The Toronto commercial real estate market is one that has always been primed for success. Nearly 10 million Canadians, who account for one-third of Canada’s population, live within a 100-mile radius of Toronto. Along with that, 80% of the country’s top high-tech firms call the city their home and it has the fourth-highest concentration of commercial software companies in the world.

Toronto is also a major tourist destination, making it a prime location for hotels, restaurants and retail. The bottom line is that Toronto is a major player in CRE, and Bisnow is increasing its focus on this booming market.

Bisnow Business Manager Kara Breazeale is in charge of boosting Bisnow’s presence and events in the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Toronto markets. While she will remain dedicated to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, she will be focusing a great deal of attention on Toronto and plans to travel there more frequently, to help better inform and connect CRE professionals in Canada’s largest city.

Can you tell me a bit about your background, as well as how long you've been at Bisnow and the work you've been doing here? 

I grew up in New Jersey and graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in advertising and communications in 2017. I then moved to Philadelphia to pursue a career in sales and marketing.

I joined the Bisnow team as a business manager in August of 2021 in the Philadelphia office. Currently, I am responsible for Bisnow's growth in the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Toronto markets. In the short time I’ve been here I have learned an incredible amount about the commercial real estate industry. Expanding the Toronto market is an exciting opportunity to provide value to the industry and continue to grow the Bisnow brand.

What excites you about the Toronto market? 

The Toronto market remains strong and a key player within the global CRE market. Bisnow has a good foundation in Toronto, but I see the potential for Bisnow to be an even more significant source of news and networking for the local industry — creating connections and opportunities to grow businesses across the city.

What are some of your goals in this new position? 

Currently, we have a limited number of annual events in Toronto, but we plan to expand this frequency significantly over the next several years. I'd like to see more opportunities for the industry to come together, not only to meet and work with new people, but to hear from industry leaders about ways to best position themselves for growth within expanding market sectors.

Why is Bisnow putting greater focus on the Toronto market now? 

We want to bring the same value to Toronto that we have brought to our most mature markets. Bisnow has more than 40 publications, 2.5 million subscribers and roughly 350 events per year across the globe. Currently, only a small portion of these efforts are dedicated to the Toronto market. We see this as an opportunity to be a tool to propel the industry forward and continue to grow together.

What are some of your plans for the future of Bisnow's presence in Toronto? 

We plan to build our presence with both events and editorial coverage of the Toronto market. We have assembled an awesome team to do this, and feel we have the support and the connections in the industry to be successful. It is often said that it's not about what you know, but who you know. Bisnow's mission is to connect industry professionals to grow their businesses, accelerate their brands and stay abreast of the trends in this constantly evolving industry. I am excited to be at the forefront of Bisnow's plans to expand significantly in Toronto.

What kind of speakers are you seeking for any upcoming Toronto events? What will the focus of these events be?

Our next events in Toronto will cover topics including the state of the market, multifamily and a 2023 forecast.

We are looking for leaders in commercial real estate who are enthusiastic and want to see the community grow to take part in these events. We will take a closer look at each market sector and discuss innovation, strategy and opportunity within the industry.

Our events are meant to bring leaders together to build networks and expand business. To learn more about getting involved, reach out to me directly at Kara.breazeale@bisnow.com or 609-638-7099.