There are rides that stay with you – not because of the distance, or the views, but because of the reason behind them.

This Sept. 24 and 25, the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation’s Motorcycle Ride for Charity returns for its 18th year! This two-day journey takes riders through some of Northern Ontario’s most scenic landscapes. But this isn’t just about a motorcycle ride – it’s about showing up for the people who need us most.

The Ride raises funds for the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, which works with shelter and food-related charities across the province, helping those facing hunger, homelessness, or crisis.

The Ride: Camaraderie meets cause

What started 18 years ago has grown into one of the Foundation’s most recognizable fundraisers. The Motorcycle Ride for Charity attracts REALTORS®, broker-owners, board leaders, and passengers from all corners of Ontario. It’s a chance to connect, reflect, and give back.

Day 1 takes riders from Collingwood to Tobermory, across the ferry to Manitoulin Island, and finishes in Sudbury.

Day 2 picks back up in Sudbury, winds through North Bay and Muskoka, ending in Barrie.

Riders are welcome to join us for one day, both days, or mid-route. It’s a journey of more than just kilometers as riders return with a deeper sense of connection to the mission and the impact they help create.

Many ways to get involved

You don’t need a motorcycle to support the cause! Here’s how you can make an impact, whether you’re a rider or not: 

• Ride with Us – Registration is open for riders and passengers. 
• Pledge a Rider – Support someone who’s riding! Or you can also pledge a general donation towards the cause. 
• Sponsor the Ride – Brokerages, boards, and associations can sponsor a stop, or even match donations to increase impact.
• Spread the Word – Share the Ride within your network, your company, or your community. Visibility fuels donations.

Whether you give $20 or $100, every dollar raised supports someone in need right here at home.

Why now matters more than ever

Ontario continues to face record-breaking housing and food affordability issues. Housing is becoming out of reach for many. Food banks are struggling to keep up with demand. As REALTORS®, you understand the power of living in a safe home and food on the table – and you know what’s at stake when either one is missing. The Foundation helps fund the frontline organizations helping Ontarians through the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

So whether you’re a rider, a donor, or a brokerage leader looking to donate to a great cause or mobilize your team, this is your opportunity to do something that you love while giving back to a great cause. 

Join the movement

Register or pledge a rider today at realtorscareontario.ca/ride

Let’s hit the road and come together to show what REALTORS® can do when we ride with purpose.

The foundation behind the ride

The Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation is an independent, charitable arm of Ontario REALTORS®. Its mission is simple but powerful: to support local charities that provide food, shelter, safety, and dignity to people in need.

In 2024, more than $1.8 million was donated to over 170 food and shelter-related charitable organizations, including women’s shelters, food banks, transitional housing services, and mental health agencies.

Every dollar raised stays here in Ontario, which helps people in the communities REALTORS® serve every day.

This year’s REVEL Charity Carnaval Event in support of SickKids Foundation was nothing short of extraordinary, staged in Niagara-on-the-Lake with a colourfully-garbed crowd who showed up in REVEL Style to highlight the Brazilian theme.

With so many highlights of the night to mention, and so many memories captured in photographs and video, this year’s edition of REVEL Charity took another step forward in validating REVEL’s consistent company mission of giving back to those most in need, from year to year. 

Contrived to differentiate and electrify the traditional, formal charity celebration format, The REVEL Charity Carnaval has evolved into a unique annual tradition, hosted by REVEL REALTY INC. in support of charitable causes close to the heart of the communities it serves.  

Implemented six years ago in place of brokerage award acknowledgements, and to support the vision that ‘giving back to the community you serve as a real estate representative is the ultimate reward,’ The Charity Carnaval began first as a charity gala, before growing into a festival-type event that reflects the colourful personality of the REVEL REALTY INC. brokerage. 

This year’s event featured an impressive Brazilian-themed dinner extravaganza of fine cuisine and culinary delicacies, while the entertainment festivities staged live performances from The Madhatters and DJ Splinter. 

Taking the festivities a step further, and culminating into a multi-faceted social celebration imprinted with a flamboyant, carnival feel, was Welcome to the Jungle-themed decor. Some friendly, but rather slithery, guests made a surprise appearance as The REVEL Charity Carnaval 2025 hit the mark both on paper, and in person.   

