Starlight Investments Releases 2024 Sustainability Report, Highlighting Momentum Across Key Priorities
"Sustainability is a central pillar of our business strategy that shapes both our long-term vision and day-to-day operations," said Glen Hirsh, Chief Operating Officer, Starlight Investments. "We are focused on actions that aim to create a lasting positive impact in the communities we serve. By prioritizing ambitious targets, transparency and engagement, we are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and inclusive future."
2024 Sustainability Report Highlights
$2.3 billion invested over five years to maintain, upgrade and expand Starlight's properties across Canada.
$48.3 million invested in energy and water retrofits in 2024 alone, accelerating progress towards net zero emissions by 2050.
A reduction of 21% in carbon emissions intensity and 16% in energy intensity since 2019.
1,659 new rental suites built since 2019, primarily through infill development, an approach that reduces disruption to natural ecosystems by promoting sustainable growth in existing neighbourhoods.
Over $12 million invested in resident-focused amenities, from rooftop patios to community gardens, reflecting the evolving needs of families, seniors and young professionals.
1,120 rental suites reserved for vulnerable and at-risk individuals through partnerships with 40 social housing organizations.
$542,000 donated to local charities, and more than 1,000 volunteer hours contributed during Starlight's annual Impact Day.
Named among OnConferences' Top 50 Human Resources Team Award winners for Starlight's People & Culture team.
Launched "Ivan's Garden of Hope," a children's book celebrating the diversity and experiences of Starlight's residents and embracing the power of community, distributed to thousands of families across Canada.
"In 2024, we refined our Sustainability Action Plan to set more focused objectives and initiatives. Sustainability is embedded across our operations, from investment analysis to property management, and is directly linked to performance metrics," said Marlee Kohn, Vice President, ESG, Starlight Investments."Looking ahead, we remain committed to driving our sustainability program forward and moving the dial on the environmental and social priorities that matter most to our stakeholders."
Commitment to Decarbonization
Starlight remains steadfast in its commitment to the environment and has developed a decarbonization pathway to achieve net zero emissions intensity by 2050, with an interim target to reduce emissions by 50% by 2035 over its 2019 baseline year. To date, the company has achieved a reduction of 21% in carbon emissions intensity and 16% in energy intensity across its portfolio. Over the past year, Starlight continued to lay a strong foundation to advance this work through in-depth risk assessments, data-driven decision-making and managing properties with foresight, responsibility and care.
Creating Much-Needed Housing and Vibrant Local Communities
As Canada's leading rental housing provider and developer, Starlight is committed to helping address the country's housing shortage. The company is actively working to increase the supply of purpose-built rental housing, while also making significant investments in the preservation and revitalization of the country's existing and aging rental stock. Starlight has invested over $2.3 billion over the past five years in maintaining, upgrading and expanding its existing properties to ensure they remain high-quality communities for current and future residents. To date, 63% of building improvement investments are made within the first three years of ownership, and 85% over the first five years. Additionally, through community design and regular resident engagement initiatives, the company seeks to provide healthy spaces that enhance well-being and community cohesion.
Starlight's approach to new purpose-built rental developments is resident-focused, thoughtfully creating safe and vibrant communities for residents to live, work and play over the long-term. Every development is designed to integrate with its neighbourhood, meeting unique community needs and enhancing resident quality of life.
Starlight's innovative infill development strategy is helping address Canada's housing crisis by creating new rental supply where it is needed most, while minimizing environmental impact. The company's partnerships with social housing organizations have also delivered 1,120 affordable suites to at-risk populations, reinforcing a commitment to inclusive housing solutions.
People-First Culture Drives Impact
As part of its sustainability program, Starlight is also investing in its greatest asset: its people. With an emphasis on well-being, the organization expanded its wellness initiatives and mental health coverage for employees.
The company continues to advance diversity and inclusion through its dedicated council, companywide training, cultural celebration days and a well-defined code of conduct. These initiatives reflect Starlight's dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace where all individuals feel valued and respected – and a culture where exceptional talent is engaged and empowered to grow.
Explore Starlight's full 2024 Sustainability Report here.
To learn more about Starlight's sustainability initiatives, please visit the website.
