Campus Living Centres named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club Member
Toronto, ON—May 10, 2023— Campus Living Centres was recognized for its industry-leading performance, its global business practices, and its sustained growth by receiving the prestigious 2023 Canada’s Best Managed Companies award for the ninth year in a row, third as a Platinum Club Member.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program awards excellence in private Canadian-owned companies with revenues of $50 million or greater. To attain the designation, companies are evaluated on their leadership in the areas of strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities, and innovation, governance and financial performance.
“To receive this designation for the ninth year in a row is a testament to our people, and the culture they have built for our organization,” said Brian Freeman, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Development. He continues, “Our team is what gives us an edge in the student housing industry, and continues to propel our impressive growth.”
Canada’s Best Managed Companies is one of the country’s leading business awards programs recognizing innovative and world-class businesses. Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent evaluation process.
Applicants are evaluated by an independent panel of judges with representation from program sponsors and special guests.
Michael Paul, Senior Vice President, Operations said, “The foundation of our business is providing innovative and evolving residence services and programming that embody the unique objectives of each of our partners. The last few years have required us to reimagine how we deliver those services so we can continue to provide our students and clients with a high level of care and service.”
The 2023 cohort of Best Managed companies share common themes such as having a people- centric culture, targeting effective ESG strategies, and accelerating operational digitization.
To become a Best Managed Platinum Club winner is a huge accomplishment,” said Lorrie King, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co-Leader, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. “Companies such as Campus Living Centres who attain this high standard of excellence demonstrate consistent resilience, versatility, and strategic acuity. Year after year, they thrive in a competitive, rapidly changing market. This year’s winners should take pride in attaining this prestigious award in recognition of their significant and ongoing contributions to Canada’s business landscape.”
About Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program
Canada’s Best Managed Companies program continues to be the mark of excellence for privately-owned Canadian companies. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada’s Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada’s Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, The Globe and Mail, Salesforce and TMX Group.
For more information, please contact:
bestmanagedcompanies@deloitte.ca
About Campus Living Centres
Campus Living Centres was founded in 1989 with the purpose of assisting colleges and universities with the planning, design, financing and management of student residences and conference facilities. More recently, we have collaborated with institutional grade, private development partners to manage off-campus, purpose- built student housing.
With over 30,000 student beds that we either own and/or manage, we are the largest operator of student housing developments in Canada. Our integrated service delivery model is one that preserves and values the unique identity of our partner institutions, enhances the student experience, and improves the financial performance of residence operations.
For more information, please contact:
Clarence Chong
Vice President, Strategy & Development
Campus Living Centres
P: 416-620-0635 x8160
E: cchong@campuslivingcentres.com
Campus Living Centres Launches Inaugural Leadership & Training Conference
On June 9-10, 2022, the Campus Living Centres Residence Life Team launched our first ever Leadership & Training Conference (LTC), hosted by George Brown College Residence.
The LTC is an annual, 2-day event, connecting over 40 housing professionals from across Campus Living Centres’ portfolio. The LTC is a learning opportunity designed to encourage staff development on a multitude of subject matters, and is open to any CLC staff member interested in expanding their knowledgebase. By offering a variety of session topics, keynotes, and training workshops; attendees will have an opportunity to further refine their skills and learn of new and emerging trends within the field of Residence Life. The LTC is part of a larger initiative created by the Residence Life Department to invest in the development of the Student Affairs leaders of tomorrow.
Our keynote presenter, Chris Bailey provided the team with practical and tactical advice for becoming more productive, challenging them to think about productivity in the workplace and beyond. In addition to the keynote, conference attendees also heard from Janet Morrison, President & Vice Chancellor, Sheridan College, who spoke to the strategy of leveraging leadership approaches to foster change and mobilize a higher performing team. Conference attendees also participated in a workshop facilitated by Cory Coletta, Manager, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Seneca College, focusing on identifying and understanding equity, diversity, and inclusion to identify strategies for dismantling systems of oppression and power.
For more information about the LTC, please contact:
Luke Jeffery
Director, Residence Life: Leadership, Training & Development,
Campus Living Centres
ljeffery@campuslivingcentres.com.
