Our Story
Over 25 years in business
We got our start in Calgary in 1985 as Copez Realty Advisors. In the quarter century since then we have amassed a range of experience and expertise that has won us the trust of some of Canada’s most respected pension funds and private investors.
1985
Copez Realty Advisors (Copez) is founded by Peter Cohos to offer asset and property management services to pension funds and private clients.
1990
Robert Proud becomes a partner in Copez.
1993
Copez takes on the management of WestHills Towne Centre, a 343,000 sq. ft. landmark shopping centre in Calgary, AB.
1997
Through acquisitions on behalf of its clients, Copez expands its Alberta retail market base by taking on management of Cascade Plaza, a 110,000 sq. ft. shopping centre in Banff, AB. Copez enters the Victoria, BC marketplace with management of Sussex Place, a 115,000 sq. ft., prime downtown office/retail complex.
1998
Tonko Development Corporation (TDC) acquires Copez and Novam Development Ltd., a property management company with over 25-years’ experience in the Vancouver marketplace. Tonko establishes an office in Vancouver, BC.
2000
On behalf of clients, TDC acquires TELUS Plaza, a 1.18 million sq. ft. office and retail complex in Edmonton, AB. TDC also establishes an asset and property management office in Edmonton.
2002
TDC is purchased by a third party and privatized.
Peter Cohos and Robert Proud purchase Tonko Realty Advisors Ltd. (Tonko), TDC's asset and property management subsidiary. Tonko develops Plaza 1000, a 160,000 sq. ft. office building in Calgary.
2003
Tonko continues to expand its role as a developer with the launch of the Eastlake Portico industrial project, three buildings totalling 558,000 sq. ft., and the Centrium Place office project. Both are located in Calgary.
2004
Tonko takes on the asset and property management of three Class A office buildings in the West Broadway corridor of Vancouver: 1333 West Broadway, 186,000 sq. ft.; 1285 West Broadway, 107,000 sq. ft.; and 1385 West 8th Avenue, 86,000 sq. ft.
Tonko takes on the asset and property management of Willingdon Park, a Class A suburban office park in Burnaby, B.C. comprised of seven office buildings totaling approximately 774,000 sq. ft.
On behalf of clients, Tonko acquires 1166 West Pender Street in Vancouver, a 140,000 sq. ft. office building.
2005
Tonko enters the Saskatchewan marketplace by acquiring the RONA site in Regina.
Working with a development partner, Tonko commences construction and development of the first of eight industrial buildings in Glenwood Industrial Estates in Burnaby.
Eastlake Portico in Calgary is completed.
2006
From 1985 to 2006, assets under management by Tonko have increased from $10 million to $1.3 billion. Tonko also has $400 million in projects under development.
2007
Tonko begins acquiring land and managing real estate properties in Saskatoon.
Construction is completed on the Mount Royal Block, a 45,000 sq. ft. retail and office building in Calgary’s 17th Avenue district, and Centrium Place, a 225,000 sq. ft. office tower in downtown Calgary.
2008
Cross Roads, a 223,957 sq. ft. retail and office development in Vancouver, is completed.
Three industrial buildings are completed in Glenwood Industrial Estates in Burnaby: Glenwood 4, 148,700 sq. ft.; Glenwood 5, 90,000 sq. ft.; and Glenwood 8, 61,200 sq. ft.
Wireless Way, a 116,000 sq. ft. office building, is completed in Richmond, BC.
2009
Construction is completed on Building A of Matrix Business Park, a 107,400 sq. ft. warehouse, office, and retail wholesale facility in Saskatoon.
Phase II of Lake City Court, 70,000 sq. ft. of industrial, office and lab space, is completed in Burnaby.
2010
Phases 8 and 9 of Willingdon Park in Burnaby are completed. The new phases comprise 185,000 sq. ft. of office space.
Tonko acquires an additional 12 million sq. ft. of properties under management. The acquisitions comprise industrial properties located in Calgary and Edmonton.
2011
The development of River Centre in Saskatoon is announced. The five storey, 77,000 sq. ft. office and retail building will be the first Class A office tower in downtown Saskatoon.
The Coril Group of Companies purchases all of the shares of Tonko Realty Advisors Ltd. on June 17, 2011. Tonko’s senior management team remains to run and manage the company.
Effective October 21, 2011, the Coril Group of Companies of Calgary purchases all of the shares of the Redcliff Realty Group. When added to the earlier acquisition of Tonko, The Tonko – Redcliff combination becomes one of Canada’s largest real estate advisory companies and remains deeply committed to continuing to provide exemplary services to all clients.
