Date
Wednesday,
May 6, 2026
5:30 PM
2026 FEATURED SPEAKERS
BENJAMIN BAKST
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Baz Group
Mr. Bakst is the CEO and Co-Founder of Baz Group of Companies, establishing the firm as a leader in the real estate industry, with a portfolio of over 16 million square feet and a completion value exceeding $10 billion.
Mr. Bakst earned his CPA designation in New Jersey in 2005 and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).
MITCHELL COHEN
CEO, The Daniels Corporation
Mitchell Cohen, CM, is CEO of The Daniels Corporation, steering the organization’s strategic and long-term vision since 1984.
Under his leadership, Daniels has become known for building residential offerings for people at all stages of life, and for its commitment to building a healthy social infrastructure within each new community. Over the past four decades the company has also created innovative affordable rental programs as well as programs that help tenants become first-time homeowners.
In 2019, Mitchell was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his “contributions to urban development and for his commitment to community building.”
In 2013, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the Faculty of Community Services at Toronto Metropolitan University. In addition, Cohen has received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and an Award of Merit from the St. George’s Society.
Mitchell has a Masters in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from McGill University.
Author of Rhythms of Change, Reflections on the Regent Park Revitalization, as well as a songwriter, musician, and socially conscious real estate developer, Mitchell seamlessly bridges the intersection of business and the arts.
JACOB COHEN
President, The Daniels Corporation
As President of The Daniels Corporation, Jacob Cohen leads all of The Daniels Corporation’s business operations, providing strategic direction across the company’s developments from land acquisitions through construction to project completion. With over 20 years of progressive leadership, he aligns corporate strategy with operational excellence to deliver large-scale residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments that set industry standards in quality, sustainability, and community impact.
Jacob began his career at Daniels in 2005, working on-site with homeowners during Pre-Delivery Inspections. He advanced through increasingly complex roles, including Implementation Manager, Director, Vice President of Project Implementation, and COO before assuming the role of President in September 2025. Along the way, he has honed his expertise in project execution, operational efficiency, and cross-functional leadership, overseeing both people and financial resources, stakeholder engagement, and delivering transformative projects that enhance urban living.
His leadership has been pivotal in enabling Daniels to offer a diverse portfolio, from high-rise condominiums, purpose-built rentals, seniors’, student, affordable and accessible housing, all while upholding the company’s core values. Known for his energy, collaborative spirit and positive mindset, Jacob fosters a culture where talent flourishes and communities thrive.
A graduate of McGill University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature, Jacob brings both creative and analytical perspectives to his comprehensive approach to real estate development and corporate leadership.
STEPHEN DIAMOND
President and CEO, DiamondCorp
Stephen Diamond is the founder and CEO of DiamondCorp, a real estate development company which was founded in 2008. Since its inception, DiamondCorp has developed over 20,000 units across 27 projects totaling over 21 million square feet. DiamondCorp has a reputation for building high quality projects which make a positive contribution to both the social and urban fabric of the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to the creation of DiamondCorp, Stephen was a lawyer at McCarthy Tetrault LLP where he was head of the Municipal Law and Planning Group.
Stephen is also heavily involved in the community and has been recognized for his philanthropic and civic contributions with a number of awards including the Order of Ontario and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD).
DANIEL DRIMMER
Founder & CEO, Starlight Investments
Daniel Drimmer is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Starlight Investments, a Canadian real estate asset manager with over 360 employees and $30B in AUM encompassing more than 71,000 multi-family suites and 7M square feet of commercial property space.
In addition to the formation of Starlight Investments, Daniel is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of TSX-listed True North Commercial REIT; a director and Chief Executive Officer of the general partner of TSX V listed Starlight U.S. Multi-Family (No. 2) Core Plus Fund; a trustee and Chief Executive Officer of Starlight U.S. Residential Fund; Chief Executive Officer of Starlight Western Canada Multi-Family (No. 2) Fund and a trustee and Chairman of the Board of TSX-listed Northview Residential REIT.
Over the last ten years, Daniel has completed more than $50 billion worth of acquisitions and dispositions in residential and commercial real estate (including nine initial public offerings).
Daniel obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario and both a Master of Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Contemporary European Policy Making from European University in Geneva, Switzerland and is a third-generation real estate investor.
Daniel is the Vice Chair of Starlight’s Investment Committee.
ANDREW HOFFMAN
Chief Executive Officer, CentreCourt Developments Inc.
Andrew Hoffman is founder and Chief Executive Officer of CentreCourt Developments Inc., a private development company focused on high-rise residential development in the Greater Toronto Area. Since its inception in 2010, CentreCourt has become one of the most active developers in the GTA with over 12,000 units completed or under development.
Andrew holds an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School and has over 35 years of experience in the development of residential, office, industrial and mixed-use real estate projects.
