Each month, REM shares the charitable works and good deeds of Realtors across Canada. Have something you’d like to share? Email your news to editor@realestatemagazine.ca by the 26th of each month, and don’t forget to include a photo!

Royal LePage North Heritage Realty raises over $37,000 for women’s shelters

Royal LePage North Heritage Realty proudly announced that its 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament raised over $37,000 in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. Every dollar will go directly to YWCA Genevra House in Sudbury and Haven House women’s shelter on Manitoulin Island.

“I am exceptionally proud of our team for far surpassing this year’s fundraising goal and for once again helping make a real difference for local families seeking safe shelter,” said Luc Bock, broker of record.

He added, “We know there is much work to be done in ending intimate partner violence in Canada, but our brokerage is steadfast in our commitment to funding the hope and healing of those affected in our community.”

Royal LePage Royal City Realty raises $37,000 at Summer Soirée for local shelter

Royal LePage Royal City Realty raised $37,000 at this year’s Summer Soirée in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. All funds will go directly to Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis to support critical services for women and children escaping intimate partner violence.

The annual event, championed and led by broker of record Jeff Morley, has raised $165,000 since it began in 2018.

“We are deeply grateful to our amazing community for joining us for this elegant evening under the stars, which will truly make a difference in the lives of so many local families,” said Gillian Atkinson, broker/manager. “Our Royal City volunteers, led by Lisa Klempner and a dedicated group of agents, are the magic that makes this event possible.”

EXIT Realty marks $8M milestone through Spirit of EXIT charitable giving

EXIT Realty Corp. International has surpassed $8 million in donations through its Spirit of EXIT Charitable Program, highlighting the company’s dedication to community impact across North America.

“This milestone is a testament to the collective generosity and passion of our EXIT family, who continuously seek out ways to make a difference beyond real estate,” said Tami Bonnell, co-chair of EXIT Realty.

The program matches funds raised by local offices to support causes meaningful to them. In 2024, donations supported children, community programs, medical support, veterans, Habitat for Humanity, medical research, cancer initiatives and animal welfare.

A portion of each transaction fee is held in trust and matched up to $3,000 per initiative.

“Since stepping into the directorship earlier this year, I’ve seen firsthand the courage and heart behind these efforts,” said Sharron Richardson, vice-president of broker services. “Their commitment to creating meaningful change in their communities is truly inspiring.”

The post Good Works: Realtors giving back in July 2025 appeared first on REM.

Karen Willison recently hosted her first hospital fundraiser, raising more than $85,000 to date with the one-night event. 

When the campaign is over at the end of July, she hopes to have cracked the $100,000 mark, with funds benefiting hospitals in Meaford and Collingwood, Ont.

Willison, a sales representative with Royal LePage Locations North, a brokerage in Collingwood, chooses to support inclusive charities that serve diverse communities. Because people are faced with challenges they don’t expect and most pass through these doors at one time or another, supporting hospitals made sense, she says.

Stepping it up

Until now, her team has been an “active sponsor,” showing up and being part of an event, which from a Realtor standpoint is good public relations. It’s always good to be seen, she says.

But at the urging of her clients, it was time for something different. Willison, a Realtor for 24 years, and her team, K/W Collaborative Real Estate and Associates, decided to raise funds for two hospitals. “They both serve the area we cover and 99 per cent of our clients use one or the other, or both.”

Party planning started five months ago

Plans for the K/W Collaborative Hospital Fundraiser Event 2025 began in February for the July date. Willison says the goal was to create an “impactful and memorable” event.

The BYOB event included appetizers, a live band, short speeches by a speaker and a patient partner from each hospital – and lots of mingling and fun.

The team collaborated with the property owners, who donated the venue. The barn venue is rustic and not zoned for events, but the owners, The Wilkinson family, reserve it for fundraising, Willison says. The band offered a charity discount rate.

Getting organized with the foundation

When the foundation asked how much she expected to raise, she decided not to put a number on it and add to her stress. Willison told them “as much as possible.”

Willison met with the hospital foundations to find out “what they needed from us for the third-party event.” 

Her questions included: How would attendees make donations at the event, (Willison says she didn’t want to process donations, pick up cheques or be accountable for the money), could she see a running donation total, how long does it take before receipts are issued to donors, if a donation is followed up with a thank you note and “if the note mentions us,” she says.

K/W Collaborative team member Michelle Bigelow says the hospital provided information about what to include on the pledge cards so the foundations could process the donations and even created a design. “We just had to print them. They also gave us a custom link to share with clients.”

