From managing a single student rental near Queen’s University to becoming a leader in real estate investment and management across Southern Ontario, KEILTY has always focused on delivering exceptional value to our residents, clients, and investors. Our story is one of continuous growth, thoughtful innovation, and a lasting commitment to building strong communities.

Hospitality Roots
KEILTY began with a simple idea: real estate could be more than just bricks and mortar, it could deliver exceptional experiences. In 2003, A.J. Keilty founded Varsity Communities in Kingston, Ontario, managing a seven-bedroom student house. With forward-thinking marketing strategies—like high-quality photography, internet-inclusive leases, biweekly housekeeping, and a unique rental auction system—A.J. exceeded revenue expectations by 50% and demonstrated how pairing the right services with prime locations could drive outsized returns for both renters and investors.

‍A.J.’s understanding of hospitality stems from his upbringing. His parents owned and operated The Gananoque Inn & Spa—one of Ontario’s Finest Inns—for more than twenty years. This background taught him that small, empathetic gestures can make the biggest difference, a value still embedded in our approach today.
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‍Early Growth and Milestones
‍In 2004, KEILTY acquired the historic Louise House at 329 Johnson Street in Kingston, converting it into premium one- and two-bedroom residences and securing Starbucks Coffee Company as its first commercial tenant. More Starbucks locations followed. In 2005, Teresa Gagnon joined as KEILTY’s first full-time housekeeper, setting a tone of warmth and personalized service that became part of the company’s DNA.

Between 2007 and 2011, KEILTY expanded its residential footprint with townhome developments near Queen’s University and award-winning projects like Park Lane beside Victoria Park. In 2008, KEILTY opened Liberty Terrace and Bakery Suites, increasing its downtown Kingston portfolio and moving into its first office.

‍Regional Expansion and Large-Scale Projects
‍In 2015, KEILTY entered the Oshawa market with Taylorwood Town Homes near Durham College and Ontario Tech University, eventually growing to nearly 600 beds. Simcoe Town Homes launched in 2016 near Georgian College in Barrie.

In 2017, the team completed Taylorwood and broke ground on University Studios. That same year, KEILTY hosted its first company-wide All Hands Summit. The pace accelerated in 2018 with the opening of University Studios (393 beds) and a second Starbucks location in Oshawa. The team launched the Community Academy for internal learning and purchased a new four-storey home office at Queen and Barrie in Kingston.

By 2019, KEILTY opened University Towns (438 beds) and secured construction permits for Unity Point, a 204-bed residence in Kingston. In 2020, Queen's Alma Mater Society awarded KEILTY the Golden Key for excellence in student housing. In 2021, Unity Point opened at 100% occupancy, and construction began on Unity Place (360 beds). Portsmouth Residential entered the build-to-rent market, targeting family homes across Eastern Ontario. Brandon Ackerman joined as Vice President, Rental Management.

‍Condominium Corpoation Management
‍In 2017, KEILTY also launched Alwington Communities, a management platform for not-for-profit condominium corporations. The platform helped boards govern responsibly, communicate effectively, and steward funds with care. Alwington managed over 100 corporations across Southern Ontario before being sold to Bendale Property Management in 2024.

‍KEILTY Realty Corporation
‍Also in 2017, KEILTY Realty Corporation was formed to give team members ownership in our real estate investments. It has since evolved into a full-scale private equity real estate investment firm. As general partner in multiple limited partnerships, KEILTY Realty invests alongside our limited partners in office, residential, and express car wash properties across Eastern Ontario.

‍What We Do Today
‍Today, KEILTY continues to focus on making and managing real estate investments that create long-term value. We deliver superior risk-adjusted returns, provide best-in-class property management, and continuously seek innovative solutions for the Canadian Student Housing and Express Car Wash industry.