Grandin Park Development Ltd.

The Joint Venture Agreement between Manitoba Housing and Ladco Company Ltd.. was signed on, May 25, 1989. Minister Gerry Ducharme said in the House that they would jointly develop 476 acres of land into some 1,900 residential building lots over the next 10 - 15 years. (This was the land south of Bishop Grandin Blvd., just east of St. Anne's Road and the Seine River.)    "Both parties will share in development costs according to the amount of land each owns. Profits will also be shared with the province expecting to net close to $10 million. That is money that will be used to support housing programs for all Manitobans," said Ducharme as he tabled the agreement in the House. (It would be interesting to also see any confidential  MOU's, or agreements, that the Province and Ladco may have signed.)    On December 29, 2003, Councillor Gordon Steeves refered to Alan Borger, Jr. as being the "CEO of Grandin Park." Is this honorific true, or is it simply a reflection of the perceived reality? David Borger works for Alan Borger at Ladco, David is President of Grandin Park, ergo Alan Borger is the head of Grandin Park. In this sense, perception is all. GRANDIN PARK DEVELOPMENT LTD. While Grandin Park Development Ltd. may not be listed in the phone book, according to a 2003 incorporation return it is listed c/o Taylor McCaffrey. The four Directors (two from Ladco, two from Manitoba Housing) are: President: David Borger, Edgewater Drive Vice-President: Henry Bos, 202-280 Broadway Treasurer: Kenneth Oblik, Deer Lodge Place Secretary: Kim Sharman, 349-450 Broadway MHRC DebraWoodgate Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation is chaired by the Deputy Minister of FSH, Debra Woodgate, (204) 945-6700. Henry Bos Henry Bos (204) 945-4703, fax 945-4710, is the Vice-President of Grandin Park Development Ltd. He is MHRC's Director of Corporate Services and an MHRC Board Member. MLA Jack Reimer (PC), when Housing Minister, referred to Mr. Bos as his Senior Policy Analyst.

Henry Bos, director of corporate services for Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corp., said MHRC contributed 179 acres to Ladco's 298.6 and under the agreement the province owns 37.6 per cent of the subdivision. It assumes a proportionate share of developmental costs while Ladco generally manages the project. "This was prime land that was just sitting there," said Bos, adding "It has been a very successful development." (full story)

Kim Sharman Kim Sharman, (204) 945-5600, fax 948-2736, is the Secretary of the Private Venture, Grandin Park Development Ltd. She is the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) responsible for Employment, Income and Housing in Manitoba's Department of Family Services and Housing, and the CEO of the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation and the Manitoba Housing Authority. Since joining the Department of Family Services in 1989, Ms. Sharman has been ADM, Employment, Income and Housing (January 2003 to Present); ADM, Housing; ADM, Administration and Finance; Executive Director, Community Living and Vocational Rehabilitation Programs; and Director, Program Budgeting and Reporting. Ms. Sharman was also a Senior Analyst for the Provincial Treasury Board Secretariat. She holds a Certified General Accountant’s designation.

LADCO David Borger David Borger, Ladco's Vice-President-Development, was the President of the Urban Development Institute in 1995. The Borgers are still building new houses three generations after their grandfather began the company. The prominent St. Boniface developers have historic ties to the provincial Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. For example, in 2003 David Borger gave a $400 political donation to PC Candidate Joy Smith (Fort Garry) and $450 to a longtime Borger beneficiary, Southdale MLA Jack Reimer (PC). Jack Reimer is the MLA for the  Royalwood area. Mr. Reimer's silence in not defending the Bois-des-esprits forest in his constituency is nothing less than remarkable (not that the Winnipeg Free Press or the CBC would ever be so impolite as to mention it.) Ken Oblik Ken Oblik is Ladco's Manager of Land Development. Mr. Oblik was Ladco's representative and a consultant for the GPP Bois-des-esprits Park Plan.  He is a director (2003) of the Urban Development Institute, a participant in the Southwest Fort Garry Design Charrette. (204) 982-5900 (Fax: 255-3652) 200 – 40 Lakewood Boulevard Winnipeg, MB R2J 2M6 E-Mail: oblik@ladcocompany.com

“Overall, when the development is complete, the linear park system is going to be the big feature,” [Ken Oblik] said, adding that the bush will be left entirely untouched so as not to disturb the wildlife in the area…Oblik stressed that the natural habitat of the area will not be touched throughout the development process, providing an awesome view. “The banks along the Seine have never been disturbed. You can basically take a walk into history. (Ladco) wants to keep it as pristine and natural as they can,” he said. He said that this preservation of wildlife sets the subdivision apart from others in the city, creating a unique selling point. “Other communities have parks, but theirs are man made. Mother Nature made this one,” he said. (full story)

Financial Statements 2003

2002