To whom it may concern,

The Columbus Centennial Centre, 404 Desalaberry Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, a Knights of Columbus sponsored Centre, of which I was the President at the time, pursued the matter of building a Senior’s Non Profit Housing Corporation to fulfill the requirements of a land agreement with the City of Winnipeg.

In 1988 I contacted Mr. Douglas Leeies, President of Acorn Development Consultants Ltd., who previously had some nine years of experience in the employment of The Manitoba Housing Corporation. Our Board retained Acorn as our Development Consultants to pursue the building of a six storey, seventy (70) suite, seniors non profit housing corporation adjoining the Columbus Centennial Centre, which became known as Columbus House.

Mr. Leeies successfully arranged all of the financing through the Manitoba Housing authority and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Mr. Leeies assisted us in the procurement of Architectural, Legal and Construction services required and successfully rezoned the property, received approval of all necessary permits including approval from the City of Winnipeg “Rivers and Streams Authority” (the building was constructed on the banks of the Red River). Acorn also marketed the entire project and prepared a detailed management and operational manual for our Corporation. In fact he also offers a Property Management Fee for Service!

The Project was completed and officially opened on April 24th 1990.

Mr. Leeies has been the consultant for a number of other Knights of Columbus Projects in Manitoba. The St. Michael’s Villa (57 seniors Life Lease apartments), the Winnipeg River Manor (18 seniors life lease apartments), the Southward Villa (27 seniors life lease apartments) and the St. Vital Knights Villa (96 seniors apartments) are now in operation. Acorn has recently received approval to proceed with two other K of C Projects.

Acorn has successfully completed a further sixteen Projects on behalf of its Non Profit clients. In addition to these Non Profit Projects, Mr. Leeies and his Corporation are also developing a variety of residential resources specific to assist Non Profit Housing in Canada.

Mr. Leeies is a competent and experienced Consultant, specializing in Non Profit Housing Projects.

Our Board found him to be a very diligent, patient but persistant negotiator with all and sundry involved in such projects to assure the best possible results.

I have no hesitation in recommending Mr. Doug Leeies, President of Acorn Development Consultants Ltd., to act on behalf of a Seniors Non Profit Housing Project, particularly with his experience on both sides of such an operation.

Yours sincerely,

J.C. Stangl, KSG CM

Regarding: Columbus Housing Co-op