Ikigai Impact Taps Housing Expert for Western Push Amid Crisis

SHERBROOKE, QC – March 02, 2026

In a strategic move signaling a major push into Western Canada, affordable housing investment firm Ikigai Impact Inc. has appointed veteran housing advocate Kyla to a newly created leadership role. As the Community Development and Housing Strategy Lead for Western Canada, Kyla is tasked with spearheading the company's expansion at a time when the region, particularly Edmonton, is grappling with an escalating housing and homelessness emergency.

The appointment places a seasoned expert from the Edmonton housing ecosystem at the helm of Ikigai Impact’s regional growth. The company, which manages over 60 properties in Quebec and Alberta, is planning an ambitious expansion with 2,500 new apartments in its development pipeline. Kyla’s hiring is a clear declaration of intent: to not only build housing but to embed a community-focused, socially responsible philosophy into the core of its Western Canadian operations.

A New Blueprint for Western Expansion

Ikigai Impact operates on a "purpose-driven" model, framing its mission around the idea that "how we get rich matters more than how much." This philosophy marries for-profit real estate investment with a mandate to create positive social change. The creation of a high-level strategy role specifically for Western Canada indicates the company is moving beyond simple property acquisition and into a more nuanced, long-term community integration strategy.

With a portfolio largely concentrated in Quebec and an initial footprint in Alberta, the firm's planned 2,500-unit development pipeline represents a substantial new chapter. While specific project locations remain under wraps, Kyla’s deep roots in Edmonton strongly suggest that Alberta's capital will be a primary focus. This expansion comes as the city faces unprecedented pressure. In January 2025, Edmonton declared a housing and homelessness emergency after seeing the number of unhoused individuals soar by 47% in the first half of 2024 alone, reaching over 4,000 people.

Kyla’s role is designed to navigate this complex environment. "I lead community-centred development initiatives across Western Canada, working at the intersection of housing, partnerships, and operational strategy," she stated, emphasizing her focus on translating "vision into practical systems that strengthen communities." Her mandate involves building relationships with local partners, ensuring operational excellence, and embedding equity-informed practices into the company's growth model.

The Architect of Community-Centred Housing

Kyla is no stranger to the front lines of Edmonton’s housing challenges. She joins Ikigai Impact from Leston Holdings, a prominent Edmonton-based property management firm where she has been immersed in the city's affordable and supportive housing sector since 2019. Leston Holdings has been a key player in some of the city's most significant recent affordable housing projects, often in complex partnerships with municipal and federal governments.

Developments like Edgemont Flats, which opened in 2024 with a nearly $80 million federal investment, and Heritage Flats, which received over $24 million in federal funds for its first phase, highlight the landscape Kyla is familiar with. These projects are mixed-market buildings that integrate hundreds of affordable units for specific populations, including Indigenous families, seniors, single parents, and new immigrants. Her experience within an organization managing such large-scale, multi-stakeholder initiatives provides her with a unique understanding of the operational and relational intricacies required to succeed.

Her reputation as a strong advocate for "Housing First" initiatives is central to her new role. This philosophy moves beyond simply providing shelter, aiming to create stable, supportive environments where residents can thrive. For Ikigai Impact, bringing in a leader with this background signals a commitment to a more holistic and human-centered approach to property development and management.

Doubling Down on 'Housing First'

The 'Housing First' model, which Kyla champions, is not a new concept in Alberta; in fact, the province was a national pioneer, launching a ten-year plan to end homelessness in 2008 with this philosophy at its core. Edmonton itself has been implementing 'Housing First' programs since 2009, with organizations like Homeward Trust leading the charge.

The model is deceptively simple yet transformative: provide individuals experiencing homelessness with immediate, unconditional access to permanent housing, then offer wrap-around supportive services. This reverses the traditional model that often requires individuals to achieve sobriety or meet other preconditions before being deemed "housing ready." Research has consistently shown 'Housing First' to be highly effective, dramatically increasing housing stability and proving more cost-effective than managing homelessness through emergency rooms, shelters, and police services. In Edmonton, programs have reported success rates as high as 86% for keeping people housed in their first year.

By appointing a leader deeply committed to this evidence-based practice, Ikigai Impact is aligning its investment strategy with a proven social solution. Kyla’s passion for "relational work and equity-informed housing practices" suggests her approach will focus on building genuine communities, not just managing rental units. This aligns with the firm’s goal of generating profit by creating lasting, positive change.

Navigating a Crowded and Critical Field

Ikigai Impact enters a Western Canadian housing market that is both intensely challenging and highly collaborative. The firm will need to navigate a landscape populated by established non-profit providers like Civida, government bodies like the City of Edmonton and CMHC, and other private developers like Coja Projects and Leston Holdings, which are also active in the affordable housing space.

Success will likely depend on the ability to forge strong partnerships. The City of Edmonton has its own aggressive Affordable Housing Strategy and has proven willing to commit land and capital grants to viable projects. Federal funding through programs like the Housing Accelerator Fund remains a critical component of nearly every major affordable housing development in the region. Kyla's established network and experience in securing such partnerships will be invaluable.

Nikolai, President & CEO of Ikigai Impact, expressed confidence that Kyla is the right person to navigate this terrain. "I am very proud and grateful to have been able to attract such a talented, experienced and respected leader from the Edmonton housing community," he said in the announcement. "I know Kyla will help Ikigai Impact become a true guiding light in Edmonton and Western Canada." As the company moves to translate its purpose-driven mission into thousands of new homes, her leadership will be pivotal in determining whether investment capital can truly be a force for building stronger, more equitable communities.