About Starlight Investments
Starlight Investments is a leading global real estate investment and asset management firm headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A privately held owner, developer and asset manager of over 70,000 multi-residential suites and over 7 million square feet of commercial property space with CAD $30B AUM, Starlight offers a range of investment vehicles across various real estate strategies. Starlight's guiding mission is to balance its tenure with visionary curiosity to create positive impact for investors and communities alike. At Starlight, we invest with impact.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
35 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
Peninsula Co-op Earns 2025 Great Place To Work Certification™
VICTORIA, BC, Aug. 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Peninsula Co-op is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work ®. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Peninsula Co-op. Great Place To Work ® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviours proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. "We're incredibly proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work Certified™ organization. It's a powerful reflection of the inclusive, people-first culture that defines Peninsula Co-op.", said Crysta Walski, VP People & Culture. "This achievement speaks to the incredible leadership across our organization and the hard work of our team members, who go the extra mile every day to support one another and create a workplace where people truly thrive." Corey Gillon, Chief Executive Officer, says, "Being Great Place to Work Certified™ is more than a badge of honour, it's a business imperative. We know that when our people feel valued, supported, and proud of where they work, they deliver exceptional experiences to our members and communities." Peninsula Co-op's commitment extends beyond the workplace, with initiatives that support work-life balance, employee development, belonging, equity, and community investment. We also provide employees with opportunities to give back through volunteerism opportunities and community initiatives. According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company's profits and have a fair chance at promotion. We're Hiring! About Peninsula Co-op Since 1977, Peninsula Co-op has grown from a single food centre in Saanichton to a member-owned organization with over 135,000 members across Vancouver Island. Today, we operate fuel, convenience, and The Liquor Co. 1977 stores across Greater Victoria and Nanaimo, while staying 100% locally owned and committed to co-operative values. Through member rewards, community investment, and everyday service, we're here to support our neighbours and strengthen the communities we call home. Learn more at and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Cision Canada
44 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
The 2025 Salon Industriel de Terrebonne unveils its conference program Français
QUEBEC CITY, Aug. 20, 2025 /CNW/ - The Salons Industriels team is proud to announce the return of the Salon Industriel de Terrebonne (SIT), which will be held on October 22 and 23, 2025, at the Centre Expo Terrebonne for its much-anticipated second edition. A true must-attend event for Quebec's manufacturing sector, the show will bring together more than 400 exhibitors and nearly 5,000 visitors from across the province. For two days, Terrebonne will become the hub of industrial innovation, offering a unique platform for exchange on the latest technological advances, best industry practices, and practical solutions to improve productivity and competitiveness. A Rich and Inspiring Conference Program SIT 2025 will feature a high-caliber conference program led by renowned experts in business, artificial intelligence, technology, and entrepreneurship. Headline speakers include Pierre-Olivier Zappa, news anchor for TVA and LCN and a leading economic analyst, as well as Sasha Ghavami, lawyer and NFL player agent, who will talk about the importance of negotiation in business. Wednesday, October 22, 2025 1:00 PM – Digital Transformation and Generative AI: Connectivity, Data, and Autonomous Agents – Intelligence Industrielle 2:00 PM – From Wonder to Action: Steps Toward Practical and Profitable AI – 3:00 PM – Energy efficiency: An Opportunity To Be Seized– Hydro-Québec 4:00 PM – What Will the World of Tomorrow Look Like? – Pierre-Olivier Zappa 5:30 PM – Integrated Management Software Packages – ERP, Cloud, Iot, AI, BI – What's The Deal? ERP Systems Demystified – Vokeso Thursday, October 23, 2025 11:00 AM – Decarbonizing Industrial Buildings: Moving Toward a Low-Carbon Future – Altanergy Group 12:00 PM – Are Your Current Software Tools Holding You Back? Could AI Agents and Vibe Coding Be the Answer? – Open Mind 1:00 PM – Negotiating: a pleasure, not a burden! – Me Sasha Ghavami 2:30 PM – Minimizing the Cost of Your Projects with Government Funding – KPMG SIT 2025 promises to be a catalyst for innovation and progress in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Admission is free and includes access to all conferences and activities. Register today at
Cision Canada
an hour ago
- Cision Canada
Nearly one in five small businesses dealing with tariff costs won't last more than six months if nothing changes
TORONTO, /CNW/ - New data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reveals that small businesses are being hit hardest by U.S. and Canadian tariffs on steel and aluminum (59%), as well as Canada's own retaliatory tariffs on other U.S. goods (58%). In addition, nearly one-third of Canadian SMEs will be negatively affected by the loss of the $800 U.S. de minimis exemption. "Small businesses don't have a lot of runway left. They are trying their best to absorb the costs, but if nothing changes, they will be forced to make some tough decisions," said Corinne Pohlmann, Executive Vice-President of Advocacy at CFIB. "The worst outcome for Canada in the trade war is a bad deal, but the second worst outcome is the never-ending uncertainty small business owners have been wrestling with for the past six months. The federal government needs to provide some stability and return tariff revenue to help small businesses. We've suggested several options, including temporarily reducing the federal small business tax rate to zero or a tariff rebate designed on earlier models, like the carbon tax rebate." CFIB data shows that the trade war is squeezing small businesses on every front. Nearly two-thirds (62%) face higher expenses while many are also seeing lower revenues (48%), supply chain disruptions (41%), and paused investments (36%). Nearly one in five (19%) small businesses dealing with extra tariff costs report that they will not be able to last more than six months if the tariff status quo remains and nearly four in 10 (38%) said they would last less than a year. With Ottawa collecting billions in additional tariff revenue on U.S. imports, a strong majority (82%) said the government should ensure that any tariff revenue that is returned includes support for smaller businesses affected both directly and indirectly by trade disruptions. "The trade war's impact on Canada's small businesses should be top of mind for the government as Canada continues its negotiations with the U.S. Canada can't fix its productivity crisis without empowering its entrepreneurs. If the government wants to build one Canadian economy, it needs to ensure small businesses are part of the solution and that includes providing them with tariff support during this very challenging time," Pohlmann said. Methodology Preliminary results for the U.S.-Canada trade war and your business survey. The online survey is active since August 8, 2025, number of respondents = 1,721. For comparison purposes, a probability sample with the same number of respondents would have a margin of error of at most +/- 2.36 %, 19 times out of 20. About CFIB The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners' chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfi
