A New Era for Housing Development
Helping real-estate professionals understand what shapes our cities, and the future of housing development in Metro Vancouver.
This course will discuss post-pandemic cities, and the drivers behind urban growth. From there, the course shifts to the technical, communications, and government aspects of housing development.
Master the Complexities of Urban Growth and Housing Development
This advanced course offers a comprehensive examination of post-pandemic urban dynamics and the key forces driving city growth today. Delve into the technical, regulatory, and communications aspects of housing development with practical insights designed for professionals. Each module concludes with an exclusive live Q&A session with Gary Pooni, providing direct access to expert guidance.
$1,500 + GST
Don’t miss out!
Be a part of the live conversation with Gary Pooni throughout the course.
A New Era for Housing Development
This course is led by Gary Pooni and others at renowned Pooni Group Inc. This online course features six modules to help your company succeed within the new regulatory environment.
May 14th, 2025 | 10:30AM
Module 1: Post Pandemic Cities: 2025 and beyond
What can we learn from the last pandemic, and where our cities are headed over the next decade; How our changing cities are reflecting changes in housing, and how we live.
May 21st, 2025 | 10:30AM
Module 2: The Approvals Labyrinth:
City, Provincial, Federal
An overview of the hierarchy of legislation, plans, and policies; Learn how to navigate the maze of bureaucracy at City Hall.
May 28th, 2025 | 10:30AM
Module 3: Communications and
Media Training
Learn the basics of communications, public relations, and media training; Why being an effective communicator is important to your development project.
June 4th, 2025 | 10:30AM
Module 4: The Politics
of Planning
From new provincial legislation to public hearings, housing policy has been inherently political. Learn more about the politics of planning, land use, and housing. What does this mean for your housing project?
June 11th, 2025 | 10:30AM
Module 5: Panel
Discussion
Listen to a panel of development industry experts, discuss the future of the home building industry and where housing is headed over the next decade.
June 18th, 2025 | 10:30AM
Module 6: Future of Housing
What do the changing demographics in our cities mean for new housing models? Millennials and seniors: learn why they will be major players in the housing scene over the next 10 years. Plus, industry leaders will discuss what to consider when creating the ideal floorplans for these demos.
Meet Your Instructor
Gary Pooni
President of Pooni Group
In his role as president of Pooni Group, Gary drives the firm’s growth and guides major client projects as strategic lead. With nearly 30 years of urban planning-related experience, he has spearheaded some of the country's most significant projects throughout Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sea to Sky corridor, Alberta and Ontario.
Gary’s expertise includes policy planning, public consultation and entitlement negotiation. Often recognized as the man behind the Lower Mainland's most complex projects, Gary sits on the board of the Urban Development Institute, both in Vancouver and the Capital Regional District.
One of Gary’s core beliefs is to lead not just in business, but also in the community. Accordingly, he has a non-profit family foundation (Pooni Group Foundation) that is committed to giving back to several local initiatives.
Gary Pooni Track Record
With nearly 30 years of urban-planning related experience, Gary has spearheaded some of the country’s most complex real estate projects and has made Vancouver magazine’s Power 50 List consecutively since 2022. Current and previous projects include..
Woodland Park, Port Moody | OCP Amendment Rezoning Application
Harris Green Village, Victoria | Public Engagement
Mirvis Village, Toronto | Public Engagement
Meet the Experts
Guest Presenters Include…
David Porte, President, Port Communities
David's career in real estate began more than three decades ago after earning a Commerce degree from UBC. As President of Porte Communities since 2006, he has overseen the management of over 1000 rental apartments, 1.4 million square feet of office, retail and industrial space, as well as the construction of thousands of homes and one million square feet of commercial space.
Cameron Thorn, Vice President Development, Strand
Cameron Thorn joined Strand in 2016 and has played a key role in the growth and success of the company over the past decade. Cameron has more than 20 years of development experience, including 10 years as Vice President, Development with Ledingham McAllister and two years with Mosaic Homes. A key area of Cameron’s focus is engaging with municipalities on improving the entitlement process and advocating for policies that facilitate the delivery of housing.
Golnaz Rakhshan, Principal, Kasian
Golnaz Rakhshan is an architect and Principal at Kasian Architecture with over 13 years of experience leading residential, public, and mixed-use developments across Canada. With a deep commitment to city-building, she aspires to contribute meaningfully to Vancouver’s evolving housing landscape—bridging policy, design, and development to help create vibrant, livable spaces for generations to come.
Jason Kiselbach, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, CBRE Canada
As Managing Director for CBRE’s operations in B.C. (Vancouver and Victoria), Jason Kiselbach oversees the advisory and transaction services business line and provides strategic support on business development to grow the firm’s market share. Recognized with Business in Vancouver’s Forty Under 40 award, Kiselbach is committed to mentorship and community engagement.
Master New Era for
Housing Development Today
“A true professional through and through”
“Gary Pooni is a true professional through and through. His depth of knowledge on transforming cities and neighbourhood's is a wealth of information. Gary discusses many cultural and societal truths that have been responsible for changing the current and future of real estate development within cities.”
– Toni Sing
Principal, Sing Real Estate Team, Bel-Air Realty Group Ltd.
“Master of his craft”
"Gary Pooni brought the energy
— charismatic, unique, and is a real master of the Urban Planning and Communications side of Development."
– Amrit Sidhu
Principal/Founder Metromax Realty Group
“Will make you stop and think”
“From the first minute I saw Gary Pooni speak, I knew we were all in for something special. His vast knowledge of the industry and vision for future trends was freely shared in a fun and unique way. His dress code is highly entertaining and his personal stories will make you stop and think about your own life on a different level.”
– Mark Rasmussen
Personal Real Estate Corporation, Lifetime Member Medallion Club (23 years)
“Indispensable partner”
“Gary Pooni has been an indispensable partner in the success of our projects. His deep relationships, combined with a strong command of urban planning and the development approval process, have consistently added value while helping us navigate complex challenges with confidence.
Gary is deeply respected by industry, his peers, and government alike—and brings a strategic mindset, practical insight, and a solutions-oriented approach to all that he does.”
– Mike MacKay
CEO, Strand Development
“Most insightful and forward-thinking”
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Gary Pooni, and I can confidently say he stands among the most insightful and forward-thinking leaders in the industry. His deep expertise in urban planning, real estate development, and navigating complex approval processes makes him an invaluable resource in any conversation about city-building.
He has a rare ability to connect policy, market realities, and visionary thinking and in doing so, he helps transform the way our cities take shape.”
– Golnaz Rakhshan
Principal, Kasian Architecture and Interior Design
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