Infrastructure Ontario Joins R-LABS’ Industry Issue + Transformation Council: Advancing Industry Innovation in Real Estate and Housing

R-LABS is pleased to announce our partnership with Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and welcomes Toni Rossi to the R-LABS Industry Issue + Transformation (I+T) Council. The I+T Council stands at the forefront of real estate innovation, comprised of an industry-leading group that includes the CMHC, BILD, REALPAC, TRREB, REBGV, and other esteemed organizations dedicated to delivering much-needed innovation to the real estate industry through venture building. This partnership represents a significant milestone, integrating innovation in infrastructure in our pursuit of a more resilient and future-ready real estate sector. We are harnessing the combined strengths of Infrastructure Ontario and R-LABS to pave the way for groundbreaking innovation in sustainable development, with an emphasis on digital twin technology, expanding housing supply, and climate resiliency.  

Infrastructure Ontario, a Crown agency of the Government of Ontario, supports the province’s initiatives to modernize and maximize the value of public infrastructure and real estate. With a proven track record of successful developments, IO plays a crucial role in enhancing Ontario’s real estate portfolio and in asset management of developed infrastructure, along with delivering infrastructure projects ranging from hospitals and courthouses to public transit systems and government buildings. IO’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation aligns seamlessly with the goals and values of R-LABS.  

As the Real Estate Industry Venture Builder, R-LABS is a partnership of innovative corporations and institutions, including Oxford Properties, Teranet, Dorsay Developments, Empire Communities, and Co-operators, along with game-changing entrepreneurs that are delivering industry innovation through the creation of new technology-enabled companies, each solving a very specific problem in real estate and housing, that are piloted locally and can be scaled globally. Through R-LABS and the I+T Council, the partnership effectively aligns and actively engages key industry stakeholders across the real estate and housing sub-sectors to drive awareness and participation in industry innovation, addressing the critical challenges facing the region. 

By joining the R-LABS I+T Council and through R-LABS’ Open Innovation platform, IO gains a unique opportunity to contribute its expertise and insights to the collective effort of shaping the future of the real estate industry. IO’s depth of knowledge in infrastructure development, project management, and sustainable practices will play a vital role in advancing the Council’s initiatives. This collaboration will accelerate the adoption of groundbreaking technologies, foster best practices, and cultivate a culture of innovation within the sector.  

“We are excited to welcome Infrastructure Ontario to the R-LABS partnership,” said George Carras, CEO of R-LABS. “In R-LABS, the capabilities of IO and the dedication of its team can create better innovation in infrastructure and align it more effectively with the innovation taking place in real estate and housing.” 

Appointed as the representative from Infrastructure Ontario to join R-LABS’ I+T Council is Toni Rossi, a highly respected real estate industry executive and passionate industry leader with three decades of experience, including recently serving as the Chair of REALPAC (2021-2022). At IO, Toni is currently President of Real Estate, overseeing Ontario’s General Real Estate Portfolio, which is one of the largest in Canada. This extensive portfolio encompasses a diverse range of properties that contribute to the socio-economic growth and well-being of the province. Toni also brings a breadth of experience in IO’s lending business, having served as the President of IO’s Lending Division, where she has been instrumental in supporting infrastructure projects through responsible lending practices, enabling the successful completion of various critical developments.  

For more information about Infrastructure Ontario, please visit www.infrastructureontario.ca.

For more information about R-LABS, please visit www.rlabs.ca, or contact [email protected].