In the aftermath of what has become a sparkling gem on REVEL’s annual social calendar, REVEL has once again inspired itself and others to take charity to another level of commitment.  

Members from the entire brokerage, amassed from over 35 offices across Ontario, congregated as a work family to celebrate the art of giving back through a personal, REVEL lens. 

As a result of these creative efforts, and riding the wave of REVEL’S ‘celebratory’ culture across all business fronts, REVEL welcomed many generous sponsors. Mark Basciano, president of title sponsor Mountainview Homes, made an impassioned speech about giving back.

Supported by numerous donations in kind and multiple sponsors, REVEL was proud to find itself in the company of like-minded individuals who prioritize charity as a business principle, and as an ongoing personal investment. 

To date, REVEL has raised over $600,000 from such events, and as REVEL waits for final numbers from this year’s foray, it anticipates exceeding last year’s fundraising accomplishments in REVEL style!  

Supporting SickKids Foundation was an honour for REVEL and founders Ryan and Nicki Serravalle. The progressive vision of SickKids Foundation, combined with REVEL’s own progressive vision for charity, created a magical evening that will certainly impact the lives of many children under the care and devotion of SickKids Foundation.

​The REVEL Charity Carnaval has become a unique, annual tradition, hosted by REVEL REALTY INC. in support of charitable causes close to the heart of the communities it serves.  

Implemented six years ago in place of brokerage award acknowledgements, and to support the vision that ‘giving back to the community you serve as a real estate representative is the ultimate reward,’ The Charity Carnaval began first as a Charity Gala, before evolving into a Festival type event that reflects the colourful personality of the REVEL REALTY INC. brokerage. This year’s event will take the festivities a step further, evolving once again into a multi-faceted social celebration imprinted with a flamboyant, carnaval theme, and scheduled for Jun. 6, 2025 at the Central Niagara Centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake. 

REVEL has raised $500k for charities 

To say that REVEL is excited to host this charitable event is an understatement.  The entire brokerage comes together in preparation for REVEL’s annual charity offering, combining talents and REVELutionary ideas to one-up the previous year’s reputation. As a result of these creative renderings, and riding the wave of REVEL’S ‘celebratory’ culture across all business fronts, this annual event has grown immensely in popularity, beyond the brokerage’s wildest expectations, from increased donations and sponsorships, to pre-reserved ticket sales and requests for tables once the official date has been released. To date, REVEL has raised over $500,000 from such events, and continues to raise the bar from year to year with the anticipation of surpassing last year’s efforts.

In the charitable spirit of the good causes REVEL elects to help, the REVEL Charity Carnaval Committee this year has organized a one of a kind social event that inspires the values of giving but also offers incredible cuisine, extraordinary entertainment, live music, dancing, and a dazzling buzz of positive energy to what is always a memorable evening.  In this capacity, REVEL openly invites local and provincial sponsors, as well as donors, to contribute a partnering brand presence and collaborative commitment to the occasion.  Businesses are catered to and promoted by REVEL to its provincial network of offices and agents, who continue to expand REVEL’s influence throughout the province and beyond.  In this capacity, REVEL believes it is expanding its family by discovering common charitable interests among its associates. 

Supporting SickKids is “an honour” for founders Ryan and Nicki Serravalle

Supporting SickKids Foundation is an honour for REVEL, and its founders, Ryan and Nicki Serravalle.  The progressive vision of SickKids Foundation combined with REVEL’s own progressive vision for charity is destined to create a magical evening that will impact the lives of many children under the care and devotion of SickKids Foundation. If you would like to learn more about this special event, please visit revelcharityevent.com for more information.

Laurie Gagnier (supplied)

Laurie Gagnier is out there alone in the wilderness. There is no one following her to offer sips of water or transport her supplies to the next hostel. She’s carrying her shelter, food, water and clothes in her 35-pound backpack while hiking the rugged Appalachian Trail on a six-month solo trip to raise funds for The Children’s Miracle Network (CMN).

