Canadian pension fund
POPULARITY
5 episodes with OMERS
3 episodes with OMERS
3 episodes with OMERS
4 episodes with OMERS
2 episodes with OMERS
2 episodes with OMERS
2 episodes with OMERS
2 episodes with OMERS
2 episodes with OMERS
In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen sits down with Jon Love, founder and executive chair of KingSett Capital, one of Canada's largest and most experienced private equity real estate platforms. A seasoned investor who has navigated multiple market cycles, Jon is known for his frank, unfiltered takes on Canadian policy, regulation, and capital deployment, and this conversation is no different.Jon shares his honest assessment of the federal government's newly announced $25 billion Canada Strong sovereign wealth fund, the push to fast-track major resource projects, and what's really holding Canada back: not a shortage of capital, but a shortage of permission. He also breaks down where the real estate market stands today across office, retail, industrial, and residential, and why he believes a sharp recovery is coming for those with the balance sheet to wait it out.Whether you're a developer, investor, policy watcher, or simply trying to understand what's actually happening in the Canadian economy, Jon Love delivers the kind of straight talk that cuts through the noise.Canada's $25 Billion Sovereign Wealth Fund: Progress or Déjà Vu? (02:48)* Jon's honest take on the Canada Strong fund and what's still missing* Why the real barrier to investment isn't capital, it's permission* Lessons from the Heritage Fund and what discipline looks like in practiceResource Fast-Tracking and the Major Projects Office (08:36)* The bull and bear case for Tim Hodgson's promise of 5–10 shovel-ready projects by spring 2027* What regulatory bottlenecks remain under the Carney government* Why Shell's takeover of Arc Resources signals renewed confidence and what still needs to happen nextInstitutional Capital Coming Home (14:50)* What's different about this wave of pension fund repatriation* OMERS, the Maple Eight, and why Canadian real estate returns are among the best in the world* The case for Canada as a technology superpower and why Jon is more optimistic than mostThe Real Estate Cycle: Where We Are and What's Coming (20:25)* Triple-A office as the surprise strongest asset class in the country* Why for-sale residential is in pain and why a sharp recovery is inevitable* How banks are behaving with stressed borrowers, and the Oxford story from 1992 that defined a strategyCreative Repurposing, Affordable Housing, and the HST Rebate (30:44)* Office-to-hotel conversions in Toronto and why adaptive reuse is just getting started* Why streamlining affordable housing approvals matters more than new funding programs* The HST rebate: right medicine, but the prescription still isn't writtenMedia, Trade Wars, and What Jon Would Tell Carney (33:24)* Why the Port of Vancouver's seven-day container turnaround vs. Dubai's seven hours is a symbol of a much bigger problem* How media fragmentation and social media have made constructive policy debate nearly impossible* The one frank piece of advice Jon would give Prime Minister Carney if he had 15 minutes: give permissionAbout Jon LoveJon Love is the founder and executive chair of KingSett Capital, one of Canada's leading private equity real estate platforms. With decades of experience across multiple market cycles, Jon has built a reputation for candid, principle‑driven commentary on Canadian policy, regulation, and investment. He is a former CEO of Oxford Properties and has been a key figure in shaping Canada's institutional real estate landscape. Beyond investing, Jon is known for mentoring young talent, championing affordable housing, and relentlessly advocating for cutting red tape.Connect with Jon Love on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonlovekingsett?originalSubdomain=caVisit KingSett Capital website: https://www.kingsettcapital.com/Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com
Today’s headline news for Canadian IT solution providers: Integris, a managed AI and IT services firm backed by OMERS Private Equity, has announced its intent to acquireFirst Focus, the largest managed service provider serving small and midsize businesses across Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, is designed to extend Integris’ geographic reach while accelerating delivery of AI-enabled managed services across regions. For the channel, the transaction is a clear expression of the platform MSP consolidation trend playing out globally through private equity – and for Canadian observers, the OMERS connection is notable: the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System is the PE backer driving this international build-out. Cybersecurity vendor NeuShield has announced a partnership with Ontario-based MSP Data Guards to deliver instant ransomware recovery services to clients. In a documented real-world use case, the companies reported restoring more than 6.2 terabytes of encrypted data in just fifteen minutes – a recovery window NeuShield says would have taken more than five days using traditional backup methods. By integrating NeuShield Data Sentinel into its managed security stack, Data Guards can offer one-click recovery of corrupted data and storage-layer protection against ransomware and file tampering, reflecting a broader market shift as solution providers move beyond prevention and detection to guarantee client data remains continuously recoverable without system rebuilds. ThreatLabs Europe, the research arm of ThreatDown, has discovered threat actors weaponizing AI agent skills to deliver the GachiLoader infostealer. Attackers are using a fake OpenClaw AI agent skill as a lure to inject the Rhadamanthys infostealer directly into memory, leveraging the Polygon blockchain for command and control to bypass traditional perimeter defenses. The malware harvests cryptocurrency wallets, browser credentials, Telegram messages, and password manager contents. The discovery is a direct warning for the channel: as non-human identities proliferate in client environments, identity and access management practices must now account for the vulnerabilities introduced by AI agents – not just human users. In brief: Sublime Security has launched its first formal channel partner program and announced a move to a 100 percent channel sales model, with dedicated reseller and MSSP tracks. The agentic email security platform uses a rules-plus-AI approach it says catches attacks that signature-based tools and generic AI products miss. Konica Minolta has announced the spring 2026 launch of the AccurioPress C5080 Series, a new line of digital production presses designed for high-volume commercial printing environments. Forescout has launched Mission:Possible, the company’s biggest channel partner tour in 25 years, spanning more than 90 cities globally between May and September. The immersive events are built around hands-on IT, OT, IoT, and industrial security challenges, with the goal of sharpening partner positioning around zero trust and continuous threat exposure management. Microsoft 365 E7 goes generally available today at $99 per user per month, bundling Microsoft 365 Copilot, the Entra Suite, and advanced compliance capabilities in a single commercial tier. Microsoft’s Q3 earnings this week confirmed Copilot has crossed 20 million paid seats – E7’s launch signals the next phase of the AI licensing conversation for solution providers. Read Full Transcript Welcome to The Buzz from ChannelBuzz.ca, I’m Robert Dutt, today is Friday, May 1, 2026, and here’s what’s happening in the channel today. Integris, a managed AI and IT services firm backed by OMERS Private Equity, has announced its intent to acquire First Focus, the largest managed service provider serving small and midsize businesses across Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is designed to extend Integris’ geographic footprint while accelerating delivery of secure, scalable AI capabilities across regions. For the channel, it’s a clear example of the platform MSP consolidation trend playing out globally – and for Canadian observers specifically, it’s worth noting that OMERS, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, is the private equity backer driving this international build-out. Cybersecurity vendor NeuShield has announced a partnership with Canadian MSP Data Guards to deliver instant ransomware recovery services to clients. In a real-world use case that highlights the collaboration, the companies reported successfully restoring more than 6.2 terabytes of encrypted data in just fifteen minutes. According to NeuShield, this compares to more than five days that would have been required using traditional backup methods. By integrating NeuShield Data Sentinel into its managed security stack, Data Guards can offer one-click recovery of corrupted data and protection at the storage layer against ransomware and file tampering. The partnership underscores a broader trend in the market, as solution providers increasingly move beyond prevention and detection to ensure client data remains continuously recoverable without the need to rebuild systems from scratch. ThreatLabs Europe, the research arm of ThreatDown, has discovered that threat actors are now weaponizing AI agent skills to deliver the GachiLoader infostealer. According to the company, attackers are using a fake OpenClaw AI agent skill as a lure to inject the Rhadamanthys infostealer directly into memory. The attack utilizes the Polygon blockchain for command and control instructions, allowing it to bypass many traditional perimeter defenses to harvest cryptocurrency wallets, browser credentials, Telegram messages, and password managers. As malicious actors increasingly exploit the expanding footprint of non-human identities, the discovery serves as a clear warning to the channel. IT professionals must ensure comprehensive identity and access management practices account for the vulnerabilities introduced by AI agents operating within client environments. In Brief – Sublime Security plans to go 100 percent channel Konica Minolta has announced the spring 2026 launch of its AccurioPress C5080 Series for digital production environments. Forescout goes on Mission:Possible partner tour And finally, today's the day for the launch of Microsoft 365 E7 Full details and links in the show notes or the blog post. Later today on In The Channel, we continue our coverage from SAS Innovate 2026, as we talk to SAS global channel chief John Carey about four years building out the channel program for the analytics company, the increasing role of MSPs, and how his own goals for the partner portion of the company's revenues are evolving. And if you haven’t heard it yet, yesterday’s episode featured my chat with SAS Canada leader Ryan MacDonald on the state of the AI opportunity in Canada, the role of partners, and why the value of SAS may be hidden to some customers. That’s how we’re seeing the headlines today. I’m Robert Dutt for ChannelBuzz.ca, thanks for listening. Have a great day.
