What began as a small consulting practice has grown into a company that helps shape some of British Columbia’s most vibrant communities. Along the way, we have stayed focused on what matters most: creating places that enrich lives, building relationships rooted in trust, and finding new ways to elevate the experience of living and working in our buildings. Today, we continue to imagine what is possible as we look back on our journey and set our sights on what comes next for the communities we champion.
our history
Our story began in 1994 with a small consulting practice that helped major brands like MEC, Hudson’s Bay, and TD Bank navigate real estate decisions. Those early years strengthened our expertise and revealed what matters most in building great communities. As our ambitions grew, we expanded into development and property management with the goal of creating spaces that enrich the lives of the people who use them. Through every stage of our evolution, we have stayed focused on making a positive impact on people and places. Today, we are proud of how far we have come and energized by the communities we will continue to champion across Western Canada.
Dave Chard and his wife Naomi founded Chard Development from their home office, setting the groundwork for the company’s future. They soon opened a Downtown Vancouver office, welcomed their first employees, and built a thriving consulting practice that supported clients including MEC, Hudson’s Bay, Zellers, Cadillac Fairview, TD Bank, Westminster Management, and Ivanhoe Shopping Centres.
Chard began pursuing its own real estate developments through key partnerships, starting with a heritage restoration and office project in Toronto’s Queen Street West neighbourhood.
With Corazon, Chard delivered its first condominium project in Victoria, establishing a reputation for developing in opportunity neighbourhoods and helping to revitalize an overlooked part of the city’s downtown.
Chard set a new standard for living in Victoria’s Old Town with the completion of The Sovereign, the city’s first true luxury residential building.
Following four residential developments within Downtown Victoria, Chard expands into the city’s James Bay neighbourhood, completing Duet - a two building residential development.
Chard launches sales of Ellsworth, the company’s first condo project in Vancouver. When the architecturally unique, 10-storey, mixed-use building is completed in 2018, it brings 89 new homes to Mount Pleasant, one of the city’s most coveted neighbourhoods.
With the launch of sales for Vivid at the Yates, a residence of 135 homes, Chard brings a unique affordable housing opportunity to Victoria, allowing BC residents to purchase a home at least 8% below market value and inspiring similar projects in the future.
With Yello, Chard brings its first purpose-built residential rental building to Downtown Victoria, while the completion of Elenore on Fifth solidifies Chard’s reputation as one of the most prolific developers in Vancouver’s sought-after Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.
That same year, Chard completes its first commercial strata development in Vancouver: 34|W7, located in the heart of Mount Pleasant, offers 48,000 sq. ft. of office and light industrial space.
Chard celebrates 25 years of success and makes exciting changes: Dave Chard becomes Executive Director and promotes Byron Chard to the role of President and CEO.
Addressing a rental shortage in North Vancouver, Chard delivers 256 much-needed rental homes in the heart of Central Lonsdale. Included within The Royals project are 14 deeply affordable rental homes dedicated to the YWCA.
Chard completes the revitalization of the Victoria Professional Building and delivers two residential projects at Cook Street Plaza in Victoria’s Harris-Green neighbourhood - Nest, a 20-storey residential tower, and Haven, a 6-storey affordable homeownership project for first-time buyers. These projects share a connected central plaza and advance Chard’s commitment to expanding the housing continuum in Victoria.
With ongoing partners BC Housing and YWCA Metro Vancouver, Chard completes 388 Slocan. This community enhancing, below-market rental building is operated by the YWCA and offers rent-geared to income and below market homes to 70 families in Vancouver's Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood.
Chard breaks ground on the first new purpose-built hotel in Victoria in more than twenty years. Located at Johnson and Broad, the project preserves the heritage facade and rubble wall of the Ducks Building while creating a welcoming place for families to stay in Victoria’s Old Town. With a street-level restaurant and spaces for community groups to gather, the hotel is designed to serve the neighbourhood for generations to come.
Chard continues to fulfill our vision of operating beyond buildings with projects under construction that range from multi-tower purpose-built rental communities to hotels and commercial spaces - all designed to enhance neighbourhoods and provide quality places to live, work, and play.
For more information on upcoming projects, visit Our Projects.
Our team
Our people are the heart of what we do. Our leadership and staff bring decades of experience across real estate development, property management, finance, construction, hospitality, and customer service. Every role — from leasing and maintenance to accounting and community management — plays a part in shaping comfortable, high-quality spaces where residents feel at home. Behind every thoughtful design and smooth operation is a committed team working with integrity, curiosity, and a shared purpose to build communities people love.
