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Press Release
December 7, 2023
University of Calgary Properties Group Appoints Novy Cheema as New President and CEO
Calgary-area real estate executive leader joins UCPG team as President and CEO
University of Calgary Properties Group (UCPG) is pleased to announce Mr. Novy Cheema as its next President and CEO. He will take over from Gregg Callander who has been serving as Interim President and CEO since March 2023.
UCPG was created by the University of Calgary to oversee the development and management of university land projects, creating amazing places for people to thrive. UCPG has been recognized with a number of awards for community innovation, housing excellence, urban design and more. Its current projects include University District and University Innovation Quarter, both in northwest Calgary.
Mr. Cheema has more than 15 years of experience working in real estate and development and joins UCPG after leading Alberta and prairie real estate development activities for a major North American development and construction company. Prior to this, he practiced commercial real estate law at an international law firm and also worked as counsel for a Calgary-based development company.
Novy Cheema has been named the next President and CEO of University of Calgary Properties Group, the developer of Calgary’s University District and University Innovation Quarter
“I have always been passionate about creating meaningful communities that unite mindful design with innovation and sustainability,” says Novy Cheema, incoming UCPG President and CEO. “This is a distinctive opportunity to continue to develop the visionary and award-winning community of University District as well as lead the next phase for University Innovation Quarter (UIQ). I am grateful for the incredible achievements this team has made over the past several years and I’m looking forward to a continued bright future at UCPG.”
“On behalf of the UCPG Board of Directors, I would like to thank Gregg Callander for his leadership over the last several months,” says UCPG Board Chair Murray Fox. “Welcoming Novy to the team with his extensive background in both real estate law and development will be beneficial to the organization as we continue to move our projects forward into the next phase of development. We’re also happy to welcome Novy back to the University of Calgary family as a proud alumnus of the Haskayne School of Business. It’s an exciting time for the organization and we are confident Novy’s contributions to this integral leadership role will bring unparalleled value to University District and University Innovation Quarter.”
Mr. Cheema will formally begin his new role on January 29, 2024.
About University of Calgary Properties Group
University of Calgary Properties Group Ltd. (UCPG) was created by the University of Calgary to oversee the development and management of university land projects. With a financial model that provides an innovative approach to land development, residual profits from UCPG are directed back to the University to fuel its academic mission. Setting a high standard for sustainable and progressive neighbourhood design, UCPG’s team and 14-member board of directors are dedicated to creating, developing and managing premier communities. With the Master Plan for University District underway and portfolio diversification with University Innovation Quarter, UCPG is delivering on creating amazing places where people can thrive.
About University District
To the west of main campus at the University of Calgary and overlooking the Bow River and Rocky Mountains, University District is a comprehensive 200-acre community with a bold new vision for urban life in Calgary. Through a collaborative, people-first design process, the Development Framework and thorough engagement program forged strong respect between the local stakeholders and UCPG. The neighborhood applies the best ideas in city design and incorporates the wants and needs of surrounding legacy communities – weaving current aesthetic, technology, and lifestyle options into the strong social fabric of the city. University District is the 2022 national winner of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Award for Best Growing Community.
For more information about University District, visit its Discovery Centre at 4410 University Ave. N.W., Calgary (just north of the Alberta Children’s Hospital) or go online: myuniversitydistrict.ca and visit Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, #UDLife.
Media Contacts:
Jacqueline Tran
University of Calgary Properties Group
jtran@ucpg.ca
(403) 903-6024
Paula Worthington
Worthington PR & Story
paula@worthingtonpr.com
(403) 585-2429
Mike Brown
mike@worthingtonpr.com
(587)590-4465