Welcome to the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, hosted by Maheen Bari. Today, we explore why Canada's group benefits market is entering its most significant era of competition in nearly seven decades. In 2026, modern employers are no longer satisfied with "just insurance"—they are seeking integrated platforms that bridge the gap between coverage and care. Joining us today is Mark Goad, General Manager of Alan Insurance. A seasoned digital health leader and venture capital veteran, Mark co-founded Curv Health and has worked with OMERS and SAP. Under his leadership, Alan has launched as the first new group benefits provider in Canada since 1957, introducing the revolutionary Alan Clinic. Key Highlights Challenging a 70-Year Monopoly: How Canada's insurance market is evolving and why expectations are changing. Care Delivery vs. Reimbursement: Alan's shift from reimbursement to providing care, and its impact on employees. Alan Clinic Innovation: What sets Alan Clinic apart and why the integrated approach matters. Expansion and Wellness: How expanding into Quebec drives innovation and integrated wellness. Leadership and Advocacy: How Mark's work with CAMH shaped Alan's mental health strategy. Special Thanks to Our Partners: UPS: https://solutions.ups.com/ca-beunstoppable.html?WT.mc_id=BUSMEWA Google: https://www.google.ca/ A1 Global College: https://a1globalcollege.ca/ ADP Canada: https://www.adp.ca/en.aspx For more expert insights, visit www.canadiansme.ca and subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Stay innovative, stay informed, and thrive in the digital age! Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct financial or business advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
Een primeur in BNR Beurs: we hebben het over nieuws dat er niet is. Het cijferrapport dat er niet is, om precies te zijn. Beleggers zijn er als de kippen bij als het om arbeidsmarktcijfers gaat in de VS. Die informatie is goud waard, want de centrale bank gebruikt ze om het rentebeleid op te baseren. Maar met de overheidsdiensten daar in shutdown, moeten Jerome Powell het even zonder doen. Beleggers leven voor nu maar even naar het principe 'geen nieuws is goed nieuws'. Maar hoe verstandig is dat? Dat zoeken we deze aflevering uit. Verder hebben we het over dingen die wél gebeurden. Zoals Europa die eens een keer het initiatief neemt als het op heffingen aankomt. De EU wil importheffingen op staal verhogen naar 50 procent om de industrie hier te helpen. Het gaat ook nog over de opvolger van Christine Lagarde. De baas van de ECB zegt namelijk zelf dat ze het wel ziet zitten als ene Klaas Knot dat wordt. Die heeft natuurlijk zijn handen vrij, nu zijn termijn als president bij De Nederlandsche Bank erop zit. We vertellen je of de opvolging daarmee bezegeld is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Een primeur in BNR Beurs: we hebben het over nieuws dat er niet is. Het cijferrapport dat er niet is, om precies te zijn. Beleggers zijn er als de kippen bij als het om arbeidsmarktcijfers gaat in de VS. Die informatie is goud waard, want de centrale bank gebruikt ze om het rentebeleid op te baseren. Maar met de overheidsdiensten daar in shutdown, moeten Jerome Powell het even zonder doen. Beleggers leven voor nu maar even naar het principe 'geen nieuws is goed nieuws'. Maar hoe verstandig is dat? Dat zoeken we deze aflevering uit. Verder hebben we het over dingen die wél gebeurden. Zoals Europa die eens een keer het initiatief neemt als het op heffingen aankomt. De EU wil importheffingen op staal verhogen naar 50 procent om de industrie hier te helpen. Het gaat ook nog over de opvolger van Christine Lagarde. De baas van de ECB zegt namelijk zelf dat ze het wel ziet zitten als ene Klaas Knot dat wordt. Die heeft natuurlijk zijn handen vrij, nu zijn termijn als president bij De Nederlandsche Bank erop zit. We vertellen je of de opvolging daarmee bezegeld is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of the Rainmaker Podcast, Gui Costin speaks with Michael Ashmore, Founder of Rondeivu, an end-to-end InvesTech platform transforming how institutional investors source diligence, transact, and monitor investments across private markets. Michael, with over 20 years of experience in finance, private equity, and venture capital, shares his journey from a background in law and economics to founding Rondeivu after recognizing the inefficiencies in private markets and deal processes.Michael recounts his career path, starting with a desire to pursue corporate law, but transitioning into the investment world after realizing that law wasn't the right fit for his long-term career. He began his career in institutional investments, gaining valuable experience managing multi-billion-dollar portfolios for pensions and fund-of-funds. His time at firms like OMERS and PGGM laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial venture into the tech-enabled private market space.Rondeivu, founded in 2021, was built to address the inefficiencies Michael experienced as an investor at OMERS. These inefficiencies included duplicative efforts, disparate data, and lack of centralized systems for managing private market deals. Michael and his co-founder set out to create a platform that would streamline the deal process, making it more efficient for both investors and managers. The platform includes automated tools for sourcing deals, conducting due diligence, and managing transactions, with a focus on real-time updates and seamless workflows.Michael discusses Rondeivu's initial success, including its ability to secure $371 billion in investor mandates, representing discretionary private market capital from sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, insurance companies, and family offices. He also shares how the firm has been able to close deals with large institutional players, and his approach to business development and building a client base. The platform's ability to help investors leverage technology to save time and improve decision-making is a central part of its value proposition.Rondeivu's value proposition, according to Michael, is its ability to provide a quicker “yes or no” for investors, cutting down on the time spent analyzing opportunities and giving them the tools they need to make faster, more informed decisions. He describes how their algorithmic matching and deal sourcing capabilities help reduce inefficiencies and create a seamless experience for institutional investors.In the episode, Michael also shares his leadership style and the challenges of scaling a fintech startup. He emphasizes resilience, the importance of learning from mistakes, and staying focused on building the business. Michael's advice for young professionals is clear: embrace the challenges, keep learning, and stay patient.Tired of chasing outdated leads? Book a demo to see how Dakota Marketplace simplifies your fundraising process with accurate, up-to-date investor data.
In this episode Elena Lambros, Partner in Ashurst’s Risk Advisory practice, speaks with Pauline Martin, Associate Director at Oxford Properties, and Becky Clissmann, Sustainability Counsel at Ashurst, about how Oxford Properties is embedding ESG into decision-making across its global real estate portfolio. Pauline shares Oxford Properties’ pragmatic, data-first approach to decarbonisation, guided by OMERS’ net zero target and supported by a robust data foundation. She explains how standardised toolkits, green leasing strategies, and templatized scope of works are enabling consistent decision-making across jurisdictions, asset classes, and investment models. The conversation also touches on stakeholder expectations, from planning authorities to tenants and investors, and how these are accelerating the adoption of net-zero pathways. Becky adds a regulatory lens, providing a timely overview of the UK government’s consultation on transition plans and the frameworks helping businesses stay ahead, such as the TPT disclosure framework and GFANZ recommendations.For more on the UK’s proposed adoption of the ISSB sustainability reporting standards, Ashurst has published a detailed summary available here. To explore Oxford’s approach in greater detail, listeners are encouraged to read the Oxford Properties 2025 Global Sustainability Report. Listen to more episodes in the Game Changers mini-series – featuring an array of thought-provoking guests – by subscribing to ESG Matters @ Ashurst on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing
Today's guest is Mark Hays, Director of Sustainable & Impact Investing at Glenmede — a firm managing $48 billion with a client-to-employee ratio that keeps conversations personal and strategy focused.Mark's journey into finance started early — running a lemonade stand to save up for a Sega Genesis and learning about markets through a third-grade stock project that didn't go as planned. That early curiosity eventually led to a career spanning Cambridge Associates, OMERS, Flat World, and J.P. Morgan — where he became the firm's first U.S. sustainable investing hire.Now at Glenmede, Mark helps clients align their portfolios with their principles — not just in theory, but through tangible investments. Glenmede offers investment management, wealth planning, fiduciary, and advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, families, endowments, foundations, and institutional clients.It has $48 billion in assets under management, but keeps a 4-to-1 client-to-employee ratio and promises, in Mark's words, “the experience of a $200 million family as a $10 million individual.” That approach means every client gets tailored advice, deeper conversations, and impact reporting that goes far beyond ESG scores.Nearly 20 percent of AUM sits in strategies that fit Glenmede's four-category investment taxonomy (Integrated, Mandated, Thematic, High-Impact Concessionary) and span almost every asset class. Mark's through-line is what he calls “sustainable prosperity” — the belief that helping those with the least doesn't take away from others, but actually creates more opportunity and value for everyone.At Glenmede, that vision shows up not only in where the money goes but in how clients are engaged. Mark and his team don't just plug people into products — they guide multi-generational families through deep, often difficult conversations about values, legacy, and measurable impact. That means starting with inquiry, moving through education, assessment, and implementation, and ending with real measurement — not in vague ESG scores, but in tangible results like gallons of water saved, emissions avoided, or communities reached.Mark knows that impact is a moving target, but he also knows how to hit it: by staying curious, staying human, and staying honest about what money can and cannot do.Tune in to hear how he turns that approach into measurable impact.—Connect with SRI360°:Sign up for the free weekly email updateVisit the SRI360° PODCASTVisit the SRI360° WEBSITEFollow SRI360° on XFollow SRI360° on FACEBOOK—Additional Resources:
Recorded live on June 3 in Victoria, Nicola Wealth Advisor | Client Relationship Manager, Chris Warner, hosts a timely discussion on the forces shaping today's investment environment. Ben Jang, Portfolio Manager, Investment Strategist, opens with a compelling analysis of the four key indicators that have preceded every bear market over the past 200 years, and why all four are now in play. Shaun Blythen, Vice President, Real Estate Investments & Portfolio Strategy, provides an update on Nicola Real Estate's development activity in Victoria and discusses the long-term role of real estate in diversified portfolios. Ashley Ng, Senior Director, Head of Infrastructure Investments, closes the conversation with a look at the role of infrastructure within private capital and how the asset class has historically demonstrated resilience through various market conditions. Together, these insights highlight how a thoughtful, multi-asset approach can help investors remain resilient and well-positioned, even as conditions shift. Sign Up for our Newsletter 13:42 - 13:47 - 8.1% annualized return for Nicola Core Portfolio Fund. Ranking by 10-year Return as of Dec 31, 2024. Compared against AIMCO, BCi, CDPQ, CPP, HOOPP, OMERS, OTPP, PSP. PSP and BCi as of March 2024. 14:47 - 14:58 - Total Portfolio Returns (Dec 1986 - June 2024, Equal Weighted %). Outperformance in reference to TSX Composite. 14:58 - 15:08 - Annualized Volatility (Dec 1986 - June 2024). Outperformance in reference to TSX Composite. 17:27 - 17:34 - Nicola Canadian Real Estate Limited Partnership; inception date: Dec 2005. Since inception return of 8.9% 17:35 - 17:49 - Nicola U.S. Real Estate Limited Partnership; inception date: June 2010. Since inception return of 9.9% 17:50 - 18:01 - Nicola Value Add Real Estate Limited Partnership; inception date: Nov 2014. Since inception return of 11.9%
In the wake of the Canadian federal election and a tumultuous April, on this episode of The Unlimited Podcast, Brian speaks with Jon Love, Executive Chair and Founder of KingSett Capital. You may recognize Jon from his prolific LinkedIn posts, where he frequently shares his insight on politics, Canada's priorities, and much more. Brian and Jon discuss the founding of KingSett, Jon's thoughts on the election outcome, Canada's path forward under Prime Minister Mark Carney, and more!Jon Love is the Executive Chair and Founder of KingSett Capital, Canada's leading private equity real estate investment business – now with a staff of 170 professionals in three offices, and AUM of $18 billion.After graduating with an HBA from Ivey Business School, in 1976, Jon joined Scotia McLeod in Edmonton as a retail stockbroker, then joined Oxford Properties in 1980, eventually becoming President in 1987 and CEO in 1992. In 1995, Jon took Oxford public and 6-years later, in 2001, Oxford was privatized by OMERS in a $4 billion transaction.In 2002, 6 months after “going dark”, Jon founded KingSett Capital.Jon graduated with an Honours degree in Business Administration from Western University's Ivey Business School, where he is an Emeritus Advisory Board member. In 2016 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Western University. Jon is a member of the Business Council of Canada, the Chief Executives Organization, and YPO. In 2023, Jon received the Ivey Business Leader of the Year Award, the NAIOP Rex Icon Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2024 the Fraser Institute's Founders Award. In 2018, Jon was awarded the Order of Canada.Timestamps0:00 Disclaimer & Intro5:51 Running Oxford in the 80s & 90s10:21 Jon's favourite times in his career12:00 Knowing when to sell a business15:58 Founding KingSett after "Going Dark"17:33 KingSett today vs. 20 years ago19:38 Why does KingSett only operate in Canada?22:00 Operating while being "Terrified"24:38 Jon's biggest lessons28:25 Implementing a succession plan33:06 Jon's view on the Canadian federal election40:00 Jon's recommendations for a housing plan45:52 Investing outside of KingSett47:30 Playing Offence48:46 If Jon could do anything, what would it be?50:30 Outro
As one of the first Insurtech operators turned investor, Dave leads OMERS Ventures Insurtech portfolio which includes investments in well-known players such as Clearcover, Foresight, WeFox and Joyn. Most recently at Hippo as VP of Growth, Dave oversaw the company's execution and strategy around Smart Home and emerging products. Dave's journey in Insurtech started in 2017 while at Comcast Xfinity where he designed a distribution partnership with Hippo to sell homeowners insurance to Comcast's 30M+ customers. In that role Dave secured his P&C license and set up a national agency. Dave was also part of the team at Comcast that led Hippo's $25M Series B in 2018. Additionally, Dave has founded and led several technology startups giving him a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Dave is passionate about the intersection of technology and insurance and is a firm believer that we are in the early stages of what will be a watershed moment for the sector. He is an active writer and speaker on the industry. Dave also is a Board Director of Joyn Insurance and a Board Observer for Clearcover, Foresight and WeFox as we well multiple Fintech investments. Dave has a BA in Policy Studies from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. He is also a licensed P&C insurance agent. Episode Summary In this episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of InsurTech with insights from Dave Wechsler, a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist. The discussion covers the challenges and opportunities within the insurance industry, particularly in the context of technological advancements and market dynamics. Guest Background: Dave's journey through various startups and their transition into the venture capital world. Insights into the role of technology in transforming traditional insurance practices. Dave started the InsurTech Rap weekly podcast because of his feeling of the importance of networking and collaboration among industry professionals. Current Trends in InsurTech: The impact of AI and machine learning on underwriting and claims processing. Discussion on the shift from legacy systems to modern, tech-driven solutions. Embracing Experimentation: The willingness to experiment and learn from failures is crucial for success in the InsurTech space. As [Guest Name] noted, traditional companies often lack the flexibility to innovate, making it essential for startups to leverage their agility. The Role of AI: Artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape, offering new tools and capabilities that can enhance underwriting processes and customer engagement. However, it also presents challenges as new entrants can disrupt established players with more advanced solutions. Challenges for Entrepreneurs: Navigating the complexities of entering new markets and the importance of adaptability. The significance of building a strong brand and community in the InsurTech sector. Future Outlook: Predictions for the InsurTech landscape in the coming years, including the role of blockchain and smart contracts. The necessity for established companies to innovate and embrace new technologies to stay competitive. Resources Mentioned: insurtechrap.com Join the show live every Thursday at 2 PM EST for more discussions on InsurTech trends and insights. This episode is brought to you by The Future of Insurance thought leadership series, available globally from Amazon in print, Kindle and Audible audiobook. Follow the podcast at future-of-insurance.com/podcast for more details and other episodes. Music courtesy of Hyperbeat Music, available to stream or download on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music and more.
