Monthly Archives: October 2019

I read Jon Willing’s October 5th, 2019 well-reported article, Ban some from renting homes short term if they don’t live there, consultant recommends (https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ban-some-people-from-short-term-home-rentals-if-they-dont-live-there-consultant-recommends). I believe the Maclaren Report is flawed, so I wrote the following to the city of Ottawa’s policy people: Dear city of Ottawa, My spouse and I own a home in […]

My friend Chris Castillo is nearly finished writing his pithy and insightful book, Bucket of Wisdom available for pre-order at, https://bucketofwisdombook.com/ Here’s my review of his work: “Some of Chris Castillo’s stories remind me of what a top end bike salesman once told me about what he was like as a teenager. He had a […]

Noted urbanist and planner Jeff Speck shares his views on how to create a more walkable city. Points covered include: -Euclidean zoning (separation of uses) started by moving housing away from dirty soot-producing mills with the result that life expectancy immediately improved… (the one and only success of urban planners, Ed) -large areas of single […]

From time to time, Paul and I take students on a property tour to teach them what works in terms of real estate investing (and what doesn’t). “Wow, what an amazing property tour organized by Prof Bruce and Spirepoint Wealth’s Paul Blacquiere. It was very interesting and educational. It made the concepts of the course […]

Try answering this question. The list price for a duplex at 1234 Any street, Anytown is $575,000 and its NOI (net operating income) is estimated at $30,150 pa (per annum) based on its existing leases and revenue streams. You expect to incur some additional closing costs including land transfer tax estimate ($7,975), legal fees on […]

So, you think you know something about modern-era business models? Well, test yourself by examining what chief executive officer Michael Lastoria has done with his fledgling chain of tiny (300-square foot) &Pizza restaurants, which now number 36 locations on the US east coast. Here’s his secret sauce in which he invokes crucial elements of the […]

The ROI Group was formed to create a forum for interested parties to get together online (and occasionally in the real world too) to speak to issues surrounding the creation of vibrant communities that are sustainable in every way. The idea is to find new, innovative ways to meet multiple “bottom lines” including how to: […]

[Negative Cost Labor (And Low-Cost Finance)] Sometimes, you can turn a cost into a negative cost. A former architecture student of mine, Dominique Tonetti and her husband, Frank Dutton, are managing to do that on their new project, Solisterra in Québec. Dominique and Frank are building wonderful straw bale structures on a 150-acre property they […]

While it is a long march from humble beginnings to a continent-spanning business operation, if anyone can do it, it’s my friend and coaching client, Chris Long, pictured here with his oldest daughter, Lily, at the grand opening of Longyards at 6571 Bank street in Ottawa Canada on October 1st, 2019. Chris is a trained […]