LEGACY, LESSONS, AND THE PARK THAT ALMOST WASN’T

Two decades after the first lot was sold at Burke Mountain, Ray Nothstein can point to countless milestones — from parks and trails to a village core in the making. But when asked about his personal legacy, his mind goes straight to one story: a fight over where to put a park.

Originally, the neighbourhood plan placed it in one location and housing in another. Ray’s team saw it differently — the land’s natural features told them the two should be swapped. The city disagreed.

RAY: “We fought for a long time, then finally gave up. I said, ‘Okay, we’ll do it your way. I’ve got to get this product out the door.’”

And then, at the eleventh hour, the Parks and Rec director called him in.

RAY: “He said, ‘You know that idea you had about the park? I now agree that’s the right answer.’ We’d blown close to two years chasing the wrong plan, but in the end we got the park where it should be. That’s my legacy.”

Successes and Frustrations

For Ray, Burke’s biggest success is simple.

RAY: “It’s a community. The city, the citizens, Wesbild — we collectively created something great.”

The frustration? Delays in neighbourhood plans that have left land sitting empty when homes could be built.

RAY: “In this case, the city screwed up. They need those bodies to fill shops, schools, and rec centres, and the plans would have delivered them.”

Lessons for the Next Generation

As the conversation turns to career advice, Ray’s answer is equal parts practical and personal.

RAY: “It’s a fantastic career — public sector, private sector, social planning. But learn the unglamorous things, like sewers and city process. Those details make the difference.”

He also stresses the importance of on-the-job learning.

RAY: “When you leave school, you’re employable, but you’ll keep learning your entire career. Listen, ask questions, and be attentive — your employer has an obligation to help you get it right.”

The Power of People Skills

Not everything you need to succeed in development comes from a textbook. Ray credits his confidence in public meetings to childhood theatre classes, restaurant work, and a willingness to engage with people — even the ones holding protest signs.

RAY: “If you know where you’re trying to go, and you’re not there with ego, you can collaborate. That’s how you get to the right answer.”

For Ray Nothstein, Burke Mountain’s story is about more than roads, houses, and amenities. It’s about the choices — big and small — that shape a community’s identity. And it’s about the persistence it takes to fight for the right answer, however long it takes to get there.