Andrew has also been active in numerous volunteer endeavors including as a Board member at Mount Sinai Hospital (currently Board Chair of the Hospital), Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Toronto. Andrew is also co-founder and board member of Hold'em for Life Charity Challenge, an organization that has raised over $40 million for cancer research. For his contributions to the community, he is the recipient of NAIOP’s Community Service Award.
RAFI LAZER
Chief Executive Officer, Almadev
Mr. Lazer joined Almadev in 2011 and was appointed CEO in 2015, leading the company’s strategic growth and diverse business activity including acquisitions, investments, finance, and development strategy. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Mr. Lazer served as CFO of the company and was responsible for financial oversight and operations, equity and debt structuring, and capital markets. Prior to Almadev, Mr. Lazer served as regional CFO at ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, one of the top 20 global shipping and logistics carriers and as a CPA at Ernst & Young, Israel.
Almadev is a development, investment, and asset management company with over 10,000 units in various stages of planning and development and $2.85 billion in assets under management which include in addition to its diverse Canadian portfolio, a portfolio of 6.5 million square feet of industrial and commercial assets in the United States held through its subsidiary, Agellan. Almadev has built a reputation of excellence over two decades, skillfully creating best-in-class residential, commercial, retail, and rental properties across Canada and the United States.
Mr. Lazer holds a degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of Haifa, Israel; a certificate in Comptrollers and Financial Management from the University of Haifa; and a Master of Business Administration in Financial Management from the University of Tel Aviv.
KEVIN LEON
President & CEO, Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Ltd.
Kevin Leon is the President, CEO and Founder of Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Ltd., an investment and advisory firm specializing in direct property investment in Canada. Crestpoint is part of the Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group, a multi boutique asset management firm whose affiliated companies collectively manage over $140 billion in assets on behalf of institutional and private clients.
Crestpoint manages an open-ended real estate fund and a selection of segregated accounts. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top performing funds in Canada. In 13 years, Crestpoint has accumulated almost $11 billion of assets under management consisting of over 300 properties across Canada in the office, retail, industrial and multifamily sectors. Crestpoint has also developed over 6 million square feet of industrial space across the country and has recently launched an open-ended mortgage fund and closed ended opportunity fund.
Crestpoint manages an open-ended real estate fund and a selection of segregated accounts. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top performing funds in Canada. In 13 years, Crestpoint has accumulated almost $11 billion of assets under management consisting of over 300 properties across Canada in the office, retail, industrial and multifamily sectors. Crestpoint has also developed over 6 million square feet of industrial space across the country and has recently launched an open-ended mortgage fund and closed ended opportunity fund.
JAMIE McKENNA
President, Fengate Real Estate
Jaime McKenna is President of Fengate Real Estate and leads all aspects of Fengate’s real estate group including asset management, development, investment, financial reporting and governance.
Fengate has been successful in growing its real estate portfolio through land entitlement, development and core strategies to over $15B in completed value, with a pipeline of over 25,000 residential units and 5M square feet of industrial space under various stages of stabilization and development. Since joining Fengate in 2019, Jaime has led several key initiatives including establishing a best-in-class executive team, accelerating capital deployment, launching multiple growth funds and closing numerous key transactions on behalf of our investors, including the acquisition of Rail Deck District in 2021.
Prior to joining Fengate, Jaime was Chief Investment Officer of Minto Apartment REIT where she was part of the executive team that led the initial public offering as well as the follow-on equity offering in April 2019.
Jaime is a member of several boards including: REALPAC, Trent University and Seasons’ Retirement Homes, as well as a member of Marlin Spring’s advisory committee. Jaime holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with honours, and has Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Business Valuator and Institute of Corporate Director designations.
MILES S. NADAL
Founder, Peerage Capital Group
Over his 40-year career as a respected entrepreneur, philanthropist, and thought-leader, Miles Nadal has refined his partnership principles for business building.
These principles, which provide proven entrepreneurs with the tools to add value and accelerate the growth of their companies, are at the heart of Peerage Capital, a privately-owned investment company based in Toronto.
In addition to North American luxury realtor, Peerage Realty Partners, Peerage Capital has forged successful long-term partnerships in the self-storage, wealth and asset management, and land assembly sectors. Peerage Realty Partners is the single largest franchisee of Sotheby’s International Realty, and it has also partnered with other prestigious realty brands.
Miles and his family support several local, national, and international organizations, including The Miles S. Nadal Jewish Community Centre in Toronto, The Miles Nadal Heart Centre at Sinai Health Network in Toronto, The Miles and Kelly Nadal Youth Centre for the Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs, York University’s Miles S. Nadal Management Centre, The Miles S. Nadal Institute for Technological Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Tel Aviv University. Miles is also a founder of the Milken Centre for Advancing the American Dream.
