Archived events
Housing
February 27, 2024 @ Vancouver, BC
This month’s event was presented by
Meet the panelists
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Ravi Kahlon was first elected as MLA for Delta North in May 2017. He is B.C.'s Minister of Housing. He previously served as the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, and before that held several Parliamentary Secretary roles.
As Parliamentary Secretary for Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, he focussed on the use of mass timber and innovative practices in B.C.'s forest sector.
As Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Multiculturalism he worked to reinstitute the BC Human Rights Commission and traveled the province to build an anti-racism strategy.
As Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, Ravi worked closely with businesses, workers, First Nations, and communities to create a strategy for long-term economic sustainability and growth.
Ravi's love for sports and athletic competition has also shaped his outlook. When he was seven years old, his father introduced him to field hockey. A two-time Olympian, Ravi played field hockey for Team Canada at the 2000 and 2008 Olympics.
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Richard Stewart is serving his fifth term as Mayor of Coquitlam; he was elected to City Council in 2005, and has been Mayor since 2008, winning re-election in 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2022. He is past Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Liquid Waste Committee and Regional Planning Committee. As well, Mayor Stewart currently serves on the BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus, on the Local Leaders for Mental Health, and the Board of Tri-Cities Friends of Refugees.
Prior to being elected to Coquitlam Council, Richard served as the MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville, holding the Francophone Affairs portfolio, as well as Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Education.
Richard has also served as Chair of the National Housing Economic Research Council in Ottawa, as President of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC, as President of the School District 43 Parent Advisory Council, and as a member of the National Research Council’s IRC Housing committee in Ottawa, the body that writes the National Building Code of Canada. Richard also worked as a consultant for the provincial government in establishing the Homeowner Protection Office, and in developing the consumer protection regulations associated with builder licensing and consumer protection.
Richard’s career has included a decade as publisher/editor of a housing trade magazine, as well as many years as a consultant in building technology and building codes, consumer housing issues, land use, government relations and communications. He has been a member of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce since 1989.
Richard has lived all his life in Coquitlam, and is bilingual (English and French). Richard and his wife Anna Rosa have been married since 1983, and have four children. He is an avid swimmer, cyclist, musician, and grammarian.
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Michael Geller is a well-known planner, real estate consultant, and property developer with a longstanding interest in innovative and affordable forms of housing. A retired architect and former official with CMHC, he also serves on the adjunct faculty of Simon Fraser University.
Michael is principal of The Geller Group, a consulting company that provides strategic planning, real estate development, and urban design services to clients in the private, public, and institutional sectors. Notable projects include Bayshore in Coal Harbour, Deering Island in Southlands, and UniverCity at SFU. He has also developed or participated in the creation of thousands of condominiums, coops, and rental homes.
In addition to his work as a consultant and developer, Michael is a frequent media commentator and public speaker on urban planning, housing, and development issues. He has been honoured as a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners and was recently named one of the 20 most influential people in BC real estate.
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Coming soon!
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Bio coming soon!
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As Vice President of Real Estate for RBC Royal Bank in British Columbia, AJ Delisle leads a team of real estate experts dedicated to providing financial advice and services to developers, investors and community builders across the province.
AJ joined RBC as a Commercial Account Manager in Business Financial Services in 2009. Four years later, he moved to the Real Estate team, progressing from a Financing Specialist to a Senior Commercial Account Manager and then to a Director. In 2020, he was appointed Community Manager of the Victoria Core market, overseeing the operations and business development of three retail branches. He returned to Vancouver to lead the Real Estate team in 2021.
AJ earned his MBA from the UBC Sauder School of Business and his BComm from the University of Northern British Columbia. In 2019, AJ received the Leo Award, RBC’s most prestigious honour.
AJ is also a passionate community volunteer. He participates in the annual RBC Race for the Kids fundraiser for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and has personally raised more than $102,000 since 2020.