Let’s get real: Shifting housing trends in Canada

Community leader and Calgary journalist Deborah Yedlin was elected the 14^th chancellor of the University of Calgary, effective July 1^st, 2018.

Yedlin has been observing, commenting and writing about business and politics for more than two decades, as a journalist for the Financial Post, Globe and Mail and Calgary Herald newspapers.  In addition to her writing, she has been a regular commentator for CBC Radio and Television, and CTV since 1996.

Her journey to becoming a business columnist was unconventional – but an undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta in Economics and English in 1984, coupled with her business experience that was augmented with an MBA from Queen’s University in 1991, have all built towards a resume that includes working on Wall Street and Bay Street.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Yedlin witnessed firsthand the power of education to provide the opportunity to rebuild a life in a new country, as the daughter of immigrants. As both her parents went on to become educators – in the public primary system and at the post-secondary level – Yedlin grew up immersed in the academic world.

Since moving to Calgary in 1992, Yedlin has been very active in the Calgary community. She was co-chair of the 2016 United Way Campaign, which raised more than $55 million during a difficult economic time for the city. She has served on the board of a number of arts and community organizations, including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Opera, YMCA Calgary, United Way Calgary, and Winsport. She was previously a member of the President’s Advisory Council at the University of Alberta and served on the Deans’ Advisory Council for the Faculty of Science at the University of Calgary.

Jim Dewald is the dean of the Haskayne School of Business and a professor in the strategy and entrepreneurship. A business leader who can provide an effective bridge between strategy theory and on-the-ground practice, his research interests are related to the micro-foundations of strategy formulation and implementation. Specifically, his work has contributed to the constructs of cognitive resilience, entrepreneurial thinking and strategic response to disruptive innovations, most specifically business model innovations.

Jim has two books, two book chapters, and several articles to his credit, including publications in Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, the Journal of Management Studies, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, and Journal of Small Business Management. He has received research awards from SSHRC, the United States Association of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, the Real Property Association of Canada, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, and the University of Calgary. In addition, he was awarded the MBA Society’s Outstanding Teaching and Learning Award for the 2007/2008 academic year. 

Jim holds a BSc in civil engineering and MBA from the University of Alberta, and a PhD in strategy and global management from the University of Calgary. Prior to entering academe, he was active in the Calgary business community as the CEO of two major real estate development companies and a leading local engineering consulting practice, and president of a tech-based international real estate brokerage company. He was recognized as Calgary Citizen of the Year (1999) and is an honourary member of the Appraisal Institute of Canada. Currently, Jim sits on the board of Boardwalk REIT, and the West Campus Development Trust.

Ann-Marie has over 20 years of experience in the real estate sector. She has had the opportunity to work in several different aspects of real estate including commercial brokerage, pension investment, residential real estate analysis and multi-family underwriting.  Some of the companies that she has worked for included Colliers International, CMHC and Canadian Urban Equities.  Her diverse background in real estate has enabled her to provide insight into the macroeconomic climate and factors impacting the real estate market.

Ann-Marie joined CREB® as the Chief Economist in 2011 and recently has been providing analytical services across all markets in Alberta and Saskatchewan. She is responsible for scoping, developing, and leading the economic analysis and market intelligence products for numerous real estate associations.

Ann-Marie has completed both her BA Honors and MA in Economics from the University of Calgary.

Kimberly is an ambitious and driven individual who has a strong passion for real estate. She has established herself as a young leader in Calgary’s real estate industry, and a go-to source of real estate information. Previously, Kimberly held a leadership role as Vice President at a real estate data and advisory firm, Urban Analytics, where she gained an in-depth exposure to Calgary’s multi-family and purpose-built rental markets. Kimberly was asked to share her expertise at two of Calgary’s Real Estate Forums and one Land and Development Conference in Toronto. She has been interviewed for over 25+ publications, spoken on several primetime news segments and was nominated for Calgary’s 40 Under 40 awards back in 2017. This background experience at a market research and advisory firm provided Kimberly with a deep understanding of Calgary’s real estate landscape. She gained exposure of a majority of communities across the city, visiting almost every single multi-family and purpose-built rental projects. She also dove into the trends and demographics by community, providing her with an in-depth understanding of various areas of the City which is especially valuable to newcomers moving to Calgary. 

Kimberly has continued to share her expertise on the real estate market through her podcast, The Calgary Real Estate Podcast, which she co-hosts with her mom. The podcast series is focused on buying and selling in Calgary’s real estate market and provides valuable information from Home Buying 101, to Condo Doc Reviews, Market Updates and more. 

Kimberly is a graduate from the University of Calgary with an Urban Studies degree. During her time at U of C, she took on the role as president of the Real Estate Students Association, participated in an exchange in Graz, Austria, and worked an internship in Seattle at a multi-family development firm. 

Kimberly thrives in a high paced, sales environment and has a unique understanding of market trends and demographics that impact certain communities. She enjoys meeting new people, and her dedication to helping clients find their perfect home motivates her. Kimberly is the most recent addition to the Richardson Group YYC, and she is looking forward to working alongside the group of successful agents and mentors!