Crown acquires, leases, manages and redevelops commercial real estate assets across Canada. With has a well established track record, an experienced team and takes a hands-on approach to provide superior returns for our investors and better workplaces for businesses operating within our portfolio.
With 20+ years of expertise, Crown has established itself as a leader in acquiring, leasing, managing, and redeveloping commercial real estate across Canada. Our hands-on approach and experienced team deliver exceptional returns for investors while creating dynamic workplaces for businesses.
Crown is formed in 2001 as partnership between entrepreneurial real estate operators and key members of Crown Life Insurance Company’s real estate team. The firm’s objective is to create a smarter, more integrated, more responsible model for commercial real estate investing and management.
In February of 2002 Crown Purchases 45-47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, located in the city's North Tonge business node.
Crown forms Winnipeg office portfolio through a series of acquisitions between 2006-2010. The managed portfolio covered nearly 1 million square feet of office and retail space at Winnipeg's prominent Portage and Main intersection.
Crown introduces its first value-add fund for Canadian institutional investors. The fund is focused on identifying undervalued real estate assets and optimizing every detail of operations to maximize their potential.
Following in the same theme of CR LP, Crown’s second value-add fund is launched.
Building on the success of Crown’s value-add investment strategy, CR III LP kicks off.
In a significant step for Crown's succession planning and leadership evolution, Scott Watson joins as Partner, Leasing & Acquisitions, while Emily Hanna has been promoted to Partner, Investments. Les Miller and Jamie Christie are appointed Co-Managing Partners, bringing years of trusted leadership, with their partnership dating back to 2002 and 2010, respectively.
To support this growth, Crown has introduced a new governance structure and established an Executive Committee to provide strategic counsel to the partnership.
Crown forms a closed-end fund consisting of $400M of stable real estate assets intended for long-term hold and ongoing distributions.
Crown is dedicated to supporting impactful causes across our communities. Since raising over $72,000 for JDRF’s Real Estate Ride in 2016, we’ve continued to back organizations close to our team’s and communities’ hearts. Our partnerships include Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth, New Circles Community Services, Yellow Brick House, CAMH Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, WWF, Fort York Food Bank, Ottawa Mission, and Black North Initiative, among others. Together, we’re committed to fostering positive change where it’s needed most.
Following in the same theme of past funds, Crown’s fourth value-add fund is focused on real estate assets across Canada.
Crown elevates the office experience through amenities that foster productivity, collaboration, and well-being. From fully equipped Workfit by Crown fitness centers to modern Collaborate by Crown conference rooms and inviting Commons by Crown tenant lounges, our properties enhance daily life at work, providing tenants with the tools and spaces they need to thrive.
Longtime members of the Crown team, Gary Summers and Mark Dimmell are added to the Partnership. Each is continuing as a leader of a Crown business unit, overseeing the Operations & Construction and Finance & Reporting teams at Crown, respectively.
Crown has built a reputation for unlocking value in commercial real estate assets through strategic repositioning and tenant-focused leasing solutions. At 5255 Yonge, we seized an opportunity to revitalize the building, introducing our first full-floor model suite – the largest in the GTA – designed to offer tenants move-in-ready, quick occupancy options. This approach led to a rapid lease-up, boosting occupancy from 30% to 90% in just over a year. Crown’s model suites simplify the leasing process, providing flexible, high-quality spaces for tenants ready to move in without delay.
Crown recognizes the importance of transparency in ESG performance and disclosures. In 2019, we began reporting to GRESB on our overall sustainability strategy and the performance of assets within our Core Fund, achieving a 5-star rating and maintaining this top status each consecutive year. Our commitment to sustainability started in 2010, when we transformed a paved terrace into a "garden in the sky" – a 7,500 sq. ft. rooftop space for all to enjoy. Today, we report our ESG metrics across multiple industry-leading platforms, including GRESB, Energy Star, LEED, BOMA, EWRB, GWI, Better Buildings Ottawa, and others, ensuring our disclosures adhere to best practices and evolving frameworks.
Crown adds a 415,561 sq. ft. portfolio of flex office space in Ottawa, Ontario. This marks Crown’s second major acquisition in the Ottawa market and motivated the establishment of an office in Ottawa.
