Jan. 18, 2023

Andrel Wisdom, a graduate of Seneca’s Real Property Administration (RPA) program, is paving the way for equity-deserving youth in Edmonton through a non-profit social impact enterprise called The REET Institute.

REET offers free programming designed to train, develop and mentor high school students to become the next generation of investors, owners and leaders in commercial real estate. It was co-founded in 2022 by Mr. Wisdom, his partner Kryzia Wisdom and another couple, Enyinnah and Michelle Okere.

“The mission of The REET Institute is to create opportunities for young people of diverse backgrounds in the commercial real estate market,” said Mr. Wisdom, who moved to Alberta during his studies with Seneca to pursue an opportunity with the City of Edmonton.

In addition to his work with the REET Institute, Mr. Wisdom is a manager of private investment valuations at Alberta Investment Management Corporation, where he oversees global commercial real estate portfolios valued at roughly $15 billion dollars. He credits his studies at Seneca as a driving force behind launching the REET Institute.

“My time at Seneca was an experience like no other because of the comradery that I had with my peers and the connections I had with professors during my studies and after graduation,” he said.

The REET Institute is composed of an eight-week e-learning program that starts with an exposure session designed to create excitement among new recruits about the commercial real estate industry. Once a week, REET instructors meet with students in person to build relationships and tour some of the most impressive commercial spaces in Canada, such as Edmonton’s ICE District and Rogers Place. 

“We provide young people with an opportunity to network with each other and industry professionals,” said Enyinnah Okere, Co-Founder, REET Institute. “The other big mission of the REET Institute is for the commercial real estate industry to start meeting the employees of the future … and the owners of the future.”

At the end of the program, participants compete in teams for a $10,000 scholarship through a Dragon’s Den-style pitch, sponsored by some of the biggest names in Canadian commercial real estate. 

“I was blown away,” said Success Mahat, who recently completed the REET workshop and met with industry leaders. “It got me thinking, ‘I could look like them in a couple of years.’”

This year, the priority for REET is to expand throughout Edmonton, while enhancing its e-learning platforms and developing partnerships with additional sponsors. 

“One of the issues with this industry is that young people think that the only option is to be a realtor, or that they have to be an extrovert, but that’s not the case,” said Mr. Wisdom. “There are so many opportunities and career paths.”

For more information, visit www.reetinstitute.ca.