Founded in 1996, Forum is an investor, developer and asset manager operating across North America, driven by a core purpose to deliver Extraordinary Outcomes™ - a standard upheld over 30 years.
A Canada-made,
North American-operated platform.
$4.1+ billionin enterprise AUM
29%Topco ROE since inception
580
employeesSystem wide
25K+ livesImpacted
Our History
Forum is an award-winning legacy business with an entrepreneurial mindset.
1996
Forum is born. Our Founder and CEO Richard Abboud and his partners build the company as a real estate brokerage firm.
2006
Forum purchases a portfolio of Speedy Muffler properties.
2007
Forum partners with the City of Ottawa to develop the Shenkman Arts Centre, a leading venue and home for the arts and Canadian creatives.
2012
Forum's P3 legacy business reaches new heights, serving as the lead developer of the Billy Bishop Toronto Centre Airport Pedestrian Tunnel.
2015
Serving as a development partner, the Quinte Courthouse is named a finalist for the Partnerships Bulletin's P3 Awards for Best Designed Project.
2016
Forum breaks ground at the QUAD @ York, the first major foray into the purpose-built student accommodations space.
2022
Forum launches the Real Estate Income and Impact Fund ("REIIF"), an open-end private fund delivering in and for Canadian rental housing.
2023
ALMA @ Guelph - Phase 1 wins BILD's Renomark Awards - GTA's Best Innovative Renovation.
2024
Forum and Make Space Inc. launches joint venture and $200M flagship self-storage fund, the Forum Make Space Storage Fund ("MSSF").
ALMA @ Guelph - Phase 1 wins Development of the Year and Multi-Residential Development of the Year at NAIOP's 22nd Annual REX Awards.
Accepting the award on behalf of the team, Richard Abboud is named Ontario Chamber of Commerce's CEO of the Year.
2025
Forum makes history with Canada's largest real estate transaction in 2024: a $1.7B acquisition of Alignvest Student Housing REIT.
Recognized as one of Canada's Top Growing Companies of 2025 by The Globe and Mail.
Richard is named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year® (Ontario).
2026
Forum turns 30, but our formula remains the same. Our team leads with innovation and excellence to deliver Extraordinary Outcomes™ for our stakeholders.
