A Realtor dedicated to empowering underserved youth in her community has been named this year’s recipient of the Canadian Realtors Care Award.
Kandice Henry with iPro Realty in Brampton, Ont., was selected from among 53 nominees, receiving the prestigious award at CREA’s Annual General Meeting in Ottawa on Apr. 8.
A ‘fierce advocate for social justice’
Described as a “fierce advocate for social justice,” Henry has positively impacted the lives of more than 400 children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area. After a transformational volunteer trip to Africa, she founded the Shining Lighte Youth Charity (SLYC) in 2023. “Lighte,” which stands for “Leaders in generational healing through empowerment and education,” guides the organization’s mission to break cycles of disadvantage through innovative educational and empowerment programs.
“We were thoroughly impressed by Kandice’s commitment to social justice, including founding a charity to help disadvantaged youth,” said Chris Peters, CREA’s regional director, Atlantic, and member of the award selection committee. “We were so inspired by the countless hours Kandice devotes to developing curriculum and organizing within the community to help create brighter futures for local children.”
While in university, Henry volunteered with the judicial and social service systems, deepening her understanding of the challenges faced by underserved youth. She then spent ten years as Vice-President of the LIFE Foundation, from 2013 to 2023, advocating for at-risk youth.
CREA donates $10k to SLYC
As part of the award, CREA will donate $10,000 to SLYC on behalf of Realtors across Canada.
“It’s really heartfelt just to see that what I’m doing is actually coming to life because it’s full circle for me,” said Henry. “I’m trying to help youth who are in underserved positions and neighbourhoods and places, and I came from that.”
Nominations for the 2026 award will open later this fall; more information can be found at RealtorsCare.ca.
Real Estate Magazine is a proud supporter of the Canadian Realtors Care Award.
What an awesome example of making a real difference! Congratulations Kandice!