One of the most impressive characteristics of the REALTOR® community is that regardless of market conditions, REALTORS® across Canada prioritize giving back to the communities in which they live and work—2022 was no different.
In a challenging year for Canadians and people around the world, REALTORS® stepped up to provide hope both locally and abroad.
Our REALTORS Care® program celebrates the time and effort REALTORS® put into the causes and initiatives close to their hearts. This past year, we were able to chronicle inspiring feats of volunteerism and fundraising that should make our entire community proud.
Lorna Hamm honoured with Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2022 Proudly Presented by REALTOR.ca
During our Annual General Meeting last April, Lorna Hamm of Calgary, Alberta was announced as the eighth recipient of the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award. Hamm, a REALTOR® and associate with RE/MAX Realty Professionals, has dedicated the last 50 years of her life to improving the lives of others in her home province.
By integrating volunteering into her daily life, Hamm accomplished several heart-warming feats, including playing a key role in establishing Canada’s first Crisis Nursery, which has ensured that more than 40,000 children in Calgary were safe from neglect or harm while their family faced a crisis.
Hamm was one of 47 REALTORS nominated for the 2022 award. CREA donated $5,000 to the Children’s Hospital Aid Society, Hamm’s charity of choice, in her honour.
REALTORS® donated more than $700,000 for those affected by crises in Canada and abroad
Throughout the year the REALTOR® community supported REALTORS Care® fundraising campaigns in support of the Canadian Red Cross’ appeals for flood relief in British Columbia, the Ukraine humanitarian crisis, and Hurricane Fiona. On top of that, REALTORS® across the country found ways to go above and beyond to support those in need during these tragic times.
A fundraising campaign, which was launched in November 2021 but continued through the start of 2022, aimed to support the flood recovery efforts in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland following two days of torrential downpour. Two local REALTORS®, Ron Basra, of RE/MAX Select Realty in Vancouver, and Phil Moore, of RE/MAX Crest Realty in Burnaby organized helicopter supply runs to get 30 tons of food and essential supplies into communities that were inaccessible by land.
When news broke of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, the REALTOR® community once again banded together to raise funds for victims of this humanitarian crisis. Like many of us, Jacqueline Chilliak, a REALTOR® and salesperson with Century 21 Fusion in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, felt heartbroken and helpless. Chilliak turned her sadness into action and rallied fellow REALTORS® for a collection drive to help a local charity fill a warehouse with humanitarian aid supplies that were to be shipped to Ukraine.
In September, a fundraising campaign was launched in support of the Canadian Red Cross’ Hurricane Fiona in Canada Appeal after the devastating hurricane made landfall as a post-tropical storm and left behind a trail of destruction across five provinces.
Since the launch of our first fundraising campaign in 2010, the REALTOR® community has raised a combined $1.9 million in support of Canadian Red Cross relief.
REALTORS® unite through volunteerism for the fourth annual REALTORS Care® Week
During the week of November 14, hundreds of REALTORS® from more than 35 real estate boards and associations across nine provinces and one territory came together to support housing and shelter-related charities in their communities. Throughout the week, REALTORS® found meaningful ways to contribute to organizations that serve some of the most vulnerable members of their communities, such as repairing affordable housing units, preparing care packages for those experiencing homelessness, bringing the holiday spirit to families far from home, distributing meals to community members in need, collecting essentials for shelter clients and raising much-needed funds, among others.
While it’s fantastic to see REALTORS® volunteering in REALTORS Care® Week initiatives, we know you’re instrumental in making a difference in your communities year-round. Whether it was hosting creative fundraisers, or collecting more than 100,000 pieces of clothing, if you made a difference in your community this past year, we commend you.
Use #REALTORSCare or tag @REALTORSCare on social media so we can help amplify the work being done for causes close to your heart.
Here’s to another year full of meaningful impact for the REALTOR® community!
