CVU Toronto | Geothermal Strategies for High-Performance Buildings
About this Event
The CVU Toronto Chapter is excited to announce our next event - a breakfast event presentation/panel discussion on Geothermal Strategies for High-Performance Buildings.
CTBUH Toronto | Breakfast Event - Designing from the Ground Up: Geothermal Strategies for High-Performance Buildings
The use of a geothermal borefield system enhances significantly the energy performance of any building it serves.
- Should your new building utilize a geothermal borefield?
- Is your site feasible for a geothermal energy system?
- What are the design and construction critical characteristics?
The Council on Vertical Urbanism, Toronto Chapter, and our sponsor, Geosource Energy, are pleased to present a hot breakfast education event which will answer these questions, plus provide a cost benefit analysis of a recently completed rental apartment building.
Local geothermal experts in the areas of development, design, construction, and operations lead the program with targeted presentations. Following will be a 30 minute panel discussion, which will provide answers to your questions. The event will conclude promptly at 10am. We hope that you will choose to learn about geothermal energy systems by clicking on the link above to purchase a ticket and attend the event.
Information about CVU and our generous sponsor, Geosource Energy, are available at these links.
- www.verticalurbanism.org
- www.geosourceenergy.com
Important Info
- Presentation Venue: U of T Faculty Club (41 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3)
- Timing: Arrivals & Networking over breakfast @ 7 am | Presentation @ 8 am
- TTC: The site is accessible via the Spadina/Willcocks TTC streetcar stop.
- Parking: Parking is limited around the area.
Tickets
The cost of the event is $70.00 for CTBUH members and $90.00 for non-members and includes a full hot breakfast.
Please note space is limited to 100 attendees.
Speaker Bios
Simon Graham, B.Eng. P.Eng. LEED AP BD+C | Mechanical Design Engineer @ Smith + Andersen
Simon is an experienced mechanical engineer with a strong focus on Multi Unit Residential Building (MURB) developments and geothermal systems. He brings deep expertise in designing energy-efficient, sustainable solutions for complex residential projects. His involvement spans all project stages, from early planning and system selection through to construction and commissioning, with a focus on delivering results that align with client expectations and budgets.
Stan Reitsma, Ph.D. M.A.Sc. B.A.Sc. P. Eng. | Design Build Contractor @ Geosource Energy
Stanley Reitsma, P.Eng., PhD, is a leading expert in geothermal energy and environmental engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University, an M.A.Sc. in Earth Sciences, and a B.A.Sc. in Geological Engineering from the University of Waterloo. As CEO and Owner of Geosource Energy Inc. since 2004, he has pioneered geothermal drilling in Ontario, advancing drilling techniques, heat exchangers, and thermal storage solutions. Geosource Energy has successfully installed thousands of geothermal systems across North America.
Previously, Stanley served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Windsor, where he led research on groundwater contamination, remediation, and ground source heating, securing funding from organizations like NSERC and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation.
A registered Professional Engineer in Ontario, Stanley is active in multiple industry associations, including HRAI, BILD, CaGBC, and OSEA. He contributed to the ANSI/CSA/IGSHPA 448 standard and is involved in developing training related to the revised standard.
Tai Lieu, B. Eng. P. Eng LEED AP | Sustainability Consultant @ Footprint
A resourceful, analytical, and practical problem-solver, Tai is driven by finding solutions that work in the real world—not just on paper. With more than 15 years of experience in sustainable building design, he specializes in energy modelling, commissioning, and geothermal systems for multi-unit residential developments. He brings a clear understanding of how to integrate geothermal solutions into complex residential buildings while balancing design and costs constraints and operational needs. Known for his collaborative approach, Tai works closely with project teams to develop achievable solutions that optimize building performance and support successful project delivery from concept through construction.
Christina Basan, M. DesS B.A.S. | Residential Real Estate Developer @ Carttera Private Equities Inc.
Christina Basan is Partner, Development, at Carttera, where she leads the full development lifecycle, including acquisition, financial analysis, planning and approvals, design development, stakeholder management, and construction execution. She brings 20 years of experience across the residential and commercial real estate and construction sectors, with expertise in development strategy, project execution, financial oversight, and risk management.
Christina works closely with consultants, municipal authorities, internal teams, external stakeholders, and investment partners to advance complex development projects from acquisition through construction completion. Prior to joining Carttera, she worked in the City of Toronto’s Infrastructure Management division, overseeing the implementation, management, and budgeting of major capital projects. Christina holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University.
Mark Garland, BSCE, PE | General Contractor @ GCL Builds Limited | Program Moderator
Mark Garland has been a construction professional, practicing as a general contractor since 1978. Construction projects that Mark has supervised have spanned the globe from Alaska to the US Pacific Northwest, Canada, Asia, and New Zealand. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington.
Since 2003, Mark has operated from Toronto as President of GCL Builds Limited, a Canadian construction management and general contracting company. He was the principal in charge of the 60 storey St. Regis Toronto, formerly Trump International Hotel + Tower. The building is 280m tall, with an iconic building top, including a 25 meter glass spire and a titanium clad quarter-dome roof.
Mark is a co-inventor of a patented method to construct concrete shear cores for high rise office buildings. Mark specializes in design and construction advice during the predevelopment phase of real estate projects.
Sponsor
Geosource Energy
Agenda
🕑: 07:00 AM - 08:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking
🕑: 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Presentations & Panel
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 73.74 to CAD 94.44