Campus Living Centres named as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club Member
Toronto, ON—May 10, 2022— Campus Living Centres was recognized for overall business performance and sustained growth with the prestigious Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation for the eighth year in a row, and second as a Platinum Club Member. The 2022 Best Managed program award winners are amongst the best-in-class of Canadian owned and managed companies with revenues over $50 million demonstrating leadership in the areas of strategy, capabilities and innovation, culture and commitment, and financials to achieve sustainable growth. Now in its 29th year, Canada’s Best Managed Companies remains one of the country’s leading business awards programs recognizing Canadian-owned and managed companies for innovative, world‐class business practices. Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates the calibre of their management abilities and practices.
“Our business was faced with unprecedented challenges as we navigated our way through the COVID-19 pandemic. We continued to have students live in our communities, and out of necessity, we had to reimagine our traditional marketing and leasing practices, social programming, and the manner in which we delivered student support services. Finding a way to continue to deliver an exceptional student experience, and at the same time meeting or exceeding client expectations in an unpredictable environment was a challenge, but our teams delivered portfolio-wide.” said Brian Freeman, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Development, Campus Living Centres. He added, “Our team’s ability to maintain our high service standard levels, both to our students and clients, is what allowed us to grow our management portfolio by 23% in 2021, with total student beds under management now at 30,000 students”.
“The 2022 Best Managed winners exemplify innovation, adaptability, and resilience in the face of uncertainty,” said Lorrie King, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co‐Leader, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. “Over the past year, these forward‐forging companies have pivoted to successfully respond to challenges and capitalize on new opportunities, leveraging industry‐leading competencies to maximize their investments and drive sustainable growth.”
Applicants are evaluated by an independent judging panel comprised of representatives from program sponsors in addition to special guest judges. 2022 Best Managed companies share commonalities that include (but are not limited to) putting their people and culture at the forefront, focusing on their ESG strategies and doubling down on accelerated digitization.
“The Best Managed designation is one that can only be accomplished with an incredible team,” said Michael Paul, Senior Vice President, Operations, Campus Living Centres. He continues, “We are so proud of our team’s commitment to our students, partners, and each other, and we are honoured to accept this on their behalf.”
“The pandemic has changed the way businesses operate and these winners have responded by transforming and pivoting their companies so that they are leading the way forward for the future,” said Dino Medves, Senior Vice President and Head, CIBC Commercial Banking.
2022 winners of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies award will be honoured at galas across the country. The Best Managed virtual symposium will address leading-edge business issues that are key to the success of today’s business leaders.
The Best Managed program is sponsored by Deloitte Private, CIBC, The Globe and Mail, Salesforce, and TMX Group.
About Canada’s Best Managed Companies
Canada’s Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $50 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada’s Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada’s Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4‐6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, The Globe and Mail, Salesforce and TMX Group. For more information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.
For more information, please contact:
bestmanagedcompanies@deloitte.ca
www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca
About Campus Living Centres
Campus Living Centres was founded in 1989 with the purpose of assisting universities and colleges with the planning, design, financing and management of student residences and conference facilities. More recently, we have collaborated with institutional grade, private development partners to manage off-campus, purpose-built student housing. As the largest operator of student housing in Canada, Campus Living Centres has a portfolio of approximately 30,000 beds, which includes a combination of both managed and/or owned student housing developments, and commercial real estate. We are partnered with 27 Canadian post-secondary institutions, and have successfully completed 18 P-3 student housing projects to date.
Contact information:
Clarence Chong
Senior Director, Marketing & Client Relations
416-620-8160 ext. 8160
cchong@campuslivingcentres.com
campuslivingcentres.com
Campus Living Centres named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club Member
Toronto, ON – May 5, 2021 – Campus Living Centres was recognized for overall business performance and sustained growth with the prestigious Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation for the seventh year in a row, and its first as a Platinum Club member. The 2021 Best Managed program award winners are amongst the best-in-class of Canadian owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million demonstrating leadership in the areas of strategy, capabilities and innovation, culture and commitment, and financials to achieve sustainable growth.
Now in its 28th year, Canada’s Best Managed Companies remains one of the country’s leading business awards programs recognizing Canadian-owned and managed companies for innovative, world-class business practices. Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates the calibre of their management abilities and practices.