After its second major acquisition in the Ottawa market, a new management office is established in the country's capital, led by Michael Stones.
Crown’s fifth value-add fund is consistent with the value-add philosophy of its predecessor funds. CR V focuses on commercial real estate assets with value enhancement opportunities located within Canada’s primary office markets, especially the Greater Toronto and Greater Ottawa areas.
Crown and Vestcor have a long history, with Vestcor investing in Crown’s limited partnership funds since 2009. With Vestcor as an institutional partner, Crown reinforces its commitment to its fiduciary duties, good governance and ESG.
Crown continues to expand its leadership team with the promotion of Scott Watson to Managing Partner, Leasing & Acquisitions, Emily Hanna to Managing Partner, Investments, and the addition of Stefan Teague as Partner, Leasing.
Crown is proud to announce its first fully digital building. Tenants of 30 Eglinton Avenue West can now experience and access all elements of their office experience - through their phone. This is part of a portfolio-wide initiative at Crown to create a digital work experience for tenants through the Connect by Crown app launched in 2021.
Crown has proudly built a reputation for excellence in workplace culture and environmental responsibility, beginning with our first recognition as one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers in 2023, followed by Canada’s Greenest Employers in 2024. These annual honours highlight our commitment to fostering an inclusive, vibrant workplace and advancing sustainable practices.
Crown’s Advisory Board consists of business leaders who meet regularly with Crown’s partners to provide strategic counsel, recommendations and advice to the firm. The Advisory Board provides recommendations to Crown’s partnership on ESG matters, market insights, consulting on investor reporting and potential conflicts of interest. The intelligence and unbiased outside perspective of Crown’s Advisory Board ensures Crown’s strategic decision making is in the best interests of investors, employees, and other stakeholders.
Maintaining a transparent and flexible digital and fibre optic infrastructure within our properties allows us to provide best-in-market service and connectivity. We're making our office buildings more resilient than ever.
Crown introduces two new employee partners, Monica Di Zio, Director, Marketing and Innovation and Michael Stones, Vice President, Property Management, Ottawa as we continue to invest in our succession planning.
Today, Crown acquires, leases, manages, and redevelops commercial real estate across Canada, focusing on strong returns for investors and exceptional workplaces for tenants. Known for quality service, sustainable growth, and responsible environmental practices, Crown is committed to setting a new standard in real estate that extends beyond our buildings to enrich communities.
Crown Plans to Achieve Fitwel Certification Across Entire Fund Portfolio.
Crown Plans to Align Our GTA Portfolio With the City of Toronto Net Zero Buildings Target.
Get to know the passionate leaders driving our success. Our executive team brings expertise, innovation, and dedication to everything we do. Each member is committed to fostering growth, building strong relationships, and delivering exceptional results.
As Managing Partner and CEO, Les oversees the strategic corporate direction, governance, talent development, and other service functions across the organization. As Crown’s biggest advocate for delivering an excellent workplace experience to tenants, Les has helped establish this as the foundation of the team’s approach to property management. With extensive experience across multiple service lines, he has been instrumental in spearheading and executing Crown’s unique approach to value-add real estate, creating sustainable, risk-adjusted returns for investors.
Jamie oversees asset management functions across Crown’s portfolio and, as Managing Partner, leads the strategic planning, development, repositioning, and disposition of assets. His detail-oriented workstyle provides the foundation for Crown’s value-add approach to building repositioning, ultimately focused on delivering above-average risk-adjusted returns to investors. Prior to joining Crown, Jamie was Director of Asset Management at Minto Developments. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Urban Land Institute in Toronto. Jamie is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
As Managing Partner, Leasing and Acquisitions, Scott is responsible for identifying and negotiating the acquisition of investment opportunities across Canada to meet Crown’s investment objectives, acquiring more than $1B since 2020. Scott is responsible for obtaining approval on all new investments from both internal and external investment committees. Scott uses a creative lens to add value for Crown’s stakeholders and investors through guiding new leasing and strategic capital initiatives across Crown’s portfolio. A member of the VTS Office Advisory Board, Scott collaborates with some of North America’s leading office sector experts within one of the largest proptech companies in real estate. He is also a former board member of NAIOP Greater Toronto. Scott is the Chair of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Golf Fundraiser leading a committee to annually raise more than $400,000 for much needed equipment for the hospital. Before joining Crown, Scott was Senior Vice-President, National Director at Jones Lang LaSalle.