For over a decade, Byron has been committed to driving Chard forward. Named President and CEO in 2019, Byron has spearheaded company expansion beyond market condominium developments to include purpose-built rental, affordable home ownership, strata and for-lease commercial, and hotel development. Byron led the vertical integration of asset management and property management service lines, including the successful takeover and operational transition of two existing assets. Byron currently sits as Chair of the UDI Rental Committee, Executive Committee of UDI, and is a member of the Young President Organization. Byron holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation in British Columbia, a Rental Property Management License, and is in the practical aspect of obtaining his Trading Service License. Byron has been named Top 40 under 40 in 2024 by Business in Vancouver, awarded the UDI Maureen Enser Future Leader Award in November 2024, and Power 50 by Vancouver Magazine in 2025.
Jennie brings close to two decades of expertise in real estate and global accounting. Jennie joined Chard from SHAPE Properties close to a decade ago, after spending five years at EY Canada. She leads the accounting and finance teams, establishes controls and procedures, and plays a key role in corporate reporting, financial statement audits and tax. Jennie oversees forecasting and budgeting processes, ensures compliance with financial reporting standards, and drives the financial performance of projects and properties under management. Jennie is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in British Columbia.
Steve has been a member of the Chard team for over two decades. In his role as COO, Steve works closely with the CEO to oversee operational functions including cross-department oversight, staffing, administration and company strategy. Steve is responsible for overseeing the enforcement and implementation of company standards across the markets we operate in, supporting our organizational vision. He embodies Chard’s commitment to relationship building, accountability and quality. Through his expertise, leadership skills and vision, Steve works to ensure that the foundation built to date continues to support our growth and development into the future.
With over 17 years of multifamily property management experience in both Canada and the United States, Audra brings proven expertise in revenue management, operations, and strategic leadership. She has led diverse portfolios, guiding new developments from lease-up through stabilization, and implementing customer-focused systems that enhance efficiency and performance. Recognized for her results-driven leadership, Audra consistently delivers revenue growth and high-quality outcomes through data-driven decision making, process improvements, and team development.
Jaelem brings a strong background in retail and consumer goods, having previously held an executive-level role where he led the brand and retail strategy for the Canadian travel brand, Herschel Supply Co., which has over 100 standalone and concession retail locations worldwide. He has successfully designed and implemented impactful retail marketing strategies, which were instrumental in driving major global brand campaigns. Jaelem leads our commitment to Uncommon Care while overseeing corporate branding and shaping our rental portfolio vision.
Kimberly has a rich background in senior roles across various sectors, including hospitality and retail. She is skilled in full-cycle recruiting, employee retention and relations, performance management, and leadership coaching across multiple jurisdictions. Kimberly focuses on maximizing both human capital and profitability, delivering training programs centered on customer service excellence. She prioritizes investing in people to attract, retain, and engage top talent.
Hugh is a dedicated and purpose-driven construction executive with over 30 years of experience managing complex construction projects across Canada. Hugh has previously held senior management positions at EllisDon, Ivanhoe Cambridge, and Amica Senior Lifestyles. Hugh has a proven ability to build strong relationships with partners, stakeholders, designers, suppliers, contractors, and municipalities. Hugh is highly skilled in leading construction contract negotiations, overseeing trade selection, and maintaining rigorous quality control to ensure Chard projects are delivered with consistency. Hugh integrates with CPG to ensure a smooth handover process while providing support in emergencies or contract negotiations to ensure prompt, fair, and below-market pricing to drive down operating costs.
Ian is an accomplished finance executive with an extensive track record of successful real estate financing gained through over 30 years of banking and industry experience. Ian oversees Chard’s senior debt portfolio and is responsible for securing acquisition and project financing and fostering the exceptional relationships Chard maintains with its finance partners.
Kevin brings over 25 years of experience in the hospitality and property management sectors. He has 10+ years of property management experience in the Alberta market, including senior leadership roles overseeing residential operations, capital projects, and asset management across multiple organizations. Formerly with one of Canada’s top-ranking property management groups, Kevin has provided leadership and oversight for a portfolio of approximately 8,500 rental units across the Greater Toronto area and Ontario. Kevin has held several senior management positions in the hospitality industry across esteemed hotel groups. Kevin’s greatest strength is understanding how to leverage our vertical team with prompt and expert service, while leveraging his hospitality expertise to bring a fresh approach to property management.
INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR TEAM?
We are always looking for people who care about creating great communities and who bring curiosity, integrity, and heart to their work. At Chard, you will join a team that values collaboration, celebrates initiative, and takes pride in delivering meaningful experiences for the people who live and work in our buildings. If you want to build your career with a company that puts people first, we would love to meet you.
Creating great communities takes care, collaboration, and a clear vision. From the first idea to the final handover, we stay focused on the people who will call our buildings home. Our process brings together thoughtful design, technical expertise, and a commitment to service that ensures every detail supports a better living experience. Learn more about how we bring that promise to life and create places where people feel valued and connected.
Where expertise and intention build better communities.
Integrated from the ground up — development, operations, and long-term care.
Building toward a shared future.
