Our ESG story
Our Environment, Social & Governance story
For us, our sense of responsibility goes beyond ensuring we maintain high-quality, desirable properties. Care encompasses everything we do, including how we treat our residents, the clean, safe homes we provide, the suppliers we engage, and the communities in which we operate.
It includes how we treat our people, from the most recent hire to how we inspire and grow our dedicated team and our senior leaders. For us, care goes higher still—all the way up to ensuring our investments generate positive returns. At the same time, our caring extends to effecting meaningful contributions to society and safeguarding the environment.
Changes we’re making
By integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) related metrics into the way we manage our business, and our properties, we ensure we answer our mantra to connect and care about the world around us. We look for ways to reduce our environmental footprint. We want to add value to the lives of the residents we serve and communities we operate in. Strengthening corporate governance helps us attract and retain the best employees and residents. And it leads to better investment outcomes.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Operational Efficiency and Resilience
SOCIAL
Staying Connected
GOVERNANCE
Governance, Risk and Compliance
Change leads to growth
We’ve updated our growth strategy to focus on diversifying our portfolio through new development opportunities. We’ll continue to modernize our assets and invest in environmental and social initiatives that drive operational excellence. At the same time, we adhere to sound governance. This sets us up for controlled growth in the future.
We’ve already taken the first step in Elevation 2023, our five-year growth plan. It outlines ways we’re increasing our business resilience and lays the foundation for updating the way we operate.
The genuine care we have for our team keeps us committed to investing in our employees. That concern motivates us to be the best place to work. Above all, we seek to drive strong returns for our Unitholders. Measuring up to these promises will fulfill our commitment to all our stakeholders to deliver best-in-class performance.
Areas of focus
Integrating ESG
We’re currently identifying and prioritizing our most pressing ESG issues. We’ve already demonstrated a commitment to environmental transparency by disclosing findings through our customer data platform in 2020. The result was a Green Star designation from the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, in our inaugural 2020 GRESB submission.
A culture of inclusion
Caring about our employees and our residents means fostering a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. That’s why we work to ensure these fundamental qualities are at the heart of every program we offer employees and residents.
Operational efficiency and resilience
We’re building operational effectiveness and resilience through increased conservation measures. These reduce risk and result in greater efficiencies.
Governance
Our Policy Management Program helps manage risk. It maintains a culture of compliance and ensures that we always remain a trusted, ethical partner to our stakeholders. That’s the result of a business that cares.
2020 ESG Highlights
ENVIRONMENTAL
Over $15 Million
Over $15 million invested in energy efficiency measures including launching a centralized building automation system (“BAS”)
1.3M SQ FT
Added 1.3 MF SQ FT of BOMA BEST certified floor area
CDP
Furthered our commitment to environmental transparency by submitting to CDP
Achieved ~2.5%
Achieved ~2.5% annual energy consumption reduction since 2010
SOCIAL
A diverse and inclusive workforce
A diverse and inclusive workforce of 53% self-identified female employees and over 55 spoken languages
12,400 Hours
Over 12,400 Hours of internal training completed
Top Quartile
Ranked in the top quartile of the Best Employers program for the 7th consecutive
3,500 calls/month
Launched the Compassionate Care program to support residents through the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting an average of 3,500 calls/month
GOVERNANCE
43%
43% of independent Trustees self-identify as female
25%
of Trustees self-identify as BIPOC
GRESB GREEN STAR
Earned GRESB GREEN STAR designation in inaugural 2020 submission
ESG training
Delivered ESG training to the Board of Trustees and employees company-wide
News
BNN: How REITs can be the solution to the housing crisis
CAPREIT has a vested interest in providing safe, clean and viable places for Canadians to live. Whether through ESG initiatives, capital expenditure or other projects, we invest in the maintenance of our communities and the benefit are passed on to our residents.
CAPREIT Celebrates World Health Day
Happy #WorldHealthDay! This year’s theme is ‘Our Planet, Our Health’ which focuses on the importance of keeping humans and the planet healthy, in order to create livable communities, where clean air, water and food are available for all.
STOREYS: Canadian Rental Housing Organizations Unite to Support Ukrainians
A growing number of Canadian real estate companies are stepping up to the plate to offer assistance to Ukrainians in the midst of the ongoing crisis. Now, a group of Canada’s largest private and public rental housing providers have united to offer support for the people of Ukraine.
CTV News: A double tragedy: Toronto charity making preparations to host young Ukrainian cancer patients in need of treatment
Scott Lightfoot – CTV News – Monday, March 14th 2022 ‘A double tragedy’: Toronto charity making preparations to host young Ukrainian cancer patients in …
Interview on CKLW AM800 – Canadian rental housing organizations banding together to offer support for Ukraine
THE SHIFT with Patty Handysides – Monday, March 14th 2022 Mark Kenney, President and CEO of CAPREIT, speaks with Patty Handysides on CKLW AM800 …
Community Leaders in Toronto Begin Preparations in Anticipation of Families Coming from Ukraine
Canadian charity joins forces with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Corporate Canada to organize support for families in need
Contact us
We welcome any comments and questions you might have. Feel free to contact us anytime by phone or email.
- 11 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1W1
- (416) 861-9404