When a big-bank CEO starts talking about youth, we listen.
In his recent pieces for the Financial Post, Victor Dodig, CEO of CIBC, makes a clear argument: if Canada wants to grow, it has to invest in young people. He’s worried our economy has drifted into “suspended animation” — stalled by high costs, slow policy, and low confidence.
He’s not wrong.
Dodig points out that while we’ve spent years debating productivity, trade, and interest rates, we’ve quietly let an entire generation of young Canadians drift out of the picture — priced out of cities, disconnected from opportunity, and watching the promise of the “Canadian dream” fade.
That’s where his point hits home for us.
The missing piece
Dodig’s right to say we need to invest in youth — but where we part ways a bit is how that investment shows up.
He points out that young Canadians are both our biggest economic advantage and our most underused one. They’re highly educated, creative, and globally connected — but they’re being shut out of the very cities and industries that need their energy most.
He warns that if we don’t make it possible for young people to live, work, and build here, they’ll simply take their talent somewhere else — and with them goes Canada’s growth story.
That’s what we’re working on at Toboggan Flats — turning unused space into affordable, community-driven coliving homes that keep young workers downtown and plugged in.
When the lights come back on
Dodig describes the economy as being “in suspended animation.”
He’s talking about a Canada full of potential — talent, resources, and ideas — but stuck waiting for the next cue. Businesses are holding off on expansions. Developers are hesitating on new projects. Even cities seem to be waiting for someone else to go first.
His message is clear: we need to get moving again. That means removing friction, taking advantage of our talent and youth, and building — literally and figuratively.
We see the same thing every day, not just in data but in real buildings: towers with the lights off, downtown blocks that have lost their hum. But we also know how quickly things can change when a city starts saying yes again — to adaptive reuse, to flexible zoning, to housing people where they already want to be.
Momentum follows confidence — and confidence starts with giving people a place to live, connect, and build from.
Our take
So yes — we agree with Victor Dodig: Canada’s future depends on young people.
But we’d add: it also depends on where they live, what they can afford, and how they build community.
Because belonging isn’t a line item — it’s infrastructure. And investing in it is just as important as investing in roads, rails, or AI.
That’s how we see our work at Toboggan Flats: not just converting offices, but re-activating cities — one lived-in floor at a time.
Join the conversation
Do you feel your city is investing in young people?
What would make it easier for you (or someone you know) to live downtown again?
Hit “contact“, or come find us on LinkedIn or Instagram. Let’s make sure Canada’s comeback actually includes the next generation.
See you downtown!
