From Left to Right: Jane Almey – Bluescape (Construction Management), Heather Rolleston – Quadrangle Architects, Emily Reisman – Urban Strategies (Planning), Nataliya Tkach – EXP (Hydrogeologist), Sherry Larjani – Spotlight Developments (Development), Taya Cook – Urban Capital (Development), Stacy Meek – EXP (Environmental Engineer), Fatima Shakil – Adjeleian Allen Rubeli (Structural Engineer), Tara Chisholm – WSP (Civil Engineer), Fung Lee – PMA (Landscape Architect), Lisa Spensieri – Quadrangle Architects, ManLing Lau – Market Vision (Sales Manager)

This is precisely why I attended Reina Condo’s design consultation event last week. In case you hadn’t heard, Reina is Canada’s first all-female real estate development team — born out of the fact that Taya Cook, Director of Development at Urban Capital, read an article about the “condo titans” of the city, and sadly — but not surprisingly — none of them were women.

What I love about this team is that they are adding, what I would call, a ‘female spin’ to everything they do. Last week’s event is a perfect example.. It was scheduled so that they could ask questions and listen — with the end goal of developing a condo that was built on community, collaboration, and (in my opinion) caring.

love that in attending this event, I got to share my needs as a woman. Attendees expressed the usual safety concerns, and some outside-of-the-box suggestions too, like moveable walls so residents could change the size of their unit! Plus, I got to have my say about my nemesis — cobblestone pathways — and how they are simply torturous when wearing heels.

Just as awesome as being given a voice (and being truly heard!) was that we came together in teams of 10 to brainstorm women-centric design ideas for Reina’s suites. Then we got to vote on our favourite.

Let’s just say I’m very much looking forward to seeing this all-female team develop a condo that will replace what was once a seedy strip club on the Queensway. Female empowerment for the win!

P.S. If you’re interested in letting Reina know what would make a condo spectacular for you, fill out their questionnaire