OVER 30 YEARS OF LOCAL EXPERTISE
Stewart, Weir, MacDonald Ltd. is a Yellowknife real estate appraisal and consulting firm which has been in operation in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut since 1984 and in 2018 we opened an office in the Yukon Territory. Owned and operated by Lauchlin MacDonald who started with the company in its early days. Lauchlin has traveled extensively throughout both Territories, and has had occasion to visit, and do business in every one of the 57 communities in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, during his career. As such, it is a “northern” firm, registered with the Government of the Northwest Territories, Government of Nunavut and Government of Yukon with a specialized knowledge of northern properties. Over the years, it has evolved from a small firm providing residential (mortgage) appraisals to local lending institutions, into a multi-faceted service provider of various valuation functions, including mortgage appraisals on residential (single and multi-family), commercial and industrial properties, as well as institutional, or government buildings. The firm has also been involved in the insurance valuations (replacement cost), assessment for property taxes, and real estate consulting, including research projects, surveys and land pricing policies in remote regions. For the period 1995 to 2003, the City of Yellowknife contracted Stewart, Weir, MacDonald Ltd. to provide valuations for property tax purposes, of all land and buildings within the municipal boundaries of the City. The assessment process and legislation in the NWT requires that the values for all buildings be calculated on a depreciated replacement cost basis.
With a primary office located at 5004 50th Avenue, in downtown Yellowknife, and satellite offices in Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut and Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon, Stewart, Weir, MacDonald Ltd. is well positioned to assist companies interested in participating in the northern economy, and the future benefits and rewards anticipated by all northerners.
The company employs a staff of five full time people, three holding Candidate designations from the Appraisal Institute of Canada.
Lauchlin MacDonald, AACI, is one of the co-founders of the firm, and currently, sole shareholder. He holds the designation Accredited Appraiser of the Canadian Institute (AACI) from the Appraisal Institute of Canada.
Ms. Nicole DeVries, started with the firm in October 2015 , she is currently primarily involved in the preparation of residential appraisals in Whitehorse, Yukon. As a candidate, Nicole is working towards her designation of Accredited Appraiser of the Canadian Institute (AACI). Nicole holds a Bachelor of Business and Administration Degree from the University of Regina.
Quinton Weir is a local Yellowknifer; having spent lots of time in various Northern Communities he is well acquainted with the uniqueness of the northern markets. Quinton Weir has been with Stewart Weir MacDonald since the fall of 2020, he is currently an AIC Candidate Member working under the supervision of Lauchilin MacDonald. His previous experience in the construction and business administration makes him well suited for providing appraisals of a variety of residential properties in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Quinton Weir holds a Bachelor of General Studies with a Minor in Business from the University of the Fraser Valley.
Sam MacDonald was born in Yellowknife and relocated in his youth to Alberta before attending St. Francis Xavier University in the East Coast, where he received an honours bachelor of arts in philosophy with distinction. He returned to Alberta to attend the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, training in alternative energy technology and building science while simultaneously undertaking the preliminary education for real estate valuation with the University of British Columbia. After working in the field of energy auditing and efficiency retrofits for two years, Sam returned to Yellowknife at the beginning of 2020 to start a career in real estate valuation as a Candidate Member of the AIC working under Lauchlin MacDonald’s supervision
The firm has an office administrative staff of two – Marg Hudder and Cindy McKay.