For episode 506, Brandon Zemp is joined by Chief Growth Officer Jonathan Wan & Smart Contracts Lead Jean Cavallera on the show to discuss LUKSO.Jonathan has been contributing to LUKSO since 2021, leveraging his experience in private equity and capital markets at Neuberger Berman, OMERS, and Ontario Teachers'. With a strong background in strategy and finance, Jonathan is now channeling his expertise to propel LUKSO's vision as Chief Growth Officer at the Foundation for the New Creative Economies. Since 2021, Jean has led the specification and development of LUKSO's core smart contract standards, forming the foundation for most products and tools built by the developer community.
With cybercriminals leveraging AI to fuel scams and misinformation, how do we verify what's real? Joined by cybersecurity experts Shuman Ghosemajumder (former Global Head of Product Trust at Google and Co-founder of Reken), and Ken Nickerson (Inventor and Entrepreneur, iBinary, ex-Microsoft, ex-Rogers, ex-Kobo, ex-OMERS, and behind Sealed, a tool designed to verify digital content), John Stackhouse and Sonia Sennik confront a startling new reality where AI-generated deepfakes can mimic voices, images, and even entire identities with frightening accuracy. Together, they unpack the rapidly shifting landscape of AI-driven fraud, explore the concept of "zero trust," and highlight innovative solutions that could help us navigate an era where digital deception is the norm.They explore how to protect democracy, businesses, and personal identities in a world where proof of authenticity is harder than ever.
In this episode, we dive deep into Omers remarkable story, starting with how he moved to New Zealand alone as a teenager from Turkey, built a thriving business, and then faced a shocking deportation that sparked national media attention. We unpack the fight to bring him back, the intervention from Winston Peters, and what it was like to have his future decided by a government ruling. Omer opens up about his childhood in Turkey, the stark differences between life there and in NZ, and the devastating loss of his father, who left behind not just emotional scars but also hidden debts that bankrupted his family. Despite this, Omer went on to make millions in crypto, retire his mother, travel the world with his best mates, and build a life most could only dream of. We also explore what entrepreneurs in NZ need to truly succeed, the roadblocks to scaling a business, and how Omer's latest venture, Atlas Studios, is making waves in the eCommerce space. Really enjoyed this, Omer's brilliance will shine on this! New episodes every Wednesday morning, big thanks to our sponsors, Moana Road and Kaboose Media!
In this episode, host Robert Olson sits down with veteran finance leader and entrepreneur David Rogers, who shares his remarkable journey from corporate roles at Cooper's and Lybrand and TD Bank to creating Caledon Capital, which grew to manage $10 billion in assets under management. David offers candid insights into his career transitions, from joining FirstService in its infancy as Vice President and CFO to building OMERS' private equity program and ultimately launching his own successful investment firm. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes how his people-first leadership philosophy shaped his success, the importance of trusted mentors, and finding the right strategic partners for business growth. Now semi-retired and serving on Nicola Wealth's private capital investment committee, David reflects on balancing professional accomplishments with personal fulfillment. Highlights 3:40 - Early career beginnings 10:45 - Creating OMERS' private equity program and investment approach 14:40 - Lessons in leadership and building a people-first culture 16:00 - Identifying market gaps and launching a business 22:15 - Strategic partnerships and business evolution 24:50 - Balancing advisory roles and achieving work-life balance 29:00 - Career reflections Sign Up for our Newsletter
After catching you up on all the news that was in the business world in The Briefs this week, Amanda Lang checks in with Satish Rai, the former chief investment officer with Ontario pension plan OMERS to discuss his new book on financial literacy, focusing on what ordinary people can do to get their financial lives in order.
In Episode 69, two Canadian market structure experts, Doug Clark, Head of Equity Product Design for TMX Group, and Rob Gouley, Equity Trading Principle, OMERS, join the podcast to dig in on all things Canadian equity market structure. The conversation starts with a quick elevator pitch on what are the key differentiating features about trading in Canadian shares versus other market models, including the troublesome growth in F Class trading of Canadian shares in the US OTC market. Rob provides his perspective on venue innovation in Canada, and also gives a positive take on the TSX's revised market on close mechanism, which now looks and feels a lot like Nasdaq's US MOC mechanism. Doug provides a 411 on both Alpha X in Canada, and the recent launch of AlphaX US, and Rob outlines the better late than never CSA response to the SEC's market structure rule changes. The two speakers end up in a thought exercise on what Canada's market would look like if Canada banned OPR and Fair Access. This podcast was recorded on January 24, 2025. Chapter Times: 05:45 - The Elevator Pitch on Trading in Canada10:00 - Canadian Trading Volume on F Class Shares in US13:50 - The Pros and Cons of Transparent Broker IDs17:30 - New Marketplace Innovations in Canada28:58 - TMX Dips its Toes into US Ocean35:50 - Canada's Reboot on Market on Close39:52 - Canadian New Issue Market in Atrophy43:55 - Canada's Response to SEC on Ticks and Access Fees50:43 - A Case for Canada to Ban OPR and Fair Access For relevant disclosures, visit: tdsecurities.com/ca/en/legal#PodcastDisclosure. To learn more about TD Securities, visit us at tdsecurities.com or follow us on LinkedIn @tdsecurities.
When planning for retirement, many Canadians rely on a government pension like OMERS (Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System) as their foundation. Do you need savings in addition to your government pension to maintain the lifestyle you want? A buddy called me from his car and said, “I'm driving. Will I get to my destination on time?” I asked, “Where are you going and where are you now?” It's the same with the question of whether retiring with just your pension is enough. Well it depends on your lifestyle, your goals, and whether you want the freedom to enjoy big-ticket items, like vacations or regular nice dinners. The answer depends on your vision of retirement. If your goal is to replace 70-80% of your working income, you'll need to fill the gap between your pension and that target with personal investments like RRSPs, TFSAs, or non-registered savings. In my latest podcast episode, you'll see examples of people with different investment setups to help you discover what's right for you. You'll learn: What is the formula to know how much your government pension will be? What is the rule of thumb for your pension with 30 years service? How much do you need to retire with the lifestyle you want? 10 examples of a retirement plan with a full pension. Do you need to invest more conservatively after you retire? How does a Financial Plan become the GPS for your life?
In this episode of the Dakota Fundraising News Podcast, Konch covers key job changes, including Michael Graham's retirement from OMERS and Tim Kane's new role at Oregon State Treasury. We also highlight RIA/FA M&A activity, including Amber Knipes joining Edward Jones and LPL Financial's acquisition of Northern Plains Financial. In institutional coverage, we discuss recent searches and investments, including updates from the Weymouth Retirement System and Ventura County Employees' Retirement Association. Tune in for the latest trends in institutional and private wealth channels!
Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/404083?lang=biWatch the Full Class: https://youtu.be/YrP-HnwjiNc
Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/404083?lang=bi Watch the Full Class: https://youtu.be/YrP-HnwjiNc
The Portfolio Managers at TD Asset Management Inc. (TDAM) are always hard at work behind the scenes expanding our innovative offerings, and through their dedication TDAM continues to be one of the top asset managers in Canada1. With a focus on building and maintaining strong relationships, and a commitment to understanding the unique needs of retail and institutional investors, asset managers at TDAM are driven to provide competitive solutions to help our clients achieve their goals.Building on these strengths, we recently launched TD Global Investment Solutions (TDGIS), a new institutional identity bringing the combined multi-asset expertise of TDAM and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. (TD Epoch) to the global investing community with the ability to expand our offerings in existing and new jurisdictions.In this episode of our Breadth of Experience podcast series, Jason McIntyre, Vice President, Head of Retail Distribution, TDAM, welcomes Mark Cestnik, Managing Director, Head of Global Institutional Distribution, TDGIS, for a look at some of the challenges asset managers face in the current market environment of GICs and "safety-seeking" behaviors of investors, and provide a deeper dive into TDAM capabilities at both the retail and institutional level.Highlights include:What has enabled our asset management businesses to be successful in both the retail and institutional space? (0:42)What are some of our institutional Portfolio Managers' distinctive capabilities? (2:58)What are the main challenges for institutional asset management in the current market environment? (5:32)Perspectives on the launch of TD Global Investment Solutions (9:13) For a full transcript in English and French, please visit the TD Asset Management Podcast page: https://www.td.com/ca/en/asset-management/insights/Please follow "TD Asset Management" on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/showcase/tdassetmanagement/X: @tdam_canada
"If you're pension-backed you gotta deliver returns, buddy." OMERS Ventures senior managing partner Michael Yang recounts a turbulent year for the pension-backed VC firm, and what the future holds for "OV 3.0". Sponsored by Cisco Secure Firewall and Ada: a full customer service team, powered by AI.
