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DRAR was the recipient of the 2022 Ontario Realtors Care Foundation Spirit Award for being strong contributors in their communities and instrumental in promoting the good works of the foundation.

Michael Watson, the association’s president in 2021, was awarded the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation Fellowship in recognition of distinguished dedication to his community, board and association. Foundation Fellows are committed to improving the quality of life in Ontario communities by supporting growth that encourages economic vitality, working to provide the opportunity to have a home and building communities.

Roger Bouma, DRAR past president (2017), was re-elected to the ORCF board as director – Central Ontario and subsequently elected by the board as president-elect. Bouma also received honourable mention as a nominee for the Cardarelli Legacy Award.

The award, which was won by Hugh Foy of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, is given to a member that has demonstrated leadership, professionalism and commitment to organized real estate; made a significant contribution as a dedicated volunteer in organized real estate through diverse roles at their local, provincial or national association; has contributed passionately to the area of government relations to bring a lasting benefit to the membership and the real estate profession; and is held in high regard and respect by peers.

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“As the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine rages on, we recognize the need to support the people of Ukraine in any way we can and that is why we are donating $100,000 to assist in the relief efforts,” says Heather Arnott, ORCF board president. “Through this donation, Ontario Realtors wish to express solidarity with the innocent lives being impacted by the devastation in Ukraine. As part of the global community, we are inspired by the strength and bravery displayed by the people of Ukraine fighting for their freedom and we are hoping for an end to the crisis.”

The donation will support the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal, helping provide humanitarian assistance and alleviate suffering in Ukraine. It will go towards providing immediate and ongoing relief efforts in the country, long-term recovery, resiliency, and other critical humanitarian activities that arise in Ukraine and surrounding countries, including those who are displaced, says ORCF.

For more information about the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal, visit the Canadian Red Cross website. To make a tax-receiptable contribution to the Canadian Red Cross securely, visit  the Realtors Care donation page.

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The grants provided by the foundation in 2021 reflect the contributions made by Realtors before The Lakelands and the Southern Georgian Bay Association of Realtors merged in October 2021.

The former Lakelands presented cheques of $5,341 to each of the following 2021 recipients:

• Hospice Muskoka in Port Carling: Providing compassionate support to individuals and their loved ones of all ages and backgrounds, who are coping with end-of-life issues and bereavement.
• Mariposa House Hospice in Severn: Dedicated hospice team offers 24-hour specialized end-of-life palliative care in a peaceful, home-like setting while welcoming and supporting family and friends.
• Parry Sound Native Friendship Centre in Parry Sound: Mandated to serve the needs of urban Indigenous people by providing culturally appropriate services in urban communities.
• YWCA H.E.R.S. – Haliburton Emergency Rural Safe Space in Minden: Providing a unique safe space within Haliburton County so women and their children can move away from the abusive situation in their home, without leaving their support systems, jobs and schools, families and friends behind.

The former Southern Georgian Bay Association of Realtors presented cheques for $2,486 to each of the following 2021 recipients:

• My Friend’s House in Collingwood: A safe haven for abused women and their children.
• Home Horizon in Collingwood: Bridging the critical gap between emergency shelter and independent living to transform the lives of youth at risk of homelessness by providing them with the opportunity to rebuild their lives and achieve their full potential.
• Shelter Now in Midland: Works to empower individuals and families experiencing homelessness to improve the quality of their lives through individualized support and transitional housing.
• Huronia Transition Homes, The Rosewood Shelter in Midland: Committed to education and advocacy as a means to end violence, and provide shelter, counselling and support to women and their children who have experienced abuse.

The now merged association will continue with the ongoing tradition and commitment to help those in need, it says in a news release.

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DRAR members contributed $10,071 through the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation – Every Realtor Cares Campaign in addition to over $8,400 from the 2021 ORCF grant program.

Contributions from the board’s annual Charity Auction and individual and broker challenge events added over $11,600 to the total. “This is one of our signature fund-raising events and we are absolutely thrilled at the generosity of our members,” says 2021 Charity Auction task force chair and president-elect Vicki Sweeney.

In late November, the board donated more than 100 pairs of gloves and mittens to Back Door Mission’s outreach program thanks to a $1,000 grant from the CREA Realtors Care Week.

“At Back Door Mission, we provide a wide range of supports that help our community members move along their journey towards their goals. Our daily meal program is vital to the people who visit us, and the support we receive from the Durham Region Association of Realtors helps us purchase the food items needed to serve delicious and nutritious meals to over 200 community members a day,” says Stacey Snow, community development co-ordinator, Back Door Mission for the Relief of Poverty.

Jane Carter, executive director of Bereaved Families of Ontario – Durham says, “Through these efforts we are able to complete some much-needed upgrades to our facility so that our children’s program can expand as to the need of the community. This will provide us with a large meeting room for our events as well as education and training for our volunteers.”

