Behind the hustle and bustle of Canadian real estate, a cohort of association executives are quietly working to help shape the industry.
“Association executives are the backbone of the REALTOR® association community. They provide the necessary support, vision, and strong foundation that REALTORS® need to help Canadians fulfill the dream of homeownership,” said Jennifer Lynch, Chair of CREA’s 2024-2025 Association Executives Committee.
Executive officers and senior management staff across the country work tirelessly to ensure local and provincial/territorial boards/associations continue offering the highest level of services to support their members. They’re essential for maintaining structure, integrity, and strategic vision to keep the industry moving forward.
Now’s the time to recognize this hard work! The nomination period for the 2025 Association Executives Network (AEN) Award of Excellence is now open.
Established in 1989, the AEN Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding dedication and exemplary service.
The award was created in the name of Frank Johns, a former Executive Vice-President of the Calgary Real Estate Board. Johns was a mentor and leader among Executive Officers and freely shared his expertise and wisdom for the betterment of the industry throughout his long career.
The AEN Award of Excellence is only presented to a truly deserving AEN member who exemplifies professionalism, commitment, and leadership within the REALTOR® association community.
The 2024 AEN Award of Excellence recipient—Marina R. James, Chief Executive Officer of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board—was described as a “visionary” who “leads by example”.
“Her colleagues in the Association Executive community will tell you, to be led by or work with Marina is to be motivated, to feel cared for, to be celebrated and to have access to a vast wealth of knowledge,” Roger Boutilier, 2023-2024 Chair of CREA’s AE Committee said at CREA’s 2024 Annual General Meeting while presenting the award to James.
All senior board or association staff are eligible for the award provided they meet the award criteria. While many recipients have been nominated near the end of their career, it’s not considered a retirement award. Any member of the AEN in good standing who has served for five or more years in the REALTOR® association community is eligible.
Full award criteria
• Executive Officers or senior association staff with more than five years of service in a board/association;
• Nominees must be AEN members in good standing;
• The nominee must have the Canadian REALTOR® Association Executive (CRAE) designation;
• Nominees must exemplify the characteristics outlined below:
- Service and dedication to the REALTOR® community
- Leadership in association management
- Co-operation and support to his/her peers
- Participation in professional or service organizations
- Community involvement, beyond the call of their position
- Accomplishments at the board/association
And who, overall, represents the professionalism symbolized by this award.
Nominate an AE
The deadline for nominations is February 1, 2025. The award will be presented during CREA’s Annual General Meeting in April, and a $5,000 charitable donation sponsored by REAL TIME podcast will be awarded to the winning candidate’s charity of choice—plus, there will be an opportunity for the recipient to be featured on the podcast.