ALLAN PEREZ
Co-Founder & Managing Director, CanFirst Capital Management
Allan Perez is a co-founder & Chief Executive Officer of CanFirst Capital Management, a private real estate equity firm. CanFirst invests on behalf of institutional and private high net worth investors and has raised in excess of $1 billion of equity capital since its inception. Allan's real estate career encompasses 40 years of senior executive positions with real estate organizations including The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Canderel Ltd., Dundee Realty Corporation and V&A Properties. His responsibilities included acquisition and disposition, development, marketing, leasing, e-commerce, and asset management.
Allan graduated from McGill University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree where he majored in Finance and Marketing.
PETER POLITIS
Chief Executive Officer, Greybrook Realty Partners
Peter is a partner at Greybrook and CEO of Greybrook Realty Partners. A private equity professional with extensive experience structuring, financing, and managing investments, he oversees the strategic growth of Greybrook Realty Partners, a leading Toronto-based real estate private equity firm. He leads the firm’s deal origination and asset management practice and is the co-chair of Greybrook Realty’s Investment Committee, responsible for providing oversight and approval of the company’s investments. Greybrook has invested in over 110 developments in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region and South Florida markets that represent in aggregate over 75 million square feet of residential and commercial density with an estimated gross completion value exceeding $40 billion.
Peter also plays a critical role in the success of Greybrook Capital’s portfolio companies, serving on the boards of a number of Greybrook-affiliated companies. He also serves on the board of Blu Genes Foundation, a charity funding the advancement of gene therapy sciences for the treatment of various genetic disorders.
Peter was recognized in 2018 as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40®, a coveted award for young leaders celebrating the exceptional achievements of 40 outstanding Canadian leaders and innovators under the age of 40.
ADRIAN ROCCA
CEO & Founder, Fitzrovia Residential Inc.
Adrian Rocca is transforming the Canadian rental housing landscape as the Founder and CEO of Fitzrovia, the country’s leading developer of purpose-built rental communities. With nearly 12,500 homes acquired, completed or in development and $11 billion in assets under management, Rocca is reimagining urban living through family-focused design, integrated wellness, childcare, and hospitality-inspired service. A vocal advocate for policy reform, he works across sectors to address Canada’s housing crisis and unlock institutional capital for long-term rental solutions. His leadership was recognized with the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Riley Brethour Leadership Award and the Waterstone Most Admired CEO award.
With 20 years of experience in real estate and principal investing, Rocca has overseen over $30 billion in transactions across Canada, the U.S., and Europe. Before founding Fitzrovia, he led Tricon Capital’s purpose-built rental and manufactured housing platforms, and held senior roles at Apollo Real Estate Advisors in London and Credit Suisse First Boston in Toronto and London.
Beyond business, Rocca supports national causes—co-creating “Great to Gold”, a data-driven fundraising initiative to support Canadian athletes at the Olympics, and funding major hospital expansions in Toronto. He serves on the board of the Canadian Olympic Foundation, Chair of the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation, Vice Chair of the Toronto Public Library Foundation, and Co-Chairs the Hold’em For Life Foundation that supports cancer research. Rocca is building more than homes—he’s shaping a strong, smarter and more resilient Canada.
HARRY ROSENBAUM
Co-Founder & Principal, Great Gulf Group of Companies
Harry Rosenbaum is Co-Founder and Principal of the Great Gulf Group of Companies (Great Gulf Homes, First Gulf Corporation, Ashton Woods Homes, Beacon Residential, Tucker HiRise and H+ME Technology), one of North America’s premier real estate conglomerates. Great Gulf Group covers the entire real estate spectrum across 20 cities in Canada and the United States, constructing over 100,000 homes, 10,000 high-rise units, over $7 billion in developed commercial real estate assets and iconic projects such as: The Globe and Mail Centre, La Clara, Forma, Quayside, Erin Mills and Killington Ski Resort (Vermont). Ashton Woods Homes is the largest privately held homebuilder in the United States and was named the “2023 Builder of the Year” by Builder Magazine.
Harry is a Director of Northview Residential REIT (NRR.UN), a Trustee of the Starlight U.S. Multi-Family Fund (SURF.A) and was a past Board Member of WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust (WIR-UN.TO). He was Chair of the Real Estate and Properties Committee of UJA of Greater Toronto and was a Member of the Board of Directors of UJA of Greater Toronto. He is the Honourary Canadian Chair of Limmud FSU and was a director of the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation. Harry was the 2023 Tel Aviv University Co-Honouree with his son Shael, recognized for their industry leadership, community work and philanthropy.
SHAEL ROSENBAUM
Managing Director, Rosenbaum Family Office | Great Gulf Group
Shael Rosenbaum is Managing Director of the Rosenbaum Family Office and a notable philanthropic leader. The Rosenbaum Family are Principals of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, one of the most prolific privately held real estate conglomerates in North America. Shael presides over his family interests, including diverse investments in several alternative sectors.
