MREA NEWS:
REALTORS® HONOUR MANITOBA VOLUNTEER AT GALA DINNER
Very first MREA Quality of Life Award presented at Volunteer Manitoba's 29th Annual Volunteer Awards
April 18, 2012, Winnipeg, MB-The Manitoba Real Estate Association issued its inaugural Volunteer Award last night to a woman who has dedicated her life to improving the quality of life of children in Winnipeg's core area. MREA President Tim Melnyk presented the MREA Quality of Life Award to Doreen Wilson in front of 700 attendees, the Lieutenant Governor, the Premier and the Mayor last night at the Volunteer Manitoba Awards.
Melnyk presented the award, along with a $2500 cheque to be given to the Doreen's charity of choice - Rossbrook House. Wilson was recognized for her exceptional work with children at Wi Wabigooni, an Alternative School Program connected with Rossbrook House where she has been volunteering since 2001.
Wilson began volunteering with Wi Wabigooni in 2001, reading with children one-on-one. She expanded her role at the school to include making breakfast for the kids once a week, even taking individual orders. She even picks up a child who missed the school bus or takes a child to an appointment. In all but name, she is like a grandparent to the children and brings fun, joy and challenge to their lives. Wilson is warm, caring and welcoming, with a desire to ensure that no child in the community ever be left to navigate through difficult challenges in life alone, as those who nominated her testified.
"I'm really excited about the award. It's really nice to be recognized, but it's really exciting to be able to give back because the school will receive the money, so it's thrilling," said Wilson.
There were 21 nominations for the first year of the MREA Quality of Life Award, which is considered an exceptionally good start for an inaugural award.
"This really serves to indicate the number of volunteers in the community that are working every day to better the lives of children. It was a very difficult process to narrow the field with so many dedicated individuals to choose from," said Melnyk.
"All our nominations represented a diverse group of volunteers, and a great demonstration of the different work that is being done in Manitoba. We are very proud that we were able to take part, and especially that we were able to honour such a compassionate, generous individual with our award," added Melnyk.
The MREA Quality of Life Award, created by REALTORS® in Manitoba, recognizes volunteers who are deeply committed to improving the lives of Manitoba children - our future. This award is granted to an individual or group of individuals at the Volunteer Manitoba Annual Awards Dinner and includes a $2500 cash award to be given to the award recipient's charity of choice.
For more information contact:
Jennifer Johnson
MREA Communications Coordinator
772.0405 or jjohnson@mrea.mb.ca
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REALTORS® SHOW PASSION FOR COMMUNITY SERVING EASTER DINNER AT SILOAM MISSION
April 6, 2012, Winnipeg, MB-For the seventh consecutive year, Manitoba REALTORS® showed their generous natures by turning out for the Manitoba Real Estate Association's Siloam Mission Easter Dinner on Good Friday, April 6, 2012.
The 50 volunteers needed signed up within a day of the call being sent out to come out and serve up a hot meal to Winnipeg's less fortunate, proving that REALTORS® jump at the chance to get involved in their community.
"The support from our members is overwhelming," said Manitoba Real Estate Association President Tim Melnyk.
"I'm proud to represent this organization, especially when you see such good work like this in the community," he added.
The Siloam Mission Easter Dinner is a REALTORS Care® initiative which the Manitoba Real Estate Association undertook in 2006. All of the food that is prepared and served is organized by REALTORS® working under the REALTORS Care® initiative specifically for this event.
"This is the seventh consecutive Easter dinner that we've done with the MREA and it's the longest-running partnership that we've formed with an association or group," said Floyd Perras, Executive Director of the Siloam Mission.
"It helps the people that use our services to see that people from the community care and it's beneficial for the volunteers to see the guests and the huge need in the community for volunteerism," Perras said.
The numerous people who came through for a hot meal and some friendly faces on Good Friday were greeted by REALTORS® and their families and friends, many of whom are repeat volunteers who spend this part of their weekend providing a little bit of comfort to those less fortunate.
The Manitoba Real Estate Association began the Siloam Mission Easter Dinner under the Quality of Life umbrella, as Manitoba REALTORS® recognize that shelter is a vital component of our communities-one of the key reasons the MREA Shelter Foundation was created in 2007.
"As REALTORS®, we deal with shelter every day and it is our social responsibility to do something for those in need," said Hannon Bell, Chair of the Manitoba Real Estate Association Shelter Foundation.
