HOOPP celebrated sustainability in its real estate portfolio at the 12th annual LEAP awards, giving out 11 awards across 10 categories. This year’s categories included two new GHG awards to recognize efforts taken over the past year to help HOOPP
meet the reduction targets laid out in its new Climate Plan.
“We are pleased to see the steps our global partners have taken over the last year to help us manage the risks and opportunities that climate change poses on the HOOPP portfolio, helping us to achieve the targets laid out in our Climate Plan,”
said Eric Plesman, Senior Managing Director & Head of Global Real Estate. “As a major real estate owner, we have a responsibility to improve sustainability performance in our portfolio and drive positive change throughout the industry.”
The organization’s commitment to sustainability was also seen in the trophies given to this year’s winners. The trophies were made from salvaged wood and windfallen trees.
HOOPP integrates sustainability principles in management practices across the entire real estate portfolio, which encompasses approximately 60 million square feet of industrial, residential, office and retail space across Canada, the United States and Europe.
HOOPP has a long history of doing what is good for the pension plan and the planet, with an understanding that these two things are connected.
Plesman added, “We consider climate risk as part of our investment management process throughout the global portfolio, and this is an integral element of upholding our fiduciary responsibility to deliver on our pension promise to Ontario’s
healthcare workers.”
Learn more about HOOPP’s sustainability efforts and our recently released Climate Plan.
The winners of this year’s LEAP Awards are:
GHG Performer Award
Winner: ATCO Centre (Triovest)
Edmonton, Alberta
For reducing their natural gas and electricity consumption to achieve emissions reductions of more than 20% since 2019, exceeding industry benchmarks.
GHG Manager Award
Winner: 4711 Yonge Street (Menkes Property Management Services)
Toronto, Ontario
For developing a decarbonization strategy that outlines short- and long-term actions and also successfully securing
external funding and incentives to operationalize parts of their plan.
Tenant Collaboration Award
Winner: One York Street (Menkes Property Management Services)
Toronto, Ontario
For implementing tenant collaboration and engagement activities to influence behaviour and achieve additional energy reductions
following a detailed energy audit.
Community Impact Award
Winner: Liberty US Residential Portfolio (Bell Partners Inc.)
Greensboro, North Carolina
For spending 800 volunteer hours packing and preparing food, resulting in the donation of over 3,000 pounds
of food and over 10,000 meals for families in need.
Runner-Up: Mayflower Mall (McCor Management (East) Inc.)
Sydney, Nova Scotia
For hosting an event at which students operated interactive booths on sustainability, reinforcing the mall’s role
as a community hub.
Technology Innovator Award
Winner: 840 Howe Street (GWL Realty Advisors Inc.)
Vancouver, British Columbia
For implementing a new technology to reduce natural gas consumption by 60% through injecting waste heat into the building’s
hot water loop.
Climate Leader Award
Winner: 1 Prologis Blvd. (Triovest)
Mississauga, Ontario
For implementing an advanced scheduling system for its heat pumps, facilitated through the building automation system, in response to an increase
in demand and leading to reduced electricity costs and emissions.
Sustainability Achiever Award
Winner: Intercity Shopping Centre (Morguard)
Thunder Bay, Ontario
For having the best overall performance on the Pillar Scorecard, HOOPP’s primary tool for tracking portfolio level performance,
and for receiving the 2022 Earth Award from BOMA Canada for their sustainability efforts.
Stakeholder Engagement Innovator Award
Winner: CampusOne Student Resident, Parkside Student Residence and Campus1 MTL Student Residence (Knightstone Capital Management Inc.)
Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec
For creating a financial
literacy program, which included workshops, lectures and advisory sessions, to educate student residents on personal finance topics.
Sustainable Operator Award
Winner: Moda Tower (Unico Properties)
Portland, Oregon
For reducing their GHG emissions by 300 tonnes annually through a retrofit of their HVAC controls and lighting, and the installation of an energy
information system.
Sustainable Fund Award
Winner: Grand Opera (MARK)
Paris, France
For partnering with non-profit organizations to provide emergency accommodation, meals, and help-centre services free of charge to 139 vulnerable women and
children between summer 2022 and 2023.
About the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan
HOOPP serves Ontario’s hospital and community-based healthcare sector, with more than 630 participating employers. Its membership includes nurses, medical technicians, food services staff, housekeeping staff, and many others who provide valued healthcare services. In total, HOOPP has more than 435,000 active, deferred and retired members.
HOOPP operates as a private independent trust, and is governed by a Board of Trustees with a sole fiduciary duty to deliver on the pension promise. The Board is jointly governed by the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and four unions: the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union (OPSEU), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). This governance model provides representation from both management and workers in support of the long-term interests of the Plan.
HOOPP’s real estate portfolio has a market value of $21 billion, spanning multiple geographies and asset classes (industrial, residential, office and retail). The Fund continues to grow both the scale and scope of this portfolio, with a focus on high-quality assets and best-in-class partners that share our sustainable investing approach and creation of long-term value for our members.
Contact:
James Geuzebroek, Director, Media & External Communications
jgeuzebroek@hoopp.com