Background

I was born in Toronto, but our family moved to Perth shortly thereafter, and I feel very fortunate to have grown up there until I was 13. Our family moved to Ottawa for a few reasons but one was so that I could be closer to my training for sport. I have since then always called Ottawa home but still keep very close to my roots. I have been in the construction and development industry for 16 years and have built my knowledge and expertise in development from first-hand experiences. I do not have formal education in construction or development but I did complete three years of accounting on a scholarship before leaving to pursue my interest in real estate and development full-time. Throughout my career, I have been involved in various project types, holding multiple roles, which ultimately led to the creation of 2B. While I operate 2B, I continue to take on personal projects because I believe in learning from firsthand experiences, and I try to explore, adjust, and innovate how I approach my own projects each time. I am always eager to learn, grow, and take on new challenges, both personally and with my clients.

In 2020, following the outbreak of COVID-19, I began adjusting how 2B focused on project development by implementing minimum requirements for projects we built, as well as social responsibility, which included a narrower focus on supporting accessible and affordable housing. I believe in finding opportunities to learn more and continue growing my knowledge. I have raised my hand and volunteered where I can to gain more experiences, which have included serving as Vice-Chair of the Smiths Falls Affordable Housing Committee. Throughout 2023 to the present, I have made efforts to donate my time and our resources as best as possible to help support housing organizations and their missions to bring more affordable housing to Canadians.

In addition to building housing, I have contributed my time and experience to several municipal, provincial, and federal consultations that are shaping how we make more housing across Canada. My involvement has extended to speaking at several conferences and participating in open-form discussions with other experts. I am not afraid to challenge a position, and I am always open to accepting new ideas and approaches that bring solutions.

I have helped create, and continue to do so, hundreds of affordable, accessible, and transitional housing units throughout Ontario. Thousands more still need to be made, and I am committed to doing what I can to contribute to their creation.

2B

2B is dedicated to helping nonprofit, municipal, institutional, and private sector clients build new affordable and adequate housing across Canada. We help clients on residential, mixed-use, municipal, and public-partnership projects progress efficiently and effectively through all phases of the development process, supporting their projects from start to finish. Within the 2B umbrella are our development consulting and project management company, and our construction management company, which operate separately but together on projects.

Our development consulting services include preliminary feasibility and strategic analysis, feasibility and development concept studies, affordable housing workshops and education, and piloting of new and innovative construction methods and framework approaches for creating new affordable housing. Our project management services support clients through the different stages of the development process, integrating our strategic plans, assisting with grant applications for funding, and leading the project team through decision-making and meeting key milestones such as building permit issuance and occupancy. Our construction management services complement our development consulting and project management services by providing end-to-end solutions for our clients. Our integrated knowledge in construction and project execution from the ground up informs our team's expertise in development consulting and project management. Clients may work with our team in one capacity or in all capacities to build out their projects. At our core is a shared mission to build more housing faster and more affordably.

2B deeply understands the unique differences between developing in both urban and rural municipalities, and has a proven track record in delivering in both. A majority of our work is focused on rural and small communities, and we have offices across Canada, supporting clients in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick. Our proven track record of delivering projects has earned the trust of our clients, who have relied on our services and shared their positive experiences through word-of-mouth referrals, which form the foundation of our business.

Lindsay has utilized 2B’s platform to be a voice in advocating for necessary policy change at the local municipal, provincial, and federal levels to break down the barriers that deter, stall, and impact the creation of new affordable and accessible housing.

Rural Impact Canada

In 2024, I created Rural Impact Canada, RIC. Rural Impact Canada develops municipal framework programs and offers municipal consulting services, with a primary focus on rural, small, and remote communities. Our team understands the challenges and barriers that impact housing and works with municipalities to overcome these challenges. We help our clients create the ‘municipal environment’ that enables the development of new dense and diverse housing in rural and small communities that desperately need it. Our Municipal Services Corporation Program (MSC Program) is an innovative and award-winning program that provides municipalities with a clear guide and process for creating a municipal services corporation, which can be used to address a range of municipal needs. Our MSC Program and our process for working with clients were part of CMHC’s Housing Supply Challenge Round 5, and RIC was a “game-changer” finalist.

CAHDCO / CCOC

In 2023, I wanted to deepen my knowledge in affordable housing development, and the opportunity to work with Ottawa’s largest tenant-landlord-led non-profit housing provider was one I could not pass up. While I soaked in the knowledge and experience of those at Cahdco and CCOC, I also brought my many years of firsthand experience in building and developing real estate to the team. In this role, I provided education and professional development to the team of project managers and project coordinators, laying a foundation of knowledge that enabled them to support clients and projects more effectively. During this time, I also earned a non-official title, “Coach Blair”, and my teaching sessions were called the “Coach Blair “ series.

While at Cahdco, I worked with several non-profit organizations and helped bring their projects to life. My role involved working with organizations through feasibility and setting them up for success throughout the development, design, and construction phases. Under my other non-official title, “Dream Crusher”, I would meet with organizations, understand all their objectives, and bring reasonable and realistic approaches that were financially viable, matched their experience and capacity, and ultimately would set them up for success.

While I was only at Cahdco for a year, it felt like I had been there for several. Leaving Cahdco to prioritize my time and focus on 2B Developments and new initiatives was not an easy decision, but ultimately one I had to make. I am extremely grateful for each day I worked with the entire team.