Sustainability

We can trace our commitment to Environmental Stewardship, Social Responsibility and Strong Governance to our founding in 1989. After more than three decades, we are still focused on building strong, sustainable communities across Canada.

Concert Properties has a long legacy of making a positive impact in ESG – from significant support for trades training; to innovative partnerships to create purpose-built rental homes; to our work advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. We are excited to build on these strengths, as we shape our business strategy and understand how ESG can help Concert Properties focus for even greater impact. Christine Bergeron, President & Chief Executive Officer

Our business operations are grounded in and tied to our three founding principles:

Deliver attractive, long-term returns for the Canadian union and management pension funds and institutional investors who own us.
Create jobs and use skilled construction union labour.
Give back to the communities where we work.

These principles guide our vision of building resilient, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods across Canada to improve the lives of the people who live and work in our communities. Concert Properties is strongly focused on building a people-first future for Canadians, by Canadians through collaboration, consultation and communication.

We view ESG as an evolving process and continually review and revise our initiatives and priorities. To that end, we refreshed our approach to sustainability in 2019, creating a framework to build upon as priorities and issues change. This framework was updated in 2022 so that our ESG Guidelines better align with our current objectives and employees and other interested parties can better understand our approach to sustainable development and ESG issues.

We recognize the importance of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a milestone set by Canada and the international community to combat the worst effects of climate change. We recognize that the pathway to get there is not clear, but we are committed to take action as we aspire to this global target.

We are proud to see that our ESG-related efforts are being recognized. We have received several awards this year, including the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (P3) 2022 Gold Award for Project Development for the work by Concert Infrastructure on the first-ever P3 high school bundle in Alberta. We are also honoured to have received the BC Top Employer Award for the second year in a row. This award specifically validates our efforts to foster a positive and inclusive workplace where employees feel heard.

Our commitment to social responsibility and those who work and live in our communities includes our activities with local notfor-profits such as Journey Home Community and the launch of their Meanwhile Spaces pilot program, where we provided safe and stable short-term housing for refugee claimants in BC.

This commitment also includes developing and constructing critically important neighbourhood amenities such as the new Bettie Allard YMCA, Coquitlam’s first YMCA and the centrepiece of our new transit-oriented, master-planned community, Heart of Burquitlam. This community also includes our rental tower, 55One, providing the largest infusion of affordable non-market housing in Coquitlam to help address the diverse needs of this rapidly growing area.

I’m heartened by these accomplishments that reaffirm our vision of building resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities across Canada. This report reflects our achievements over the past year and introduces some initiatives we will continue pursuing in the future.

Sincerely,
Signature - David Podmore
David Podmore, OBC, Co-Founder, Chair Emeritus

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ESG Focus Areas

Strong Governance

Ensuring we have the right policies, processes and reporting for effective oversight and integration of ESG in all decisions

Environmental Stewardship

Progressing our portfolio along a science-based, net-zero pathway and improving our resilience to climate impacts

Social Responsibility

Centring inclusion in everything we do — from building a diversity in housing, to fostering community well-being and advancing equity in the trades

Indigenous Reconciliation

Taking meaningful action towards reconciliation and forming mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous groups

Download 2023 ESG Report

2023 ESG Report

Creating the Concert Sustainability Framework

Our comprehensive Sustainability Framework outlines our specific commitments and guides all our business decisions. From outlining our goals to breaking down our short-term objectives into measurable steps, our framework holds us accountable as we tackle all aspects of sustainability.

Concert Properties Gives Back

We are deeply invested in improving the lives of the people who live and work in our communities. This philosophy extends to our corporate giving program, and we invest in trades training programs and causes focused on housing and the health and welfare of Canadians. We also donate employee time, money and resources to worthy projects and organizations all over Canada.

- Dave Ramslie, Vice President, Innovation & Sustainability

Sustainability Goals & Targets

As a company, we weave environmental, social and economic sustainability practices into every level of our business. Where possible, we seek to maximize synergies among these three priorities.

Environmental Sustainability

We are taking bold action to fight climate change, save energy and reduce waste—when designing and constructing our buildings, and in our day-to-day corporate operations.

Social Impact

In our efforts to nurture thriving, resilient communities, we work to foster social connections between residents—helping members of our community foster inclusive, strong relationships with one another.

Good Governance

Concert was founded to create a reliable return on investment for Canadian pension plans and provide quality employment opportunities for a diverse cross-section of Canadians.

Sustainability Metrics

Operational Carbon Emissions

Reducing carbon pollution is a top priority for Concert. We’re committed to achieving an 80% reduction in our corporate GHG emissions by 2050.

Embodied Carbon Emissions

As we aggressively reduce our buildings’ operational emissions, our focus will shift to tackling the embodied emissions that result from the construction of our buildings. We’re committed to tracking these emissions on every project, and reducing them where possible.

Green Buildings

Whether we’re building new properties with the latest environmental innovations or retrofitting existing properties, reducing GHG emissions and creating healthy spaces in our properties are top priorities.

Waste Diverted

We seek to minimize waste in our business operations and building operations, offering solutions like multi-source recycling programs and innovative construction waste diversion practices.

Health & Social Wellness

Through thoughtful design of facilities, amenities and programming, we foster healthy choices and community connection, enhancing the well-being of our residents.

Inclusion

We want Concert properties to be accessible to everyone. We seek to be equitable and inclusive in all that we do, and to continue creating affordable housing options.

Transportation

We carefully consider walkability scores in neighbourhoods where we develop buildings, and have introduced initiatives to encourage carpooling, cycling, transit and the use of electric vehicles among our staff.

Transparency

We know we have a long way to go. That’s why we feel it’s important to disclose key metrics, such as our annual GHG emissions, so our wider community helps hold us accountable to our goals.

Sustainability Awards

BC Business Business of Good Award

Recognizing BC-based companies with pioneering environmental sustainability initiatives

Five-time BC Top Employer

Recognizing our ongoing investment in programs and policies that help employees thrive

Toronto BILD's Stephen Dupuis Award

Given to Concert Properties in recognition of our corporate social responsibility initiatives

Concert Properties Gives Back

We are deeply invested in improving the lives of the people who live and work in our communities. This philosophy extends to our corporate giving program, and we invest in trades training programs and causes focused on housing and the health and welfare of Canadians. We also donate employee time, money and resources to worthy projects and organizations all over Canada.