“Growing the business and continuing to exceed client expectations in the midst of a pandemic has been challenging, to say the least,” said Brian Freeman, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Development, Campus Living Centres. “While the focus was on keeping students safe and implementing rigorous protocols around COVID-19, we’ve worked closely with our institutional partners, both public and private, to consider what business could look like, post-COVID.”
Understanding that ‘business as usual’ will not resemble what it did pre-pandemic in the short-term, Campus Living Centres created virtual training modules, enhanced resources around student mental health, and collaborated closely with clients to ensure a safe service delivery model. While 2020 posed unique challenges and obstacles, student beds under the management portfolio increased by 25%. Brian adds, “This is a tribute to our team of dedicated and committed individuals who continue to go above and beyond in taking care of our clients and students, under exceptionally challenging circumstances.”
“To become a Best Managed Platinum Club winner is nothing short of remarkable. Their continued adaptability in an era of uncertainty sets the standard for how to overcome new barriers and demonstrate resilience at the highest levels,” said Peter Brown, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co-Leader, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. “This year’s Platinum Club winners are the Canadian cornerstone for outstanding business in 2021.”
Applicants are evaluated by an independent judging panel comprised of representatives from program sponsors in addition to special guest judges. 2021 Best Managed companies share commonalities that include (but are not limited to) enabling a remote workforce, making employee health a top priority, acting with an increased sense of purpose and social responsibility, and a significantly heightened focus on cash flow.
In a service driven business, managing student and staff anxiety, particularly at the onset of the pandemic, was overwhelming at times. In an effort to overcome those fears and anxieties, the Campus Living Centres’ senior team quickly pivoted towards developing and implementing COVID safety protocols. Working with the various public health units across the country, a comprehensive manual was developed that would become a living, breathing playbook for how to handle a potential outbreak within a building. “We’re so incredibly proud of all of our employees, as they navigated through a very challenging year. We accept this award on behalf of our 600 employees, as at the end of the day, they make it all possible”, said Michael Paul, Senior Vice President, Operations, Campus Living Centres.
“CIBC is especially proud to celebrate and recognize the winners of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in what has been a very challenging year”, said Dino Medves, Senior Vice President and Head, CIBC Commercial Banking. “These companies had to make tough decisions, adapt quickly to a new environment and most importantly, continue to innovate and invest for the future.
2021 winners of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies award will be honoured at a virtual gala. The Best Managed virtual symposium will address leading-edge business issues that are key to the success of today’s business leaders.
The Best Managed program is sponsored by Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group.
About Canada’s Best Managed Companies
Canada’s Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices.
The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada’s Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada’s Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group.
For more information, please contact:
bestmanagedcompanies@deloitte.ca
www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca
About Campus Living Centres
Campus Living Centres was founded in 1989 with the purpose of assisting colleges and universities and with the planning, design, financing, and management of student housing and conference facilities. As the largest operator of student housing in Canada, Campus Living Centres has a portfolio of approximately 30,000 beds, which includes a combination of both managed and/or owned student housing developments, and commercial real estate. We are partnered with 27 Canadian post-secondary institutions, and have successfully completed 18 P-3 student housing projects to date.
Contact information:
Clarence Chong
Director, Marketing & Sales
416-620-0635 ext. 8160
cchong@campuslivingcentres.com
campuslivingcentres.com
Campus Living Centres adds Fanshawe College to its Management Portfolio
Campus Living Centres adds Fanshawe College to its Management Portfolio
June 12, 2020
Campus Living Centres (CLC) is pleased to announce that effective June 1st, 2020 it assumed the management of the Fanshawe College Residence consisting of three six-storey apartment style buildings and 66 townhouses.
With over 1,600 beds, Fanshawe becomes CLC’s largest college client, and brings its overall portfolio up to 25,000 student beds. Campus Living Centres features partnerships with 17 of Ontario’s 24 colleges.
Dave Smith, Fanshawe’s Senior Manager, Retail, Residence & Food Services indicates, “Our decision to partner with Campus Living Centres was based on their reputation as leaders in post-secondary housing, and their commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience.” He continues, “We are looking forward to CLC becoming a part of the Fanshawe community, and their positive contributions to our students’ success.”
Brian Freeman, CLC’s Senior Vice-President Strategy & Development adds, “I am proud of our entire team’s collective commitment to enhancing the student experience, which put us in position to add Fanshawe College, one of Ontario’s largest colleges, to our residence management portfolio.”