Willison got the foundations’ approval before materials were printed to ensure the information was correct and no reprints would be necessary.

Getting the party started

The success of an event like this relies on the guest list. Bigelow says, “It takes community. You need donors to give. The message is important when writing and holding events.”

She says the guest list consisted mostly of people the team had worked directly with in the past, as well as guests of the venue owners, band, K/W team and hospital foundations. 

Willison secured insurance for the event, a 24-hour rider from her company’s insurer.

Because it was a BYOB event, she also provided a driver if anyone needed a ride home. A photographer was also hired to capture the special moments.

Her budget: $12,000 for 175 people with a BYOB format and a donated venue.

“It was an emotional event, touching, and everyone left feeling great,” Bigelow says.

Willison’s top tips for throwing a fundraiser 

• Get organized.

• Pace yourself and allow at least six months to plan/prepare

• Identify key supporters and venue

• Check with the hospital foundation at the beginning to find out their guidelines and what kind of help they can provide.

• Build your team but don’t cast your net too wide, says Bigelow. Otherwise the task could become too overwhelming with too many cooks in the kitchen.

• Pick team members based on their strengths.

• Consider partnering with the community for donations of products, services and venues. 

• Expect to work.  Team members and neighbours pitched in to clean the barn and her team manned appetizer stations.

• Provide custom stick-on name tags to make mingling easier

More fundraising in her future

Willison plans to fundraise every July, but to offer the large event only once every three to five years. In the meantime, she has committed to donating $5,000 per year for five years for each hospital.

The process from one hospital foundation’s point of view 

The process is different at each hospital, says Alison MacKenzie, community partnerships officer at QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation in Halifax.

Most hospital foundations have information on their websites that make it easy for anyone who wants to fundraise, she says.

The QEII website has a DIY page that makes it easy for donors. Fundraisers fill out a form to register their event and will receive a special logo to use on their promotional materials. They can also say where they want the funds to be directed.

Donors can complete a profile page and write about their fundraising project/event and add a photo. The page will be on the hospital’s website.

There is no minimum donation. “We deal with donations of $5 to millions of dollars,” MacKenzie says. “It all makes an impact. We’re beyond grateful. We couldn’t do what we do without support. So much is needed.”

Ditto for hospitals everywhere.

Connie Adair

Connie Adair is a contributing writer for REM.

The post Behind the scenes with the team whose debut event raised $85,000 for local hospitals appeared first on REM.

Each month, REM shares the charitable works and good deeds of Realtors across Canada. Have something you’d like to share? Email your news to editor@realestatemagazine.ca, and don’t forget to include a photo!

Calgary Dream Centre receives $1-million grant for women’s housing development

The CREB Realtor Community Foundation has awarded a $1-million Legacy Grant to the Calgary Dream Centre to support the development of affordable housing for vulnerable women and mothers with children.

The grant will fund Erlton House, a three-storey, 56-unit housing project that includes full amenities, communal gathering spaces, green areas and an outdoor play zone. Construction aims to provide not just shelter, but a supportive environment where residents can rebuild their lives with dignity.

“The Calgary Dream Centre is making meaningful strides toward creating safe, affordable housing that directly addresses urgent needs in our community,” said Christian Twomey, foundation chair.

Craig Hill, CEO of the Calgary Dream Centre, said the grant “will open doors of hope and opportunity for those seeking stability and belonging.”

Funds will be delivered over three years, with the final instalment in 2027. Completion of the Erlton House project is expected the same year.

Fraser Valley Realtors Charitable Foundation names new chair, commits $350,000 to youth programs

The Fraser Valley Realtors Charitable Foundation (FVRCF) has announced the election of a new board of directors and plans to award more than $350,000 in grants to local organizations supporting at-risk youth in 2025.

Veteran Surrey Realtor David Herman has been appointed Chair of the Board. With over 40 years of experience in real estate and a strong track record of leadership—including terms as Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, the B.C. Real Estate Association, and service with the Canadian Real Estate Association—Herman brings deep governance knowledge and a passion for community service.

“I’m honoured to step into the role of Chair and work alongside a passionate and visionary team of directors,” Herman said. “We will build on the legacy of our founding and outgoing Chairs, whose dedication has created real change for at-risk youth.”

The Foundation expressed gratitude to outgoing board members for their service, recognizing their lasting contributions.

In 2025, FVRCF will continue its annual bursary program, awarding $1,000 to every public and alternative high school in the Fraser Valley. Additional funds will go to youth-focused organizations offering programs in education, support, and empowerment.

