Our Story
1903
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Walter Hamilton Alexander Hill and E. A. McCallum formed McCallum Hill & Company on February 3, 1903. The enterprise initially engaged in both the real estate and insurance business, aggressively acquiring land from the city to develop residential and commercial properties. The land acquisition of the Robert Sinton farm was McCallum Hill & Company's first real estate deal. Located in south Regina, the land was purchased by the provincial government and is now home to the Provincial Legislative Building. At the time, the property owner was having difficulty determining if he wanted to sell his land and Walter decided to offer a $20,000 cash down payment to help speed up the process. With the only legal tender at the time being the Dominion of Canada one dollar bill, Walter kept a briefcase of $20,000 one-dollar notes on hand on the chance that the owner would choose to accept. Sinton eventually accepted the offer and Walter offered him the deposit before he could change his mind.
1914
1914
REGINA'S FIRST SKYSCRAPER
Observing continuous growth in Regina, McCallum Hill & Company chose to invest in the city that had brought them success and built Regina's first skyscraper – The McCallum Hill Building. Described as “one of the most modern buildings of the west,” the 10-storey skyscraper stood as an architectural icon and symbolized the company's confidence in Regina's future. Ready to accept its first tenants on January 1, 1914, the construction of the McCallum Hill Building brought life and excitement to the downtown core of Regina.
1960
CREATING COMMUNITIES
The 60's and 70's saw Harvard successfully expand in the Regina residential real estate market with major developments like Hillsdale, Normanview, Gryphons Walk, Qu'Appelle Village and Centennial Gardens.
1979
1979
CROSSING BORDERS
As the '70s progressed, Harvard crossed borders and firmly established a foothold in Alberta with the construction of two major office towers – The 350,000 sq.ft Norcen Tower and 387,000 sq.ft Alberta Stock Exchange Building - in Calgary.
1982
PAVING THE WAY TO...
The face of downtown Regina has been ever changing over the years. , The implosion of the original McCallum Hill Building, which took place on October 31, 1982, removed the city's oldest skyscraper and paved the way for a new era of development for both Regina and Harvard. That site is now home to the first of Regina's iconic Twin Towers.
1992
1992
...A NEW ERA
Following the completion of the Cornwall Centre, Regina's downtown core was facing a dramatic revitalization. Harvard, being Regina's major real estate player chose to take centre stage with the construction of Hill Centre Towers I & II. Located in the heart of the downtown business district, the 22-storey towers were designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of New York and BLM Architects of Regina. The first tower was completed in 1985 with second developed in 1992. The unique design and construction of the 11-degree splayed walls have become an iconic symbol for the city and make them two of the most recognizable towers in the province.
2004
EAU CLAIRE PURCHASE
Acquired in 2004, Eau Claire is situated on the shore of the Bow River on the northern boundary of Calgary's downtown core. Today, this prime location serves as a highly desirable gathering point for business, travel and leisure activities. Its development will include 1.8 million square feet of residential, office and hotel space.
2007
2007
THE FUTURE OF RETAIL
Two legacy retail projects are unveiled that will shape the next two decades of Harvard's development history. 'Currents of Windermere', a 100 acre retail power centre in Edmonton, breaks ground in 2008. A nearly identical property in Regina, 'Grasslands', broke ground in 2010. Both properties are nearing full build-out and are go to destinations for residents of each city.
2012
RESHAPING REGINA'S SKYLINE
'Mosaic Tower', a 20 storey office tower comprised of approximately 240,000 rentable square feet of office and main floor retail space, is the first of its kind to be constructed in Regina in the past 20 years. With unique amenities such as a rooftop patio, full fitness facility, and state of the art conference centre, Mosaic Tower not only signifies growth and prosperity in the province of Saskatchewan, but Harvard's commitment to develop modern and vibrant spaces that cater to the unique demands of today's workforce.
2014
2014
NEW HEIGHTS IN WINNIPEG
In May of 2014 Harvard Developments Inc., in partnership with Greystone Managed Investments Inc. enters the Manitoba office market with the purchase of '201 Portage', Winnipeg's premier 33-storey office tower at the intersection of Portage & Main. In the years that follow, a modern food court and conference centre are introduced, as well as an expansive renovation to the main floor lobby.
2016
NEW HOME OF AGRICULTURE
Harvard, along with primary tenants Farm Credit Canada and Stantec, celebrate the official grand opening of 'Agriculture Place', the newest office tower in the heart of downtown Regina. Agriculture Place is an 11-storey, class “A” tower that boasts over 160,000 sq.ft. of modern office space. The jewel of the development is the “Shoppes on Hamilton”, a main-floor shopping destination that offers nearly 10,000 sq.ft. of connected retail space that neighbours the office tower.
2016
2016
SETTING ROOTS IN THE WEST
Harvard's residential development team breaks ground on 'Westerra', a new 490-acre Complete Community in West Regina. Westerra features over 46 acres of green space (including Regina's first purpose-built cricket pitch) and 8 kilometers of pathways, a retail shopping district, boutique shops on West Market Street and a future business park with convenient access to employment opportunities. It is the first major mixed-use residential project undertaken by Harvard, and the first community to be approved in the City of Regina's Official Community Plan.
2017
A CHANGE IN SEASONS
Harvard invests further into the Manitoba market, partnering with Forster Projects to develop 'Seasons', Winnipeg's first mixed-use shopping centre that features a diverse array of retail complemented by modern residential. At the heart of the development is Outlet Collection Winnipeg, Manitoba's first pure outlet shopping destination, offering more than 570,000 ft² of shopping. The property celebrated its grand opening on May 3, 2017 to mass fanfare and has become a frequented fashion destination in the Manitoba capital by both tourists and residents.
2021
2021
CELEBRATING OUR PAST, BUILDING THE FUTURE.
With transformative projects like Eau Claire in Calgary, Westerra in Regina or Seasons in Winnipeg, the future of Harvard's real estate pursuits has never been brighter. Equipped with over a century of development experience and success, our teams are ready to challenge the status quo on every project we encounter and continue to build our reputation as a leader in North American real estate.
2022
'TRANSFORM201' COMES TO FRUITION
A three-year, $25 million renovation project is completed at 201 Portage in downtown Winnipeg. This monumental undertaking includes a renovated lobby entrance, new marble flooring, wall panels, and aluminum composite panels. In addition, the 201 Fitness facility is constructed, and the adjoining courtyard receives a significant rejuvenation. Furthermore, WOW Hospitality Concepts announced opening three new food and beverage outlets in the lobby of 201 Portage: 529 Uptown, 529 Coffee, and 529 Burger, offering tenants and guests premium dining options.
2023
2023
120 YEARS...AND BUILDING
The Hill Companies and Harvard Developments celebrate an incredible 120 years of business. From its humble beginnings, Harvard has always remained committed to the community, its employees, and helping others achieve their dreams. This has played a crucial role in the company's ongoing success and longevity. Today, Harvard’s portfolio comprises over 180 properties, totalling over 10 million square feet of office, retail, and residential properties across Western Canada.
2023
SK CHAMBER HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
After operating in the province for 120 years, The Hill Companies are inducted into the Saskatchewan Business Hall of Fame by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. The induction took place at the annual ABEX Awards in Saskatoon, where the company was recognized for its outstanding contributions to the province's business community. Since its inception, The Hill Companies have grown into a significant player in North America and have contributed over $40 million to various communities throughout Saskatchewan in the last decade alone.