jewelry collection alone. Wanting to dive into clothing, she asked herself: how do the big fashion brands such as Zara and H&M make large profits? The answer lies in sourcing from the right manufacturers using a private label model. By adopting this, she was able to turn her business around, increasing profit margins, and driving repeat business. This marked the second major milestone in her business and was a turning point for her brand.

Today, Kate works with over 50 manufacturers that allow her to bring in new product every week. In contrast to her competition, Kate’s products are not mass produced and aren’t available everywhere else. Her clients love the exclusivity and uniqueness of her products and can always come back to find something new and fresh on Kate’s shelves and online store.

What sets her apart from other designers is her keen eye for new trends and fashion freshness. If she notices a trend when purchasing, she won’t buy it as it wouldn’t interest her niche client base – they’re always looking for unique finds. Not only is it good business, but exclusivity allows her to thrive over the cheaper fast-fashion brands.

With her increasing success, Kate has now expanded twice in The Devenish in just four years. Starting at 900 sf, expanding to 1,700 sf in 2019, and now 4,000 sf, Kate Hewko is growing exponentially. Like most business owners, she was recently forced to pivot during COVID-19. At the start of the pandemic, she turned focus to her online store to adapt to the unprecedented circumstances – ultimately skyrocketing her sales. She went from having most sales come from in-store purchases at her single store in Calgary to a North American-wide range of clientele. In fact, her most popular cities now include Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, New York, and Los Angeles. Even though she saw great success in The Devenish prior to the pandemic, her e-commerce growth has greatly augmented her in-store sales and traffic even further.

Not only has her pivot to e-commerce helped grow her business, but she’s also grown an exceedingly large social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok. She’s also been featured in some of the world’s most prestigious magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and has had celebrities including Miley Cyrus and Idina Menzel sport her jewelry on the world stage.

Through the continued success of her business, Kate is always looking for ways to give back to the Calgary community. She especially loves and cares for those that support children’s causes because she has three of her own. Kate believes it’s an important place to put money because it’s our next generation. She has hosted and participated in countless charity events over the years and has become known in the city for doing so. Her most notable ones include hosting a charity fashion event at The Grand and being part of the infamous Alley Party.

I love giving back because I enjoy helping to improve culture and community
– Kate

Kate recently hired four additional employees, allowing her to focus on the business aspects that she loves most – marketing, lead generation, and data analytics. Going forward, her main goal is to continue growing her business throughout North America, dive deeper into the world of e-commerce, and potentially bring back footwear and faux fur – apparel she once had to discontinue due to her smaller reach.

We congratulate Kate on the outstanding success of her business and the two remarkable expansions of her shop at The Devenish.

Learn more and shop at Kate Hewko here:

Web: https://www.katehewko.com/
IG: @katehewko

Adam Paul was featured on BNN Bloomberg to discuss the Q2 Quarterly results, and the Canadian real estate market.

Watch on BNN Bloomberg

For over 11 years, First Capital has developed a significant and longstanding relationship with the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD U). In partnership with OCAD, we’ve held various art competitions challenging students to create unique installations at some of our properties across Canada. These competition pieces provide exposure for the artists while beautifying the neighbourhoods in which they are displayed. With every new piece we’re reminded of their creativity, imagination, and talent. We are thrilled to help them kick start their careers and build their professional portfolios.

This Artist Spotlight features our newest art installation, and the creative minds behind it. Recently, we met up with the three winners of First Capital and OCAD’s first ever mural-specific art call competition, Anastasia Tarkhanova, Zuna Amir, and Ashlyn Mundy. Tasked with designing to the theme of equity, diversity, and inclusion, while embodying the Yonge & Roselawn neighbourhood, these young artists impressed the judges, OCAD professors, and First Capital employees alike.

Just four months ago, Anastasia, Zuna, and Ashlyn found themselves looking for ways to build their artistic portfolios as fresh new graduates of OCAD University. By freelancing, assisting on bigger projects, and growing their own brands and businesses, they faced difficulty amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon hearing about First Capital’s student and alumni mural competition on equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) in our Yonge & Roselawn neighbourhood, they were immediately interested.

The theme sparked their creativity and left plenty of room for interpretation. They were confident in their abilities to produce a quality mural reflective of their differing cultural backgrounds. Their decision to work together was easy – not only were the three friends from OCAD, but they’d previously won a similar competition that had been canceled due to the pandemic last year. This was their chance at redemption, to prove themselves once again, and to showcase their artistic skill and talent.