Pembroke charity garage sale raises $3,000 for women and children in need

Royal LePage Edmonds & Associates hosted its first annual Charity Garage Sale, raising more than $3,000 in support of local women and children fleeing intimate partner violence.

The event, held in Pembroke, saw volunteers come together to collect and sell donated goods, with all proceeds benefiting Bernadette McCann House for Women through the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.

“It’s always very special for us when a new fundraiser sees such incredible success in their local community,” said Carly Neill, fundraising and communications manager with the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. “We sincerely thank the team at Royal LePage Edmonds & Associates for the safety, hope and healing these proceeds will fund.”

The foundation supports women’s shelters and domestic violence prevention programs nationwide.

The post Good Works: Realtors giving back in June 2025 appeared first on REM.

The idea-prolific CEO of Heaps Estrin Real Estate Team came up with the city-facing mural initiative, which she says allows the team to give something lasting back to the neighbourhoods they serve while spotlighting Canadian artists.

In addition to beautifying the communities where they have had a lot of activity, she says the murals are a way to introduce themselves to new neighbourhoods.

Although the first three murals adorn Heaps Estrin properties, they will appear on a variety of other buildings as Heaps secures more walls throughout the city.

She says building owners have been receptive. Some are offering their walls for free (in return for the beautification project) while others are charging a fee.

“We rent the spaces from landlords, who have the rights to the walls,” she says. “While we don’t check with the building owner on the specific design, they approve us using the space for a mural. Our team collectively chooses the artist.”

Calls for proposals are sent out through several agencies and websites catering to mural artists.

“There has been an incredibly favourable response from talented artists,” she says.

Bringing art to life

From start to finish, the process can take three to six months. First, locations need to be identified and secured, a call for proposals is made, the installation selected, and the mural created, Heaps says.

It’s not an inexpensive endeavour. The cost depends on the size of the wall (so far the largest mural is 20×30 feet). Artist compensation can run in the five figures, she says.

Global artistic talent

The first installation of 2025 features internationally recognized artist Jacquie Comrie, whose work has been featured around the world.

“Jacquie grew up in the community and is a strong forward-looking person,” Heaps says.

Comrie is a Panamanian multimedia artist, mother and mental health advocate in Toronto.

“Personally and professionally, colour is her medicine and language of emotion. Her work is grounded in the belief that colour can be a tool for wellness, healing and emotional connection,” her bio says, adding, “with our current crisis in mental health across the globe, Jacquie seeks to reimagine public art while creating spaces of healing accessible to everyone.”

Comrie’s work joins that of Toronto artist Chris Perez, whose mural (the first in the initiative) was commissioned in 2021. Heaps had seen Perez’s work on a building on Gerrard Street and reached out.

They met and “became buddies,” she says. She gave him carte blanche to create a floral mural that reflects the Leaside community.

Perez is a Filipino abstract painting and mural artist, whose influences are derived from street art, graffiti, murals, abstract art and expressionist painting, his bio says.

The third mural is by American multi-media artist Maxine McCrann, who is based in Toronto. The mural is featured at another of Heaps’ unique marketing concepts, The Lobby, a modern home and lifestyle boutique, art gallery and intimate event space.

McCrann’s bio says, “She believes in slowing down, taking a breath and staying for dessert, striving to capture the little in between moments that make life so beautiful.”

West-end project coming

The soon-to-be-unveiled mural in the west-end Junction neighbourhood will be “more literal and tie back to the brand as the company introduces itself to a new community,” Heaps says.

It will highlight the team’s mascot HERB, a 1993 Subaru Sambar that makes appearances in community parades, local fundraising events and Heaps Estrin parties. She says HERB has become a familiar sight in the company’s communities.

Marketing expertise

Heaps, who has a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in marketing and worked in advertising before her career in real estate, doesn’t rely on conventional advertising.

One in a long list of creative marketing initiatives, the mural project will “transform blank urban walls into vibrant works of art that lifts spirits, sparks conversation and reflects the city’s diversity,” says Heaps, who has ties to the art community and an art gallery at one
of her office locations.

The president, CEO and broker of record is recognized as a thought leader, regularly sharing her insights with local and national media.

She was recently recognized by the Women of Influence+ organization, the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and was inducted into the Royal LePage National Chairman’s Club hall of fame in 2023. She is also a supporter of many charitable organizations.

Plans are underway for more murals. Artists and anyone who wants to submit walls for consideration are asked to contact Jane McIver, director of marketing at jane@heapsestrin.com

Connie Adair

Connie Adair is a contributing writer for REM.

The post How Cailey Heaps is transforming Toronto with city-wide mural initiative appeared first on REM.