Gagnier, a 54-year-old mother of three, grandmother of six, and Realtor of 25 years, began her journey on Feb. 1 in Georgia and is walking more than 3,250 kilometres through the eastern United States to Maine.

The broker with Re/Max Affiliates Realty Ltd. in Ottawa, who describes her walking speed as “turtle,” says, “Most people (including her family) think I’m nuts doing something so long and so difficult. The Appalachian Trail is the most difficult long-distance trail in North America.”

Facing the physical and mental challenges

“Can’t you just have a golf tournament to raise money? Why do you have to take on such a challenge, and for so long?” her family wanted to know.

Gagnier admits it’s a lot. “Spending six to eight hours every day for up to six months, either going uphill or down, takes a toll on your mind and your body. I won’t lie, I was absolutely flabbergasted at how little ‘flat’ or ‘flatter’ hiking there is.”

The Appalachian Trail turns rocky near the peak of Blackrock Mountain in Shenandoah National Park (Canva)

It takes her about an hour each morning to coax herself from her warm sleeping bag, get dressed, pack and set off to brave the terrain and elements.

She begins the day’s hike at around 7:30 a.m. and walks for a couple of miles to warm up before stopping for coffee and food from her backpack, which also includes other necessities such as power banks and a compact camping stove.

Navigating the trail and finding shelter

A GPS offline map tells her the location of water sources, viewpoints, parking lots and wood shelters (three walls and a floor) peppered along the trail. The shelters may be better than sleeping in the open, but it’s still brutal, she says, with a variety of “critters walking across her head at night.”

Sometimes she will be alone; other nights, there could be five or 10 people—hikers including everyone from the newly retired to vets to young adventurers who all want to conquer the challenging trail. Gagnier says she thinks she is the only one walking to raise money for hospitals.

The GPS map also “shows you where you are and what upcoming elevations to expect,” she says.

Sharing her journey and finding support

Gagnier vlogs while she hikes, and once she reaches camp and her chores are complete, she edits the YouTube vlogs on her phone and uploads them at the next hostel with Wi-Fi. “There could be a lag of 10 to 14 days.”

On the day of the phone interview for this story, she set off with four days of food. She checked the map to look for places to restock. If there’s a hostel, she will message (if she has service) to see if there’s room. She checks parking lots along the way to see if they have a shuttle to the nearest town. Or she drapes a towel with a “hiker to town” message over her backpack and is pleased to accept offers of rides. For the most part, the community is hiker-friendly, she says.

Every three weeks, her husband (they’ve been together for 25 years) “finds her” to replenish supplies and spend time together so she can recharge and enjoy a few nights at a hotel with a hot shower. Otherwise, she’s roughing it. “I’ll be happy not to dig a cat hole again,” she says.

Pushing through to the finish line

“It’s an extreme sport. Only 25 per cent who start will finish the hike. One-quarter quit by Mile 31,” she says.

Her family feels a level of anxiety about her trip, but she says she has a satellite communicator that allows her to text her family and send an SOS to emergency services if needed.

“I have lived a very charmed life. When I turned 50 in 2020, it was celebrated by fighting breast cancer. As I was going through radiation in June 2020, there was a day when I was feeling pretty rough, and very sorry for myself. I looked up as I heard the noise of a hospital bed coming down the hall.

“On that bed, I saw an absolute hero. He couldn’t have been more than four years old. I may never know his name or what he was fighting, but it was obvious it was a pretty big fight.”

She says she broke down and cried. “It was then I decided to get off my hiney and do something hard.”

A mission beyond the trail

Gagnier has been a CMN supporter, donating a portion of her income for 25 years through Re/Max’s Miracle Home Program, but felt it was time for a challenge.

“CMN is a passion of mine. It starts and ends with the kids…I have deep ties to my local CMN hospital. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be doing this. We should never take these incredible hospitals for granted. Also, I felt I had to pick something very far outside my comfort zone in order to replicate the things that these kids and families have to go through mentally.”

