Kate Mancer, MA, principal of the company, is well-known throughout Canada as a market analyst and makes frequent presentations at industry events. Kate is also the author of the only Canadian reference book on seniors housing. The book is entitled The Future of Seniors Housing: Planning, Building and Operating Successful Seniors Housing Projects. Kate’s second book on life lease housing was published in 2019 and she has two other books in preparation, both focused on seniors housing.
Kate’s partner in Lumina Services is her son Stephen. Kate and Stephen have worked together for 15 years. In 2017/2018 Stephen took an educational leave from the company to pursue studies at Columbia University in New York City. He graduated in May 2018 with a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development (MSRED). The MSRED program is well known and recognized throughout the world. Stephen also holds a graduate level diploma in sales and marketing analysis from the Sauder School of Business at UBC along with his undergraduate honours degree from the University of Toronto.
Lumina has a background in service provision being one of the founders of a large service provider in the supportive housing, assisted living and long term care industry (inSite Housing, Hospitality and Health Services Inc, recently renamed Vantage Living).
Lumina has been recognized internationally for their work on seniors housing. In September 2013 Kate made a presentation in Beijing on seniors housing and health care policies and practices in Canada and the US. For the same project, sponsored by the Asian Development Bank, Lumina produced a lengthy document entitled An international study of best practices in seniors housing and care (February 2014). Kate has also made presentations to Japanese trade missions to Canada.
Kate is a member of the Board of Directors of a non-profit seniors housing project in Burnaby, The Poppy (sponsored by South Burnaby Legion Branch 83), and a former member of the Board of Directors of a non-profit housing society project in Surrey, Bethshan Gardens. Both projects provide housing plus services. The Poppy is self-managed by the Board and a general manager.
Company representatives make a point of regularly attending conference in the US, whether the NAHB 55+ Housing Council conferences (New Orleans 2008, Denver 2007, Palm Springs 2003) or the Assisted Living Federation of America conferences (Phoenix 2010, Chicago 2005, San Diego 2006), the Interface West Seniors Housing Conference (Los Angeles 2019) or the Village-to-Village Network annual gatherings (St Louis 2013, Columbus 2016, Baltimore 2017).
Lumina specializes in all segments of seniors housing and health care – active adult, independent living, assisted living, and long term care.
Lumina is a member of the Canadian Association on Gerontology and the Gerontological Society of America. Kate is also a member of the Phoenix Group, an invitation-only association of 45 people involved in various aspects of the real estate industry in British Columbia. Kate is the seniors’ housing expert in the group.
