[Today, Nasser’s office] boardroom overlooks the public plaza amid the massive $300-million-plus complex Victory Majors led at River Landing to develop what was touted as the most valuable piece of real estate in Saskatchewan. The plaza, which is named for Nasser, was opened to the public in Saskatoon this summer…

Karim and [wife] Dora moved to New Jersey to pursue his education. Then he moved to Canada and worked in Montreal and North Bay before accepting a teaching position at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He eventually completed his PhD in Saskatoon…

He also recalls the day in late October 60 years ago that he arrived in Saskatoon at dusk and saw the sparkling city lights. “I said, ‘Oh that’s a wonderful place. Hopefully, that will be our place.’ ”

Karim was advised to get some experience building in Saskatoon so he would better appreciate the different standards for engineering. That sparked a career that would alter the city of Saskatoon…

He still marvels at his boldest dream come true, the complex that has transformed River Landing and Saskatoon’s skyline, including the province’s tallest building, Nutrien Tower. That dream began when Karim attended a Saskatoon city council meeting to complain about moving garbage carts from back lanes to the street for pickup. On that front, “It was a waste of time,” he laughs. 

But he witnessed a presentation during the council meeting about a development proposed for Parcel Y at River Landing, and it captured his active imagination. Despite misgivings about whether he and his company were right for the project, Karim’s Victory Majors Investment Corp. formed a partnership with Calgary’s Lake Placid Developments. Then, in 2010, Nasser bought out Lake Placid and took the lead. “He didn’t want to see it die,” John says of the project on city-owned land. The complex, which began as a hotel and spa in 2004, was already marked by delays and Victory Majors became the third company in charge of it. Some city councillors, including current Mayor Charlie Clark, thought the project was too big to proceed. Even Karim wondered about the size of the project before he took it over. “I never thought I would be involved in that kind of a project,” he says. “It’s a very big project.” Karim started looking for partners and eventually pulled together the conglomerate that would move the massive project forward. 

At a groundbreaking ceremony in 2016, John estimated that the project could take a decade to complete. But it’s nearing completion in half that time. Nutrien Tower is receiving finishing touches, and the smaller office tower, which houses Victory Majors, has tenants inside. The condominium tower and Alt Hotel opened [in 2019]… The vertical lights on the office buildings are becoming a signature sign of night in downtown Saskatoon.

Karim struggles to find words to describe the nearly finished project. “I can’t believe it. I still can’t look at those places. Did I dream that? Was it something that’s real? Could I see this in my dream?”…

As for the business, [Victory Majors], Karim has handed the leadership role to [son] John. Karim still regularly offers his opinion, but makes it clear the decisions are John’s to make… Karim says his mind remains active, even though he acknowledges his body is slowing down. He walks slowly, but speaks with purpose and enthusiasm in his thick accent, laughing frequently…

His generosity to the university includes a $12-million donation of property in 2010. About a block north of the plaza that bears his name, the K. W. Nasser Centre houses the downtown campus of the university’s Edwards School of Business…