Conferences and National Symposia

Forum conferences and symposia appeal to a broader audience. Associates and special guests are invited to participate. Event locations vary across the country and topics are chosen to showcase the region as well as current priorities of Members.

The Forum’s 2012 National Symposium will be held in Vancouver, BC, May 10-11, 2012. By invitation only. Contact the Forum Office for more information.

PAST CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIA

May 12-13, 2011
NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
Ottawa, Ontario
Theme: "More for Less - Business Models to Increase Productivity and Value"
National Symposium Program (PDF)

May 13-14, 2010
NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
Edmonton, Alberta
Theme: "Shifting Thinking - Confronting Challenges Ahead"
National Symposium Program (PDF)

May 28-29, 2009
NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Theme: "Leveraging investments in infrastructure and real property"
National Symposium Program (PDF)

May 29-30, 2008
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Theme: "New Realities"
Conference Program (PDF)

May 24-25, 2007
St. John's, Newfoundland
Theme: "Creating Value - How public real estate can contribute to increasing Canada's competitiveness"
Conference Program (PDF)
Background Information (Links) for the conference (PDF)

May 11-12, 2006
Victoria, British Columbia
Theme: "Asset management strategies to meet changing needs of government"
Conference Program (PDF)

May 12-13, 2005
Moncton, New Brunswick
Theme: "Structuring RFPs Using Public Lands to Achieve Public Objectives"
Conference Program (PDF)

April 29-30, 2004
Toronto, Ontario
Theme: "Managing the Triple Bottom Line: Exploring Implications for Public Real Property"
Conference Program (PDF)

May 9-10, 2003
Vancouver, British Columbia
Themes: "Sustainable Development: Opportunities and Implications"
Conference Program (PDF)

May 10-11, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario
Theme: "Best Practices: Portfolio Management Strategies"
Conference Program (PDF)

May 3-5 2001
Calgary, Alberta
Themes: "Strategic Networking: Partnerships and E Business"
Conference Program (PDF)

May 7-8, 2000
Montreal, Quebec
Theme: "Challenges and Opportunities: Developing Large Parcels of Public Land"
Conference Program (PDF)

May 17-18, 1999
Victoria, British Columbia
Theme: "Current Initiatives, Issues, and Impacts - Setting the Public Lands Agenda for the 21st Century"
Conference Program (PDF)

May 25-27, 1998
Kingston, Ontario
Theme: "New Models of Public Lands Management - Making it Work"
Conference Program (PDF)

Forum Members' Retreats

These are only for Member organizations, reflecting shifting priorities, and varying in their format, research agenda, and thematic content. Academic Advisors also attend. Day sessions for Members- and Academic Advisors-only are held as part of the Annual Conference or Symposium, with the program developed to meet the needs of Member organizations at that time.

The Retreats held to date and currently being planned are:

Retreat October 28-30, 2010
Montreal, Quebec
Topics: "Business Case Development, Performance Measures"

Retreat November 5-7, 2009
Montreal, Quebec
Topics: "Current Issues, Performance Measures, Development Corporations"

Retreat November 6-8, 2008
Montreal, Quebec
Topics: "Performance Measures – quality audits for facilities, client satisfaction surveys, benchmarks, etc.; Lease vs. Own - considerations"

Retreat November 1-3, 2007
Montreal, Quebec
Topic: "Risk Management, Accountability and Systems for Measuring Value –
Key Factors for Managing Public Property"

Retreat November 1-3, 2006
Montreal, Quebec
Topics: "Rethinking the Workplace; Achieving results with politicians - influence vs. interference; Protocols for Managing First Nations Issues"

Retreat November 2-4, 2005
Montreal, Quebec
Topic: "Acquisition and Disposal Strategies for Portfolio Management"

Retreat October 27-29, 2004
Montreal, Quebec
Topics: "Benchmarking for the Triple Bottom Line: Principles for the application of Triple Bottom Line programs for public real estate; Environmental, Social and Financial/Economic Approaches - policies and implementation"

Retreat November 6-8, 2003
Montreal, Quebec
Topics: "Accommodation Planning - Responding to New Directions; Evolving Structures for Managing Real Property Assets; Funding Maintenance; Heritage Issues"

Retreat October 24-26, 2002
Montreal, Quebec
Topics: "Long Term Planning; Aligning Public, Private and Pension Fund Interests in Real Property Transactions"

Retreat October 25-27, 2001
Mississauga, Ontario
Topics: "Effective Ways of Managing Environmental Cleanup; Owning vs. Leasing Property - Considerations; Best Practices for Charge Back Systems"

Retreat October 26-28, 2000
Mississauga, Ontario
Topics: "Managing the Media; Impacts of Accrual Accounting; War for Talent"

Retreat October 14-16, 1999
Merrickville, Ontario
Topics: "Land at Less Than Market Value; Public Property Management in Quebec; Implications of the New Economy for Real Estate; Rust-out; Outsourcing"

Retreat October 30 - November 1, 1998
Merrickville, Ontario
Topics: "How do we balance and deliver all of the public interests in our land dispositions, re-development, and management?"

Communications

Newsletters are produced from time to time for Members, Academic Advisors and Associates to provide information about events, issues discussed, and possible program topics.

The web page provides general information about the Forum for potential Member organizations and Associates and for members of the public interested in its work.

The Library section includes downloadable conference presentations and other materials and links.

The Academic Advisors develop papers for the Forum on topics of interest. As well, to date, three research papers have been produced - "Outsourcing government real estate services, learnings from recent case studies and literature", "Rust out", and "Funding for Property Maintenance".