Derek’s entire career and professional achievements have been connected to – in one way or another – the housing and real estate industries, spanning twenty-seven years and counting.
Upon graduating from Wilfrid Laurier’s Honours Bachelor of Business Administration program in 1994, Derek founded Care Planning Partners, a market and financial consulting practice which soon became a preeminent source of market intelligence and consulting services within Canada’s growing seniors’ housing sector. Clients included small to medium retirement and long-term care residence owners, operators and developers, as well as large publicly traded companies, Provincial and municipal governments, funding institutions, faith groups and community organizations, as well as private investors. In 2001, Derek launched The Care Guide, a printed and online resource in Ontario, Alberta and BC that’s helped tens of thousands of Canadian seniors and their families make informed senior living decisions and find appropriate seniors’ housing. During this time, Derek served as an elected member of the Ontario Retirement Communities Association’s Board of Directors for six consecutive years and Chair of its Commercial Members’ Committee.
Leveraging his in-depth knowledge and diverse expertise in the senior living sector, Derek became a licensed real estate professional in 2015 with Royal LePage and Royal LePage Commercial, and soon co-founded Bloomr Commercial Real Estate, together with Kristen Forster, to specialize in the acquisition and disposition of senior living assets and development lands in Ontario. And now through his partnership with Jackie and Kristen at THE GOOD LIFE Real Estate Group, Derek is excited to bring his years of experience and expertise to the broader commercial and residential real estate markets.