Real eState

Real estate icon offers help to Ukrainian refugees – Calgary Herald

Published

3 years ago

March 5, 2022

Harry Miller

Author of the article:

Chris Nelson • For The Calgary Herald

Mainstreet Equity Corp founder, president and CEO Bob Dhillon poses for a photo at his office in Calgary on Friday, March 19, 2021. Photo by Azin Ghaffari /Postmedia

Calgary real estate mogul Bob Dhillon is ready to provide a helping hand to those Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn homeland who seek shelter in Western Canada.

Dhillon, founder and CEO of the Mainstreet Equity rental property organization that currently has 16,000 apartments spread from Winnipeg to Vancouver Island, said he is determined to do whatever he can to provide support for people displaced by the fighting.

He is waiting to find out exact details of how the federal government plans to help those Ukrainians but expects many refugees and temporary visitors to make their way to the Prairie provinces, given the long history of Ukrainian settlement in the West.

“Just tell me what to do and I’m there for you,” he said.

Dhillon has offered temporary shelter to those displaced by turbulent events before, from residents fleeing the massive Slave Lake fire, to Syrian and Afghan refugees. Mainstreet works with both government and social agencies to provide subsidized housing but also directly with private groups to give free accommodation for several months, which helps displaced people find their feet without worrying about having a roof over their heads.

“We gave two suites to Afghan refugees who landed just yesterday. We are doing this all the time,” said Dhillon.

“Previously, we have provided two months free rent and that allows people to work with social assistance programs so they can get settled in during a very difficult time for them.

“I’m sure there will be some Ukrainian refugees who come and we will be more than happy to help. We have a very large portfolio of rental units spread across Western Canada so we have a ready supply of empty renovated suites.”

He added that it isn’t just the historical ties and the large Ukrainian diaspora that makes the West such an attractive choice for potential newcomers, whether they are immigrants or refugees.

“It’s about affordability. People can settle in Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta and, within a few years, they can start thinking about buying a house, or getting their children into university,” he said. “If they settle instead in Toronto or Montreal, that becomes so much harder.”

Meanwhile, in Ottawa, the federal government is working urgently on what is quickly becoming a global humanitarian crisis, as more than a million Ukrainians have fled their country so far since the Russian invasion.

The United Nations refugee agency is warning millions more could be displaced if the conflict continues, sparking what would be Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced Canada will let Ukrainians apply for an expedited visa to stay for two years, without the usual conditions such as language requirements or labour market assessments.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that under the expedited system, his government hopes to process temporary visas within weeks rather than the usual one-year timeline.

“We’re creating a new program for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada temporarily. This will eliminate many of the normal visa requirements — and it’ll be the fastest and safest way to come to Canada,” he said.

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Real eState

Homelessness: Tiny home village to open next week in Halifax suburb

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

HALIFAX – A village of tiny homes is set to open next month in a Halifax suburb, the latest project by the provincial government to address homelessness.

Located in Lower Sackville, N.S., the tiny home community will house up to 34 people when the first 26 units open Nov. 4.

Another 35 people are scheduled to move in when construction on another 29 units should be complete in December, under a partnership between the province, the Halifax Regional Municipality, United Way Halifax, The Shaw Group and Dexter Construction.

The province invested $9.4 million to build the village and will contribute $935,000 annually for operating costs.

Residents have been chosen from a list of people experiencing homelessness maintained by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia.

They will pay rent that is tied to their income for a unit that is fully furnished with a private bathroom, shower and a kitchen equipped with a cooktop, small fridge and microwave.

The Atlantic Community Shelters Society will also provide support to residents, ranging from counselling and mental health supports to employment and educational services.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.

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Real eState

Here are some facts about British Columbia’s housing market

Published

3 weeks ago

October 17, 2024

Anne Joseph

Housing affordability is a key issue in the provincial election campaign in British Columbia, particularly in major centres.

Here are some statistics about housing in B.C. from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2024 Rental Market Report, issued in January, and the B.C. Real Estate Association’s August 2024 report.

Average residential home price in B.C.: $938,500

Average price in greater Vancouver (2024 year to date): $1,304,438

Average price in greater Victoria (2024 year to date): $979,103

Average price in the Okanagan (2024 year to date): $748,015

Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Vancouver: $2,181

Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Victoria: $1,839

Average two-bedroom purpose-built rental in Canada: $1,359

Rental vacancy rate in Vancouver: 0.9 per cent

How much more do new renters in Vancouver pay compared with renters who have occupied their home for at least a year: 27 per cent

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.

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B.C. voters face atmospheric river with heavy rain, high winds on election day

Published

3 weeks ago

October 17, 2024

Anne Joseph

VANCOUVER – Voters along the south coast of British Columbia who have not cast their ballots yet will have to contend with heavy rain and high winds from an incoming atmospheric river weather system on election day.

Environment Canada says the weather system will bring prolonged heavy rain to Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Whistler and Vancouver Island starting Friday.

The agency says strong winds with gusts up to 80 kilometres an hour will also develop on Saturday — the day thousands are expected to go to the polls across B.C. — in parts of Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver.

Wednesday was the last day for advance voting, which started on Oct. 10.

More than 180,000 voters cast their votes Wednesday — the most ever on an advance voting day in B.C., beating the record set just days earlier on Oct. 10 of more than 170,000 votes.

Environment Canada says voters in the area of the atmospheric river can expect around 70 millimetres of precipitation generally and up to 100 millimetres along the coastal mountains, while parts of Vancouver Island could see as much as 200 millimetres of rainfall for the weekend.

An atmospheric river system in November 2021 created severe flooding and landslides that at one point severed most rail links between Vancouver’s port and the rest of Canada while inundating communities in the Fraser Valley and B.C. Interior.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2024.

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