Community of CIB

My role involves managing the investments we make through the final stage of the investment process. It's a multifaceted position where I work closely with borrowers, lender technical advisors, and our investment, legal, finance and risk teams, to guarantee a successful investment management outcome.

My journey in this role started in April 2019. Previously, I had the opportunity to work on the borrower’s side at COSIME Infrastructure & Energy. At that time, I prepared financial statements and project reporting, while satisfying reporting requirements to lenders and equity providers for three diverse infrastructure projects. This experience paved the way for my current role in asset management at the CIB.

In my current position, I ensure the borrower has access to the funds committed and monitor the rate at which it is drawn and repaid, ensuring the borrower fulfils their obligations under the credit agreement. I also use this information to keep the CIB informed of a project's status by producing internal quarterly reports and annual reviews.

What makes my work truly unique is the exciting projects I'm involved in. For instance, the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project, an extensive automated electric light rail transit system in Montreal, or the Zero-Emission Buses (ZEBs) initiative. Each project brings its challenges and achievements, and I'm proud to be part of our team's effort to build a stronger asset management function within the CIB.

As the CIB’s digital content creator, I manage the content that appears on our website and social media platforms, including visuals and videos. It’s a dynamic role that allows me to explore various aspects of the CIB’s projects and initiatives.

Before joining the CIB, I had the chance to work with diverse international companies, experiencing a range of industries and cultures. This exposure has shaped my perspective and greatly influenced my creative approach to content creation. What excites me about working in the infrastructure industry is the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking projects like the Darlington SMR.

A project that holds a special place in my heart is the City of Calgary Zero-Emission Buses. I had the opportunity to meet with prominent figures such as the Mayor of Calgary and the Director of Calgary Transit and got to conduct the interviews and film the videos firsthand. Learning that the City of Calgary couldn’t have done this without the CIB’s support, and then sharing this excitement and appreciation with our community through my content creation was an incredibly valuable experience and source of motivation for me.

In my role at the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), I oversee the measurement standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and its investments to ensure consistency with international best practices, including the GHG protocol and ISO14064-2. I’ve spent the entirety of my career working in infrastructure, specifically focused on impact, so making the decision to come to CIB seemed like a natural choice – CIB lives and breathes impact! It’s what we do best and is integrated in everything we do.

For me, working in a diverse and inclusive environment means that people don’t think of their differences in a negative manner. Instead, they feel celebrated, supported and safe in their workplaces and beyond. We all deserve to be our true, authentic self and it’s important that organizations use their power to make the outside world feel just as safe as the space behind their walls. Whether it’s changing public perception, breaking down barriers and biases to getting into the workforce, or creating better support systems, everyone should feel empowered.

That’s why, in October 2020, I founded QUIN – Queer Infrastructure Network. QUIN is a transdisciplinary industry organization focused on better 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion within the infrastructure sector, done through networking, advocacy, and outreach. Having previously experienced heartbreaking homophobia in the infrastructure industry, I wanted to create a safe space for my community outside of work where they feel valued, respected and have a sense of belonging.

Pride to me is about collective healing and care. This year has been exceptionally hard for our community, so as we celebrate and recognize the 2SLGBTQI+ community this month, I remind our allies that Pride doesn’t start and end in June. It is year-round and we need our allies to continue to show up each and every day with actionable support.

I first learned about the CIB when I was completing my Master of Real Estate and Infrastructure at the Schulich School of Business. I had the opportunity to hear from CIB employees like Sashen Guneratna and Stephen Scott, and it became very clear to me that the organization, and its employees, cared deeply about ESG and impact. It’s the main reason I joined the CIB.

As an Indigenous person, and having spent part of my career in the First Nation and social housing industry, it’s very fulfilling working to help close the infrastructure gap in those communities. The Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative team is having a real impact by working on the enabling infrastructure that allows housing developments to occur.

The Port Stalashen Wastewater Treatment Plant project is a great example of this. Through the CIB’s financing, this aged infrastructure is being replaced and upsized – mitigating environmental impacts and helping to not only support housing developments, but also the continued growth of social services in this community.

