Redefining inclusive and high-performance housing development in Winnipeg, with UWCRC 2.0 Inc.

By aligning deeply with community needs and demonstrating replicable low-carbon strategies, University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation (UWCRC) is inspiring a new model of inclusive, high-performance housing that is adaptable, accessible, and ahead of its time. Winner of the 2025 CAGBC Award for a Green Building Visionary, this organization is redefining sustainable urban development by integrating social equity and climate leadership into every project. UWCRC 2.0 Inc.portfolio manager Daneeka Abon joins us in this new Ask the Expert interview to explains the team’s approach to support vibrant, thriving communities through impactful projects that redefine large-scale development.

Innovation is in the DNA of all universities. Where did the idea of going beyond theory and research and become a development catalyst originate from?

UWCRC was established in 2005 to lead University campus redevelopment in a manner that also contributed to adjacent neighbourhood and downtown and revitalization. The university didn’t just want to improve its own campus. It wanted to be a catalyst for community renewal and strengthen the cultural and social fabric of the city. UWCRC was the vehicle created for that purpose and the University- and UWCRC- owned projects incorporated, educational, housing, community and recreational spaces. With the University acting as anchor institution, in the capacities of facilities owner, development sponsor, community convenor, funding and financing muscle, the University, utilizing UWCRC’s competencies, proved that values driven development could succeed where traditional models struggled.

Building on that success, UWCRC 2.0 was created in 2016 reach beyond the University campus’ needs to make the capacity that had been created more broadly available to assist in tackling other pressing housing and community needs – initially in the city’s downtown and core areas, and shortly thereafter across the city and province. The University and UWCRC recognized that their revitalization efforts needn’t be confined to campus boundaries. The capacity and competencies of UWCRC were being sought by other institutions and community organizations and the University and UWCRC saw fit to put those capabilities to broader purpose, via an entity that, while remaining connected to and influenced by the University, would not be constrained by narrowly defined institutional objectives. As a result, UWCRC 2.0 was established to undertake projects that tackled housing, sustainability, and community needs head-on within a model could be repeated, shared and scaled. That’s what drives UWCRC 2.0. We’re a development catalyst for inclusive and sustainable communities, and our innovative efforts and our success have resulted in our becoming a policy and thought leader.

How do you establish partnerships and how do you ensure they are aligned with your mission to redefine sustainable urban development based on local needs, challenges and opportunities?

Partnerships are at the heart of how we work. Many of our partners have a mission, and a community vision, but they may not have the land or the capacity to take a project from an idea to completion. UWCRC 2.0 brings that capacity. We provide pre-development analysis, financial modeling, land and deal assembly ability, funding and financing access, and project management capacity, all of which allow our partners to stay focused on their core missions while we carry their projects through to delivery. West Broadway Commons is a strong example. It was a UWCRC 2.0 joint venture with All Saints Anglican Church and was completed in 2021. They contributed the land and a longstanding commitment to serving the community. We brought the development expertise and financial strategies and tools, and project management capabilities to make the project possible. Together we created a mixed-income housing development that also introduced strong sustainability features. The joint venture structure means the community retains a long-term stake in the project. It showed that affordability and sustainability could move forward together, and it helped set the stage for our future zero-carbon design goals.

What about the University’s carbon emission-reduction targets? How do you earn investors’ buy in for your projects?

Carbon reduction has been a priority for the University of Winnipeg and UWCRC from the beginning. Our early projects were among the first LEED Gold buildings in Manitoba, and we’ve kept raising the bar. Today, UWCRC 2.0 is recognized nationally as a leader in zero-carbon development.

Right now, Manitoba has 14 projects under the CAGBC Zero Carbon Building Standards. UWCRC 2.0 is responsible for developing nine of them. Three are already fully certified, and the rest are in progress with the goal of certification. That means more than 60 percent of all Zero Carbon projects being developed in the province are being led by our organization. They range from supportive and affordable housing to large mixed-use developments like Market Lands, to community projects like that of Ka Ni Kanichihk.

