At ACBN, we hold firm to the principle I am because we are. That means looking beyond short-term fixes and investing in solutions that build collective strength for generations.
This week, we sat down with Graham Singh, CEO of the Trinity Centres Foundation, to explore one of the largest untapped opportunities in Canada: social purpose real estate. With nearly $500 billion worth of faith-based properties across North America in transition, Graham believes we are standing at the edge of a once-in-500-year opportunity to redefine ownership, impact, and equity in our communities.
For Black entrepreneurs and impact investors, this conversation is more than real estate—it’s about creating sustainable spaces that fuel business, community services, and generational wealth.
The real estate revolution
Faith-based properties once bustling with activity are now underused or at risk of being sold off to private developers. The Trinity Centres Foundation is stepping in to ensure these properties are not lost but redeployed for community benefit—through renovations, partnerships, and development projects that include affordable housing.
Takeaway for entrepreneurs: These properties represent an opportunity to connect impact investing with social good, creating space for non-profits, businesses, and community growth.
Key lessons for entrepreneurs and investors
Measure impact through reduced rent
The biggest measurable outcome of social purpose real estate is lowering rent for non-profits and charities. Like affordable housing, this ensures essential community organizations can thrive in costly urban centres.De-risk to unlock institutional capital
Large investors, like pension funds, require stable returns. By having foundations accept initial risk, these investments become viable. Montreal’s Initiative Immobile Communauté multiplied its fund fivefold through this model.Shift from landlord to equity partner
Instead of just renting space, new models give community groups equity stakes in properties—stabilizing financing and decolonizing old ownership structures.Invest in human capital
The Windmill Microfinance example shows that small loans to skilled immigrants unlock massive returns—reducing reliance on social services and filling vital roles in the economy.Push for policy intervention
To compete with private developers, social purpose organizations need tools like first rights of refusal, longer timelines to raise capital, and rapid-deployment funds.
A time for action and healing
This opportunity is about more than property—it’s about equity, decolonization, and repairing systems that have historically excluded marginalized communities. By engaging in social purpose real estate in Canada, Black entrepreneurs can help secure spaces for charities, non-profits, and businesses that keep our ecosystem thriving.
To dive deeper into this $500 billion opportunity and hear Graham Singh’s vision for Canada’s future, watch the full interview here: Watch on YouTube
