In the past year, Avenue Living Communities has dedicated time and resources to help the communities it operates in throughout Western Canada.
By supporting and helping not-for-profits, social agencies and other organizations, Avenue Living is committed to having a hand in their efforts to positively impact their respective communities.
“It’s a very simple philosophy for us when it comes to the Avenue Living brand and the community,” says William Akoto, Director of Marketing for Avenue Living Communities. “We strongly believe we thrive as a company when the communities we operate in also grow.”
“Fundamentally, we believe that our organization and the community go hand in hand. As we grow, we also want to make sure that the communities in which we operate grow.”
Avenue Living owns and operates more than 8,800 multi-family rental residences across many Western Canadian markets. It began as a company in 2006 with the purchase of 24 rental units in Brooks, Alberta for $3 million. The company, which has a diversified portfolio across 17 markets in the Prairies, intends to grow to more than 10,000 residential units across Western Canada by the end of this year, largely by providing housing for what it considers to be the “workforce housing” population.
Akoto says Avenue Living has taken opportunities to assist in the positive impact different organizations are driving forward.
“On a practical level, that means we commit and engage with not-for-profits like the food bank in Medicine Hat, social agencies like Brown Bagging in Calgary and other humanitarian institutions or agencies in specific communities that we operate in and help them to attain either a financial goal or a social cause,” he says.
“We try to have an impact in ALC communities by partnering with local associations that really touch the the people that live in those communities.”
The company’s philosophy is to provide quality housing, so it’s only natural that Avenue Living would embrace efforts that improve and enhance the quality of life in any community where it holds rental properties.
“Canadians love to see the companies they engage with or do business with giving back to the community,” says Akoto. “It’s about doing the right thing. It’s about supporting the communities that we live in and helping the community grow.”
Here are some of the key initiatives Avenue Living has been involved with: