Our Approach

Theia Partners harnesses the speed and size of the market to create effective, lasting solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time. We create societal and financial value in overlooked places like contaminated and complicated sites, workforce housing apartments, and waste-heat energy systems. We are completely focused on creating value:

For investors

who support our work and who gain access to off-market opportunities with lower regulatory risk profiles

For the environment

where our work lowers carbon emissions, reduces pressure to sprawl, and provides models of low-impact development

For society
through delivering safe and quality housing in good locations, developing in a consultative and collaborative manner

Social and
environmental impact.

For us, positive social and environmental impact is not a business model–it is a core value, expressed personally and professionally. Current and previous board and advisor appointments by the partners Include:

Canada Green Building Council - logo
CPAWS - logo
Logo Ottawa Community Land Trust
Nature Conservancy Canada - Logo
Ottawa Climate Action Fund - Logo

Workforce Housing

Existing Assets Strategy

For the past five years, Theia Partners has worked to acquire, maintain, and improve naturally occurring affordable housing in transit-serviced and walkable neighbourhoods. The traditional pattern for this type of housing is either to fall into disrepair with neglectful owners or have owners aggressively look to turn over units for maximum rent value. Theia takes a unique approach, utilizing smart financing and sound management, to improve the sustainability performance of the homes, and lower operating costs, while maintaining long-term affordability.

The Results

This careful approach has preserved hundreds of affordable homes, lowered operating costs, and created a unique advantage where Theia is a preferred buyer for empathetic, retiring landlords. The result has been a combination of very competitive investor returns, lower carbon emissions, happier tenants, and long-term, secure affordability.

Workfroce
Waterwoman art installation
IndDecontie

New Development Strategy

What if new development could result in an increase in biodiversity? What if development projects could complete or complement communities? What if development facilitated healthy and sustainable lifestyles? At Theia, we aim to achieve those objectives in each new development we take on; we aim to create developments that act as a model for sustainability and inclusivity. We have a long history of partnerships, including those with non-profit housing providers, indigenous groups, environmental organizations, and progressive landowners.

The Results

Our approach has resulted in some of the most accessible and sustainable new market housing in the country. We have remediated sites, and turned them into homes in walkable communities; We have created a unique hybrid-model with non-profit housing providers that has helped facilitate projects for a diverse spectrum of community members, and we have provided an opportunity for investors to create competitive returns aligned with their values.

 

Energy Strategy

Theia is continuously looking for ways to reduce energy consumption in our projects, but also find opportunities to create renewable or ultra-low carbon sources. We look to leverage sources of waste to provide heat for communities. Ultimately, we look to provide building owners, residents, and tenants with a clean source of energy, creatively using whatever fossil-free resources are available to us.

The Results

Every day, our 20MW of renewable energy capacity, is positively contributing to the renewable energy revolution. Our Zibi Community Utility has demonstrated a model of sustainable district energy, utilizing waste heat and run-of-river cooling, creating demand for future systems in the National Capital Region. We have had over 1000 people tour the plant since inception, multiplying our positive impact in communities across the country.

District Energy at Zibi