Institutional investment and development firm Oxford Capital Group, together with its joint venture partner, has made a large investment in the Canadian seniors housing sector, acquiring a portfolio of six private pay communities located throughout Ontario. These communities provide both independent living and supportive living services throughout the 645 total units. They are located in Toronto, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Kitchener and Guelph, and join Oxford’s nine other communities in Ontario (all acquired in just the last nine months). Oxford made the acquisition through its affiliate Oxford Living in a joint venture with New York-based insurance and investment firm, Starr Insurance Companies.

Oxford isn’t the only United States-based firm betting on Canada. So far this year, Ventas made the biggest splash in the Canadian seniors housing market with its C$2.4 billion portfolio acquisition of 31 retirement communities in Quebec earlier this summer, nearly doubling its portfolio from 41 properties to 76, with the NOI of those properties expected to make up 21% of its entire SHOP NOI. For them, Canada has been a very good performer.