The Weekend Edition May 25

The latest episode of the addy pod just dropped, featuring Daniel Foch with sharp insights on the GTA market, pre-construction trends, and where he sees Canada’s housing landscape heading. Plus, we cover the week’s top real estate and business stories — including how AI is rapidly reshaping the future of investing and operations.

Let’s go! 💪

PS. The Renfrew 2+4 Campaign ends today (Dealer: Equivesto Canada Inc)

🎧 Latest Podcast

In this episode of The addy Podcast, we sit down with — Daniel Foch.

Daniel is a real estate broker, data analyst, co-founder of The Habistat, and co-host of The Canadian Real Estate Investor podcast. With his finger firmly on the pulse of the market, Daniel brings clear, no-BS insights into what’s happening across the Greater Toronto Area. (Full Episode)

🤖 AI for Real Estate

If you missed addy’s event on April 17th, you missed a milestone moment for real estate operators across Canada. Held in Vancouver, the event marked the launch of addy Intelligence — a powerful AI-driven toolkit designed to streamline operations, automate workflows, and reduce the admin load for operators. Attendees got a first look at real-world use cases, from document parsing and investment underwriting to AI agents that categorize financial transactions and flag compliance gaps. The room was packed with top operators, and the energy was electric. If you weren’t there, you missed a glimpse into the future of running a lean, tech-enabled real estate business. Read the recap or respond to this email and we can email you the link to the video from the event itself. 

🤖 Introducing a brand new corner of Discord

#🤖-ai-prompts-et-al — where the future of personal investing meets the power of AI. Whether you’re building your duplex investment plan or experimenting with a GPT-powered investment agent, this is the place to share the prompts, tools, and philosophies guiding your journey. No advice. Just insights. Come see how others are leveling up their investing game — and drop your own GPT-powered moves.

🗞️ Real Estate

New partnership to build 49-storey student housing tower in Surrey City Centre

Earlier this month, Global Education Communities Corp. (GECC), one of Metro Vancouver’s largest operators of student housing, announced it has entered into agreements with Pure Group of Companies to build the Global Education Communities (GEC) Education Mega Centre project.

GEC Education Mega Centre will be a 520-ft-tall (158 metres), 49-storey, mixed-use tower at 10240 City Parkway, immediately east of SkyTrain’s Surrey Central Station and the bus exchange.

“We are excited to bring our extensive development and financing expertise to the GEC Education Mega Centre project,” said Steven Evans, President and CEO. (Daily Hive)

Related: You might know Steven Evans name as he is the General Partner on the Chilliwack Starbucks, St. George Place and The Lex. 

TransLink Takes Legal Action Over Dunbar Construction Fire Incident

When the crane collapsed and toppled over, it damaged the infrastructure, TransLink says, and resulted in TransLink incurring additional costs stemming from having to reroute transit services, inspecting and repairing the damage, and staffing costs associated with the above. In its civil claim, TransLink says it invoiced the owners for the incurred costs on October 28, but that the owners have yet to pay and are thus in breach of the aforementioned contract. (Storeys)

“Overdue”: Wasaga Beach Is Getting A $38M Makeover

The Ontario government will invest nearly $38 million to build Destination Wasaga, set to be a premier tourist destination with beaches, a revitalized downtown, and refreshed historic sites. (Storeys)

📈 Business & Markets

Canada Post in Crisis

Canada Post is facing a major financial and operational crisis, with a $748 million loss in 2023 and warnings that it could run out of cash by early 2025 unless restructured. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has issued a strike notice for May 23, 2025, demanding wage increases and job security, which could disrupt critical real estate operations — including the delivery of legal documents, rent notices, and tax slips. This poses risks for landlords, property managers, and real estate investors who still rely on physical mail, underscoring the need to accelerate the shift to digital tools. Canada Post is also exploring alternatives, such as reintroducing postal banking through a new partnership with KOHO (Global News)

Economists say Canada recession has already begun as trade war rages on

Canada’s economy is likely in the early stages of a recession, according to forecasters, as unemployment rises and exports fall because of a trade war with the US. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg say output will shrink 1% on an annualized basis in the second quarter and 0.1% in the third quarter, a technical recession. (LA Times)

🏛️ Politics

Ottawa’s new resources minister promises clean slate, but oilpatch looks for ‘concrete actions’ on new projects

In his first major speech since taking over the portfolio, Hodgson sent a clear signal Friday to a Calgary business audience that he wants to reset the often-testy interaction between Ottawa and the country’s largest export industry. (Calgary Herald)

Related: ‘Energy is Canada’s power’: New federal energy minister touts past Alberta oilpatch ties (CBC)

Gregor Robertson takes the housing hot seat with high hopes and old baggage

Gregor Robertson has barely settled into his new post as federal housing minister, but some industry players say the clock is already ticking on results—and reminders of his Vancouver legacy are never far behind. (Western Investor)

Conservatives secure 2 more seats after tight federal election recounts

The Conservative Party of Canada came out victorious following federal election recounts in two ridings in Eastern Canada, both of which the Opposition won by only a handful of votes. (Global)

Related: Election Results (so far)

Bloc Québécois files legal challenge of election results in Terrebonne riding after one vote loss (Globe and Mail)

🤖 AI & Real Estate: Transformation Underway

Canadian lender RBC sets up new AI team for capital markets unit

Royal Bank of Canada’s, opens new tab capital markets wing has established a new artificial intelligence and digital innovation team as it bets on AI to boost future growth, the Canadian lender told Reuters on Wednesday. RBC also appointed Bobby Grubert as head of AI and Digital Innovation, reporting to Patrick. Grubert worked on Aiden, RBC’s first generative AI solution, and RBC Elements, its data-powered research capability. (Reuters)

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