Campus Living Centres announces Luke Jeffery as the new Director, Residence Life – Leadership, Training, & Development
Campus Living Centres is pleased to welcome Luke Jeffery back as the new Director, Residence Life – Leadership, Training, & Development. The appointment of Luke is effective August 26, 2019.
Luke began his student affairs journey with Campus Living Centres at Canadore College where he started as a Resident Advisor before moving into the role of Community Advisor. While at Canadore College, Luke developed a passion for student engagement work, helping to implement Canada’s first ever Mental Health and Wellness Dog-in-Residence Program at the institution. Building on his experience at Canadore College, Luke pursued the Residence Life Coordinator position at Seneca College, Newnham Campus where he continued to develop his passions and interests. Luke’s last position with CLC was as the RLC at Conestoga College where his collective experiences inspired him to pursue a deeper understanding of student affairs work.
In 2016, Luke left Campus Living Centres for Michigan State University where he would complete his Masters in Student Affairs Administration. While studying at MSU, Luke also filled the role of Assistant Community Director as well as playing an instrumental role in leading the Co-Curricular Project Implementation team. Prior to his graduation, Luke also served the MSU community as an Undergraduate Course Instructor, developing curriculum for and teaching a course in Student Leadership Development.
Following his time working and studying at Michigan State, Luke moved back to Canada to accept a position at St. Jerome’s University (University of Waterloo) as their Residence Manager. While at St. Jerome’s, Luke directed the institution’s student leadership training and hiring program, managed the residence life and housing team, and provided leadership and oversight for several campus-wide initiatives and events.
Luke is excited to return to Campus Living Centres and looks forward to this next chapter of his career where he can leverage his collective experiences and education, while also celebrating and building on the strong residence life traditions of CLC. He is deeply committed to enhancing the student experience and looks forward to once again being a part of the Campus Living Centres community.
Residence & Conference Centre 2019 Spring Sales Meeting
On Thursday, March 28th, 2019, the Residence & Conference Centre (RCC) sales team gathered for their semi-annual sales meeting. The team reviewed new policies & procedures, and shared ideas and best practices in preparation for the upcoming summer accommodation season starting in May.
The meeting was also a celebration of the previous summer as we recognized the highest performing properties, and their respective sales team, for an incredible 2018.
Sales awards were handed out to:
- RCC – Sudbury West (Boreal College Residence)
- Robyn Glassier
- RCC – Sudbury North (Cambrian College Residence)
- Robyn Glassier
- RCC – King City (Seneca College King Residence)
- Harley Freedman
- RCC MVP – Erik van Dijk
About Residence & Conference Centre
During the summer season, when a majority of residence rooms are traditionally vacant, many Campus Living Centres managed residences will operate under the Residence & Conference Centre (RCC) brand, converting their buildings into a unique summer hotel alternatives, offering affordable accommodations.
There are 19 RCC locations in Ontario, and one in British Columbia and Alberta.
Spreading the Word: Harm Reduction in Student Services
On October 24 and 25, 2018, Campus Living Centres was proud to partner with Seneca College Residence to host the award-winning Umbrella Project Training, a free two-day training focused on understanding theory and biases related to substance use, harm reduction, and conversation techniques with students who engage in substance use.
In partnership with Algonquin College, and Ottawa’s Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, training included two full days: the first on ‘Understanding Substance Use and Harm Reduction’, and the second on ‘Motivational Interviewing Skills’. Presenters Amanda Neilson, Lisa Boulay, and Andrew Mendes from traveled Ottawa to deliver this training to over 30 student affairs professionals from CLC’s partner institutions, including Seneca College, Georgian College, George Brown College, Thompson Rivers University, as well as members of Campus Living Centres’ Off-Campus Housing portfolio.
In light of the recent legalization of cannabis in Canada, participants were able to partake in timely discussions around approaching student cannabis use on their campuses using a harm reduction approach. The teachings of harm reduction attempt to break down biases surrounded the negative stigma associated with substance use and addiction. “Trying to challenge these ideas that have become social norms requires a large team and many different levels of intervention, education, and change” said Amanda Neilson, Algonquin College’s Harm Reduction Consultant.