This week we have a titan of Private Equity and Real Estate in Canada, Jon Love the Founder and CEO of KingSett Capital.Jon shares some incredible stories from his early years of running Oxford Properties, the lessons he learned from helping the firm navigate two real estate market downturns, and how the eventual sale to OMERS came to be.Jon discusses the reasons he decided to launch KingSett Capital back in 2002, how his leadership style has evolved from his days at Oxford, and how he has been able to grow the firm's assets to over $17B.We dig into how Canada is falling behind on many aspects of innovation, the return-to-office mandates CEOs are facing today, and his thoughts on the current political climate in Ottawa.Plus we have John Ruffolo back to talk about the week's news.About Jon Love:Jon Love is the founder and CEO of KingSett Capital, a prominent private equity real estate investment firm. Since its inception in 2002, KingSett has impressively managed over $17 billion in assets, earning a strong reputation for its effective investment strategies across various sectors, including Growth, Income, Urban Development, Mortgage, Residential Development, and Affordable Housing.Before his leadership at KingSett, Jon had a distinguished career at Oxford Properties, beginning in 1980 and eventually becoming President in 1987 and then CEO in 1992. He notably guided Oxford's transition to a publicly traded company in 1995. In 2001, Oxford was privatized when it was acquired by the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) in a $4 billion deal.Jon actively participates in prestigious business organizations and has received numerous accolades for his leadership and academic achievements, including an Honorary Doctorate from Western University in 2016, membership in the Order of Canada (C.M.) in 2018, and prestigious awards such as the Ivey Business Leader of the Year Award and the NAIOP Rex Icon Award in 2023.In this episode, we discuss:(0:01:04) News rundown with John Ruffolo(0:21:57) Jon Love's career journey(0:23:08) Advice his father Don Love gave him as he took over Oxford Properties(0:24:12) How Jon's experience selling Oxford shaped his view on when to sell(0:26:47) The importance of leveling with creditors and investors(0:30:50) Why he didn't view as a Oxford a family business(0:33:35) How Jon's approach evolved when he started KingSett Capital(0:34:26) On second-guessing himself for starting a new business(0:35:38) Making the jump to entreprenuership(0:38:40) How KingSett works to retain talent(0:40:30) How Jon's approach to fundraising has changed over time(0:41:16) Why no deal is too small for KingSett(0:42:18) Derisking deals to protect against broader market trends(0:44:11) What current market conditions have meant for KingSett(0:45:23) The state of equity deals(0:46:18) Why innovation is lagging in the Real Estate sector(0:48:22) The importance of ESG to Jon and KingSett(0:50:42) Thoughts on the Canadian residential Real Estate market(0:54:39) Advice to younger leaders and CEOs(0:56:15) Why face to face is important(0:57:30) How Jon uses his Family Office Jona Capital(0:58:32) Jon's passion investments(0:59:34) Political ambitions(1:02:19) How competitive Canadian capital is in the global marketplaceFast Favorites:*
In der Rubrik “Investments & Exits” begrüßen wir heute Amanda Birkenholz, Investment Managerin bei UVC Partners. Amanda bespricht die Finanzierungsrunde von Redwood Materials und Valyuu. Das US-Batterierecycling-Unternehmen Redwood Materials hat in seiner Series-D-Finanzierungsrunde über eine Milliarde US-Dollar von Investoren eingesammelt, was das gesamte Eigenkapital des Unternehmens seit seiner Gründung auf fast 2 Milliarden US-Dollar erhöht. Die genaue Summe der Series D wurde nicht bekannt gegeben, aber sie übertrifft die erwarteten 700 Millionen US-Dollar deutlich. Redwood plant, die Mittel zur Erweiterung seiner Kapazitäten, zur Stärkung der Batterie-Lieferkette in den USA und zum Verkauf von in den USA hergestellten recycelten Batteriematerialien zu nutzen. Investoren in dieser Runde sind unter anderem Goldman Sachs Asset Management, T. Rowe Price Associates und neue Partner wie OMERS und Microsofts Climate Innovation Fund.Das niederländische Startup Valyuu hat in einer neuen Finanzierungsrunde, angeführt von Rubio Impact Ventures und Slingshot Ventures, zusammen mit US-amerikanischen Investoren wie Techstars, Golden Egg Check Capital und verschiedenen Angel-Investoren, 2,4 Millionen Euro eingesammelt. Valyuu hat das Ziel, die Plattform zur Förderung der Wiederverwendung von Elektronikgeräten wie Smartphones, Tablets und Wearables zu erweitern und die Markenbekanntheit in den Benelux-Ländern zu steigern sowie international zu expandieren. Das Unternehmen hat eigenen Angaben zufolge bereits über 20.000 aktive Käufer und Verkäufer auf der Plattform und bietet eine transparente Produktbewertung, was eine nachhaltige Wahl einfach, erschwinglich und profitabel macht.
John is back! And here's the news that he and Matt discussed:(00:21) The loss of Damien Steel at OMERS(03:38) Who will fill the void left by OMERS(05:06) Tiger Global's mysterious liquidity memo(09:08) The importance of a long-term view of relationships with LPs(10:49) ChatGPT Enterprise(13:57) With Kleenex leaving Canada, why is it so hard for US-companies to service us?Follow Matt Cohen and Tank Talks here!Podcast production support provided by Agentbee.ai This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com
In this episode of The Role Forward, Joe Michalowski hosts a deep dive into the world of venture funding. The guests — Joe Garafalo, Marissa Moore, and Eugene Lee — share their insights and experiences. The conversation revolves around the importance of good financial modeling practices, the current state of venture funding, and the future outlook. The guests also discuss the importance of understanding the customer base, assessing risks, and the role of metrics in investor conversations.The episode concludes with advice for companies planning to raise funds in the future. The key takeaways include the need to build relationships with investors, the importance of adaptability, and the value of clearly understanding future expectations. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in venture funding and financial modeling.Guests-at-a-Glance
On this week's podcast, we run through top stories in the market including: OMERS invests in Canadian fibre operator Beanfield Financial close for Boswell Springs Wind Project Syndication for Rio Grande LNG due to launch Enel Chile to sell 416MW solar portfolio to Sonnedix Sacyr reaches financial close on Colombian highway UKIB provides £250m of debt to nextfibre Freyr awarded EU grant towards Giga Arctic project Release by Scatec raises $102m
The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail.Let's get right to it, because our topic today is elemental. We are going to dig deep – DEEP! – into the economy. More specifically, what I really want to do here is put Bank of Canada policy, and its antecedents, under the microscope.What led them to last week's rate increase? What's going to be required to get us to 2% inflation? Is that even worth doing and what will be the ramifications? How hard a landing are we in for here, and how do mortgage and debt holders cope? And this emotional undercurrent to sum it all up, Herle Burly-ites: Why oh why does an economy with almost no unemployment … feel so goddamn lousy to so many people?Here to help me sound smart on all of that are Dr. Lindsay Tedds and Randall Bartlett. Dr. Tedds is currently Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary. Her primary research is in tax policy, public economics and public policy design and implementation. She publishes far and wide and, in her own words, it's important that her work be accessible to broader audiences in order to spark conversations about public policy beyond the academic community. So, it's not at all shocking that her blog is called “DEAD FOR TAX REASONS”.Randall Bartlett is Senior Director of Canadian Economics with Desjardins Group. Based in Toronto, he covers the Canadian and provincial economies & housing markets outside of Quebec, as well as government budgets & fiscal policy. Before Desjardins, Mr. Bartlett was the Director of Economic Research on OMERS' Total Portfolio Management Team. And he's a frequent publisher of what's on his economic mind on both Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as various other media.Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.Watch episodes of The Herle Burly via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.
Carrum Health CEO Sach Jain noted that 2022 “was a big year for us” that included nearly doubling its book of business.
Raising a round of financing is always a stressful endeavour. But in today's economic climate, it's even more so. So how can a founder navigate these choppy waters and not lose their shirts? Our guest today is Peter Hass, Associate Partner at Maverix Private Equity. Peter knows the ins and outs of deal structure and has guidance for founders at all stages to help them raise capital. Peter broke all of this down in a tremendous article he share recently here.We also recap tech headlines with Antony Mouchantaf of RBCx.About Peter Hass:Peter Hass is an Associate Partner with Maverix Private Equity. He is focused on leading deal execution including financial modelling and leading due diligence. Peter also works closely with portfolio companies in strategic and financial management as well as the evaluation of add-on acquisitions opportunities.Previously, Peter worked as a Director of Home Services within Mattamy Ventures at Mattamy Asset Management and OMERS where he was a founding member of OMERS Growth Equity.Peter is a graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business.In this episode we discuss:(01:22) News roundup with Antony Mouchantaf(19:34) Peter's journey to becoming an investor(21:28) Working at OMERS(23:49) How different investors value investments(25:05) What Maverix invests in(27:24) What is structured financing means in VC(28:55) Items founders should be aware of(30:52) Examples of what new investors will ask for(35:01) How preferred shared get treated in a liquidation event(37:02) What does participating pref or full participation mean(38:11) A liquidation scenario explained(41:56) How should founders manage all these transactions and terms(47:49) Why raising less at times can be smarter for your business(48:46) Terms that Maverix typically offers(50:54) When founders need to take a down roundFast Favorites:*
HR plays a critical role in promoting ESG considerations within companies. Specifically, HR departments can help ensure that a company's internal policies and practices align with its ESG goals. For example, HR can help to implement diversity and inclusion initiatives, develop employee training programs on environmental sustainability, and ensure that employee compensation and incentive structures align with ESG performance.Additionally, HR can help to recruit and retain employees who share the company's ESG values and culture, and who can help the company to achieve its ESG goals over the long term.Our guest in HRchat episode 544 is Dr. Shilpa Tiwari. Shilpa is Global Executive Vice President Social Impact & Sustainability at Citizen Relations. Shilpa has experience as a consultant and held executive positions at OMERS and Manulife. She has spent her career advancing sustainability, social impact, and EDI across a variety of sectors including mining, oil and gas, forestry, financial services and consumer goods.We do our best to ensure editorial objectivity. The views and ideas shared by our guests and sponsors are entirely independent of The HR Gazette, HRchat Podcast and Iceni Media Inc.
“If this is the environment we're in today, what should we do?” Aleeza Hashmi (Bessemer), Michelle Yu (Georgian), and Laura Lenz (OMERS) join BetaKit senior editor Meagan Simpson for a conversation about why the beginning of 2023 will be just as hard for startups to fundraise in. Recorded live at SAAS NORTH on the BetaKit Keynote Stage. Sponsored by Caravel Law.
Host Halle Tecco talks with two of her favorite long-time colleagues in digital health: Chrissy Farr and Malay Gandhi.Chrissy started her career in this space as a digital health reporter for VentureBeat, FastCompany, and CNBC before becoming a venture capitalist at OMERS ventures.Malay started his career in management consulting before joining me at Rock Health where he served as Managing Director and CEO before going onto be an EIR at Greylock Partners, an executive at Eviction Health, and now Head of Strategy & Corporate Development at Benching.The episode transcript is available here at http://www.heartofhealthcarepodcast.com/episodes/chrissy-farr-malay-gandhiVisit the Heart of Healthcare website for more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Michael Yang is a Managing Partner at OMERS Ventures, a VC that invests in fintech, healthtech, construction & proptech. Michael joins Matt to share what they look for in a proptech company, how investors are navigating the down market, and what it means for the commercial real estate industry. Tune in for his insights and predictions on the future of proptech.
Jed Buchwald, author and carpenter, joins Lexman to talk about his new workshops on using nett in construction along with Constantan and Coco.
This session will explore the approaches and measures that founders and leadership teams can take to successfully scale their business and expand into new markets. It will be led by Harry Briggs, a founder turned VC with experience both in building his own business with customers in over 35 countries and supporting his portfolio founders in executing their international expansion plans. OMERS Venture Managing Partner Jambu Palaniappan led Uber's EMEA expansion and Harry also shares some of Jambu's learnings from Uber. Full video: https://youtu.be/I56lkBqi5yI Want to join the SaaStr community? We're the
There are times where going old school is perfectly acceptable. I love a good charcoal barbecue, or listening to jazz on vinyl. But when it comes to business continuity management – the old tools just don't cut it. Hello everyone, welcome to episode 48 - as the Resilience Think Tank presents the Resilient Journey podcast! This week I'm joined by Marie-Helene Primeau, Executive Vice President at Premier Continuum and Senad Cehajic, Director of Business Continuity and Corporate Security at OMERS. And this week, we're talking about BCM Software. Listen as Marie and Senad share two perspectives of BCM software, one as the service provider and the other as the customer. We discuss: The advantages of using software to manage your BC program Some misconceptions about using software Must have features Ways to justify the expense to senior leaders Be sure to follow The Resilient Journey! We sure do appreciate it! Learn more about the Resilience Think Tank here. Connect with Premier Continuum here. Want to learn more about Mark? Click here or on LinkedIn or Twitter. Special thanks to Bensound for the music.