**Anastasia Tarkhanova:**

A versatile artist and designer specializing in digital art and indoor murals. People, music, nature, and new projects are what sparks her inspiration. Anastasia moved from Russia at the age of 19 to study at OCAD U, pursuing her artistic dreams .

**Zuna Amir:**

A multidisciplinary artist with an emphasis in illustration and animation. Finding inspiration from her surrounding environments, Zuna immigrated from Pakistan with her family several years ago. She also owns a clothing line called **The Shared Brand**.

**Ashlyn Mundy:**

Enjoys drawing, painting, and printmaking, while exploring new illustration mediums and playing with textures. Born and raised in rural Ontario, Ashlyn moved to Toronto at the age of 17 to begin her studies at OCAD U.

As they began brainstorming ideas and possible designs, their main objective was to bring the Yonge & Roselawn neighbourhood to life. Differing from Toronto’s bustling downtown core, they knew this neighbourhood had more of a community-like feel, consisting of a diverse population, local businesses, friendly dog walkers, and growing families. Out of the three artists, Anastasia lives in the neighbourhood with her boyfriend, and is a regular at the local coffee shops. As a Russian immigrant, it is stories like hers that create the wonderfully diverse community at Yonge & Roselawn.

Working virtually during the creative process, their goal was to make the mural as cohesive as possible, attempting to avoid it looking as though three individuals had worked on it. Using paint as their artistic medium, they decided on a 2D/flat image given the competition’s time constraint. Accounting for the large space (50ft long by 14ft high), they developed a striking colour palette to capture the eye from afar. Sending designs back and forth, their differing areas of expertise and creative opinions, coupled with their comfortability to be frank with one another, ultimately proved to be a recipe for artistic success.

From March to April, the three worked diligently to meet the proposal due dates upon each round’s progression. Although confident in their mural, they grew nervous as they couldn’t gauge their competition, meet the other contestants, nor review their entries – a truly suspenseful moment for the trio.

Not long after did Anastasia, Zuna, and Ashlyn find out the exciting news of being the chosen winners of First Capital’s mural competition. With this win in their back pocket, it ultimately marked the next major milestone in their careers.

You work so hard and are hopeful, and then once you get it, it’s extremely rewarding
– Anastasia

Throughout the month of June, Anastasia, Zuna, and Ashlyn began hand-painting the mural onsite in the Yonge & Roselawn neighbourhood. Since they had never really worked on something of this size and scale, seeing the large blank wall in person was a bit overwhelming at first – far bigger than their small computer screens. Despite their nerves, they all agreed how refreshing it felt to socialize and work with others again, following Ontario’s third lockdown.

On site, the team was delighted by the vibrancy and inviting atmosphere, receiving daily greetings from the locals and free meals from the onsite food truck, Home Appliances Food Co. Not only does the mural beautify the area, but the three believe it creates a community gathering place. They recall one woman saying that the sight of the mural had brightened her day, and another stopping to read a book against the new mural backdrop.

Overall, Anastasia, Zuna, and Ashlyn are extremely proud of their final work of art and are positive that it’ll only bring them more success going forward – growing their careers, portfolios, and artistic ability. They all agreed that after working on this incredible outdoor mural at Yonge & Roselawn, they see themselves working together again and on something similar. Above all else, they take pride in how they have beautified a piece of their community, and that their work is on display for their friends, family, and neighbours to see.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to current and former students in the arts?

Keep on trying for as many opportunities because the worst thing you’re going to hear is no… so keep putting yourself out there
Zuna

Follow your heart and do what you want because someone is going to hate it… Also, say yes to things you might not be sure about… Look at us now
Ashlyn

Just keep producing because I believe it’s better to not have opportunity but be ready, than not be ready but have opportunity… so if you know you can do it and you continue to apply for things, you could be chosen in a second and you don’t want to be overwhelmed when that happens… Also, networking; for me, it’s not necessarily how talented you are, it’s who you know because people want to work with people they know. Keep talking to people because you never know who you’re going to meet or where it’s going to take you
Anastasia

We couldn’t be prouder of these three amazing artists and look forward to seeing their continued success in the future! We congratulate them on their well-deserved win in our ED&I-themed competition, and for their work-of-art featured proudly in our Yonge & Roselawn neighbourhood. To learn more about the artist and their portfolios, head to their websites and socials below:

Anastasia Tarkhanova

Personal & Art Portfolio
Web: https://www.anatarkhanova.com/
IG: @anastasia.art

Zuna Amir

Personal & Art Portfolio
Web: https://zunaamir.com/
IG: @zunaamir.art

Shared Brand
Web: https://thesharedbrand.com/
IG: @thesharedbrand

Ashlyn Mundy

Personal & Art Portfolio
Web: https://ashlynmundy.format.com/
IG: @ashlyn.mundy.art

To see the mural in person, head to 2440-2444 Yonge Street, and for more information on our arts program check out our Explainer podcast here.