Emily is Managing Partner, Investments, overseeing the capital raising and ESG functions at Crown. Emily works with the acquisitions, finance, and asset management teams in the development of investment strategies. She is Partner Liaison of Crown’s ESG Committee and is a member of Crown’s internal Investment Committee, which provides oversight and governance over the firm’s investment decisions. Prior to joining Crown, Emily was at Allied REIT, where she advanced the REIT’s early property development program and concluded over a billion dollars of acquisitions across Canada, including a WSJ deal of the week. An active member in the real estate community, Emily has served on the board for Toronto Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) and Ted Rogers School of Management Real Estate Advisory Council. She is also a past board member and past president of NAIOP Greater Toronto. Emily holds a Bachelor of Sciences (Honours) degree, Master of Arts and PhD in Economics from the University of Toronto.
As Partner of Finance and Reporting, Mark oversees the preparation of financial statements for all Crown funds and co-ownerships, investor reporting requirements, treasury, taxation, and accounting policies. Prior to joining Crown, Mark was Director of Reporting for a major Toronto-based REIT. He volunteers his time on the Executive Committee of the Learning Disabilities Association of York-Simcoe. Mark is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
A creative thinker with a national perspective, Stefan leads Crown’s Leasing team. With extensive industry experience, including a successful career as a top-performing leasing broker and as Executive Managing Director/ Broker of Record, Greater Toronto Area for Cushman & Wakefield, Stefan consistently uncovers opportunities and delivers outstanding results for Crown’s clients. He is an expert in value creation and asset positioning, with a deep understanding of the changing dynamics in Canada’s urban and suburban markets. Stefan is committed to fostering innovation and driving growth within Crown’s portfolio. He is active in many industry associations including SIOR and NAIOP, and is a regular speaker at industry conferences including the Toronto Real Estate Forum.
Crown’s Advisory Board consists of business leaders who meet regularly with Crown’s partners to provide strategic counsel, recommendations and advice to the firm. The Advisory Board provides recommendations to Crown’s partnership on ESG matters, market insights, consulting on investor reporting and potential conflicts of interest. The intelligence and unbiased outside perspective of Crown’s Advisory Board ensures Crown’s strategic decision making is in the best interests of investors, employees, and other stakeholders.
Andrea is a senior business executive, strategic corporate advisor and communicator. She brings 25 years of corporate, capital markets, political, policy and media experience to advise senior leaders and their organizations on key issues, from public markets fundraising, ESG and corporate reputation to employee engagement and media strategy.
Andrea is a senior business executive, strategic corporate advisor and communicator. She brings 25 years of corporate, capital markets, political, policy and media experience to advise senior leaders and their organizations on key issues, from public markets fundraising, ESG and corporate reputation to employee engagement and media strategy. She was most recently Senior Vice-President and Practice Lead, Capital Markets, for NATIONAL PR, and launched the Toronto office of New York-based CEO advisory firm, Teneo.
A former Vice-President of Corporate Communications for Kinross Gold, Andrea also has a deep background in politics, having served as a senior advisor to a federal cabinet minister. She began her career as a business journalist, reporting for the Financial Times of London in Latin America, and as a television anchor for CTV’s Business News Network.
Andrea sits on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Centre of Innovation and the Canadian Club of Toronto. She is the author of the best-selling business book, ‘Why Mexicans Don’t Drink Molson: Rescuing Canadian Business from the Suds of Global Obscurity.’
Dan Goguen is the Vice-President, Real Assets for Vestcor, Inc. As head of the the group, he is responsible for all investment activities in the areas of real estate and infrastructure.
Dan Goguen is the Vice-President, Real Assets for Vestcor, Inc. As head of the the group, he is responsible for all investment activities in the areas of real estate and infrastructure.
In 2015, Dan served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Pension Investment Association of Canada and he currently chairs the PIAC Investment Practices Committee. He also serves as Chair of the Investment Committee for the Université de Moncton (2014 to present).
Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Université de Moncton, obtained his Chartered Accountant’s designation in 1992, is a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals and holds the FRM designation.