Quebec-based global investment group La Caisse and Beedie, a private real estate development, investment and management company based in Burnaby in B.C., have formed a 50/50 strategic partnership to acquire and develop industrial real estate across major Canadian markets. The joint venture launches with a $1 billion portfolio comprising five income-producing properties totaling more than 2.5 million square feet, plus a development project expected to add approximately 200,000 square feet. The assets are located in Metro Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto and are leased to investment-grade tenants across diverse industries. Beedie will manage the partnership and provide integrated development, asset, and property management services. The partners aim to expand the portfolio to as much as $2 billion in gross asset value, targeting opportunities across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Québec and spanning various risk profiles. The partnership combines La Caisse’s investment expertise and capital with Beedie’s real estate operating capabilities and market knowledge, reflecting both organizations’ confidence in the long-term demand for well-located Canadian industrial properties. (Beedie – www.beedie.ca) & (La Caisse – www.lacaisse.com)……….
Activate, the fast-growing Winnipeg-based entertainment experience and creator of active gaming, is expanding into Australia with its first location opening in Melbourne in early 2027. Activate Melbourne/Highpoint will be located at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong in Victoria, next to HOYTS Cinema. The venue will offer twelve immersive game rooms featuring more than 800 physical and mental challenges. Using RFID technology, players can track progress, level up, unlock achievements and earn rewards. Teams of two to five can compete in popular games such as Mega Grid, Mega Laser, Strike and Hide, testing speed, coordination and problem-solving skills. Players can also participate in the Activate Global League and Tournament of Champions, connecting with competitors worldwide. With more than 80 locations globally, Activate combines technology and live-action entertainment. The Melbourne opening represents the company’s official Australian debut and the first of several planned locations across the country. The announcement follows the opening in mid-August of Activate’s first German location, a 10,097 square foot location developed in partnership with VRex Entertainment and Sounds Fun Entertainment, at the Mall of Berlin in the DACH region. The Berlin launch is the first of several planned DACH locations. A venue in Fürth is scheduled to open later this month, followed by Wiesbaden in November and Vienna in spring 2027. Additional locations are planned across Switzerland, highlighting the company’s broader expansion across the region. (Activate – www.playactivate.com)…………
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business/CFIB estimates that 53,112 Canadian businesses are directly affected by U.S. tariffs, Canadian counter-tariffs, or both. Of these, 13,160 are exporters and 45,414 are importers. CFIB argues that current government tariff-support programs do not reach enough small businesses, particularly because counter-tariffs have a broader impact than U.S. tariffs. Recent U.S. plans to ban certain Canadian goods further highlight the need for immediate action. CFIB proposes three key measures to support small businesses. First, it recommends a Small Business Tariff Relief program providing up to $70,000 in initial relief to businesses that can demonstrate they paid tariffs or absorbed some of the costs. Second, it calls for an SME Desk to accelerate decisions on removing Canadian retaliatory tariffs when industries face significant harm or lack alternative suppliers. Finally, CFIB proposes reducing the small business corporate tax rate from nine percent to six percent, retroactive to January 1, 2026, and raising the Small Business Deduction threshold from $500,000 to $700,000, with future inflation adjustments. The CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 103,000 members across every industry and region. (Canadian Federation of Independent Business – www.cfib.ca)……………
Perry Mahal has joined Specsavers Canada as Real Estate Manager, effective September 8th. He joined the eyecare and eyewear retailer following six years at Onni Group, most recently as Senior Commercial Leasing Manager where he was responsible for leasing and managing a portfolio across retail, office, and industrial assets. “Perry brings a strong combination of commercial real estate expertise, relationship management, and a strategic approach to portfolio growth,” says Kristin Hilts, Head of Property, Specsavers Canada. In his new role, Mahal will support the growth and management of Specsavers Canada’s national real estate portfolio as the company continues its expansion across the country. (Specsavers Canada – Perry Mahal – perry.mahal@specsavers.com)……..
