Qualico, one of Western Canada’s largest fully integrated real estate companies, is marking its 75th anniversary this year with reflections on its roots and ongoing role in shaping neighborhoods across the region. Founded in 1951 as Quality Construction by Dr. David Friesen and Katherine Friesen in Winnipeg, the company has grown from building a handful of homes into a major developer active in multiple provinces and states.
Brad Armstrong, regional vice-president for Northern Alberta, said the milestone carries special weight for the team. “We’re really proud of the fact that we’re 75 years old,” Armstrong said. “It really is something to celebrate and I know a lot of my peers and colleagues would echo that sentiment.”
The company expanded into Calgary in 1954 and reached Edmonton the following year, completing 20 homes in its first year there. Early efforts focused on affordable, prefabricated homes, with just six basic plans offered in 1955 that grew to 15 plans with three exterior options by 1965, according to Thilo Kaufmann, vice-president of Qualico Communities in Calgary.
Kevin Van, president and CEO and part of the third generation of family leadership, described the anniversary as more than a simple birthday. “It’s a testament to the people who have shaped the company over the years — our employees, partners, homeowners and the communities we’re proud to create,” Van said. “This anniversary is a chance to reflect on our history and the purpose that has guided us throughout it: creating places where people can put down roots, raise families and build their futures.”
The firm officially adopted the Qualico name in 1972 and later moved to second-generation leadership under Ruth Friesen and Brian Hastings. Throughout its expansion, leaders say the original focus on building connected, sustainable communities has stayed consistent even as markets and buyer preferences shifted.
Calgary’s rapid growth in the 1950s, fueled by the Leduc oil discovery and postwar population increases, provided fertile ground for Qualico’s early projects. The company helped develop inner-city areas such as Spruce Cliff, Wildwood, Killarney and Glengarry during that era, according to city archives and company records.
Buyer trends have continued to evolve. Kaufmann noted that before the pandemic many purchasers leaned toward multi-family and mixed-use projects, but afterward demand rose for single-family homes, townhouses and duplexes with more functional space. The opening of Stony Trail also influenced where people chose to live.
In Edmonton, growth accelerated in the late 1970s and 1980s with new downtown office towers and suburban expansion. Armstrong recalled that Qualico built First Edmonton Place, its first commercial high-rise on Jasper Avenue, in 1982, followed by multi-family projects such as Horizon Village in Glenwood during the 1990s.
Today the company sells homes in both cities through several brands, including Broadview Homes, NuVista Homes, Pacesetter Homes, Sterling Homes and StreetSide Developments. A new project called Evans in Strathcona County is expected to eventually house up to 85,000 residents.
One recent example of Qualico’s approach is the Harmony community in Springbank, developed with Bordeaux Developments. The lakeside project includes residential units alongside retail, recreation and gathering spaces, featuring Phil Mickelson’s first Canadian signature golf course, Mickelson National Golf Club, plus LaunchPad Golf and a planned 5.5-acre EverWild spa.
Armstrong said the company takes pride in creating neighborhoods that feel like places residents would choose for themselves. “We take a lot of pride and ownership in our work as we continue to build neighbourhoods and communities that we ourselves would want to live in,” he said. “They all need a sense of arrival, purpose and identity that resonates with the people who live there.”
Many families have stayed connected to Qualico homes across generations. Armstrong often hears stories from people who grew up in or whose parents lived in earlier Qualico-built houses from the 1950s and 1960s. “So often when I introduce myself and say I’m with Qualico, I hear people say, ‘Oh, I live in a Qualico home,’ or ‘My parents lived in a Qualico home in the ’50s or ’60s,’” he said.
Community investment remains a core part of the company’s work. Van emphasized that while housing styles change, the goal of creating safe, connected and accessible places stays the same. “Trends may change, but the goal remains the same to create spaces where people feel a genuine sense of belonging,” he said.
To mark the anniversary, Qualico launched a Parade of Showhomes campaign running through June 30 that includes the chance to win a $7,500 cash rebate on a home purchase. The promotion highlights both the company’s history and its current offerings in Calgary and Edmonton.