Success Story: Cresa and Adaptabilities

Every real estate decision has the power to shape an organization’s future, especially for mission-driven nonprofits working tirelessly to support their communities. In this video, Edmonton-based charity AdaptAbilities shares their journey of growth and the pivotal role strategic real estate planning played in expanding their impact. Through a long-term partnership with Cresa, they navigated market challenges, secured a sustainable space for their programs, and unlocked new capacity to serve families living with disabilities. Their story is a powerful reminder that the right space doesn’t just house a mission, it helps it thrive.

Video Transcript: 

Todd Walker, Senior Vice President, Cresa: 

When people talk about commercial real estate, they think it’s just bricks and mortar. That it is just putting a deal together. And based on my experience, and Cresa’s experience, what we do is just represent the user, so we look at real estate differently than most commercial real estate brokerage firms. And it starts with just listening. 

Todd: So, Michelle and I met at a business event. I found out what Michelle does, and what Adaptabilities is all about.  

Michelle Hordal, Founder and CEO, Adaptabilities 

Adaptabilities is an Edmonton based charity where we empower families and people with a disabilities to grow, succeed and belong. I started Adaptabilities from the basement of my home. I was a teacher, but I put myself through university doing a part-time job called respite. I soon found out that after becoming a teacher, respite was a much-needed service that families were looking for. We always wondered this, how do we get respite closer to families’ homes? We knew that a southside location was imminent. It was just how are we going to do this? How can we afford another space. I never imagined that we would be here, this large, supporting as many families as we do. 

Daniel, Program Member, Adaptabilities 

I’m Daniel and I am part of the program here at Adaptabilities.

Michelle: Cresa came in and right away we were strategic partners. 

Todd: We’re in a world of inflation, and dealing with vacancies and dealing with landlords or  business people making decisions. How do you connect?  How do you take that, experience what they (Adaptabilities) need as not for profit, and how do you protect their interests working in this private sector environment? 

Michelle: The negotiation, there was lots of things I had to make decisions for, but I didn’t have to do any of the leg work. For myself who is leading this organization and the huge responsibility with the operations of our day-to-day I didn’t have to worry about any of those things. 

Todd: Part of it is going in there and being able to guide the client through. It’s working with them on their end of it. And identifying what options can work for them in the market. 

Michelle: One of the questions he asked me was what is your 3-year plan? What is your 5-year plan? What is your 10-year plan? Cresa is a strategic partner in being able to help us negotiate a 12-year lease and that was critical for us for sustainability. 

Todd: This is not a transaction; this is a relationship. Where maybe it’s a year down the line, and I get a call from Michelle, asking how do we deal with this? And I value that. Cresa values that.

Michelle: I know and I’m proud  that we have an incredible team that supports them to be all that they desire to be as individuals and contributing members of our community. 

Todd: It’s a pretty amazing feeling when you walk into a space that has been completed and you were a part of and actually see the clientele and the smiles on their faces and how much it means to them, so to me I’m just humbled to be a part of their group, and help them doing this.