By curating a blended property portfolio, Community Impact Real Estate (CIRE) works with community partners to provide valuable services to vulnerable populations. Through an innovative model CIRES supports community economic development through leveraging  Provincial assets to ensure that no-for-profits and social enterprises are protected from the impacts of gentrification and remain in the DTES. In addition, CIRES will share how they have supported tenants  and the broader community through the challenges presented by Covid-19.

Steven Johnston - Executive Director

Steven is a seasoned executive with more than 15 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, working to improve the social and economic circumstances of vulnerable populations. He began his career in community economic development at Dixon Hall in Toronto, where he played a key role in building and supporting innovative programming for at-risk residents in the inner city. He relocated to Vancouver in 2014 to lead Tradeworks Training Society, where he guided the growth and revitalization of the agency’s critical employment and social enterprise programs. The majority of his experience supporting populations facing barriers to employment, including concurrent disorders and homelessness, comes from working in two of Canada’s most challenged and impoverished urban communities: Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Toronto’s Regent Park. 

He has developed, delivered, and led innovative programming to provide support and solutions to improve the lives of residents with a focus on income generation and grounded in a social determinants of health perspective. He serves on a number of community boards, including the Advisory Board of the Binners’ Project, and is a mentor to many organizations in the Downtown Eastside.

Shaugn Schwartz - Director, Portfolio Management and Capacity Building

Shaugn is a social enterprise enthusiast. Originally from Montreal, Shaugn moved to Vancouver to pursue his dream of making a difference by doing business differently.

After completing his Masters Degree in Planning at UBC, he joined Evergreen and managed the Western Regional offices with energy and distinction fundraising for an array of urban greening projects. In 2008, Shaugn joined The Cleaning Solution - an award winning building services social enterprise purposed to provide employment to those living with mental illness - and served as its inaugural Executive Director.

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Real Estate Institute of BC (REIBC) acknowledges the support of the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia