Cities and towns are constantly reinventing themselves, reinvigorating their spaces and places through inventive design and good urbanism.
Developers are building attainable and affordable housing allowing more people to get into the market. They are designing for kids and families in mind with gardens and playscapes. They are building higher density hubs in traditionally low-density areas. They are connecting people to nature, through parks and other sustainability features.
Here are the stories of our members and how they are shaping our region.
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Breaking Barriers
Prior to developing neighbourhoods with Rohit Group of Companies, Leanne Ure was an engineer at Stantec, designing the plans and inventing the spaces and places within those communities. Inspired by her mom, a civil engineer, Ure has made it her personal mission to create opportunities for women in the industry to connect and support one…
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350 City Builders Gather to Celebrate Industry Contributions
On November 18, 350 of our members, municipal and elected officials, and industry partners gathered at the JW Marriott for the 24th Annual Spirit Awards. “This annual celebration was a chance for us to recognize our peers and their contributions to making our region an attractive, affordable, and livable place,” said Kalen Anderson, Executive Director…
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Why the Metro Matters
Earlier this year, UDI – Edmonton Metro launched State of Growth, a report that provides a snapshot of land development trends and demographic profiles throughout the entire region. The report highlights social and economic strengths that have helped to attract jobs, people, and talent to the region – sharing what has worked well for municipalities,…
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Give Me Shelter
Tim was born in London, England towards the end of WWII. “When the war ended, my mom carried me in her arms to Edmonton with other war brides,” said Tim Melton. After the war clean up, his dad, Stanley Melton, would join them, eventually growing their family company, Melton Real Estate, into the largest real…
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Quiet Regional Leadership
“I want to help,” said Blayon Dibben, this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Industry Contribution Award. Dibben, who is the Manager of Planning at Select Engineering Consultants, served on UDI – Edmonton Metro’s Board of Directors for nearly 7 years. Prior to joining the board, he supported the association through participation on several committees –…
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Delivering on Downtown
“Now more than ever, our downtown needs an all-hands-on-deck approach to recover,” said Kevin McKee, CEO of Pangman Development Corporation. Kevin served as the moderator of UDI – Edmonton Metro’s October luncheon, Delivering on Downtown, convening the perspectives of three downtown leaders, Alexandra Hryciw, Councillor Tim Cartmell, and Chief Dale McFee. He framed the conversation…
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Championing Change
When asked about how much time he has spent volunteering with UDI, Mike Kohl responded, “Too much to admit.” Kohl, who serves as the Senior Vice President, Alberta Communities for Brookfield Residential, served as UDI’s Board Chair from 2020 to 2022. Prior to joining the Board, and over a span of seven years, he volunteered…
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Developing Urban Leaders
Ryan Hamilton found his way into the development industry by quietly observing his dad as a kid. “My dad is a master electrician,” he said. “I would see him fixing wiring and lighting, solving problems daily. He had an affinity to understand how things work.” While he enjoyed soccer, adventuring in the mountains, skiing, and…
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Unpacking Edmonton’s New Zoning Bylaw
To an audience of 200 real estate professionals, Kim Petrin, Livia Balone, and Susan Ancel, shared an update on the Zoning Bylaw Renewal Initiative – specifically what changes are anticipated and what impacts they will have on the industry. Last Photo (left to right): Kim Petrin, Susan Ancel, Michaela Davis, Livia Balone, Susan Keating, Kalen…
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UDI’s Golf Classic Returns for Its 38th Year
Early August, UDI – Edmonton Metro hosted its 38th Annual Golf Classic, presented by DeFord Contracting Inc. Held at The Quarry, over 200 of our members gathered for an 18-hole golf tournament and par-tee. A total of $2,675 was raised for Kids Up Front, an organization that provides access to enriching experiences like arts, culture,…
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Housing Tour Highlights Regional Development Innovation
“To actually see buildings up-close and in-person is important,” said Emily Rypstra, a planner with the City of Leduc. Rypstra joined 30 municipal and elected officials on June 8 and 9, as part of UDI – Edmonton Metro’s Field Trips initiative. Participants toured housing developments in a range of communities and took part in lively…
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New Kids on the Block
To celebrate Father’s Day, we interviewed a few family duos in the industry – to learn about how they got started, the lessons they have learned, and their ideas for the region’s future. The Shillingtons When she was eight, Elise Shillington would watch videos about storm sewers and even visited storm ponds during rainy days…