Over the past year and a half, the real estate industry has faced unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19. In our efforts, we’ve worked to protect our employees, tenants, and customers, with a primary focus of maintaining a safe environment.

In a proactive response to making our properties as safe and healthy as possible, First Capital REIT (FCR) is proud to announce that we have achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations & Management from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). This rating has been granted to 35 of our buildings across Canada, comprised of shopping centres, mixed-used properties, and office spaces, totalling 7.1 million sf. As a leader in the Canadian retail REIT sector, achieving this rating is a reflection of First Capital’s implementation of exceptional operational strategies and protocols to support and advance a healthy and safe environment in our public indoor spaces.

What is the WELL Health-Safety Rating?

Developed by IWBI and launched in June 2020, the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management, is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all public building types. The rating is given to those who engage in specific cleaning and sanitization procedures, air and water quality management, operational policies, emergency preparedness programs, and health services. By leveraging the insights and guidance from over 600 experts across the globe, the WELL Health-Safety Rating helps building owners prepare their shared spaces for the highest standards of health and safety now and into the future.

FCR’s proactive efforts to earn the WELL Health-Safety Rating is a function of our ongoing leadership and commitment to support the health and safety of our employees, tenants, customers, and communities. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have made this even more important, and we have responded by further implementing additional operational strategies and protocols of the highest standards. We are proud that the hard work of our team and our purpose of creating thriving neighbourhoods has been recognized through the first WELL rating amongst Canada’s retail REITs.
– Adam Paul, President and Chief Executive Officer, First Capital REIT

Congratulations to First Capital REIT for taking extraordinary steps to prioritize the health and safety of those who live, work or shop in their properties. By addressing the immediate challenges related to the COVID-19 now and broader health and age-related issues into the future, First Capital has reinforced its leadership in creating thriving urban neighborhoods in Canada, and its achievement of the WELL Health-Safety rating will further support a healthy, resilient recovery while inspiring others to reopen with confidence.
– Rachel Hodgdon, President and Chief Executive Officer, International WELL Building Institute

Our ESG 2020-2024 Roadmap aligns our efforts and initiatives across our organization, with goals to have positive impacts in our communities and neighbourhoods – this WELL rating is a significant milestone in this commitment. Be sure to keep an eye out for the WELL Health-Safety seal at the FCR properties listed below:

FCR Shopping Centres

Cedarbrae Mall	Toronto, ON
Centre Commercial Beaconsfield	Montreal, QC
Centre Domaine	Montreal, QC
Chartwell Shopping Centre	Toronto, ON
Centre Commercial Cote St. Luc	Montreal, QC
Fairview Mall	St. Catherines, ON
Galeries Normandie	Montreal, QC
Gloucester Shopping Centre	Ottawa, ON
Meadowlark Shopping Centre	Edmonton, AB
Meadowvale Shopping Centre	Mississauga, ON
Merivale Mall	Ottawa, ON
Northgate Centre	Edmonton, AB
Parkway Mall	Toronto, ON
Place Portobello	Brossard, QC
Semiahmoo Shopping Centre	Surrey, BC
Stanley Park Mall	Kitchener, ON
Westmount Shopping Centre	Edmonton, AB
Whitby Mall	Whitby, ON
Yorkville Village	Toronto, ON

FCR Mixed-Use

71 King Street West	Toronto, ON
100 rue Peel	Montreal, QC
101 Yorkville Avenue	Toronto, ON
225 rue Peel	Montreal, QC
The Brewery District	Edmonton, AB
Mount Royal Block	Calgary, AB
Mount Royal Village	Calgary, AB
Mount Royal West	Calgary, AB
Place Viau	Montreal, QC

FCR Office

Victoria Terrace	Toronto, ON
85 Hanna Avenue	Toronto, ON
801 York Mills Road	Toronto, ON
1670 Bayview Avenue	Toronto, ON
3080 Yonge Street	Toronto, ON
Barrymore Building	Toronto, ON
Centre Wilderton	Montreal, QC

One of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions is combustion engines. In fact, the pollutants released by gas fuelled cars and trucks contributes to a fifth of the world’s total greenhouse gases. As a leading owner, operator, and developer of mixed-use real estate, First Capital is focused on finding ways to reduce carbon emissions across our portfolio through various initiatives – including electric vehicle charging stations.