In today's episode, Allan and Lauren talk with Laura Lenz, Partner at OMERS Ventures. Laura talks about Net Dollar Retention. What is NDR? Is NDR just for SaaS companies? Is there a company size that's too small or too early to track it? Is NDR a factor in valuation of a company? “My advice is to know the number right before the investor that you're talking to. But also know it for your business because operating your business is way more important than raising the capital. My second piece of advice is that the pandemic has taught us a lot about reaping the rewards of good customer relationships.” If you love learning about metrics, you'll love MetricHQ, Klipfolio's online resource for all-things metrics and KPIs: https://www.klipfolio.com/metrics/. Metrics mentioned in this episode:Net Dollar Retention: https://www.klipfolio.com/metrics/saas/net-revenue-retention-rate Net Promoter Score: https://www.klipfolio.com/metrics/product-management/net-promotor-score-nps
"That impact that's being felt in the public markets will start to trickle down to the earlier rounds." Damien Steel, managing partner and head of ventures at OMERS Ventures, takes umbrage with how valuations - or more specifically, the sticker price placed on funding rounds - are paraded in the media. Sponsored by Osler.
Welcome back to Fully Occupied Season 4! Recently, Occupier has announced a $10.5 million Series A fundraise, so to kick off Season 4 Matt is joined by two special guests: Michelle Killoran, Principal at OMERS Ventures and Liz Christo, Partner at Stage 2 Capital. In this episode, Michelle and Liz share their insights on why they invested in the proptech space and their predictions for the future of commercial real estate.
Ottawa's energy ecosystem is unique, with long-standing localized and green generation. In fact, did you know Hydro Ottawa is the largest municipally-owned producer of clean, renewable energy in Canada? Bryce Conrad, Hydro Ottawa President and CEO, joins Dan and Rebecca to discuss the company's commitment to making its entire operations net zero by 2030. Related links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-conrad-2ab1b352/ https://hydroottawa.com Check out our new Think Energy Podcast website To subscribe using Apple Podcasts To subscribe using Spotify: To subscribe on Libsyn: --- Subscribe so you don't miss a video: YouTube Podcast Library Keep up with the Tweets at Think Energy Twitter Check out our cool pics on Instagram More to Learn on Facebook Transcript: Dan Seguin 00:06 This is the energy. The podcast that helps you better understand the fast changing world of energy through conversations with game changers, industry leaders, and influencers. So join me, Dan Seguin, and my co host, Rebecca Schwartz, as we explore both traditional and unconventional facets of the energy industry. Dan Seguin 00:30 Hey, everyone, welcome back. Rebecca Schwartz 00:32 To refresh our listeners, or in case they missed it in December, our organization Hydro Ottawa announced that it will make its entire operations net zero by the time 2030 rolls around. And by my calculations, that's only eight years away. In order to achieve net zero, you have to remove as much greenhouse gas emissions or more than you're currently putting into the atmosphere. Dan Seguin 00:54 Now, to put it into further perspective, Ottawa's electricity grid stretches 1100 square kilometers. It's essentially Ottawa's largest machine. Add to that our fleet of bucket trucks and other vehicles, various work centers across the city and more than 700 employees, you start to realize that this is no small endeavor. Rebecca Schwartz 01:23 Our President and CEO likes to call it our moonshot after the Apollo 11 mission where we sent a man to the moon in the 1960s. Dan Seguin 01:31 Actually, the timeline to achieve both is pretty similar. President Kennedy announced his ambitious goal to Congress in 1961. By 1969, a man was on the surface of the moon. In those short, eight years, it must have seemed impossible to many. Rebecca Schwartz 01:54 While Canada's putting as much pollution into the atmosphere, unfortunately, as it did a generation ago- 730 million tons to be exact. Canada's electricity industry is one of the cleanest in the world. In fact, 80% of the electricity in Canada comes from non emitting resources. Dan Seguin 02:11 And Ontario's electricity sector is even more impressive. With 94% of its electricity we produce completely free of greenhouse gas emissions, some experts say that fully decarbonizing the electricity industry will be the key climate change solution for Canada. Rebecca Schwartz 02:31 Here's today's big question. What will it take to get Hydro Ottawa to net zero by 2030? And what inspired the decision to be the first municipally owned utility in Canada to do it? We've been building an impressive resume here at Hydro Ottawa when it comes to environmental sustainability. Most recently, we even won the Canadian Electricity Association's Sustainability Electricity Company Designation in 2021. But we'll get into all of that with our special guest later today. Dan Seguin 02:59 Bryce Conrad has been the President and CEO of Hydro Ottawa since 2011. Under his leadership, Hydro Ottawa has become one of the most innovative utilities in Canada, regularly winning awards and accolades for its customer oriented services and its commitment to environmental sustainability. It is the largest municipally owned producer of clean, renewable energy in Ontario. He's also my boss, Bryce, welcome to the show. Now Hydro Ottawa recently made a net zero by 2030 commitment, and there's a lot of momentum in that direction in corporate Canada. Generally, what's your view on its importance? What makes for truly credible and meaningful net zero commitment? Bryce Conrad 03:53 Collectively, we, as a society, have been talking about this for, quite frankly, too long. I mean, when I did this presentation to the board, any reference back to Kyoto and the Kyoto protocols, and then Paris, Montreal, I mean, every four or five years, they get around to having another meeting and collectively agreed to do something, but never do anything. So there's a whole lot of talk and nothing else much. So, from our perspective, as a company, it's time to start taking responsibility for our own house, and the impact that we have collectively on our own environments. That we can and will do better, that we can be part of the solution. And, I'd say this, as someone who spent time in the federal government, who's worked 15 years working in federal provincial relations. I mean, the answer to climate change is not going to come from some magical central government telling us what to do or what not to do. It's not going to come from a provincial government. The solutions are going to be local, they're going to come from the ground up, and they're going to be you and me doing the right thing each and every day. Changing our own behavior, recognizing that the behavior, that the path that we're on today is unsustainable, and being willing to make those changes. I love the idea that there's still some expectation that there is going to be some sort of savior that's going to come in and fix everything for us. And if you look at Jeff Bezos, you look at Elon Musk, I mean, the two wealthiest men in the world and they're trying to get off the planet faster than they can stay on the planet. So, by building rocket ships and stuff, so the answer is not there. What I do like about this time, what I do think is different this time, is, for the first time, at least from my perception, the first time is that it's not simply going to be the government's making commitments. You're actually starting to see the private sector come to the table with money and solutions. When you see people like Larry Fink, and you see OMERS, in the big pension funds, and the big banks, the big insurance companies - When you start seeing these massive multibillion dollar business, stepping up to the table and saying, we're gonna put our money where our mouth is, and we're gonna start to change behavior. That's kind of special. That's the secret sauce, it's necessary to solve this problem. And the perfect example, and I've used this before, and I'll use it again, is the largest public sector pension fund in the world, is a Norwegian pension fund, which effectively is the Canada Pension Fund for Norwegians. And they've got 1.6 $1.8 trillion under management. And the source of that funds, the genesis of that fund was essentially selling the offshore oil rights for Norwegian oil development in the North Sea. And now they're saying we no longer will invest in companies that produce fossil fuel. So, isn't it ironic that a company that a pension fund, the largest in the world, that's sourced began via fossil fuel money is now turning their attention to green technologies? That's new. That's different. That's something we haven't seen before. Dan Seguin 07:49 Okay, here's a follow up question. Can you maybe expand on what you mean, when you say net zero is our 'moonshot'? What is behind the comparison of the Apollo 11 mission that inspired you? So on YouTube, you can go back and dial up all these old speeches and watch them and watch them anew. But look, if you go back to JFK in 1961, so he does this speech before for the joint House and Senate. And, it's not a long speech. So I'd encourage everyone to go watch it. There's, it's about a minute long, the clip that that's relevant anyway. And in that speech, he says, we are going to go to the moon before the end of the decade. So he's doing this in '61. Obviously, they went to the moon 69. So as part of that, he does something that people don't do enough of these days, right, he literally says - We're going to go to the moon. So that's our objective. And I have no idea how we're going to get there. I'm paraphrasing, obviously, I have no idea how we're going to get there, the technology doesn't exist, the fuel doesn't exist, the booster rocket technology doesn't exist. And that kind of the capsule necessary to get someone to and from the moon doesn't exist today. So he's making this bold announcement without having, and then acknowledging that he doesn't know how they're going to do it. And, and I thought that's just so, quite frankly, refreshing in this day and age where everything is kind of pre packaged, right. Like, we know what we're going to do this next two years, but we already know that we've got it in the bag, and here's how it's going to be done. I like the idea of setting the big, hairy, audacious goal for the company and saying, I've said this to the management team. I have no clue how we're gonna get there. I don't know. Like, I I know what we need to start doing. But I don't know what the answer is. But I work with some of the smartest people in the game and I know that if they're empowered to do this, and we put our minds to this, we will do this. Like, that's what Kennedy counted on '61. And that's lo and behold what happened. So, when I liken it to the moonshot, it's just that- it's the it's the big, hairy, audacious goal, without any real clear roadmap as to how to accomplish that goal. And I think quite frankly, that's what served us best is when we don't necessarily have the answers, we have to make up. We have to figure our way through this stuff. And I see that every day of the company, right? If you look back at what we how we handle the tornadoes, if you look back at the way we handle the floods, if you look at the way we handle our system. Yeah, there's a lot of prescriptive stuff. Yes, there's a lot of this is how we do things. But there are a lot of days we throw out the rulebook, you throw out the manual, and you have to figure your way forward. And that's when this company is at its best. So, that's the that's the moonshot. Rebecca Schwartz 10:53 Now, how concerned are you about climate change and environmental damage? What does the energy transition mean for Hydro Ottawa as it exists today, and for you personally, as we look to the future? Bryce Conrad 11:05 So let's just state categorically that climate change is real. As I sit here, today, it's like minus 27,000 degrees outside. People go 'oh if it is global warming why is it so damn cold', and of course, you just want to smack people that say things like that. But, God's honest truth is climate change is not about the day to day weather, it's about weather patterns. It's about how, in the past, we've had wind storms and ice storms, we've had eight tornadoes, including one in downtown to Nepean. We've had a one in 100 year flood, followed by a one in 1000 year flood. We've had heat waves that have stretched and taxed our system. And all of this is just like, quite frankly, within the past five years. So that's what climate change means. It means unpredictable, changing, dramatically changing weather patterns. And if you run a utility, like I do, or like we do,you don't like that. You know, our infrastructure is built to withstand X. It's not built to withstand x plus 30%, or x plus 50%. So, you know, when a windstorm comes through, you know, the infrastructure is ready to sustain winds up to 90 miles an hour or something like that? Well, you know, we all saw what happened when tornadoes came through, you know, 130 miles, or 160 miles an hour, right? Those poles snap like twigs. That's what climate change means. So, you know, it's terrifying. It's absolutely terrifying. And you know, it's something that we have to start to build into our plans as to how do we build better in the future? So are we building our infrastructure to withstand 90 mile an hour winds? Are we building them to withstand 150 mile an hour winds? Well, there's a cost difference to that. Obviously, the answer is, yeah, we've got to do a better job of building stronger, more resilient infrastructure. If you saw during the floods, our Chaudiere facility, our generating asset, Chaudiere Falls. You know, you were seeing for the first time in history, all 50 of the gates of the ring dam were open. I mean, and there was more, I think it was two Olympic swimming pools passing through the gates every second. The waterfall, the water, the speed, and the waterfall was faster than the Niagara Falls, like, I mean, these are things that shouldn't be happening in downtown Ottawa, but have happened, you know, three times