When you ask Mike Saunders, senior vice president of Qualico Properties, what he does at Qualico, his answer is simple: “I help build better cities.” It’s a phrase that has become more than just a personal explanation, it’s grown into the company’s guiding mission.
Qualico’s story stretches back more than seven decades. The company opened its doors in Winnipeg in 1951 and has since grown into one of Western Canada’s most notable real estate development companies. The Edmonton office was established in 1955 and has played a large role in shaping both neighbourhoods and commercial districts across the city.
Unlike many developers, Qualico is fully integrated. Land acquisition, housing, multi-family projects, commercial buildings, and property management are all handled under one umbrella. That long-term approach means the company isn’t just focused on the construction phase. It stays involved for the full lifecycle of a project. “We are in discussions with city administration, builders, architects, consultants, community groups, and proper stakeholder engagement within the communities that we work in,” Saunders shares. “Having these longstanding relationships allows us to be in tune to what our community needs, and helps us build better cities.”
This reputation has allowed Qualico to build and maintain meaningful relationships—not only with city leaders and political figures, but also with the non-profits the company is proud to support. With their mission of building better spaces, it is no wonder that Qualico also focuses on giving back to the communities it creates. Over the past 15 years, Qualico has donated more than $30 million to local initiatives. That giving follows five main pillars: ending the cycle of poverty, building sustainably, promoting gender equality, supporting lifelong learning, and encouraging healthy lives. In Edmonton, that includes support for mental health and addictions programs, children’s health, and major fundraising partnerships with Habitat for Humanity.
Qualico’s impact on the community isn’t about recognition, something that Saunders is quick to point out. “We give because it’s the right thing to do. The recognition is nice, but it’s never the motivation.” Seventy years after it began, Qualico is still guided by a simple idea: development should go hand in hand with community well-being. That vision (helping to build better cities) is what keeps the company moving forward.