In my personal time, I serve on the Board of Directors for the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto and the Anishnawbe Health Foundation. Organizations like these played a critical role in my successful adaptation to urban life when I moved to the city over five years ago. It’s important for me to give back to the community that gave me so much.

Meet Sabaah, Manager, Corporate Planning and Reporting at the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Sabaah supports the team in developing quarterly financial reports and annual reports, which evaluate how we track our corporate goals and relays our strategic vision. Her work requires a healthy mix of creativity, determination and leadership.

But there is a particular file which she is most passionate about and occupies most of Sabaah’s time – our first-ever Sustainability and Impact Update.

Working on this project combines her passion for sustainable finance and strategy. As a tool for accountability and transparency, the Sustainability and Impact Update will outline how we are investing in a greener and brighter future for Canadians. It will detail how we are maximizing our impact and positive outcomes and will strive even further to become a leader in sustainability.

While working at a nimble and future-focused organization, Sabaah finds she can bring her entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative nature to the table. With every meeting, she tries to see outside the status quo to strive for better.

Sabaah’s passion for the environment can also be found in how she spends her free time – getting outside and into nature. To support her physical and mental health, Sabaah will always choose to travel by foot when given the choice.

As the co-founder, President and CEO of FLO, I’m all in on the electric vehicle (EV) transition. In my role, I proudly oversee our vertically integrated charging network, where we offer reliable EV charging infrastructure at home, at work and on the go.

By electrifying our transportation system and accelerating EV adoption, we can advance climate change action. Increasing access to public chargers will provide a better charging experience to electric vehicle drivers and will enable more drivers to make the switch to emission-free vehicles.

Through our partnership with the CIB, we will nearly double the number of public fast EV charging ports across the country, bringing more than 2,000 high quality, reliable charging ports online.

In the current market, risks such as uncertainty in the rate and pace of EV adoption and charger utilization can create barriers to private investment in charging infrastructure. CIB financing helps us mitigate these financial risks, enabling us to accelerate the expansion of our EV charging network.

We are grateful to partner with an organization committed to delivering the infrastructure necessary to lower transportation sector emissions and advance the adoption of zero-emission vehicles.

In my role at Edmonton Transit Service, I oversee bus, light rail (LRT), paratransit and on-demand services. Alongside my dedicated team, I provide strategic direction to implement long-term transit plans in support of Edmonton’s City Plan and Climate Adaptation and Energy Transition plans.

To lower greenhouse gas emissions, we are transitioning our bus fleet away from diesel vehicles and towards zero-emission buses (ZEBs). Although electric buses result in significant cost savings through lifetime fuelling and maintenance costs, they have higher upfront costs which can deter municipalities from making the switch. Through the CIB’s financing, we were able to address this barrier head-on.

The CIB’s investment accelerated our purchase of 20 ZEBs and expanded our fleet to a total of 60 electric buses. With all ‘CIB buses’ now on our roads, we are already progressing towards our climate goals and offering Edmontonians a cleaner, quieter and more comfortable ride.

As a leader in transit electrification, I’m grateful we could partner with the CIB. They have successfully enabled the purchase of zero-emission vehicles in communities across Canada and directly supported a more sustainable transit network in Edmonton.

Meet Max, Chief Performance Officer at Avenue Living. In my role at Avenue Living, an owner and operator of residential properties primarily located in western Canada’s prairie provinces, I work on improving building efficiency and optimizing resident experience through projects such as building retrofits.

The CIB, and its proven experience in enabling large-scale building retrofits, was the natural partner to help us advance upgrades to our low-rise, multi-family rental apartments. We worked closely with the CIB team to develop an investment plan that would result in positive outcomes for both the residents of our buildings and the environment.

Through this partnership, the CIB has committed $120 million towards retrofitting 132 buildings in Avenue Living’s portfolio across Alberta and Saskatchewan. The result? Better energy efficiency and environmental sustainability at over 6,700 residences. These projects include the installation of on-site power generation, bringing new low-carbon heating and cooling systems online and introducing smart technologies and water management systems to reduce utility costs for renters.

I’m proud of what we will accomplish with the help of the CIB, modernizing more buildings, and in turn, improving the day-to-day experiences of approximately 10,000 residents.