Calvin Burgess

Calvin Burgess is an evangelical Christian businessman and the president of Dominion Farms Limited, an enormous agricultural operation in western Kenya that has been accused of being a "land grab."

"Following his 1972 graduation from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Calvin Burgess managed a major construction company in Victoria, B.C. Upon moving to the U.S. in 1976, he worked briefly for general contractors in Texas and Oklahoma before establishing Canam Construction Company in 1977 in Edmond, Oklahoma. Within 15 years of its founding, Canam had become the largest general construction firm headquartered in the Oklahoma City area. Between 1986 and 2005 when Canam exited the construction business, Dominion/Canam built 3.2 million square feet of essential public buildings – all under the fast-track, design-build approach to development.

"Mr. Burgess formed Dominion Leasing in 1986 to pursue the privatization of previously traditional government functions. Dominion’s success in the development of public projects led to the creation of a number of affiliated companies providing a broad range of services to federal, state and local governments. Dominion Properties developed and still owns one of the largest aggregation of office buildings leased to the U.S. Government. Dominion has developed more high-security prisons than any other privately owned company in the U.S. Several of Mr. Burgess’ entities have pioneered their fields of work and have materially advanced the concept of privatization.

"In pursuit of his interest in aviation, Mr. Burgess established Spirit Wing Aviation in 1988 to own and operate corporate aircraft. This company’s mission has expanded into the restoration of vintage aircraft and the engine modification of early models of Learjet aircraft with Williams FJ44 fanjets. Designs and components developed by Spirit Wing for business and military jets are valued by some of the world’s largest aerospace companies.

"Mr. Burgess is active in the organization and operation of faith-based missions focused on the citizens of poor and developing nations, including his personal investment in Dominion Farms Ltd. As its principal officer and investor, he spends one-third of his time at the farm and manages it remotely from Oklahoma the remainder of the time."

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Related SourceWatch articles

• Dominion Farms Limited
• Global Land Grab
• Yala Swamp
• Bondo District, Kenya

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