since I've been here. And that's 10 years. So if anyone wants to have a debate about whether or not climate change is real, call me up. Let's have that conversation. Because it's, it's very real, and it's going to dramatically impact our future. In terms of the energy transition, I think I talked a bit about it. But, you know, when we bottomed out, and look at what our future looks like, 50 years from now, our infrastructure looks fundamentally different than it does today. It's in fundamentally different places than it is today. You know, we're gonna rely upon artificial intelligence, machine learning. You know, each and every one of those, like, everything will be censored up. So, you know, the idea is that, as opposed to us rolling a truck to fix something that's broken or down, we can sort of simply reroute it from the control center. So yes, we still have to get out there and fix what's broken but for you, the customer of Hydro Ottawa, you actually won't notice the impact because the power will have switched over to another source instantaneously. That's the goal. I think, you know, you'll see more and more people, and I've been telling people this for 10 years, right? The day in and the age of, you know, my grandmother who used to sort of wait patiently in the mailbox for the bill to come in so she could open it up that day, write a check, and put it back in the mailbox the next day. Those days are gone. And those people are gone. The people that are our customers today, they want to interact, they want more, they want to understand how they can measure utility, they want to understand how they can manage their energy consumption. Particularly if you start to put the onus on them with respect to climate change and what they're doing. So they're going to want to know, like, you know, do I plug my electric car in? If I plug it in? Now? You know, do I wait and charge it between two and 4am? Or do I charge it now? You know, can I charge my house with my car, you know, they're going to be part of this and will be part of the solution. But they're also gonna have expectations of us as a provider to be transparent, authentic, reliable, managing the costs. So that energy transition is going to be huge for us. And it's only going to get more complicated. And I haven't even talked about the downside, right? I mean, the more you open the kimono, and you allow the customers to sort of engage with you directly, the more opportunity you're giving for nefarious actors to sort of engage in the things that we don't want to be happening, things like cybersecurity. Dan Seguin 16:54 Okay, let's talk energy now, Bryce. We've got an interesting energy ecosystem here in Ottawa with long standing localized and green generation. We had distributed energy resources before it was a thing. Is there a model here that can be applied more broadly? Bryce Conrad 17:13 Yeah, you know what, so I always like to think that Hydro Ottawa was at the cutting edge of these sorts of things. So, we were doing distributed energy resources before for the term for it. We were cool before we knew it was cool. So short answer, yeah, we've got massive generating assets in our backyard, which theoretically, can be used as distributed energy resources. As we go forward, my expectation is that. And I'd be the first to admit that having Chaudiere and the big generating assets is a massive advantage for the company. But, where we haven't done so well with our customers is with respect to some of the other DER activity. Like, the local homeowner that wants to put up solar, solar panels and stuff like that. And the God's honest truth is, those little installations are a real pain. They're a pain to manage. They're all kind of one-offs. Every one of them is individualized, everyone requires a lot of time and attention. But that's not the right answer. The right answer is we should be treating these things as gifts. We should be doing everything in our power to support them and roll them out even further. So, my expectation is over the course of the next 5-10 years, you're going to see us serve as a catalyst role for further DERs in the community. So that's the first one I would say is if you're waiting to install solar panels, or you need to - you want t- - give us a call, we're here to help you support it. But one of the projects that I think stands out is kind of unique, certainly in Canada, and one that we're particularly proud of, just given the role we played, is down at the Zibi community. Which is, for those who don't know, sort of, well, it's on an island. No man's land between the two provinces. So half of it is in Quebec, the other half is in Ontario. Andthe developer down there, kudos to them. They are partners in dream properties, I guess, four or five years ago, six years ago with the idea of using these developments, which is 34 acres on the waterfront and turning it into a one planet, one world kind of community where it's zero carbon. You know, they could have just asked us to run pipe or run power lines, but we thought, here's an opportunity for us to get in on the ground and see how this actually works. So it's up, it's running, condos are being built for people living there today. There's the heat and cooling - the heat coming from effluent discharge under the Kruger paper plant over on the Gatineau side. So. essentially this is a waste product that's being pumped back into the pipes so we can heat the homes. Conversely, in the summer they're using the Ottawa River to sort of cool it. And again, it's it's a real, full scale model of what a zero carbon energy system would look like. And there's no reason you can't take that same model and apply it on a broader scale and even broader scale. Which is something that we're keen to replicate where, if and when we get the opportunity, but it's truly unique and we're quite proud of it. Again, we got in on the ground floor and said, this is something that we're interested in, so how can we help you. And full credit to the development team, they saw the opportunity to work with us and gave us an opportunity. Dan Seguin 21:22 Now, a lot of focus is on national targets. But here in Ottawa, we see a central role for ourselves in working with the city, customers, and other stakeholders to help drive down emissions. How much of climate action needs to be local? How important do you see Hydro Ottawa's role being to affect change? Bryce Conrad 21:46 Yeah, well, like I said earlier, I think if we're going to stand around waiting for the Federal government or the province, or some other larger national entity, to sort of tell us how to solve this problem, I think we'll still be standing around waiting for a few years. So, my perception is that all politics is local. And that the solution to this problem is local. And I just gave you an example of the Zibi community, where that is a local project that has been done. It's been done locally, not because someone said at the Government of Canada," thou shalt build a zero carbon community". They did it because it was the right thing to do. And they felt they could do it in that environment. Again, no direction from the feds of the province. It was purely local. So the answer, as I said, is local. It's going to be local, it's going to be you and me and Rebecca, and everybody else coming up and making decisions on our own, that we want to leave this place in a better place for our kids. It's that little expression, ou Chair reminds me a lot on a daily basis. You know, leave the campsite in a better place than you found it kind of thing, right! So, that's our goal. That's, that's my goal coming to Hydro Ottawa was to leave the company in a better place that I found it. That should be our collective goals. So, the City of Ottawa has declared a climate emergency, they have announced their targets, they're ramping up a series of climate change initiatives to meet those targets. Our job is to support them, they're our shareholders. So, if we can bring our money, our expertise, to help support them deploying carbon free energy solutions, or just things that can help curb carbon, then that's what we'll do. I think we've got a pretty good track record, quite frankly, the fact that we've announced that we're going to be carbon neutral by 2030 is one thing to say, but we're doing it and we're on our way. And that garnered the attention of other organizations in town who were saying, well, if Hydro Ottawa was going to do this, maybe they can help us do the same thing. Now, is 2030 an audacious goal for some of them? Yeah, it's probably unrealistic for some but, the point is, at least we're doing it and obviously it would be inconceivable for the City of Ottawa model to get there by 2030. But isn't it nice to know that they can count on a partner that is going to be carbon neutral by 2030 to help them achieve their objectives going forward? So look, we're an innovative company. We're the largest producer of green renewable energy in Canada. We've got a first rate utility, and we've got an energy solutions company that's there to support our customers, our businesses, and our shareholders. And we will deploy all three to that benefit. So, I think my expectation is that as we go into this next municipal election, climate change will be -if it's not going to be number one or number two, on the agenda, I'll be shocked. Like, I honestly think it's risen to that level of importance for the citizens of Ottawa. So yeah, taxes are always there, but I think climate change is going to be right up there with it. Rebecca Schwartz 25:33 So Bryce, as you know, we're in the distinctive position at Hydro Ottawa of having cross border assets in Ontario, Quebec and New York. How important is it that Canada's electricity system, as a whole, becomes more integrated across provincial boundaries? And what key steps can we expect will be taken in that direction? Rebecca Schwartz 25:53 Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's a great question, Rebecca. And I think what people don't really appreciate is just how, how amazing the electricity grid actually is. It is a fully integrated machine that works from one side of the continent to the other side. I mean, it's just truly magical that you can sort of walk into your room and turn on a light 99.999% of the time and that lights are gonna come on. And that's a credit to the people that built the system in the first place. So, the good news is that it is a fully integrated grid, Canada - US. Unfortunately, it's a little too north-south for my liking at the moment. Most of the grid runs north-south. So, power gets bought and transferred between Quebec and Manitoba. But, if you look at sort of the large clean energy supplies coming out of Quebec, most of them are directed south, into the US for export markets. Going forward, that's obviously going to have to change. Canada is capable. If you look at the Ontario grid, we're 90%, clean and green. When you look at something like Saskatchewan, or Nova Scotia or Alberta, which still heavily reliant on coal or natural gas or other fossil fuels, the answer is we have to share amongst our brotherhood, so that we have to get that clean power from Quebec and Ontario and British Columbia going east- west. And I should say, Yukon, Northwest Territories the same way- but access to more difficult but still access to sort of clean, green renewable. The point, that system has to sort of be brought to bear on a national level, so that the inter ties between Ontario and Quebec are more plentiful. The power gets shifted into Nova Scotia, so that we can, so that our energy system can be truly clean and green. And it shouldn't take that long. Unfortunately, what's gonna get in the middle of that is your classic nimbyism, right. Where no one wants to build or have these transmission lines running through their backyard kind of thing, for obvious reasons. But we built the railroad and the railboard built the country, St. Lawrence Seaway. We've done some,incredibly impressive things from an infrastructure perspective, and I just think that's the answer going forward. We need to sort of build that infrastructure at a national level. So that, again, the power from Churchill Falls is flowing to Regina. And in Edmonton and Calgary and, yeah, that's my answer. Dan Seguin 28:49 Okay, let's talk capacity. Getting to net zero by 2050 will mean roughly doubling clean electricity production in Canada. By one estimate, that's clean energy Canada. What do we need to be doing today to make that achievable? Bryce Conrad 29:08 Well, again, the first step in the 12 step program is admitting that you have a problem. So, we have a problem. If you just step back and look at the politics, we can't build a pipeline in this country to save our lives. Now, whether you think that's the right thing or not, it's, it's a proxy for what's necessary. So okay, we're not going to build a pipeline, but you need to build big transmission lines east to west or west east or vice versa. So yeah, if you're gonna double the electricity, the clean electrical energy, which is eminently doable. We've got plenty of sources and we've got lots of supply, we've got more thatwe can tap. You just need to sort of start to work together, collectively. Province to province, federal government with the provinces, to sort of make this happen. And again, I have hopes, because at the end of the day we're one country, we built some amazing infrastructure - the St. Lawrence Seaway is a perfect example. And, you know, the rail lines, we've done this stuff before. There's no reason we can't do it again. Faced with a face of the future where the costs of climate change are real. And they're only getting higher on an annual basis. It's only a matter of time before the politicians wake up and realize that this is the solution, and they have to do something, and they have to act. And it's in our best interest to do so as a nation. So, I'm hopeful. Dan Seguin 30:55 Now, Bryce, I'm curious, what are the three most innovative sustainability projects that you're most proud of right now? That maybe people don't know Hydro Ottawa is doing or involved with? Bryce Conrad 31:10 Sure. I can probably give you four. And I know, yes, you asked for three. But I'll give you four! The first, that I don't think people fully appreciate, is how significant