Commercial Real Estate Podcast

Commercial Real Estate Podcast


Investing in Ottawa with Hugh Gorman of Colonnade BridgePort

June 05, 2023

Coming at you from the Toronto Real Estate Forum we’ve got Hugh Gorman joining Aaron and Adam in this episode. He is the CEO of Colonnade BridgePort. Hugh started the company in 2009 after managing several real estate portfolios throughout Canada.


Colonnade BridgePort is headquartered in Ottawa, so we’ll hear all about the real estate market in the nation’s capital. Hugh takes us through how each sector is looking right now and gives his thoughts on the influx of capital that Ottawa continues to see.


Topics covered include:


  • Why it’s a good time to invest in land.
  • Why the solutions that policymakers offer to affordable housing are often not useful.
  • What it was like starting Colonnade BridgePort during a tough market.
  • Colonnade BridgePort’s Ottawa-focused real estate holdings.
  • The increasing amount of capital flowing into Ottawa.
  • Types of investors that Hugh has seen in the city over the years.
  • The positive shift in attitudes that Hugh is seeing from lenders.
  • The low office occupancy in downtown Ottawa and the ripple effect it has.
  • Believing that people want to live in urban areas, even with remote work.
  • The new train line in Ottawa and difficulties it has experienced.
  • What areas of Ottawa Colonnade BridgePort is investing in.
  • How Hugh’s girlfriend in high school caused him to be introduced to real estate.
  • How the new site for the Ottawa Senators stadium is playing out.

More about our guest…


Hugh Gorman, as a recognized leader in Canadian real estate, is committed to helping clients get the best possible return from their invested capital. Over more than 25 years in the industry, he has dealt in every aspect of the real estate lifecycle, from investment and development to management and leasing. Before becoming CEO of Colonnade BridgePort, Hugh was co-founder of BridgePort Realty Capital Partners. His career began at Canderel in 1991. From there, he advanced through progressively senior positions at Camdev, O&Y Properties and finally Oxford Properties, where he was Vice President Industrial, Canada, and Vice President Global Principal Investment. An award-winning contributor to the Canadian real estate and business communities, Hugh has served as president of both BOMA Ottawa and BOMA Canada. He also spent two years on the BOMA International Executive Committee.


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