Why Office Demand Is Returning in Montreal CRE Avison Young's Patrick Laurin on Talent, Leadership and the Future of Work

In this episode, Axel Monsaingeon sits down with Patrick Laurin, Principal and President for Quebec at Avison Young, to discuss the evolving landscape of commercial real estate in Montreal. Patrick shares his journey from junior broker to leading Quebec operations at one of the world's largest brokerage firms and explains how leadership, culture, and collaboration shape high performing real estate teams. They explore the ongoing return to the office, the differences between public and private sector workplace strategies, and why companies are once again planning office space around peak occupancy. Patrick also shares insights on attracting and retaining top brokerage talent, the impact of rising construction costs on office decisions, and how AI is beginning to transform brokerage operations while raising new questions around data security. This conversation offers a behind the scenes look at leadership, market dynamics, and the future of work in Montreal's commercial real estate sector. Topics and timestamps 🏢 Patrick Laurin's path into commercial real estate (00:01:03) 📈 Building a career from junior broker to Quebec President (00:02:27) 🏙️ Montreal office market demand after the pandemic (00:05:49) 🏦 Why banks and private companies are pushing return to office (00:06:00) 🏛️ Government challenges with office space and hybrid work (00:07:03) 📊 Why companies now plan office space around peak occupancy (00:13:25) 👨‍👦 Working in a multi generational real estate business (00:15:14) 🤝 How Avison Young attracts and retains top brokerage talent (00:19:06) 🤖 AI tools and efficiency opportunities for commercial brokers (00:21:17) 🔒 Data security risks and challenges with AI adoption (00:22:06) 🚀 The future growth strategy for Avison Young in Montreal (00:24:16) 🔗Connect with Patrick Laurin 💼 LinkedIn: 🏢 Avison Young: 👤Follow Axel Monsaingeon 💼 LinkedIn: 📸 Instagram: 🌐 Explore more resources 📊 Market guides, data, and advertising opportunities:

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Why Office Demand Is Returning in Montreal CRE Avison Young's Patrick Laurin on Talent, Leadership and the Future of Work is an episode from The Very Real Estate Effect Investing in Quebec by Axel Monsaingeon.

This episode is 26:22 long.

This episode was published on Mar 20, 2026.

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