Every real estate transaction plays a part in strengthening Alberta. The interest earned on trust accounts maintained by brokers helps fund initiatives that support the real estate industry, consumers, and communities across the province.
Your work drives real change. Join us to hear from the people behind the projects you’ve helped make possible.
We invite you to Leading Change Calgary: Real Estate Solutions for a Stronger Alberta on Thursday, June 19 from 3:30 to 7:00 PM at The Brownstone in Calgary.
Together, we will dig into how real estate leaders, nonprofit changemakers, and top researchers are tackling complex challenges across the province, from breathing new life into Calgary’s downtown core to making homes and buildings more resilient to climate change.
You’ll hear directly from the people leading AREF-funded initiatives—sharing what they’ve learned, what’s working, and what’s next—and connect with others who are helping shape more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities across Alberta.
Participants will gain practical insights, make new connections, and unpack how Alberta’s real estate sector is rising to today’s challenges.
PANEL #1
Reviving the Core: Pathways to Downtown Resilience Panel
Jay Islam | Manager of Government & Member Relations | BOMA Calgary
Jay is the Manager of Government & Member Relations for the Building Owners’ and Managers Association (BOMA) of Calgary. Jay is an accomplished public policy professional with a background in both analysis and advocacy in a wide range of fields. He started his career in market analysis and compliance before pursuing a master’s degree in political science from Simon Fraser University. In his recent roles, Jay has focused on advocacy, government as well as stakeholder relations, policy writing and analysis. He has also supported member-driven organizations discover and implement practical solutions on a wide range of challenges, with his current role focusing the commercial real estate industry in Calgary.
Deeter Schurig | President & CEO | cSPACE
Deeter Schurig is a multidisciplinary designer and passionate leader for city-building and the President & CEO of cSPACE Projects, a Calgary-based social purpose organization developing affordable and sustainable space for artists, non-profits, and social entrepreneurs. Since 2009, Deeter’s focus has been to develop the award-winning cSPACE Marda Loop Arts Hub – the redevelopment of a 3-acre, inner-city site, including the adaptive reuse of a historic sandstone school. This LEED Gold facility is the first in a network of large-scale, multidisciplinary creative workspaces in Calgary. Today, cSPACE Projects also includes SPACEPILOT, a groundbreaking meanwhile-lease program that curates partnerships between vacant commercial real estate and non-profit arts-serving organizations.
Jesse Starchuk | Lead Researcher | University of Calgary, SAPL
Jesse Starchuk is a Project Lead and Research Analyst at the Center for Civilization (CFC), where he advances geospatial data analysis work at the intersection of urban design, civic strategy, public policy and finance innovation. He plays a key role in the Civic Commons Catalyst (CCC) Initiative, a flagship umbrella project seed-funded by the AREF and executed in collaboration with various municipal and community partners.
Through the CCC Initiative, Jesse recently authored “Uncovering the Hidden Economic Benefits of Investment in the Public Realm: A Business Case of Urban Amenities,” a strategic analysis of public-serving infrastructure, and contributed to “Climate + Catastrophe: Strategic Urban Resiliency Recommendations for The City of Calgary,” a
forward-looking analysis of climate adaptation strategies for the built environment. Applying a transdisciplinary approach towards understanding urban revitalization, Jesse currently leads “CCCx801: An Impact Study on SAPL’s Presence in Downtown Calgary,” a three-year project in partnership with The City of Calgary and the Calgary Downtown Association that is examining the demographic, economic, and social impacts on the neighborhood surrounding The City’s first Office-to-University conversion project.
PANEL #2
Future-Proofing Real Estate: Climate Solutions for the Built Environment Panel
Grace Gillman | Program Lead | Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley
Grace is an environmental scientist and Program Lead for The Shift: Climate Transitions program at the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. With an interdisciplinary background across mining, consulting, and environmental education, she now focuses on advancing local climate action through community-based projects. Grace’s work convenes residents, businesses, and key sectors to explore practical solutions in areas such as energy-efficient buildings and low-carbon transportation—supporting a just and resilient transition to a low-carbon future in the Bow Valley.
Melanie Ross | Research Chair | Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Melanie Ross is the Research Chair for SAIT’s Green Building Technologies research activities in their 16,000-ft2 Lab and Demonstration Centre— Calgary’s first net-zero commercial building. Melanie brings 17 years of experience with recognized architecture, planning and engineering firms to her role as the GBTAC lead in addition to experience in marketing and communications. She has an extensive background in delivering many projects ranging from green building certifications to energy management, existing building performance, innovative technologies, sustainability planning and policy development, and architectural design and construction for both residential and commercial markets.
Melanie is an active member of Commercial Real Estate Women, working towards the advancement of women in commercial real estate, as well as a 20+ year advocate for persons with disabilities as she herself is a person with a physical disability. She won SAIT’s 2021 International Women’s Day Achievement Award, recognizing someone who has made significant achievements in their field. Melanie is dedicated to lending her voice to advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion for both the environment and society.
Rod Ruff | President and CEO | Alberta Ecotrust
Rod Ruff serves as the President and CEO of Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, bringing over a decade of experience in designing and leading innovative environmental programs and partnerships. Under his guidance, Alberta Ecotrust has invested more than $25 million in community initiatives and developed pioneering projects such as the Climate Innovation Fund, the Retrofit Accelerator, and ENBIX.
As a founding member of the Low Carbon Cities Canada network, Rod has been instrumental in advancing urban climate solutions nationally. Committed to collaboration and impactful program design, he has led initiatives like Project Blue Thumb, addressing water quality through social innovation. When he’s not advancing Alberta Ecotrust’s mission, Rod can be found fly fishing in the Bow River, hunting in the prairies near his hometown of Medicine Hat, or immersed in a great book.
Please RSVP by Friday, June 13 to confirm your attendance.
Questions? Please reach out to Maria at mgranados@aref.ab.ca
To learn more, visit AREF.AB.CA
