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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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…
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Go, Edmonton, Go: Sports Impact on Cities
Over the past month, we saw our downtown flooded with thousands of people as the Edmonton Oilers made their way through the Stanley Cup Playoffs. “While the result was not what we collectively wanted, our love for sports continues,” said Susan Keating, Chair of UDI – Edmonton’s Board of Directors and VP of Melcor Developments.…
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UDI’s Inaugural Curling Invitational – A Hit
Partnering with the University of Alberta’s Curling Program, UDI co-hosted their first-ever Curling Invitational – inviting 80+ industry members to face off during a highly-competitive tournament. What was on the line? Prizes and bragging rights. What happened? A lot of tumbles, laughs, and misthrows. Each player received quality coaching from the Bears and Pandas. Proceeds…
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Constructing the City from the Ground Up
This time last year, UDI – Edmonton Metro hosted a conversation with three icons of urban development. The discussion identified several key takeaways – the importance of public/private sector collaboration, growth, proactive storytelling, and industry diversity. On March 16, with more than 200 members in attendance, UDI hosted a similar panel but with trailblazers in…