It’s no secret, REALTORS® are trusted experts in their communities. With this expertise often comes an understanding of a community’s needs, and REALTORS® across Canada are taking action to meet these needs. Now’s your opportunity to recognize someone whose actions have created an outstanding, positive impact on their community.
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is now accepting nominations for the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2025 Proudly Presented by REALTOR.ca. Since 2016, this national award has been recognizing REALTORS® whose volunteerism has created lasting change in the lives of others. In celebration of 10 years celebrating REALTOR® impact, the donation that this year’s recipient’s charity of choice will receive has been doubled to $10,000.
CREA is asking nominators to send in the inspiring stories of REALTORS® who go above and beyond to make an impact. Nominators will need to complete a nomination form, providing the history of the REALTOR®’s charitable work and highlighting the positive difference the nominee is making in their community.
Alongside the nomination form, nominators need to submit at least one letter of recommendation, obtained in the past year, from a representative of a registered charity supported by the nominee. They will also need to include at least one piece of supporting documentation showing their nominee making an impact. This can be but is not limited to, media coverage, photographs, video or social media posts.
Since its inception, ten REALTORS® across five provinces have been honoured with the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award. From rallying their fellow REALTORS® for good, to game-changing philanthropy and creating critical resources for local non-profits, each of the past recipients has embodied the REALTORS Care® spirit in their own unique way.
Last year’s recipient, Kelly Byers, has been an inspiration to her town of Woodstock, Ontario, and the surrounding region. Byers, one of 46 REALTORS® nominated for the 2024 award, created the REALTORS Care® Food Drive, a county-wide event through which she’s rallied hundreds of her fellow REALTORS® to collect and donate more than 250,000 pounds of food for local Salvation Army food banks. Since 2011, her initiative has grown each year and has expanded into many more communities across Oxford County.
When Kelly was diagnosed with leukemia in 2023, she continued to find ways to support others and donated enough money to build a needed piece of equipment at a local elementary school. Her drive to give also lit a fire in REALTORS® and neighbours alike. Inspired by her call for blood donations, community members had the ‘Blood for Byers’ drive oversubscribed and in need of expansion within two days of its announcement.
If there’s a REALTOR® in your life whose commitment to their community reminds you of Byers, we encourage you to nominate them for the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2025. This year’s recipient will be announced at CREA’s Annual General Meeting, in April 2025, and their story will be shared across the country.
Nominations must be submitted by midnight EST on Sunday, December 1. For full details, and to nominate an inspirational REALTOR®, go to REALTORSCare.ca/nominate.