The Realtor mindset on the trail

Gagnier says being a Realtor has helped her prepare for this challenge. “Working in a business where things can literally turn on a dime and you have to adjust instantaneously is what has prepared me most for this trip. Much like real estate, no two days out here on the trail are the same. Your task does not change in the sense that every day you just need to walk the trail; however, you have to be ready for all kinds of changes, from weather to water sources, to shelter options and re-supply.”

Barring injury or new requirements for aliens in the U.S., she plans to keep on walking until she completes the hike.

Help her reach her goal

Gagnier, known on the trail as Canadian Bacon, needs the support of her fellow Realtors and the public in the U.S. and Canada to help her meet her fundraising goal.

On the Canadian website, there is a drop-down list where people can choose the hospital they would like to support. In the United States, when folks put in their billing information, their donation is directed to the hospital closest to their ZIP code, she says. So far, she has raised just over $18,000. “I’m hoping to hit $50,000 or more.”

If you are a realtor living or working near the trail, you can also support her by cheering her on and giving her a wave.

You can donate to Laurie’s cause here, and follow her journey on YouTube and Instagram.

Editor’s note: Unfortunately, shortly after completing this interview, Laurie had to suspend her hike due to a serious knee injury sustained while hiking. Despite this setback, she remains committed to raising funds for The Children’s Miracle Network and is still welcoming donations.

Jay Leno (centre) with winning bidders at the Fairmont Banff Springs on Jan. 25, 2025 (Alberta Real Estate Association)

Jay Leno knows how to work a crowd, but this time, it wasn’t just with punchlines. The retired Tonight Show host had a room full of Realtors laughing one minute and reaching for their wallets the next, pulling off a surprise auction no one was expecting.

By the time the impromptu bidding war was over, Leno had helped raise more than $150,000 for the Children’s Hospital Aid Society (CHAS), a Calgary-based non-profit supporting children’s charities—far exceeding the original fundraising goal.

Surprise auction shifts gears

Leno was the guest of honour at the Northern Radiance Gala at the Fairmont Banff Springs on Jan. 25, the grand finale of Banff Western Connection, the Alberta Real Estate Association’s (AREA) biannual conference. Real Estate Magazine was there.

Following his comedy set, Leno surprised the audience by auctioning off a private tour of his famed car collection in Los Angeles. When one Realtor offered $10,000, Leno stopped the bidding and posed a question to the room: How many people would be willing to match that amount? Several hands shot up.

Fundraising goals left in the dust

The moment left Wendy Morrow—CHAS volunteer and retired Realtor—stunned. Morrow had attended the gala alongside other volunteers, hoping their silent auction would help them reach the fundraising goal. Though she had met Leno earlier that evening when a spot opened at the meet-and-greet, she had no idea he would dedicate the final moments of his appearance to championing her cause.

“I simply shared the story of our charities and the power of intention—how women, working together, can create something magical,” she explains with tears in her eyes. “I told him how proud we were of the auction and the effort that went into it. Somehow, he ran with that.”

Driving home a worthy cause

Victoria-based Realtor and self-proclaimed “car nut” Tony Joe is one of the dozen or so successful bidders; he says the comedian’s offer was too good to pass up. 

“I organize one of the largest annual car shows in Greater Victoria and have been a follower of Leno’s garage for years,” he explains. “I wanted to support the charity but wasn’t sure the best way to do so—this just made so much sense. His generosity was amazing.”

For Joe, there is no buyer’s remorse. “As a regular gala fundraiser attendee, I am always looking out for experiences over things I could buy myself, like travel vouchers or game tickets.  It’s the experiences which are invaluable.”

Leno’s generosity steals the show

Each Banff Western Connection gala selects a local charity to support, and this year, CHAS was the chosen beneficiary.

“We were blown away by (Leno’s) generosity in helping us raise money for CHAS,” AREA’s Managing Director, Heather Coleman, tells Real Estate Magazine. “We had set a fundraising goal of $20,000, but within minutes of Jay unexpectedly offering up tours of his garage, that number skyrocketed. Jay demonstrated why people love him—he’s hilarious, and he’s a wonderful person, too.”

