Ian Macmillan: Investor & Developer

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Ian Macmillan: Investor & Developer

With 20+ years in film and TV as a cinematographer, I’ve mastered high-stakes projects, leadership, and problem-solving under pressure.

I bring that experience to my work as a developer, and investor, creating housing solutions in Toronto and beyond. With 20+ years in film and TV as a cinematographer, I’ve mastered high-stakes project management, team leadership, and problem-solving under pressure. Now, I’m channeling that experience into my work as a real estate developer, creating high-density, sustainable housing solutions in T

oronto’s urban core. My journey into real estate is driven by a lifelong passion for architecture, design, and community-building. Every project I take on is a step toward revitalizing our neighborhoods through gentle densification—developing multi-unit properties and energy-efficient homes that address housing demand while enhancing the urban landscape. I believe in transforming outdated properties into modern, eco-friendly spaces that add value and support sustainable growth.
💡 What I’m Building Now:
High-density, eco-focused developments that add value to communities
Projects in Toronto’s West End with plans to expand to other urban markets across Canada
A network of partners and mentors, including Ontario’s top developers, as I continue to learn, innovate, and bring visionary spaces to life
If you're passionate about sustainable development, urban revitalization, or investment opportunities in impactful projects, let’s connect and explore ways to collaborate.

08/03/2026

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀

Our journey to the Gaspé Peninsula, where Kim was raised, was a long one. We usually do it over multiple days, staying in either Montreal or Quebec City on the way up. It's a 17 hour drive. But since Attie was quite agreeable during the drive, we were able to get it all done in one day.

A little sore after a long drive, but quickly remedied by time with family. Attie is in complete admiration of his six year old cousin. And his 18 month old cousin as well. It's great to see him playing with kids of all ages, and making a real social impact in his own right.

Speaking of social impact, I'll be heading to Nova Scotia in short order for my good friend Rich Aucoin's wedding. Then quickly turning around and heading to Cape Breton to spend a few days with my folks and see where we're at on the Commons. Also connecting with a couple of old friends I haven't seen in far too long a time.

This is in many ways a silver lining to what has been a slow time for both Kim and I. But it's in these times where you have to take advantage and make something memorable. Multiple decades as freelancers have given us a good education on the importance of taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.

07/31/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀

Ryan and I have put a lot of time, trust, and belief into building OTSO.

When you're excited about something, it's easy to believe that everyone who wants to be involved is pulling in the same direction.

Over the past little while, we've learned that isn't always the case.

We've had a couple of working relationships that didn't unfold the way we had hoped. Nothing dramatic, just enough to remind us that when you're talking about investment, consultants, and large amounts of capital, trust has to be earned.

I don't think either of us realized at the beginning just how vulnerable that process could be.

It's taught us that finding financial partners isn't only about finding people who can help move a project forward. It's about finding people whose values, intentions, and way of working genuinely align with your own.

I won't get into the details of any specific experience. That's not really the point.

The point is that every stumble teaches you something.

Ryan and I are certainly a little more cautious today than we were when we started, but we're also a little more experienced. And I suspect those lessons will serve us well in the years ahead.

Thank you for continuing to follow along with the journey. Every lesson, even the difficult ones, becomes part of the story.

07/30/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀, 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝘀

I spent my birthday receiving a verbal acceptance on a brand new property.

Not a bad birthday present.

It's an incredible opportunity and one that has all of us feeling very optimistic about what's ahead.

It also marks the beginning of a new chapter for OTSO as we welcome our newest founding member, Jordan Eady.

Every now and then you meet someone where everything just seems to click. The vision is shared, the excitement is genuine, and everyone wants to build something they're proud of. That's very much how this partnership feels.

If all goes according to plan, we'll finalize contracts this week before turning our attention to raising capital and bringing financial partners into the project.

Our goal is to have our first Costa Rican OTSO property welcoming guests in time for high season.

It's a little strange to even write those words.

It feels like only yesterday Ryan and I were sitting across a table wondering what a hospitality company could look like. Now we're negotiating multiple properties, and one of those conversations is beginning to turn into something real.

We're incredibly excited to have Jordan join us, and even more excited to see where this adventure takes us.

Thanks for following along. The journey is just getting started, and I can't wait to share what comes next.

07/29/2026

𝗔 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The appraisal for our Laneway House came back this week, and it wasn't the result we were hoping for.

With property values continuing to soften, particularly in downtown Toronto, the numbers simply don't support moving ahead with construction right now.

It's disappointing.

Kim and I had hoped the appraisal would come in somewhere in the high $1.9 million range. Instead, it landed in the high $1.7 million range, only about $175,000 more than the house would likely be worth without the Laneway House.

Part of the difficulty is that we're building in an area where there just aren't many comparable projects to support a higher valuation.

The good news is that none of the work has been wasted. We have our plans completed, our building permit approved, and everything is ready when the timing is right.

So for now, we wait.

Maybe the market improves by the spring. Maybe it doesn't. I couldn't tell you.

With everything else currently happening, perhaps having one less active construction project isn't such a bad thing after all.

Sometimes the right decision is simply to be patient.

