About Canadian Urban | Executive Team
 

Donald G. Horner, B.Comm.
President and Chief Executive Officer

Since 1975, Mr. Horner has served as the President of Canadian Urban Limited. Today, Canadian Urban operates in all major Canadian markets and has demonstrated competency in residential, retail, industrial and office sectors.

Supported by a six-member Board of Directors, Mr. Horner leads the company’s eight-member Investment Management team and has brought the company to the forefront in financial performance, standards of governance, utilization of research, and the implementation of disciplined risk management and analytical techniques.

Mr. Horner has over 39 years of experience in the real estate industry. Prior to joining Canadian Urban, Mr. Horner was Vice President, Alberta Region for the Famous Players Development Corporation and previously was Assistant General Manager with Marathon Realty, Prairie Division. Mr. Horner holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia.

Kenneth D. Poholko, CGA
Executive Vice-President and
Chief Operating Officer

As Canadian Urban’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Poholko is currently responsible for CU’s investment management activity which includes leading the company’s asset management unit in the operation of over 5.6 million square feet of real estate. Additionally, he oversees the company’s acquisition, disposition, client servicing functions and all day-to-day operational issues.


Prior to joining Canadian Urban, Mr. Poholko was President of the Alberta Housing Corporation with a budget exceeding $450,000,000. He was responsible for the development of 4,000 multi-family housing units per year and the management of 40,000 units. Mr. Poholko is a Certified General Accountant.

David Rostrup, BA
Senior Vice President (Western Canada)

Mr. Rostrup brings over 31 years experience in real estate brokerage and management. He is responsible for identification, acquisition, and disposition of properties in western Canada.

Prior to joining Canadian Urban, Mr. Rostrup was a partner in a real estate consulting brokerage and property management company, and has extensive leasing experience. Mr. Rostrup holds a BA from the University of Alberta.

Alex Klip, MBA
Senior Vice President (Central Canada)

Mr. Klip joined Canadian Urban Limited in 1997, to manage and expand the company’s investment activity. He is responsible for identification, acquisition, and disposition of properties in central and eastern Canada. He was previously associated with Greiner Pacaud Management Associates where he was responsible for identifying and evaluating investment opportunities and managing a diversified portfolio of properties in central and western Canada.

In 1991, Mr. Klip was part of the Met-Fin Group as Manager of Acquisitions. During his tenure, he implemented a national acquisition program for a real estate mutual fund, restructured a number of real estate limited partnerships, raised capital and spear-headed a successful leasing program. Mr. Klip holds an MBA from the University of Toronto.
 

 

 

About Canadian Urban | Investment Team
 

 

Onita Blankenfeldt, MBA
Vice President, Marketing & Client Relations

As Vice President, Marketing & Client Relations, Ms. Blankenfeldt is responsible for business development activities, client relationship management, corporate marketing, and corporate communication.  She is directly responsible for the raising of monies for CU's upcoming closed-end real estate investment pools:  The Western Canadian Opportunity Fund-CU (5) and CU Real Property (6) LP.

Formerly, Ms. Blandenfeldt was Senior Vice President, Marketing, at Meridea, a multi-national software corporation based in Europe.

Ms. Blankenfeldt has an MBA from the Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration in Helsinki, Finland.



 

Blair Burgess, B. Comm.
Vice President, Asset Management

Prior to his career in real estate, Mr. Burgess was the Vice President (Western Region) for one of Canada's largest sales Tax and workers' compensation consulting firms.

Mr. Burgess' real estate career started in 1997 when he joined a national commercial brokerage company specializing in industrial sales and leasing then joined a full service real estate company as a Leasing Manager responsible for their Edmonton portfolio.

In 2002, Mr. Burgess joined CU and is currently responsible for the asset management of our western Canadian properties.

Mr. Burgess graduated from the University of Alberta in 1980 with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.



 

Michael Wolsey
Vice President, Finance

Mr. Wolsey contributes over 13 years experience to the finance department of Canadian Urban and is a member of the Investment Team.  He is responsible for the financial and accounting activities of the company, subsidiaries and client accounts.

Mr. Wolsey ensures corporate affairs are in order regarding items of finance, accounting, auditing, banking, insurance, legal liability as well as the development, monitoring and regular reporting of the company's performance.  Mr. Wolsey's responsibilities include ensuring high standards of reporting and audit requirements are maintained in a manner consistent with those required by the fiduciary nature of CU's client trust accounts.  Additionally , he is the Supervisor of the accounting group and is instrumental in the acquisition and disposition process.

Mr. Wolsey joined Canadian Urban in 1994.




 

Linda Tait, MBA
Vice President

As a key member of CU's Investment Team Ms. Tait is responsible for the analysis of new and existing investments, and the operation and continuous active management of CU's portfolio in Central Canada.

Prior to joining CU in 2004, Ms. Tait was a Senior Account Manager with a Canadian investment manager, and was actively involved with the cash flow modeling leading up to the launch of a Canadian REIT, as well as MD&A reporting and ongoing investment analysis post IPO.  Prior to this, Ms. Tait was a Financial Analyst with Oxford Properties and was engaged in cash flow modeling of various joint venture projects.  She received a Masters of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University in 1999, with a dual concentration in Real Property and Finance.


 

 

 

Ian Woychuk, CFA
Vice President

Mr. Woychuk is responsible for the research and analysis department for Canadian Urban's Western Canadian portfolio, and is actively involved in the real estate acquisition program and financing functions within the Western Canadian office.

Prior to joining Canadian Urban, Mr. Woychuk held a position in the investment sales group of a national commercial real estate brokerage, and was primarily responsible for investment modeling and underwriting.

Mr. Woychuk holds a Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA) charter.  In 1999 he received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, majoring in Business Economics and Law.

Mr. Woychuk joined Canadian Urban in 2002.

 

 

 

Chris Smith, B. Comm., M. Sc.
Real Estate Analyst

As a real estate analyst, Mr. Smith works with the Investment team in the analysis of Candian Urban's acquisitions and dispositions.

Prior to working at Canadian Urban Limited, Mr. Smith worked for a National commercial brokerage firm, and a multi-residential property management company (both located in Calgary).  Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, and a Master's degree in Finance & Investment Analysis from New York University's Real Estate Institute.