The home in Owen Sound will be flipped and sold, with profits going to local charities, source: flippedgreybruce.ca/

You never know when inspiration will strike. Mike Seiler was watching a home renovation show while he and his wife were on holiday when had an idea. With the size of his brokerage, his realtor base and his ties to the community, he wondered: why couldn’t a home be flipped and the proceeds donated to local charities?

Indeed, why not? An energetic, excited Seiler, broker/owner of Century 21 In-Studio Realty Inc. in Owen Sound, Ont., got to work. The realtor, who has about a decade of personal home-flipping experience, spoke to a few colleagues. They loved the idea. Flipping is not new, but involving the community and charities makes this a fresh idea, Seiler says. “I’m notorious for coming up with ideas.”

Building a plan to give back

He created a business plan, putting his vision on paper. In a nutshell, the plan calls for a house to be purchased (done); renovated with the help of contractors using donated supplies and services in return for advertising/publicity; and cash from the sale to be donated to local charities.

The project relies on getting as much for free as possible—someone donating a product and someone giving their services to install it—in order to make as much for the charities as possible, Seiler says.

His goal is to sell the renovated home for “north of $800,000” with a couple of hundred thousand dollars or more going to the charities.

He and some agents in his office came up with the funds and purchased the house for cash (for an undisclosed amount).

Picking the right house 

He says the home is an ideal candidate for flipping. It has a “septic that is sized right, a new roof and it’s on a lot that’s over a half acre with mature trees. It’s on Highway 6, a main artery, but is set back from the road.”

The brick bungalow, built around 1978-‘80s, has been home to the second owners for about the last 40 years and shows pride of ownership, Seiler says. However, the renovation will transform its interior.

Community collaboration

Contractors and suppliers are trading skills/labour/products for advertising that includes being featured in a mini-series on Century 21’s YouTube page, as well as on social media.

Seiler hired two full-time videographers with the hopes that their work will go viral. He says the mini-series will let viewers live vicariously through every contractor and will also include fun time-lapse videos. “If we reach a million viewers, they’re happy and we’re happy.”

Instead of commercials for unrelated products/services, Seiler’s crew will create community spots for those involved with the project to offer them even more value. “We want to shine a light on our contractors and realtors.”

Local planners are on board and a new permit system that makes it easy to pull permits and ensure projects are done the right way will be highlighted, Seiler says. “The show will depict local planners as the superheroes they are.”

The seller is also excited to be involved and will provide some back story about the house in documentary-style interviews, he says. “The (former) homeowner is fuelled up to be part of the project.”

The show goes on 

Filming began in early January, with good buy-in from Seiler’s brokerage.  “We have north of 40 Realtors and the majority are on board,” he says. (Some bowed out because they are camera shy or were unsure about the type of exposure the show would bring.)

Seiler says it’s important that the project be respectful of everyone involved. “We have zero tolerance for naysayers or those who talk trash on social media.”

The eight-episode video series will be “a mash-up of fun,” with content suited to all ages. It will show homeowners, a target audience that will appreciate knowing how they can get the most from the sale of their house, and how Seiler and his team can help.

Adding value beyond the flip

“We’re not buying houses,” he says. Instead, “We can help you execute a project like this and make the most money.” 

The YouTube show will premiere on March 14. Episode 1 will include an introduction to the property. Items that can be recycled/reused (the goal is not to just fill a bin, but to find other uses for unneeded items taken out of the house) will be sold at a garage sale at the property on Friday (May 16) of the Victoria Day weekend.

On Saturday, items donated for staging will be sold during an auction run by Easter Seals, Century 21’s long-time charity of choice. Seiler says this event is expected to bring in $20,000 to $50,000.

“We are hoping that we’ll have a firm sale before the auction is over in case the purchaser wants to bid on certain items. We want a clean cash offer, a 30-60 day close and (the buyer to come) with deposit in hand.”

A community effort to spread the word

The five-month project’s benefiting charities will be announced halfway through the season.

In the meantime, Seiler is encouraging all of his realtors to reach out for publicity about the collaborative project led by the community brokerage. Broker Tim Matthews pitched this story, Seiler says. “Tim is a high performer and a friend.”

For more information about the house, events, sale and tickets, visit the project’s website.