Check out our EV charging parking stall and cleaning bay at Yorkville Village in Toronto, ON!

In doing our part, First Capital is implementing EV charging stations at every single one of our properties by the end of 2024. So far, we currently have 160 charging stations across 48 properties with 90 more to be installed at 40 properties this summer. By early fall, we’ll bring our total number of EV charging stations up to 250, with plans for additional installations coming soon. We’re working with community partners such as Natural Resources Canada and LeadingAhead Energy to install these stations nationwide. As outlined in our 2020-2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Roadmap, we are committed to furthering and improving our corporate sustainability practices – the implementation of EV charging stations is just one of many.

Seton Gateway’s EV charging stations in Calgary, AB

In our Tenant Spotlight series, we’re featuring the tenants that help shape our neighbourhoods and urban communities. Today’s spotlight is on a baking power couple from Edmonton who started their fresh doughnut business at a local farmer’s market and turned it into a destination spot for city dwellers and country folk alike. Meet the amazing owners of Edmonton Brewery District’s Doughnut Party, Matthew Conrad and Simon Underwood who are dominating the city’s pastry industry and revolutionizing the doughnut with their unique combinations.

Matthew at work in his Edmonton Brewery District flagship, packing a doughnut box and parking the delivery truck!

Growing a small business is never easy, especially when leaving behind a career and a sense of job security. Ten years ago, Matthew found himself with a choice – to stay employed as a schoolteacher or take the risk and invest 100% of his time in his doughnut business. Though he was between teaching positions at the time, the uncertainty and risk of starting a small business was a leap out of his comfort zone.

Growing up, Matthew’s family loved to cook and bake, making him very comfortable and confident in the kitchen. Being in this environment, he was always surrounded by food, especially fresh dough. After honing his craft in his home kitchen between teaching positions, he began baking for friends and family; doughnuts proving to be the clear fan favourite. It was one of those friends that offered him a spot at their local farmer’s market to sell his already highly sought-after doughnuts. Upon opening Doughnut Party at the farmer’s market, the business grew exponentially, happily surprising both he and his partner Simon. They soon realized the major gap in the market as freshly baked doughnut shops were all but non-existent in Edmonton – aside from the local Tim Horton’s.

Matthew describes Edmonton as “a big city with a small-town mentality… when something happens here, everyone knows about it, and everyone is loyal”.

To keep pace with the growth, Simon began investing 100% of his time into the business. Working together, their differing idealistic versus realistic minds made the perfect match.

We’re partners in business, and partners in life
– Matthew

With their continued success at the farmer’s market, the pair knew the next big step was a retail store. However, they first needed to perfect their recipe. Both attended various doughnut universities in New York, Kansas, and California. After comparing lessons learned from the top doughnut institutions in America, they created their ultimate recipe. The same recipe is used today and includes two secret ingredients that are still in the mix today!

In January 2017, the pair opened their first brick-and-mortar store, signing a short-term lease not far from Edmonton’s downtown core. The location wasn’t ideal as it was on a back street with minimal vehicle and foot traffic and limited parking. Despite its downfalls, Matthew and Simon thrived on social media, which drew crowds of hungry customers on opening day. From day one, their customers instantly fell in love with their vast selection of elaborate and unique flavours. After a few successful years, their lease was nearing its end. They had quickly outgrown the space and began looking for something more walkable, popular, and accessible.

Enter the Edmonton Brewery District, First Capital’s mixed use shopping centre on 104 Avenue NW, which checked all their boxes. Simon and Matthew loved its historic architecture, proximity to their home and previous location, the wide variety of quality small businesses, the abundance of parking (above and below ground), and overall neighbourhood synergy. Above all else was its central location in Edmonton, as they needed a flagship kitchen that could serve their current baking needs and service future satellite locations. This strategic kitchen placement would ultimately save on the overhead costs of individual kitchens at their smaller locations. It was clear that Edmonton Brewery District was the perfect fit!

