Leading Canada’s real estate transformation with purpose and vision
By: Vestiana Powell | Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Michael Brooks (BES ’75, PhD ’98) has spent his career shaping Canada’s real estate sector with purpose, vision, and a commitment to sustainable and prosperous development. As a lawyer and CEO of the Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC), he leads a national association of real estate investment and development companies, bringing together diverse stakeholders to advocate policy, advance sustainability and improve housing and urban development practices.
Michael’s path to planning began with determination. After starting his studies at another university, he reapplied to Waterloo and personally reached out to then Associate Dean for the Faculty of Environment, Dr. Larry Martin to share his passion for planning through essays he had written. His persistence paid off and he started his second year in the School of Planning.
“It was a magical feeling to join that program,” he recalls. "Every course I took in the planning school was an eye-opener. I had such great profs.”
A summer job with Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing gave him his first real-world experience applying classroom learning to policy challenges. These early opportunities cemented his lifelong passion for urban planning and public service.
Education and mentorship have been central themes in Michael’s journey. He has guest lectured at the University of Waterloo, in Professor Michael Drescher’s PLAN 340: Canadian Environmental Policy & Politics and collaborated with the Future Cities Institute, founded by CAIVAN, to support student projects and build industry connections. Beyond Waterloo, he has taught at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Ted Rogers School of Management and has consistently mentored emerging professionals in both real estate and urban planning. His dedication to education is further exemplified by his role in designing and teaching a course in real estate law at Schulich School of Business, which eventually led to the publication of his textbook, Canadian Commercial Real Estate: Theory, Practice and Strategy.
Throughout his career, Michael has advanced sustainability and housing policy across Canada. He has championed sustainable real estate, affordable housing and social impact initiatives, shaping regulatory frameworks including some of the most comprehensive housing policies in decades.
He describes his work as deeply purposeful, driven by a desire to help make Canada a better place. Running a national trade association draws on decades of learning and experience, allowing him to explore what the law ought to be rather than what it is. “To understand what the law ought to be, you really have to have grounding in many fields and be open to different perspectives. My training and career in urban planning is a core part of my thinking every day. It was indispensable learning.”
Michael’s career exemplifies visionary leadership, collaboration and integrity. His recognition as the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award winner celebrates not only his professional achievements, but also his dedication to mentorship, sustainable development and building a better future for all Canadians.
“Everybody has to follow their own path. For me, lifelong learning has been essential. The Japanese concept of ikigai—a life with purpose—resonates deeply. It’s not just finding something that you enjoy doing, but something that makes the planet a better place. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are also a useful starting point; there is so much work to do.”
