Zeljko emigrated to Canada as a refugee because of the civil war that was raging throughout the Balkans in the 1990s. His first home in Canada was MCRC (Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Center), the reception house for refugees at Bridgeland he now manages – apart from other CCIS facilities – as a Facilities Manager. 

Zeljko joined CCIS as a part-time housing liaison in 1997, two years after he arrived in Calgary. It took him just a few months to become a full-time employee, as a part-time resettlement counselor was added to his portfolio, serving the clients from the Balkans as the remnants of the war continued to drive people to safer parts of the world. 

In 1999, he received special recognition from IRCC (then CIC) for the resettlement of Kosovars. He found permanent accommodation for 400-plus clients who were at MCRC within 4 months! 

Since 2003, he has been managing CCIS properties, be they MCRC, Head Office, or other residential properties owned by CCIS. 

A self-styled Tennis player – who, by his own admission, is much better at watching than playing – Zelko’s attention to detail is evident from his favorite player. In an era where every tennis fan is singing paeans about the number of Grand Slam titles won by the trio of Federer-Nadal-Djokovic, this philosophy major loves Stan Wawrinka, who, in his opinion, has ‘the best one-handed backhand ever’ in the game.