Nearing the end of construction and grand opening preparations coming together, the global COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the pair were forced with a harsh reality – the success of Doughnut Party was at risk. To make matters worse, their first satellite location in Edmonton’s Ritchie neighbourhood had opened just six weeks before the onset of the pandemic, and province-wide lockdowns forced them to close. A few months later, case counts began to drop and they were able to officially open their first headquarters/flagship store in the Edmonton Brewery District in June 2020. Matthew and Simon were immediately overwhelmed by the success of the opening despite the pandemic!

Doughnut Party’s flagship location at the Edmonton Brewery District

Throughout the pandemic, the pair has found it particularly difficult to navigate through all the uncertainty. Since opening, they’ve adapted and survived the waves of lockdowns and physical distancing measures by creating the Doughnut Party contactless delivery service. Their goal was to make their beloved customers feel completely safe, while still being able to enjoy their one-of-a-kind doughnuts in the comfort of their own homes.

We called it the ‘Doughnut Party pivot’
– Matthew

This month (June 2021), Matthew and Simon are celebrating their one-year anniversary at the Edmonton Brewery District. Despite opening during the pandemic, they’ve seen tremendous success and couldn’t be happier to call Brewery their new home and headquarters. The synergy they felt upon their initial visit of the property has only grown since their time here. Loving the Brewery District’s environment, they’ve befriended several of their neighbouring tenants, including Takiwa Ramen. Not only are they pleased with their new flagship store, but they would recommend it to any small business looking to grow their brick-and-mortar presence.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to jump into starting their own business?

Know that things aren’t going to come to you, it does require a lot of hard work… Put yourself out of your comfort zone, teach yourself, learn, and do things that you didn’t expect or weren’t part of the plan
– Matthew

Doughnut Party’s flagship location at the Edmonton Brewery District, preparing for the daily deliveries.

The story continues for Matthew and Simon. Using the Brewery District location as their baking headquarters, they plan on opening more satellite stores around Edmonton. In their future plans, they’ll be looking into new neighbourhoods, building on their social media strategy that helped grow their business initially. With the incredible success of Doughnut Party thus far, Matthew and Simon are hopeful and optimistic for the future of their business. In celebrating their one-year anniversary at the Edmonton Brewery District, they’re reflective on what this milestone represents, especially in such a trying year for small businesses. Matthew believes that if they’ve been able to survive and even thrive through this pandemic, they can get through anything.

A few of the delicious doughnut offerings at the Edmonton Brewery District Doughnut Party.

Here at First Capital, we couldn’t be prouder of their success and look forward to seeing what’s next for these two amazing entrepreneurs. To learn more about Doughnut Party, check out their website and Instagram. Congratulations Matthew and Simon on your one-year anniversary at the Edmonton Brewery District!

Last year, First Capital launched our five-year Environmental, Social, and Governance Roadmap in efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and reduce our environmental footprint.

Included in the roadmap, we outlined several sustainability initiatives as part of our ongoing ESG journey – one of them being the implementation of at least 8 additional beehives on the rooftops of a select few of our properties by June 2022. That is in addition to the 8 existing bee colonies that are currently housed in a handful of our properties, including Cedarbrae Mall and our head offices at 85 Hanna in Ontario, as well as Mckenzie Towne in Alberta. In fact, we’re proud to share that we’re on track to meet this target as three new hives in both Ontario and Quebec will be ready by the end of this spring (Chartwell, Morningside, and Place Portobello). For more information, on-site photos, and news updates on our current hives, head to My Hive below:

A few of our busy bees at Parkway Mall in Scarborough, ON – the hive houses 7,500+ and counting!

Environmental Importance of Beehives in our Thriving Neighbourhoods

Bees play an instrumental role in the survival of the Earth’s ecosystems and crop health. Their importance lies in the ability to transfer pollen between flowering plants that ultimately leads to their growth and reproduction. From various types of berries and gourdes, to canola and potatoes, many plants would not be able to survive without the pollen provided by these incredible insects. Without their ability to pollinate, our food supply would decline rapidly – an issue already becoming a reality in many parts of the world.

Did you know, bees contribute to over $5 billion of Canadian agriculture a year?

