Thousands of Greater Toronto Realtors took advantage of an opportunity to learn and connect at the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) annual Realtor Quest conference. The event, which aimed to feature the greatest collection of real estate speakers ever in Canada, included 44 sessions through its professional development component, Learning Quest. Among this year’s speakers were Walter Sanford, who shared strategies for multiplying effectiveness and Richard Robbins, who outlined his views on emerging trends.
Included as part of the Spring Annual Meeting were a number of awards presentations, operations updates, an announcement on the results of the election for the association’s 2015/2016 Board of Directors and financial motions.
Presented with TREB’s highest award, the Award of Merit, were former Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) registrar Allan Johnston, former TREB president John Meehan and former RECO CEO and president Tom Wright.
Former TREB director Stuart Braund and former TREB president Bill Johnston were recognized with the David Rossi Award for their outstanding contributions to the association’s committees and former TREB director Garry Lander received the Commercial Network Merit Award for his service to commercial practitioners. Member Sandip Singh Sangha was also honoured with TREB’s Community Service Award for his many volunteer efforts.
In addition to receiving an update from TREB president Paul Etherington and CEO John DiMichele, members heard from Ontario Real Estate Association president Patricia Verge, CREA president Pauline Aunger and RECO CEO Kate Murray, who talked about their organizations’ recent initiatives.
The election results for TREB’s 2015/2016 Board of Directors, which begins its term July 1, were announced:
Mark McLean, president; Larry Cerqua, president elect; Paul Etherington, past president; Howard Drukarsh, Don Kottick, John Lusink, Donald Patterson and Sandra Rinomato, directors-at-large; Tim Syrianos, central brokerage director; Lisa Patel, central non-brokerage director; Gurcharan (Garry) Bhaura, west brokerage director; Michael Collins, west non-brokerage director; Richard (Dick) Briscoe, east brokerage director; Michelle Makos, east non-brokerage director; Joseph Shum, north brokerage director; and Peter Burdon, north non-brokerage director.
A motion for a $25 one-time dues holiday was carried following the meeting’s financial update, representing the tenth dues reduction in recent years and a total savings of $530 per member over the years. Members also had two chances to win a free one-year TREB membership by activating their new electronic membership cards.
For the eighth consecutive year, members voted in favour of continuing their support of the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation’s Every Realtor campaign by allowing TREB to make a donation equivalent to $1 per member per month for a year to the foundation. Through the foundation, last year alone TREB provided grants totalling $485,410 to 60 different shelter-related charities across the GTA.
Realtor Quest featured Canada’s largest real estate trade show with 252 exhibitors spanning 85,000 square feet of space. Continuous entertainment was featured on the trade show’s Centre Stage and various assessments and services were offered through the conference’s Health Quest component.
Both days wrapped up with member receptions at Centre Stage, which included a draw for the conference’s grand prize giveaway of a 60-inch LED television and a silent auction in support of Camp Winston, a registered charitable organization that provides recreational opportunities for children and teens with neurological conditions.