our generating assets actually are. We're not talking about small run of the mill, solar facilities, we're talking about large, 150 megawatts of clean green, renewable energy - on both sides of the border, capable of powering well over 100,000 homes. We've grown that production by 500% since 2012. So we are a real player in this business. And these are assets that are carbon free. So, talking about future proofing your generating fleet, right, these are the things that everybody's gonna want when they realize that there is no such thing as clean coal. Or when they realize that fossil fuels are not the answer going forward. So, we have these assets and they're spectacular. And I'd encourage anybody in Ottawa, if you want to see some of them in action, to go check out the ones at Chaudiere Falls, which are a dam. Rebecca, I'm not sure if you've seen it but Dan sure has. I mean, just breathtaking to watch, particularly in the summer -wouldn't go there today when it's minus 12,000 degrees because the wind coming off would be horrifying -but lovely in the sun. If you wait for Bluesfest, there's no better place to listen to the music than Chaudiere Falls! You get all the benefits of Bluesfest without paying or dealing with crowds. Anyway, so that's number one, our generating fleet. Number two is the thing I spoke about earlier, the Zibi community funding. Again, 34 acres of prime development down there, carbon free, and we were part of that solution to make it happen. And hoping to replicate it making bigger, better elsewhere. But just taking something which was otherwise a science project or a concept and sort of bringing it to reality, something that we're immensely proud of. And I think Ottawans will be as well. The third, just because my kids love it, is we've got this, this new substation going out, or transformer station going out in south Ottawa in the Barrhaven area, which is growing like a weed, obviously. With 10 or 12% growth every year. So, we had to build the new station out there. And we bought the necessary land for the station. It's called Cambrian station. It's going online sometime between now and June, I think. In fact, it's being tested as I speak. But the point is, we bought enough land up there that we've been able to donate 15 acres for a pollinator meadow to bring back the butterflies and plant some trees. So again, no real cost to us other than the land that was used that we bought for the transformer station itself. But here's another opportunity for us to do the right thing. And last but not least, the fourth one, which I'm very proud of is the role that we played in the conversion of the streetlights. So, Ottawa had high pressure sodium street lights, like every other municipality. And over the course of four years, we were able to convert all 56,000 lights to LEDs, saving the city a massive amount of money somewhere in the range of $6 million a year. And those are continuous savings, right? So, that's right to the bottom line. So these are street lights that are better, they're all IP addressable so, if the Sens win the Stanley Cup, we can flash red and white, whatever we want. The point is, they're good for a long time. And those energy savings will pay for them. Well, they already paid for the project once over already! Now, all the savings go right through to the taxpayer, so I am very proud of us. Rebecca Schwartz 35:42 Another thing we're doing is targeting an entirely non emitting grid by 2035. What sort of changes will that mean for electricity, utilities and customers? Rebecca Schwartz 35:52 Yeah, this is going back to the moonshot, Rebecca. In the sense that we're talking about it. And obviously, we're committing to do these sorts of things, but we don't necessarily have a clear cut perspective on how it's going to be done. So look, as I said earlier, in Ontario, the grids 92%, clean and green right now. The other 8% is natural gas. So yeah, we need to turn the grid into an automated grid by 2035. utilities like ourselves are going to have to invest in trying to find ways of managing line losses and just transmission. You know, the transmission of electricity from point A to point B emits ghgs, and that needs to be curtailed. So how do you do that? Well, I mean, there's technology that hopefully we brought to bear. I mean, today's minds are better than the lions 10-15 years ago. So I mean, I think the answer there is going to be technological change. The good news is we have a lot of smart, smart, smart people. Both academically within utilities, within the association's working on trying to solve this problem. But yeah, it' a challenge for us. And I don't necessarily have the right answer. I don't have an answer for you right now. As I explained to my Board, the iPhone is 12 years old this year. So, imagine what life -think back to where we were in 2008. I can't even imagine what my life, what our lives would be like if we didn't have an iPhone in our pocket, right? So, that's a technological change. That's made a fundamental difference in our life and in our society. Some good, some bad. But surely, the hope is that technological change will help us get to an automated grid by 2035 in an affordable way. Dan Seguin 38:05 Now back in 2019, Hydro Ottawa opened its new office building, centralizing your operations, while ensuring a new building with a greener footprint. Can you tell us about this decision to move and how you've incorporated sustainability into your building operations? Bryce Conrad 38:24 I joined Hydro Ottawa on August 15 2011. On August 16th 2011, we had a Board meeting, where they authorized the company to move forward with what is called ubiquitously The Real Estate Strategy. Which was effectively: Look, you know, as a result of amalgamation we had buildings all over the place. We inherited Gloucester Hydro, Ottawa Hydro, Nepean Hydro and Kanata Hydro. So, we had all these buildings all over the place that we inherited. Some of them were in pretty good shape, others were absolute pig. Thinking of the one at Albion road would be the prime example. The point was there, they were in all the wrong places from an operational perspective. They were just in the wrong place. So we developed a plan and a strategy to sort of recapitalize our buildings, and we knew that, quite frankly, for every dollar I spent on Albion road, it was $1. I lost, because the value is not in the building, the value is in the land. I use the term value loosely. We made that decision and the Board exported it, the Ontario Energy Board, as part of our applications, endorsed the idea that we needed new facilities.So we launched the plan in 2014 with a couple of stutter steps along the way, trying to find the right lands. Finally we landed on the right places for us as a company. If you look at our headquarters we built, we opened in 2019. All the new buildings are built to LEED Gold standards. Both facilities have significant on site renewable energy, they have solar facilities on sites. We didn't want them to be ostentatious or flashy, we wanted them to be functional. We want them to be low maintenance to the extent that we possibly could. We wanted to do what we could on our GHGs and also environmentalism. And that came directly from our employees. As we're doing the builds and designing, we're constantly reaching into our workforce to see what was important to them, what they want to see. One of the things everybody obviously wants to light. So, if you've been to the facilities, you know they're wide open, everybody has access to fresh, good quality air. Everyone has access to daylight for the most part. So they actually turned out fantastic. It's exactly what we want. So, we installed a whole bunch of different environmental things. Solar solar charging stations at our headquarters, we've got electrical charging stations at the headquarters, we've got a lot of reduction facilities in place. So I think we're using 55 or 60% less water than we otherwise used to. We use the gray water return that gets used back into the gardens and stuff like that. I think we're diverting 90-95% of our non hazardous waste. Our kitchen supplier has access to a dehydrator which allows them to dehydrate the food waste, reduce, and to use it as compost. From the design perspective, health and wellness was factored into it from day one. So we've got a, I wouldn't say world class gym facility, but it's pretty damn good. Got lots of ergonomically designed workspaces, the meeting rooms are flexible, we've got collaboration spaces everywhere. So the whole point was, I think Steve Jobs used to refer to them as collision points, where an employee could walk would bump into another employee and an idea would germinate. That's kind of the way we built the place. So throughout the building, there's collaboration spaces, both inside and outside. We've even got a walking path on our property. So, all of those have been done because we're the right things to do. They were the right things to do now. Post pandemic, or in the middle of a pandemic, I will tell you, all these open spaces are not our friends. There are points where you'd like to put up some walls again and close the doors, but it is what it is. And we'll get past this and get back to normal. And we'll be happy with what we got.But, facilities are great! We love them. I honestly haven't heard anybody complain about facilities which if you work in the utility industry is shocking. Rebecca Schwartz 43:47 It seems every couple of months, we're hearing about an innovative new example of electrification of other economic sectors. Here in Ottawa, we're seeing multiple modes of public transportation transitioning to electric, for example: e scooters - Which I have to say, I use a lot in our super fun - to everything else, such as chainsaws and lawn mowers seem to be up for grabs when it comes to electrification. What's the coolest example of electrification that you've come across Bryce? Bryce Conrad 44:18 I got like 15 answers to this one. So I love those electric scooters. I used them for the first time when I was in San Diego, whipping along the waterfront in San Diego on an electric scooter was one of the coolest things in the world. Of course I didn't look so graceful I fell, but so be it. So those are really cool. I've seen electric surfboards, which I think are really cool, too. I'm terrified to even conceive of how to get on one, but it's this kind of a wakeboard that you get elevated up in the air. So, you're you're surfing on top of the water, and it's purely electric powered, but that looks pretty cool. My neighbor here has one. I'm jealous when I see him out there on it. But honestly, the coolest one, quite frankly, is still the cars. There used to be a car that came out of the US military, it was called a Hummer. And Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he was governor of California, had a Hummer and he made his electric. A great personal expense to him, I'm sure. But these are cars that have a massive big V 12 engine. When you turn on the gas, and you turn the car on, you could literally see the ozone layer deplete behind you, that's how much these things were. And they were just pigs on gas. I don't even know whether they would get up to a gallon, probably like three kilometers to a gallon of gas back in the day. But they were just enormous. And so much like everything else, they went the way in the dodo bird, they got sold off and then shut down. Well, then lo and behold, they're coming back. So 2022, is the first year of the electric Hummer. And it is 1000 horsepower, it weighs 10,000 pounds, or close to 10,000 pounds. Tt goes zero to 60 in 2.8 seconds. And again, it weighs 10,000 pounds! Like it's amazing what they're capable of doing. It's going to have a range of 580 kilometers or whatever, whatever it will be. But just the sheer improvements in these electric vehicles is - I mean, Dan knows he's got two of them! - But we're a long way from when these first electric cars came out. Hydro Ottawa I had one of the very first electric cars and I would tell you, you know, cuz I used to park next to it in the garage. There would be weeks that go by where I wouldn't see that car because it was in the garage being fixed or something was wrong. I drove it one day and my teenage daughter who's probably 13 at the time, was in the backseat thinking she's really cramped in the backseat, because the whole damn thing is a big battery. So you just think about where that car was relative to the cars that we're seeing out there today. And I'm not even talking about the Tesla's, I'm talking about, you know, the Hyundai's and sort of the traditional car makers, and the efforts that they're making in the space. Like, it's truly exceptional what they're doing and full credit to them. Dan referenced the Audi electric e tron, I mean, it's the coolest car in the world! And all these cars are just incredible. So my answer is yeah, as I was saying with the e-scooters, at least I don't fall out of my car! Dan Seguin 48:01 With Hydro Ottawa customers, making it very clear that climate change is important to them and they want you to continue being part of the solution and pushing the organization to do more. How are you planning to assist customers in reducing their carbon footprint? Bryce Conrad 48:21 It's a great question. And it'spart of the moonshot, right. I don't actually know what they need until, until we start dialing this in and getting a workout. But what I know is that they want to interact with this differently. They want information, they want access to information in a way that nobody else has ever asked us, right? They are interactive. It used to be that the average Canadian thought of their electrical company, nine minutes a year, when they're paying the bills. That's not the case anymore. When they're making decisions with respect to appliances, they're thinking about their consumption, and they're making decisions with respect to their cars and they're calling us. One of our affiliates, Envari, one of the services we offer is electric vehicle readiness assessments for small commercial and condo buildings. Because for example for Dan to live in his house and install car chargers, no problem. But if you're living in a condo corporation with 400 units, how do you build out the electric car charging asset? Is a