For its second quarter that ended in early August 2026, Groupe Dynamite Inc. reported that revenue increased by 29.8 percent to $423.6 million(Cdn), compared to $326.4 million(Cdn) in Q2 2025. Comparable store sales were up 10.3 percent in Q2 2026, compared to comparable store sales growth of 28.6 percent in Q2 2025 and retail sales per square foot increased by 28.9 percent compared to Q2 2025, reaching $1,056(Cdn) in Q2 2026. During the quarter, the company opened six new stores in the United States and one in the U.K., both under the Garage banner. In Canada, four Garage locations and two Dynamite stores were closed and one Dynamite store in the U.S. was closed. The company ended the quarter with 235 Garage stores and 69 Dynamite stores. Groupe Dynamite Inc. operates Garage and Dynamite retail stores and online featuring a wide range of women’s fashion apparel, catering to the Generation Z and Millennials. With its growing international presence, the company operate across Canada and the United States, and more recently expanded into the United Kingdom, advancing our global footprint. The company has previously announced plans for 24 to 26 new store opening for Fiscal 2026. (Groupe Dynamite Inc. – www.groupedynamite.com)……………
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board plans to invest an additional $10 billion in Canadian public and private investments by the end of 2027, focusing on opportunities that meet its return objectives. The announcement comes as business, investment, and public-sector leaders gather in Toronto this week for the first Canada Investment Summit, which aims to attract more capital to key Canadian industries. Canada is Ontario Teachers’ home market and currently accounts for approximately $100 billion, or 30% of its total assets. Its Canadian investments span various sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, technology, energy, and consumer businesses. The pension plan believes its strong domestic experience and local connections position it well to identify attractive investment opportunities. CEO Jo Taylor emphasized that Canada remains an important part of Ontario Teachers’ global investment portfolio. The organization will continue increasing its Canadian investments while maintaining a broader strategy of investing across different countries and sectors to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns for its members. (Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board – www.otpp.com)…………
Empire Company Ltd., the Stellarton, Nova Scotia-based food retailer through its wholly-owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc. and related real estate, reports that for its first quarter that ended in early August 2026, food sales increased by 1.7 percent primarily driven by positive growth across the business, particularly in the full-service and discount banners. Fuel sales increased by 18.4 percent, primarily driven by higher fuel prices. “We delivered a strong first quarter, driven by disciplined execution across the business and progress against our strategic priorities,” said Pierre St-Laurent, President and CEO. “Our banners are competing effectively across the country, and our results reflect the strength of our operations, increasing productivity and efficiency, and our continued focus on delivering value for Canadians.” Empire is strengthening and expanding its retail network through new store openings, strategic acquisitions, and store conversions. Its FreshCo discount banner continues to grow nationally, with the first two FreshCo stores in Atlantic Canada opening on August 20, 2026. The company plans to open 13 additional FreshCo locations in fiscal 2027 across Western Canada, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada, emphasizing value, choice, and multicultural product offerings. Empire also completed its acquisition of Mayrand Food Group Inc. during the first quarter of fiscal 2027 after receiving the necessary court and regulatory approvals. Mayrand operates four large-format grocery stores in the Greater Montréal Area. Additionally, the company announced the acquisition of nine Morelli’s pharmacy locations operating within Longo’s stores in the Toronto and Hamilton areas. These pharmacies are expected to be converted to Longo’s Pharmacy locations, with completion anticipated in the second quarter of fiscal 2027. (Empire Company Ltd. – www.empireco.ca)…………..
As previously announced on August 20, 2026, premium outdoor-lifestyle brand Roots has entered into an arrangement agreement whereby Marquee Brands, through its operating partner JM&A Design and Development Inc., would acquire all of the company’s issued and outstanding common shares in a transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. Last week, Roots announced financial results for its second quarter ended in early August 2026. Total sales were $49.5 million(Cdn) in Q2 2026, representing a decrease of 2.4 percent from $50.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. DTC/corporate retail store and eCommerce sales were $40.5 million (Cdn), a 1.3 percent decrease from $41.0 million(Cdn) in Q2 2025. The year-over-year variance in DTC sales was primarily impacted by the temporary closure of a flagship store location in Whistler in British Columbia, as part of a scheduled relocation. Excluding this temporary closure, total DTC sales in Q2 2026 would have grown relative to Q2 2025. Additionally, sales were impacted by the temporary delays in the introduction of new seasonal products during the DC transition in the second half of Q2. For the first six months of fiscal 2026, total sales amounted to $92.1 million(Cdn), representing an increase of 1.5 percent compared to the first six months of fiscal 2025, which amounted to $90.7 million(Cdn). The global brand ended the quarter with 97 corporate retail stores and ten temporary pop-up locations in Canada, two stores in the United States, and an eCommerce platform. Roots also has more than 100 partner-operated stores in Asia, and a dedicated Roots-branded storefront on Tmall.com in China. (Roots – www.roots.com)…………
The ICSC@Canada is just a few short weeks away and everybody is feverishly booking appointments that, hopefully, will start or complete deals to justify the attendance. We should remember, however, that these gatherings are more than opportunities to facilitate deals.
An equally important purpose of a national industry convention, or even a regional gathering, is to bring people together. Professionals can meet colleagues from across the country or across the city, establish new contacts, and strengthen existing relationships. Networking can lead to partnerships, mentorship opportunities, employment prospects, and the exchange of ideas.
These events also provide a platform for companies to showcase new developments, available properties, technologies, services, and innovative approaches. Attendees can see what other companies are developing and offering.
An important aspect of any of these events, is the opportunity to learn and to do so, simple listening is important. While it’s great to return to your office after the convention with a pocket full of business cards, it is equally important to have learned more about your business. What you learn at the ICSC@Canada in Toronto in early October might well change your career for years to come………….Have a great week and remember, listening is just as important as talking………….