The name Gary Pooni is synonymous with planning and development projects, both local and across Canada. As evidenced by the work of his namesake non-profi t foundation, he is also a strong advocate of building stronger communities.Gary Pooni heads the eponymous Pooni Group and has worked with some of the region’s biggest real estate developers such as Westbank, Beedie and Bosa.Yet while considered a titan of power – the man is relatively low-key and generally fl ies below public radar in social circles.His uncanny ability to enlist and align prospective clients to collectively work together in an eff ort to get developments done – is remarkable.
He’s generally regarded as “The Networking King.”Pooni’s early life took shape in the New Westminster neighbourhood of Queensborough, where his family lived and worked the farmland.“My father was a dump truck driver for Southwest Contracting Ltd., while my mother took care of myself and my brother and sister,” he says.It was there that a young Gary Pooni would become aware of the concept of urban development.It clearly resonated early on.The nature of urban planning is about shaping an existing environment and developing it further with the public in mind.It’s a balance of economic development, urban growth and social infrastructure amid changing demographics.“Planners try to balance all of those things, like juggling multiple objectives,” says Pooni.Urban planners create and recommend policies and frameworks and/or facilities to better utilize the land and prepare for future livability, providing necessary services to neighbourhoods in both rural and urban areas.
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Techniques include estimating potential population growth, identifying transportation needs, healthcare requirements and social services, amid supply chain demands. “It was kind of a confl uence of inspirations,” he says of his chosen career path. “I watched my dad work on several construction sites in Greater Vancouver and when I was in high school our land was re-designated to ‘Multi-family’ in the Community Plan. That piqued my interest in the urban planning process.” Pooni cites specifi c experiences on his pathway to success.
“There are a few things that come to mind,” he says. “Making it into grad school for urban planning was one hurdle. “I moved to Calgary at that time and it was a new, insecure experience for me. When I was hired by Greg Brown at his Alberta fi rm [after a stint with the City of Calgary], I was elated.” He has always maintained an interest in the private sector side of industry and experienced one of life’s full circle moments in the process. “When I returned to Vancouver a few years later, I was working on Fraser Mills with Ryan Beedie. That was a huge moment early in my career,” he says. “My father had worked at Fraser Mills when it was a lumber mill site and there I was, 40 years later, working on its redevelopment.
His uncanny ability to enlist and align prospective clients to collectively work together in an effort to get developments doneis remarkable.
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“ To be honest, I am always going to chase that path to success. I am the son of Indian immigrants and perhaps have an imposter syndrome.”
“Working with the Beedie, Bosa, Gillespie and Ilich families the past 20 years has been a wonderful experience for me.”In business circles, Pooni has a knack for being able to bring people together on projects, rally support and bypass hurdles. So what is his secret to getting things done?“I don’t think there is a secret,” he states. “My parents had an incredible work ethic, which I respect immensely. My mom is the kindest person I’ve ever known and hard work and kindness is an incredible combo. “I also played soccer for almost 30 years and have a very competitive side. Playing on a team with 11 people on your side has helped me learn about human nature and diff erent styles of leadership.”Not one to rest on his laurels, Gary Pooni continues to strive for ongoing success in an ever-changing world.
“To be honest, I am always going to chase that ‘path to success,’” he adds. “I am the son of Indian immigrants and perhaps have an imposter syndrome.“This era is the most diffi cult I’ve seen in my career: a global pandemic, a diffi cult market, high interest rates, escalating costs, and civic unrest. Land development is a very dynamic industry and needs to adapt quickly.“Unfortunately, our regulatory environment is static and with this amount of tension, it is very diffi cult to bring people together and align everyone’s thinking.”And despite being at the helm of such a successful enterprise, Pooni is thankful and grateful to be where he is today – on just a personal level, alone. “I survived a massive heart attack and cardiac arrest in 2019 and I barely survived. Recovering, and just being alive — that’s my greatest accomplishment.”
