Schulich Alum and Executive in Residence Recognized for Contributions to Real Estate Community
Earlier this month the Greater Toronto Chapter of NAIOP, North America’s Commercial Real Estate Development Association, held the 20th annual Real Estate Excellence (REX) Awards Gala. Gary Whitelaw, former CEO of BentallGreenOak (BGO) and Emily Long (MBA ‘15) both received major individual awards at the gala. Their accomplishments and Schulich connection exemplify Schulich’s longstanding reputation for real estate excellence with a focus on contributing and elevating others.
The NAIOP GTA REX Awards Gala honours excellence in commercial real estate development, investment, and leasing. The Gala has raised over $1 million for local charities over the years.
Gary Whitelaw is Executive-in-Residence at the Brookfield Centre, a real estate and infrastructure education and research hub at Schulich. Whitelaw also inspired the eponymous Gary Whitelaw Strength in Diversity Award, a $250,000 scholarship fund at Schulich created by BGO. Whitelaw was honoured with the Real Estate Icon Award at the REX Gala.
Emily Long is a Director at Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Ltd and a former Chair of the Perspectives Lecture at Schulich, an annual event hosted by the Schulich Real Property Alumni Association and the Brookfield Centre. Long was honoured with the Developing Leader Award at the REX Gala.
Andre Kuzmicki is another Schulich connection to NAIOP. Professor Kuzmicki is Executive-in-Residence at the Schulich School, the founding Director of Schulich’s Masters in Real Estate and Infrastructure program, and the founding chairman of the REX Awards and Gala.
“It’s really great to see the REX Awards tradition carry on,” said Professor Kuzmicki. “And especially exciting that one of our former students, Emily Long, was recognized as a Developing Leader, and a great friend and leader I have long-admired, Gary Whitelaw, honoured with the Real Estate Icon Award.”