Has the current market changed any of your plans? I'd enjoy hearing how others are approaching the months ahead.

07/28/2026

𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲

Well, I might have made a bit of a mistake. Not a huge one, but I'll happily take the blame on this one.

The walls in one of our Toronto rental properties are painted Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace, and I asked for Chantilly Lace to be used in Inverness as well.

I'm quite a fan of it. It's a beautiful warm white, and I thought it would be perfect.

What I didn't factor in was that different paint companies have very different interpretations of the same colour name.

In Glidden's world, Chantilly Lace is... soft pink.

So we've accidentally committed to soft pink apartment interiors.

I have to admit, I laughed when I saw it.

But the more time I spend with it, the more I like it. It brings a bit of warmth into the rooms and makes them feel a little less plain than they otherwise might have.

It's certainly not what I intended, but I think it's something we'll grow to appreciate.

And if someone eventually wants a different colour, they'll always have the freedom to make the space their own.

Have you ever had something go completely differently than planned, only to discover you actually liked the result? I'd love to hear about it.

07/27/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀

A couple of work obligations disappeared at the end of July, which means Kim and I can get away and see some family back home on the East Coast. We're hitting the road this weekend to get up to the Gaspé Coast, see Kim's family, and have Attie spend some time with his grandparents. It's never an easy journey from Toronto, but when the time opens up, it's always worth taking.

I'm also going to take the opportunity to get home to Halifax for a wedding. As one does.

And get up to see the progress in Inverness. Very excited with all the work that's been happening in my absence.

07/25/2026

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲

As I learned more about real estate and property development, I became fascinated by another side of the business, mortgage financing.

That curiosity eventually led me to become a licensed mortgage agent.

For a long time, I believed that working in a creative, freelance career meant buying a home would always be more difficult. What I discovered was that there are often more options available than people realize.

As friends from the film industry started asking how I'd managed to buy property and finance projects, I found myself sharing what I'd learned over and over again.

Eventually, it made sense to become licensed so I could confidently help others navigate the process.

Whether it's buying a first home, refinancing to improve cash flow, or exploring financing options they didn't know were available, it's incredibly rewarding to help people take that next step.

It's also become the perfect complement to my work behind the camera, allowing me to balance two careers that challenge very different parts of who I am.

Helping someone achieve homeownership is one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do.

If you've ever wondered whether buying a home is within reach, or you have questions about your financing options, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to chat.

07/24/2026

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

One of the things that first pulled me into property development wasn't housing, it was hospitality.

I became fascinated with the idea of creating sustainable, wellness-focused places where people could slow down, reconnect, and experience thoughtful design in nature.

After refinancing our home in Prince Edward County, I finally had enough capital to start chasing that dream. My plan was to buy a piece of land and build a hospitality project.

What I quickly learned was that owning land wasn't enough.

To create something truly special, I needed to understand development, financing, raising capital, partnerships, and everything that happens behind the scenes.

So I changed course.

Instead of rushing into the dream, I focused on becoming the developer capable of building it. That decision led us to purchase a property in Toronto and transform it into a multiplex, gaining invaluable experience along the way.

The dream itself never changed.

Meeting my partner, Ryan Grafton, through the Synergy Mastermind gave that vision new momentum. Together, we brought OTSO, a name I first came up with during the pandemic, to life as a company focused on creating high-end wellness resorts and hotels throughout the Caribbean.

And one day, when the timing is right, I still plan to build the architectural cabin retreat I've imagined from the very beginning.

Some dreams are worth the wait.

Thanks for following along on the journey. I'd love to know, what's a dream you've been slowly building toward?

07/23/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱

I've always loved architecture and design, but it wasn't until the pandemic that I finally had the space to really explore that passion.

In 2021, after studying urban design, architecture, and real estate investing, I was accepted into a Master's of Architecture program.

The more I learned, the more I realized I wasn't just interested in designing buildings, I wanted to understand how entire projects came together. I wanted to create places and tell stories through development.

That curiosity led me into renovation projects, flips, rehabilitations, and BRRRR investments, each one teaching me something new.

Eventually, it brought me back home to Nova Scotia, where I started my first development project alongside one of my closest friends, the very same friend I went to film school with back in 2001.

Funny how life has a way of connecting the dots when you least expect it.

If you've been following my journey, thank you for being part of it. There's much more to come, and I'm excited to share where it leads next.

If you've ever found yourself on an unexpected path that felt exactly right, I'd love to hear about it.

07/22/2026

𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀

It feels like it's time to stop separating the different parts of what I do.

For years, I've shared filmmaking on one platform and property development and hospitality on another. But both have always been driven by the same passion: creating stories, experiences, and places that matter.

So I'm bringing those worlds together.

The audience that has followed my development and hospitality journey on my Instagram account, , will now find those updates on , where everything I'm working on will live in one place.

I know this change won't be for everyone, and that's okay. I'm incredibly thankful to everyone who's followed my filmmaking journey over the years.

But if you're curious to see how these passions connect, and where they're taking me next, I hope you'll stick around.

I'd love to have you on the journey.

Follow along at and let me know what passions have shaped your own path.

Address

Toronto, ON

Website

http://www.placecraft.ca/

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