Shael is a globally recognized figure in Holocaust Education and Remembrance and was instrumental in the founding of the Toronto Holocaust Museum. Shael served on the Council of the Shoah Foundation at the University of Southern California and was Chair of the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre. He was Chair of the International Young Adult March of the Living, a Member of the Board of UJA of Greater Toronto and was a Trustee of the Jewish Foundation. Shael is currently the Chairman of the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, a Board Member of the Baycrest Hospital Foundation and a member of the Israel and Overseas Committee at UJA.
Shael is a past recipient of the UJA Leadership Development Award and was the 2023 Tel Aviv University Co-Honouree together with his father. He was the Associate Producer of the critically acclaimed documentary, “The Accountant of Auschwitz" and his commentaries have been published in an array of papers and journals. Shael is the descendant of four Holocaust survivors and his community work remains the most pivotal segment of his life.
KENNETH M. TANENBAUM
Vice-Chair, Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited
Ken Tanenbaum is the Founder and Chairman of Kilmer Developments, which has had a leading role in the construction and operations of such transformational projects as the ONroute Highway Service Centres, the Pan Am Athletes’ Village, Brightwater at Port Credit, and the West Don Lands Rental Housing program; he is Chairman of Kilmer Brownfield, which is committed to creating value by remediating and repositioning contaminated land; he is the Executive Chairman of Coca-Cola Canada Bottling; and, he also serves as Vice Chairman of Kilmer Van Nostrand, a family holding company with interests in sports & media, private capital investments and real estate & infrastructure. He has a long history of volunteer leadership with many organizations. Ken is passionate about the promise of Canada and is committed to aligning Kilmer’s business interests with building healthy cities and vibrant communities. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children.
AVI TESCIUBA
Senior Managing Director, Co-Country Head Canada, Hines
Avi Tesciuba is responsible for the overall Hines Canada platform and currently serves as the senior officer on a number of projects including CIBC Square – a three million sq. ft. twin-tower office development across from Union Station in Toronto, including a one-acre elevated park above the rail corridor; Bayside, a two million sq. ft., seven-building master-planned mixed-use development on the Toronto waterfront, including the tallest mass timber office building in North America; Park Central, a two-tower, 1000-unit high-rise multifamily development in the Calgary Beltline; and Eighth Avenue Place, a two million-square-foot twin tower office complex in Calgary. Avi joined Hines in 1998. After spending the first 10 years of his Hines career in Chicago, he moved with his family to Toronto to help build a Canadian platform for Hines.
He is passionate about assembling a high-performing team, that now numbers 150, and developing a strong culture. He has focused his development efforts on projects that have elevated the quality standard and service level existing in the current marketplace, created a sense of place, and improved the communities we live and work in.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles, a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Structural Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He also holds a Professional Engineering license in California.
FRED WAKS
President and Chief Executive Officer, Trinity Group
Mr. Fred Waks has been with Trinity for the past decade, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a reputation as one of the leading developers in the country. As a third-generation developer, Fred most recently held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer at RioCan, where he gained national recognition for being an integral part of the team who transformed the company into the largest Real Estate Trust in Canada. During his tenure, RioCan grew from $100 million to $15 billion in assets. His profile and expertise have made him a sought-after expert on real estate development with top tier Canadian business media. Previously Fred was Chairman of the European Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust and Vice-Chair of Extendicare.
Fred is an active community leader and is involved with a number of local and national charities; he sits as Chairman on the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre Board of Directors, he served as Past Chair of the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation, Chair of Sherman Campus Leadership Committee, Honorary Trustee of the ROM, Past Chair of the Jewish Foundation of Toronto, Negev Honoree 2012, Co-Chair of Israel at 60, Co-Chair of UJA Federation Annual Campaign in 2006 and Ontario Lubavitch 2019 Honoree. Fred is a recipient of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to Canada and his community.
BLAIR WOLK
President & Chief Operating Officer, Orlando Corporation
Blair is a real estate professional with more than 25 years of experience in real estate planning and development, construction and strategic asset management.
Since joining Orlando Corporation in 2004, Blair has been involved in land acquisitions and development approvals of over 1500 acres of land and seen the company grow from 30 million square feet to over 45 million square feet of industrial and commercial properties. In his current role as President, Blair is responsible for the day to day management and operations of the company’s portfolio of industrial and commercial properties. Prior to his start with the company, Blair held various roles with Wittington Properties, Aecon Utilities and Morrison Hershfield Consulting Engineers. Blair has been a guest lecturer at the Schulich School of Business at York University and has also served on the board of the Building Industry & Land Development Association (BILD).
Blair is a Professional Engineer and has earned an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University.
