Our Story

Why CIRES was formed

CIRES is a social enterprise that cares about the community and creates complete neighbourhoods through commercial real estate. We support thriving, equitable and inclusive and vibrant local economies and communities by curating a balanced portfolio of commercial spaces for small businesses, non-profits and social enterprises.

No single property management organization in Vancouver, BC or Canada curates a variety of CRUs with a mix of for and non-profit tenants to the scale that CIRES does, or in the thoughtful, strategic, deliverable and intentional way we do. And, no other property management organization includes social benefit covenants as a part of subleases to tenants.

CIRES helps to preserve affordable commercial spaces in inner city neighbourhoods experiencing gentrification by curating a mix of tenants that fits the neighbourhood and serves everyone in the community.

CIRES cares about our tenants, and about the buildings we manage. We’re intentional about who we sublease to, and how we support our market and non-market tenants. Our focus is getting the right tenants in the right spaces, and filling gaps in the commercial landscape in the community.

We're not just another Sublandlord. When you lease with CIRES, you belong to a community of organizations and businesses that share the same goals for your neighbourhood.

We’re invested in the success of our tenants and will work with them to help their organizations and businesses thrive.

Many organizations and levels of government have been working to improve the quality of life in the inner city for many years. The City of Vancouver and BC Housing are key partners in addressing community economic development and affordable housing for residents and business owners in the inner city.

The non-market tenants in the commercial portfolio are social enterprises, non-profits and businesses that address critical community health issues and focus on reversing the impacts of social isolation, limited employment opportunities and unaffordable retail and service options for low-income residents in Vancouver’s DTES.