This training is a portion of the larger Umbrella Project toolkit aimed at substance use awareness, overdose prevention, early intervention resources, and student-focused educational tools. More information and resources about the Umbrella Project can be found here: https://www.algonquincollege.com/umbrellaproject/.
On behalf of Campus Living Centres, we would like to thank the Umbrella Project Trainers for sharing their skills and knowledge with our campus colleagues.
For more information about the Umbrella Project, please contact Amanda Neilson at neilsoa@algonquincollege.com.
For more information about this event and training, please contact Dimple Rai, Associate Director, Residence Life, at drai@campuslivingcentres.com.
Campus Living Centres’ 2nd Annual Mental Health Symposium
On May 24th, 2018 Campus Living Centres hosted their second annual Symposium on Mental Health & the Student Experience. The event brought together 80 student affairs professionals from over 20 Canadian postsecondary institutions.
With the purpose of creating meaningful dialogue and exploring the role of student services in mental health, the symposium was a full day of professional development, featuring nine presenters and keynotes. Topics included responding to mental health related deaths on campus, assessing data from the National College Health Assessment, exploring the duty of care in student support, and reviewing challenges and opportunities within colleges and universities.
Our keynote presenter, Dr. Edward Connors has extensive experience working with First Nations communities across Canada, specifically in the areas of mental health and suicide prevention. In addition to the keynote, Dr. Connors hosted an interactive cultural sensitivity workshop that trained non-Indigenous service providers to better understand the worldview of Indigenous student. As postsecondary schools see an increase in Indigenous students, it is becoming more and more important for student affairs to understand the perceptions and experiences of Indigenous students.
Campus Living Centres would like to thank all of the attendees and speakers at the symposium. It was a day full of learning and discussion that brings us all one step further in our quest in supporting students.
For more information about the symposium, please email our Director, Residence Life & the Student Experience, Greg Hum, at ghum@campuslivingcentres.com.
Algonquin College Residence Life Team hosts Canada-wide CLC Retreat
From left to right: Dimple, Andrew Mendes (Director of Operations at Rideauwood Addictions & Family Services) , Greg, Amanda Neilson (Harm Reduction Consultant, Algonquin College and Rideauwood Addictions and Family Services), Brittanie Walker-Reid, Residence Life Manager, Algonquin College Residence. We are standing in front of a diagram of the ‘Motivational Interviewing Spirit’.
The Algonquin College Residence Life Team will be hosting Residence Life Senior Staff on July 10-11 for the Campus Living Centres Residence Life Management Team Retreat. This Retreat is hosted on a yearly basis at different Campus Living Centres properties by the Residence Life arm of Campus Living Centres. The retreat contains an opportunity for Residence Life Senior Staff to connect, engage in professional development and prepare for the upcoming residence Life staff training conference where all resident advisors and community advisors are trained across the entire company.
For the very first time, the Algonquin College Residence Life Team, with the approval of Campus Living Centres has invited the Director and Assistant Director of Residence Life along with all its Residence Life Managers, Residence Life Coordinators and Residence Community Advisors from each of their properties across Canada to extend this retreat by 2 days to participate in the Algonquin College Umbrella Project’s two-day Harm Reduction Training.
Algonquin College Residence has been celebrated by Campus Living Centres and various other post-secondary institutions for their championing of the AC Umbrella Project having recently won the Ontario Association of College and University Housing Officers ‘Service Award’ (Source: https://bit.ly/2KXNAVu) and with the newly launched cannabis legislation, housing departments both inside and outside CLC are hungry for the Umbrella Project’s highly coveted expertise.
Amanda Neilson, Algonquin College’s Harm Reduction Consultant along with her colleagues from Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services will be presenting the two-day training on ‘Understanding Substance Use and Harm Reduction’, ‘Motivational Interviewing Skills’. This will include a discussion on how the new cannabis legislation relates to the housing field. The retreat will also be opened in the Mamidosewin Centre by its new official drummer as well as an indigenous elder to perform a land acknowledgement and speak to indigenous healing methods as they relate to harm reduction. On day two, the Mamidosewin Centre will guide the attendees on a walk through the AC Botanical Gardens.
For more information, please contact Brittanie Walker-Reid at: bwalkerreid@algonquinresidence.ca
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