With global warming on the rise and the increased loss of our ecosystems, bees and their hives are struggling to thrive. From 2013 to 2014, the Canadian agricultural landscape saw a 29% decline in bee population, with Ontario being the hardest hit province at 58%. However, in the last five years, the industry has seen a steady increase not only in the number of beekeepers per province, but also the number of bees per hive. With the help of First Capital’s ESG initiatives to introduce more beehives within our properties, we are excited to see those numbers rise even more!

Check out our busy bees at Broadmoor Shopping Centre in Richmond, B.C. – The hive houses over 9,000+ and growing!

In reflecting back on this past year (and a half), it is no secret that it has been very trying for everyone, but imagine trying to scale a new business during the pandemic! In our ongoing Tenant Spotlights, we are meeting the people and places that are the driving forces within First Capital neighbourhoods. In this second installment, our spotlight is on Jennifer Halfin and Hillary Abramsky – two incredible women changing the face of physiotherapy in Toronto – with a youthful twist!

Jennifer & Hillary of Toronto Kids Physio

This past year has been an interesting one for many, but no year has been more eventful for the women behind Toronto Kids Physio, Jennifer and Hillary. While the idea of launching and scaling a business on the cusp of the global pandemic sounded daunting, Jennifer and Hillary were up to the challenge and have been crushing it.

The dynamic duo behind Toronto Kids Physio met at Camp Kadimah, an overnight camp in Nova Scotia, with Jennifer acting as Hillary’s counsellor one summer. This created a bond which led to years of back-and-forth discussions about life and career paths, resulting in a brief overlap at another Toronto based clinic. Whether or not they realized it at the time, their partnership would turn into a great entrepreneurial story, resulting in two Toronto-based Kids Physio practices.

Jennifer & Hillary in their 3080 Yonge Street Practice

Finding a job in the specialized area of paediatric physiotherapy is quite difficult for a new graduate, despite the significant need for services in the community. This ignited Hillary’s entrepreneurial spirit as she knew there must be a better way. She needed to think creatively after experiencing difficulties getting job placements. While she was working alongside Jennifer, she followed Kids Physio Group, a kids-only, physiotherapy-only company in British Columbia, on Instagram.

It wasn’t long after, that she reached out to Laura Patrick, CEO and Founder of Kids Physio Group, and set out to Vancouver to work there for a year. She then coordinated with Jennifer to take the plunge and start a Kids Physio Group franchise in Toronto – the first outside of BC. For Hillary and Jennifer – the idea of creating a complete one-stop-shop for kids to get the therapy they needed was an exciting opportunity.

They saw firsthand the need for this service in Toronto – and after almost a year of working to build a business, including Jennifer’s signing of loan agreements from a hospital bed just after delivering her third child – the two were ready to open their practice. However, they still needed a great location to open up shop; one with convenient access for their clientele. It was through a familial connection that Hillary heard of 3080 Yonge Street, First Capital’s mixed-use property on the corner of Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue. 3080 Yonge Street is situated atop the Lawrence subway station and only a 5 minute drive from the 401, a location perfect for their first location in Toronto.

The pair knew that after bootstrapping their way to this point, using credit cards and small business loans to fund such endeavours, they needed a space that would be easily transformed into the practice they envisioned from the start. A space on the 5^th floor had recently become available, a former small office with some self-contained rooms. The location checked a lot of the boxes for their practice, and the pair began a buildout and within 2 months, had the grand opening in November 2019.

Toronto Kids Physio at 3080 Yonge Street – under construction in 2019

Responding to COVID-19

Fast forward to March 2020. Like the rest of us, the first lockdown caught the newly minted entrepreneurs by surprise. The pair was left to shift their practice from in-person to a fully virtual experience. Hillary and Jennifer needed to think quickly and make difficult decisions, while also balancing the needs of their families. It was during this time that their partnership proved to be most valuable, in which their hard work really paid off.

The practice was able to sustain itself in its new digital capacity, but by no means measured up to the physical space they had just built. Taking consultations online meant Jennifer would often use her own kids as subjects in various exercises and stretches. It wasn’t long before the pair was able to rehire their existing and new employees and reopen their physical location, albeit in a very different capacity. New stringent cleaning protocols and safety measures left the team adapting their practices day-by-day to keep employees and clients safe. These safety measures and a team of dedicated volunteers enabled them to continue growing their practice and work towards opening their second location in Leaside Village!

The new COVID safety measures changed the protocols during an appointment, but not the team’s desire to help.