bill to the house to the person that owns the electric car? Or are they sort of shared resources? So I mean, these are some of the challenges that we're dealing with and our customers are dealing with firsthand. So, our job is to help. Our job is to try to help navigate those issues and concerns and provide them with the information. And sometimes they'll make the right decision. Sometimes they'll make the wrong decision, but at least they're making an informed decision if nothing else. So that's an example. The electric bus initiative here in Ottawa, is another one that we're quite proud of. We're gonna partner with the City of Ottawa to sort of deploy and roll out 400+ electric vehicle buses. So if you've ever seen these buses, I mean, they are sleek, they are noiseless. They are, quite frankly, enjoyable to ride. You don't have that diesel smell, that's everywhere. You're not on Slater street looking down a canyon of diesel spewing buses anymore. So, those are all the things that we're going to do to help our community and our customers. And quite frankly, they're probably 15,000 other things that we're going to be doing as we get into this fight. As we get into this and start climbing this challenge or responding to this challenge, we're going to find other things that they're going to want. And what I do know is that we've got a good brand, we've got social license within our community. If they are going to turn to anybody, they are going to turn to us for solutions, and it's our job to help them. Rebecca Schwartz 50:58 So Bryce, as a community asset, will Hydro Ottawa pursue netzero, outside the confines of its own operations? And if so, what's your plan in terms of playing such an instrumental role in the broader progress of Ottawa towards becoming netzero? And or any other sorts of electrification programs? Bryce Conrad 51:20 Yeah, yeah, I mean, let's be clear, that's one of the reasons we're doing a netzero commitment. We made a commitment and the Board was very clear, we're not just doing this so that we can feather our own cap, we're not doing the sit here and put a banner that says mission accomplished in 2030. We're going to do this because we want to support our community in our city in moving to being netzero, whether that by 2040, or 2050, we want to get there. Hydro Ottawa actually becomes a catalyst to helping them achieve these things. And that means, you know, partnering with the city on their energy evolution file, working with the city on the electric bus stuff I talked about. Helping them look at their municipal buildings and say, okay, you know, the Nepean sportsplex - is it time for this thing to go through a deep retrofit so that we can sort of make it more energy efficient? I mean, the city's got massive real estate holdings, and a lot of buildings that predate me and predate you and predate us, which are in dire need of retrofitting. It's the low hanging fruit, isn't it. We've swapped out the light bulbs already. Like for us to make a difference and to sort of hit those targets that the city has set for itself we got to start doing some real meaningful stuff. Like, we got to start doing some deep retrofits to buildings we got to start doing with the city on the bus, you gotta start doing some big bold things. And we're there to help them do that. So the true answer to your question, Rebecca, is yeah, we're there. We're there. We'll be there. We'll be partnering with them. We'll use our technology. We'll use our budget if necessary. Bryce Conrad 53:04 Okay mon ami. How about we close off with some rapid fire questions? Since you've already been a guest on our program? We've come up with some special new ones for you, Bryce, are you ready? Bryce Conrad 53:17 I'm good. Dan Seguin 53:19 What are you reading right now? Bryce? Bryce Conrad 53:21 It's a book by Congressman Jamie Raskin. It's called Unthinkable but January 6, last year, I guess. So Jamie Raskin is a Congressman from Maryland whose son tragically committed suicidelike days before January six. And then he, Jamie Raskin, went on to serve as the the head of the impeachment proceedings against former President Trump as a result January 6, so it's a book about that. So that's really depressing, but it's a fantastic book and terrifying at the same time. But I just finished reading the book by Mark Carney which I recommend to anybody and everybody I thought was really really well done. So if you haven't read that should read that too. Little more cheery. Dan Seguin 54:13 Now, what would you name your boat if you had one? Bryce Conrad 54:18 So, the short answer is I think all boats should be called the Enterprise. But I actually saw a boat on the and the Rideau, it was parked in front of the convention center this year. It was just a massive boat. And the boat's name was Size Matters, which was pretty funny. I'll stick with Enterprise! Dan Seguin 54:43 Wondering if you could share with us who is someone that you truly admire? Bryce Conrad 54:49 I mean, look, how can you not admire somebody like Nelson Mandela or you know, I think Winston Churchill is probably the greatest leader the world has ever seen. So out I'll go with Winston Churchill on Nelson Mandela and leave it there. Dan Seguin 55:03 Now, what is the closest thing to real magic that you've witnessed? Bryce Conrad 55:09 I haven't a clue, pass. Dan Seguin 55:12 What has been the biggest challenge to you personally, since the pandemic? Bryce Conrad 55:17 Before the pandemic, I probably logged, I don't know, 75,000 miles a year on the plane flying from one place to another. A lot of it out of it for meetings and stuff, but the lack of travel, the lack of contact, from a professional perspective, Whether it was going to CS Week or Distribute Tech, or any of these other meetings, you go to them and you'd come back kind of rejuvenated on the one hand, but also kind of inspired by the things that we were doing relative to our peers. And then you'd always pick up one or two little things that you thought the answer was cool. I wish we could do something like that. And quite frankly, it's been two years since I've been able to do that. And, you know, Zoom calls are great, but they just don't capture the same, you don't get the same benefit. Right. So I would say that, obviously, and just just day to day social interaction, it'd be nice to actually be able to have people over without worrying about whether they've been vaccinated and boostered. And all that nonsense, but I'm hopeful. Dan Seguin 56:30 We've all been watching a lot more Netflix and TV lately. What's your favorite movie or show? Bryce Conrad 56:39 Well, the greatest movie of all time is the Godfather. So that's the one that no matter what time of day or night it's on, if I, if I flipped by and said it's on, I will watch whatever's left of it. So that's just it. And then my favorite TV show - sounds stereotypical - I love the Sopranos. I re-watched every Sopranos over the holidays, because David Chase came out with that new movie, The Saints of Newark, which I want to refresh my memory on all things Tony Soprano before I watch that. Dan Seguin 57:10 And lastly, Bryce. What's really exciting you about the electricity sector right now? Bryce Conrad 57:16 What's not exciting, right? The biggest challenge facing our country are the people, this generation, this climate change and how we respond to climate change. And where else do you want to be in the middle of a fight then right in the middle of it, right? So climate change is the challenge and electricity as the answer. And the electrical sector is going to be front and center in that fight. So, I can't think of a better place to be. I, like lots of people, have had other opportunities presented to me over the last few years, but there's no place I'd rather be than at the head of Hydro Ottawa as we go into this climate change. In fact, I just think the opportunities are fantastic. I think the impact is fantastic if we can get it right. And I'm just bullish on the sector. I think our sector is the answer. Whether it be electric, transportation, or heating and cooling. It's going to be electricity. That's the answer. And it's just a question trying to find how do you fit it all together in a formal way that people can understand? Rebecca Schwartz 58:35 Well, Bryce, that's it. We've reached the end of another episode of the thinkenergy podcast. Thanks again, Boss for joining us today. We hope you had a good time! Bryce Conrad 58:44 Had a great time thanks, guys. Dan Seguin 58:46 Thanks for tuning in for another episode of The think energy podcast. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review wherever you're listening. And to find out more about today's guests or previous episodes, visit think energy podcast.com I hope you'll join us again next time as we spark even more conversations about the energy of tomorrow.
Relationships are important in business. But what about the relationship between Risk Management and Resilience? Hello everyone and welcome to episode 22 of the Resilient Journey podcast, sponsored by ClearRisk. This week I'm joined by one of the most dynamic business leaders I've ever had the opportunity to work for. He's the Chief Risk Officer for OMERS in Toronto – it's Rodney Hill. In this episode, Rodney discusses that relationship between risk management and resilience and how to how to identify those areas of the business that matter to your executives so that your actions get proper attention. He even discusses the right way to identify which risks deserve your attention. Be sure to follow The Resilient Journey! We sure do appreciate it! Big thanks to my friends at ClearRisk for sponsoring The Resilient Journey! Want to connect with Rodney? Click here. Want to learn more about Mark? Click here or on LinkedIn or Twitter.
In this episode, we meet Chrissy Farr, Principal at OMERS Ventures. Previously, she was a writer and frequent on-air contributor for CNBC, Fast Company and Reuters News, among other publications. She was raised in London, UK, and received degrees from University College London and Stanford University. Over the last five years, OMERS Ventures has invested more than $340 million of capital in nearly 30 disruptive technology companies across North America, creating over 5,000 jobs, and attracting an additional $1.2 billion for portfolio companies. Their portfolio companies include: 360insights, AmpMe, Busbud, Citizen Hex, D2L, DCG, Fusebill, Hootsuite, Hopper, Interaxon, Jobber, Kaleo, Klipfolio, Klue, Leafsift, League, Mojix, Nudge, Ranovus, Rover, Shopify (IPO 2015 — NYSE & TSX: SHOP), Smile.io, Vidyard, Vision Critical, Wattpad, Wave. Chrissy continues to write and share her perspectives here: https://ovsecondopinion.substack.com/ In this episode, Chrissy and I chat about: Chrissy's personal story: from her time at Stanford to her experiences as a journalist and her love for research, learning and connecting with innovators Her approach to investing and thesis development, areas of digital health which are underserved/overlooked and opportunities in women's health Digital health superlatives — Chrissy's takes on the most disruptive healthcare company of the year, most interesting merger/acquisition, innovative early-stage start-up to follow, and her favorite news sources Predictions for digital health in 2022, reflections and words of wisdom
Michelle Killoran, Principal at OMERS Ventures, joins Matt to discuss her thoughts on how the commercial real estate broker's role is changing, and how she is looking deeply at solutions that are reacting to fundamental changes in the world of work. In her current role, Michelle is responsible for researching and executing on investment opportunities in real estate and health technology. In 2020, Michelle was named one of Venture Capital Journal's "40 Rising Stars under 40" in the global venture community.
Christina Farr, Principal Investor and Health-Tech Lead at OMERS Ventures, talks with host Don Antonucci about her journey from journalist to investor. In this episode recorded in January 2021, Christina and Don discuss digital healthcare companies to pay attention to and trends in behavioral health, telemedicine, women's health, and health equity. Follow Christina Farr on Twitter @chrissyfarr and subscribe to her Second Opinion newsletter for the latest health-tech news on https://ovsecondopinion.substack.com/
On today’s Tank Talk! We welcome our guest John Ruffolo, Founder & former CEO of OMERS Ventures and Co-Founder & Vice Chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators.John is well known around the VC and Tech ecosystem for starting the Ontario Municipal Workers Pension Funds Venture arm in 2011. John has been instrumental in helping develop some of Canada’s biggest tech companies and was an early investor in some of the biggest exits in Canadian tech. Johns portfolio includes companies such as Hootsuite, Hopper, PasswordBox (which sold to Intel), Shopify (which IPOd 2015), Wave (which sold to H&R Block) and countless others.On today's Talk, we ask John about his views on Venture and Growth Capital and how investors should be thinking about valuations during the crisis. We also talk to John about his views on the Canadian tech landscape and how founders should be thinking about building world class companies for the next decade.You can follow Matt Cohen and Tank Talks here! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com
Khoi Le, VP Finance at Hopper I chat with Khoi about: His journey from RSM Richter in Montreal to progressive finance and operating roles at real estate and distribution companies, before making the plunge into tech at Hopper. Hopper — what company does and what its all about. His transition into his first finance operating role at a tech company and how it compares to other non-tech companies, including the challenges and opportunities specific to tech that he faces now. Going from his first 100 days as the first finance hire at a 90 person high growth tech company to raising $100M+ in venture capital funding from the likes of Omers, Caisse, Accomplice, BDC and others and scaling the team to 330+ people. The biggest misconception about the finance function within a technology company. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/backbone/message
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