Bell added, "It's not just about selling homes but concern for how shelter in its many forms affects our society. By giving back, our REALTOR® community is affecting change for the better."
The Manitoba Real Estate Association Shelter Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that raises money through organized events, projects and donations from individuals and corporations and in turn distributes these funds to shelter-related charities in Manitoba.
The Canadian REALTORS Care® Foundation has been established to promote community efforts of REALTORS® and the meaningful contributions they make to improving the well-being of Canadians and to upholding Canadian values in their communities.
For more information contact:
Jennifer Johnson
MREA Communications Coordinator
772.0405 or jjohnson@mrea.mb.ca
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LOCAL REALTOR® HONOURED FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND EVERY DAY
March 16, 2012 Winnipeg, MB-Making things happen, say those who know him, is a fitting account of 2011's recipient of the CMHC Distinguished REALTOR® Award. Sheldon Zamick, of Sutton Kilkenny Real Estate has worked diligently over the years supporting many different charitable organizations, and proving that REALTORS® are involved in making the community a better place every day.
Zamick has been an active member of the Manitoba Real Estate Association since 1986 and a licensed broker since 1990. Zamick has also been a WinnipegREALTORS® Director since 2009.
"It is normally quite easy to ramble off a list of committee work and community involvement of a recipient," said Lynn Power, a Business Development Representative for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation who presented the award at the MREA Annual General Meeting on March 14.
"Our recipient has gone way above and beyond, extolling passion for the industry, in addition to an almost endless list of community causes. The Association is fortunate to have a true leader within its membership," added Power.
Zamick has lent his time to an extensive number of organizations over the years including, but not limited to Habitat for Humanity, Winnipeg Humane Society, United Way of Winnipeg, St. Amant Centre, and Charleswood Lions Seniors Centre. He presently sits on the Board of Governors for the MREA Shelter Foundation and is the current Chair for the National REALTOR® Campaign for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights which has so far raised almost 1.7 million of its target goal of two million dollars. In 2004 Zamick was awarded the WinnipegREALTORS® Community Service Award.
"I am very proud to receive this award, and truly wish that all of our associates will continue to do good work in their community to make the world a better place," said Zamick.
The purpose of the CMHC Distinguished REALTOR® Award is to recognize an active member who demonstrates outstanding leadership and dedication to the real estate industry through Board/Association involvement and community service. In 2010 the recipient was Ruthe Penner.
The Manitoba Real Estate Association accepts nominations by the end of January every year.
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For more information contact:
Jennifer Johnson
MREA Communications Coordinator
772.0405 or jjohnson@mrea.mb.ca
REALTORS® JOIN RCMP TO IDENTIFY GROW OP HOUSES
March 9, 2012, Winnipeg, MB - REALTORS ® threw their support behind the RCMP today as they launched a province-wide program to identify homes that have been used as marijuana growing operations before the homes come on the market for resale.
The purchase of a new home is an investment which is often the most significant financial commitment in a family's life, and such an investment should not put a family's personal or financial health at risk if they unwittingly buy a former grow op that has not been properly repaired, said Lorne Weiss past-president of the Manitoba Real Estate Association.
"REALTORS® are now required to disclose when a property has been a grow op. Former grow ops may have been patched up, but there may still be mould," said Weiss, who spoke on behalf of REALTORS ® at a press conference held at the RCMP "D" Division Headquarters about the effects that grow operations have on homeowners.
In February police launched a five-week operation called Project District, ultimately seizing 3,300 marijuana plants. The project is part of the Marijuana Grow Initiative, the RCMP's national strategy to combat grow ops and the organized crime groups running them in our communities.
Once a home has changed hands, the new owner may have difficulty getting home insurance and there is no standard for cleaning up and remediating grow op properties that are prone to developing mold in the walls and floors.
"Grow ops represent a growing threat to the people who create them, live near them, and responders that get called out to them," said Acting Fire Commissioner David Schafer.
"With the volatile mix of chemicals, lights, and unsafe electrical, structural and plumbing modifications, they become a significant risk to health and safety, and can destroy a perfectly good home."
The RCMP began publishing former grow op houses in an initiative announced in September, which means properties seized as grow operations are published on the RCMP website, and the page also links to the websites of local police services in Ottawa, London and Winnipeg.
"We are very pleased the RCMP has started publishing former grow ops to protect consumers. Being able to identify these stigmatized properties is a first step in a much needed and important piece of consumer protection." Weiss added.
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