Hillary and Jennifer quickly recognized that they were ready to add a second clinic. Strong relationships with physicians in the field meant that they were able to connect with existing tenants at the newly completed mixed-use medical building in Leaside Village, and knew that it was the ideal location. First Capital’s new building, an extension to its Leaside Village Shopping Centre, allowed the pair to build a custom space and reach an established community in the Leaside neighbourhood.

Jennifer & Hillary inspecting the buildout of their new Leaside Village location

The Road Ahead

On the heels of International Women’s Day in March, Jennifer and Hillary served as true examples of leaders in our community. Today, through the hiring of new grads and interns, they are working to build the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs. They continuously credit the people they surround themselves with for helping them get to this point.

We look forward to seeing where this pair of entrepreneurs take their business next!

I really loved building a team and sharing success with them…It’s really all about the people!
– Hillary Abramsky

The women behind Toronto Kids Physio in what is soon to be Leaside’s newest kids only physio practice!

You can learn more about Toronto Kids Physio on their website and Instagram. Join us in welcoming them to Leaside Village next month!

How are you helping to Restore Our Earth?

Every day should be Earth Day, however on April 22, 1970, Earth Day was born. This day was created to remind us of the importance of taking care of our planet – it is our only home after all! It is a day of education, empowerment, and conversation. Communities around the world take part in sustainability initiatives and many extend these activities for the entire month of April.

The theme of this year’s Earth Day is “Restore Our Earth”, which focuses on the importance of reducing our environmental footprint and repairing the damage we have done in the past.

In May 2006, First Capital embarked on the path towards sustainability with our commitment to develop all future properties to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Since then, First Capital has been pursuing sustainability strategies and initiatives to help minimize the threat of climate change, reduce our environmental footprint, and reach our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. We are generating biodiverse communities by creating spaces where nature can thrive, while adding vibrant characteristics that can be enjoyed by all.

First Capital is committed to having a positive environmental impact, making our neighbourhoods socially accountable and having thorough and responsible corporate governance practices. Here are a few sustainability projects that we have been working on:

Completing Our Lighting Conversion

We have completed our 5-year commitment to convert all our exterior and parking lot lighting to energy-efficient LED. We worked with local contractors to create spaces with reduced maintenance costs, enhanced aesthetics, and improved visibility, and most of all significantly reduced the amount of energy used. For example, one of our latest conversions was at the Promenade du Parc where we converted all lighting fixtures to LED. This complex will now have an estimated savings of approximately 57,000 kWh annually, which represents a 55% reduction in electricity use.

aerial photo of Promenade du Parc parking lot showing the LED conversion

Photo of Promenade du Parc parking lot showing the LED conversion

Growing Our Bee Family

Wild pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, promote healthy biodiversity and are crucial to human survival. Climate change, development and widespread pesticide use are compromising their habitat, and food sources and populations are in decline. Did you know that we currently have urban beehives at eight properties across the country? Below you will find the My Hive pages for our beehives, where you can keep up-to-date on what is happening at the hives and even see pictures of our fuzzy pollinating friends.

We’re happy to announce that our bee family continues to grow! This Spring, we are installing hives at three more properties (Morningside, Chartwell and Place Portobello) with plans to add five additional in Spring 2022!

What’s more, we are updating our landscape management standards to include native plants and prioritize pollinator species for landscaping at existing properties and in new development projects.

What can you do to help? As our communities continue to grow, local butterflies and bees are losing natural spaces to eat, sleep and raise their young. You can help make your neighbourhood more bee and butterfly-friendly by adding native wildflowers to your garden, yard or balcony.

Photo of a hive at Broadmoor Village – Vancouver

Photos of our hives at McKenzie Towne and Shops at New West

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Electric vehicles (EV) save on fuel costs, routine maintenance, and most of all, leave a smaller environmental impact. Just imagine a world with less car emissions!

As EV technology continues to develop and becomes more easily accessible to more people, the demand for better infrastructure will continue to increase. At First Capital, we want to be a big contributor to the expansion of EV infrastructure. At First Capital, we will expand our network of EV charging stations at our properties. We currently have over 160 EV stations installed across 48 properties, and we will be installing 90 more this summer across 40 properties. Our goal is to provide EV Charging at 100% of our properties by the end of 2024.

EV Chargers at Cedarbrae Mall

These are just a handful of examples that are the result of our entire First Capital team being engaged in sustainability. We have additional initiatives that are underway, and we invite you to learn more about our sustainability strategies and ESG roadmap by clicking here.