Our Management Team

Ric Knutson

Planner Extraordinaire

(Retained in part, on behalf of our partners and clients.)

The very beginning...

Born - yes it's true - in Kirkland Lake, Ontario one very cold January morning in 1950 - which explains the numbness... .however, by popular vote (my own) I am only in my early 40's.

Viking heritage (remember the berserkers!)

Skied competitively when younger but left my knee somewhere at Georgia Peaks and had to give it up for something a little more forgiving - like golf.

Formal education...

Surprisingly, I graduated with Honours from the University of Guelph in 1975 while taking full advantage of the campus/university social life. I accepted a Research Assistant position studying rural development issues for another year... .deciding that extending the whole university thing would not be good for me on all counts, mostly poverty.

The first 10 years...

For the next 10 years, I advanced through the ranks of a variety of professional planning positions with assorted municipalities, provincial ministries (Ontario and Nova Scotia), and the private sector across Ontario. My work covered the full breadth of planning assignments in Nova Scotia and Ontario, including extensive O.M.B. participation on issues ranging from shopping mall hearings to Committee of Adjustment appeals; area studies, special studies; municipal advisory services and zoning by-laws, as well as projects with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Municipal Affairs. The later on a specialized program on energy conservation.

The REAL education...

Coming from the political back rooms of Cape Breton, Muskoka and the rest of Northern Ontario, I learned about political decision making at a very personal level.

In 1984, I took a leap and launched my own successful consulting firm in Milton/London providing land use planning service primarily to land development clients.

In 1987 while continuing to support my other clients, I was also contracted to juggle the responsibilities of Development Manager for Z Group - a busy development firm located in London, Ontario (1987 - 1997). This experience expanded my role from that of a land use planner to a more fulsome perspective of land development, generally including due diligence, marketing, sales, management of all professional consultants, etc. Projects included many multi-family, commercial, office, and residential subdivisions including a single draft plan of subdivision of 250 hectares. I have also developed considerable experience in the realm of development charges in doing the studies and By-law for Stratford and successfully appealing the London 2000 By-law.

I have been honoured to do work for a number of significant clients including Mathews Group, Marathon Realty, Sifton Properties, the Ontario Real Estate Association, Canadian Tire Associates Ltd., London Development Institute, and various ratepayer groups. While there have been hundreds and perhaps thousands of individual property matters (plans of subdivision, re-zonings and site plans) achieved over the past many years, I am proudest of earning a reputation for creating win-win situations that take into consideration the local residents, the community as a whole and the long-term good of the environment.

The present...

In 2006, I allied with the Forrest Group after shepherding their London project though the permitting process. I am very pleased to be able to work with a team that shares my passion for building communities geared to mature adults.

On a personal note...

Happily balancing between being refreshingly perky and near exhaustion...

I married my wonder wife, VJ, two fun-filled years ago. We share 5 kids between us (2 = mine). I live somewhere on the 401 but mostly in a north London cave - with some of the kids who haven't yet flown the coop - and a wonderful Wheaton Terrier, Kasey (no resemblance).