By embedding these goals across building types, we’ve shown that zero-carbon development is not just possible, but replicable and scalable. We’re directly contributing to Canada’s 2030 and 2050 climate goals while setting a new standard for sustainable development, design and building practices in Winnipeg and beyond.

How do you earn investors’ buy in for your projects?

Investor confidence comes from trust in both the numbers and the track record. UWCRC 1.0 earned that trust early by delivering high-performing projects with the University of Winnipeg acting as a financial anchor. Those first projects proved that values-driven development could succeed in a responsible and financially sustainable way.

UWCRC 2.0 stands on that original foundation but now operates financially independently of the University and UWCRC. We’ve delivered complex projects that combine housing, community space, and sustainability, and we’ve proven they perform financially as well as socially. That record gives investors confidence when we bring forward new opportunities.

We also build trust through how we structure financing. We blend public funding, foundation grants, impact investments, private financing, and loan guarantee capacity, to balance risk and show strength. And our goals align with federal, provincial, and municipal climate, housing, and other policy priorities, which has led to strong backing from those partners as well.

In the end, investors see stability, alignment, and measurable impact. That is what earns their buy-in.

How do you manage to balance affordability and performance? Would you say that demand for zero-carbon buildings is on the rise?

Balancing affordability and performance is not simple. Most of our projects are affordable or mixed-income housing, so the margins are tight. But we’ve learned that innovation attracts capital and that long-term performance supports affordability by keeping operating costs down. We’ve demonstrated that the goals of housing affordability and environmental responsibility can be made to reinforce rather than compete with one another, even if the upfront work is challenging, and requires additional creativity and effort.

Projects like 308 Colony and Market Lands South prove this is possible. Both are Zero Carbon Design certified and show that housing can be both sustainable and financially viable. That certification demonstrates that high performance and affordability are not mutually exclusive.

Government support is critical to making this shift. With that backing, projects move forward and private industry adapts. By applying similar technologies across different building types and contexts, our contractors and subtrades gain knowledge, and over time that familiarity drives down costs.

And the demand is there. Tenants, funders, and investors are all looking for buildings that deliver affordability and zero-carbon performance together. This holds true for projects that have incorporated other social outcomes, in the arts or for childcare centres, for instance.

How do you measure your impact in the community?

We measure community impact through both outcomes and values. A key part of our model is mixed-income housing. From the start, we’ve aimed to build inclusive communities rather than isolating affordability. Over time, we’ve evolved that model so that affordable, deeply affordable, and market-rate suites are built to the same standard. That raises the floor of quality for affordable housing and ensures that no one feels set apart. It also allows residents to stay in place even if their income changes, creating stability for individuals and families over the long term.

We also use our four-pillar framework of sustainability as a guide. Socially, our projects provide affordable and supportive housing that meets real needs. Economically, they create jobs, support local contractors, and help revitalize downtown, while also being financially responsible from an operations perspective. Culturally, they make space for diverse community groups, arts tenants, and small businesses. And environmentally, our projects aim to reduce emissions and perform with high efficiency, as evidenced in our Zero Carbon certified projects.

Impact, for us, is measured in communities that thrive long after construction is complete.

What does winning the CAGBC Award for a Green Building Visionary mean for your team?

Winning this award is a powerful recognition for our team. It affirms the years we’ve spent proving that affordability, community impact, and environmental sustainability, including targeting zero-carbon performance, can move forward together. For us, it has never been about one building at a time. It is about showing that values-driven development can be repeated, shared and scaled, and used to shift the way our cities grow.

It also recognizes our role as a national leader. With nine of Manitoba’s fourteen Zero Carbon projects, our team is helping set a benchmark for others to participate in or to follow. That is something we take pride in, but it also comes with responsibility to keep raising the bar and sharing what we have learned.

Most importantly, it reminds us of the human impact. Families have stable homes. Tenants see lower bills. Communities gain spaces built for the long term. This award tells us our work is making a difference today and shaping the future of sustainable development.