Our Story

During very difficult economic times in 1984, as unemployed graduates, Sam of University of Calgary Engineering with Melissa’s unwavering support and Van of Central Memorial High School, on the huge shoulders and support of their parents, Gust and Nina, began an amazing journey now built on the huge shoulders of our entire Boardwalk Family Forever and Team of Associates, Resident Members, CMHC, Lenders, Unit holders and all our product and service partners whom together we provide a home where love always lives.

In 1994, we took another significant step by going public on the Alberta Stock Exchange. This allowed our Associates to become part owners of the company, with shares priced at just $0.0675 per share. During that year, we acquired over 1,000 apartment units in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.

Expanding our reach, we ventured into Saskatchewan in 1996 and seamlessly translated our community-focused approach to Ontario in 1999 and Quebec in 2002.

By 2004, we had grown to 31,780 suites and made the transition to a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). As a REIT, we are not taxed because we distribute most of our net taxable income to unitholders.

In 2012, we embarked on our first development project by utilizing excess land owned by the Trust. This project received a rent subsidy grant from the Province of Alberta, allowing us to provide 54 of the 109 units as affordable housing for a period of 20 years at a rate 10% below CMHC market rents.

Recognizing the evolving needs of our Residents, we introduced our new logo and three new brands in 2018: Lifestyle, Communities, and Living. This brand diversification enables us to better cater to the growing needs of our Resident Members.

In 2018, we partnered with RioCan REIT to build Brio, a 162-unit apartment community in Calgary. This mixed-use building offers high-quality rental housing managed by Boardwalk but also includes 10,000 square feet of retail space managed by RioCan.

Today, we are proud to have more than 34,000 suites and 55,000 Resident Members across five provinces in Canada. Our commitment to our Resident Members has made us one of the best REITs in the country. We continue to prioritize building strong relationships and providing exceptional experiences for everyone who calls Boardwalk home.