Last summer, DRAR’s Charity Golf Tournament raised over $11,900 for Achieving Beyond Brain Injury.

“We were so pleased to be able to run our annual Charity Golf Tournament again this year while following strict guidelines from local health officials. This is always a great opportunity to have fun while supporting wonderful organizations in our community,” says 2021 DRAR Charity Golf Tournament Taskforce chair Scott White.

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The successful recipients of KWAR’s 2021 grants were:

• Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region
• Indwell
• OneRoof
• Shelter Movers Waterloo Region
• The Working Centre
• Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region

The funding comes from the $2 per member per month that KWAR donates to the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation as part of the Every Realtor Campaign, which ensures investments are made back into our local community through shelter-related causes.

“Far too many people in our community are facing housing and shelter challenges,” says KWAR president Megan Bell. “We know it is going to take a variety of approaches and solutions to address the wide-ranging challenges being faced in our community. As Realtors we are proud to support the many dedicated charities working hard to help those struggling across the housing and shelter spectrum.”

“With the generous grant from Realtors Care, Shelter Movers Waterloo Region will be able to support approximately 18 survivors transition to a life free from violence by creating a survivor-centred response,” says Courtney Waterfall, chapter director at Shelter Movers.

Indwell community engagement co-ordinator Mark Willcock says, “The grant will go towards Indwell’s first project in Waterloo Region, St. Mark’s Place, a 43-unit supportive affordable housing community at 825 King Street West in Kitchener.”

Bonnie Kropf, fund developer at OneRoof Youth Services, says the grant will be used to provide an essential services program and drop-in program services for youth who are 12 to 25 and experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. “These programs assist youth in securing basic daily needs, establishing goals, developing life skills and utilize additional resources to maintain their health and safety,” she says. “We believe one youth on the street is one too many.”

Joe Mancini, director, The Working Centre, says the charity is currently “working on some significant housing initiatives including building 19 new affordable housing units, supporting 80 people who were formerly homeless in a dorm residence, 70 people in motels and recently we opened an emergency shelter at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, which offers indoor shelter for 50 people. This work takes tremendous co-ordination and commitment.”

At Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, CEO Jennifer Hutton says, “Through COVID-19, domestic violence has increased and escalated, which means we have had to provide increased supports. Because of this grant from Realtors Care, we can provide safe shelter, warm meals and therapeutic programming for approximately 73 days for a mother and child working towards moving beyond violence.”

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OREB members contributed the funding through the board’s “$2 per member per month” campaign, since OREB’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament was again cancelled this year due to the pandemic.

“We are so thrilled to be able to assist these amazing charities in the work they do for our society’s most vulnerable,” says OREB 2021 Realtors Care Committee chair Tony McDermott. “Our humblest appreciation goes out to these unsung heroes who have made it their mission to serve those that need a helping hand, and we are truly grateful for their dedication and perseverance, especially during these challenging pandemic times.”

The 21 charities endorsed by OREB support local area residents who may not have adequate shelter, along with those who may be dealing with homelessness, addiction, mental or physical illness, spousal or familial abuse, physical disability, poverty or aging.

The 2021 Ottawa-area grant recipients are:

• Ancoura
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lanark County
• Bruce House
• Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre
• Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa
• Helping With Furniture
• Hospice Care Ottawa
• Jericho Road Christian Ministries
• Lanark Highlands Youth Centre
• Maison d’amitie
• Nelson House
• Options Bytown
• Orleans Cumberland Community Resource Centre
• Ottawa Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
• Ottawa Rotary Home Foundation
• Restoring Hope Ministries
• Serenity Renewal for Families
• Shepherds of Good Hope
• St. Mary’s Home
• The Table
• Youth Services Bureau

“Many of our Realtor members are committed to volunteering for the charities closest to their hearts and can often be found behind the scenes giving generously of their time, energy and earnings to local charitable organizations,” says Penny Torontow, OREB’s president. “I have been volunteering from a very young age and I believe it is our responsibility to support the communities in which we work and live.”

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Homelessness is a pressing issue in the Chatham-Kent region. As the area is affected by successive waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic impacts, people and families are finding themselves in precarious situations. UWOCK, through collaborative relationships with organizations throughout the area, is working to address the need.

Laura Tourangeau, president of Chatham Kent Association of Realtors, says, “This is where we work. This is where we live. This is our community. We need to give back when there is a need.

“Safe places to live are the bedrock upon which our communities are built. They contribute to a strong civic life; economic, business and employment stability; and family security and well-being. For some families, however, the dream of home ownership remains elusive. It is for this reason that we must also commit ourselves to providing housing options other than home ownership and find solutions that ensure everyone has access to respectful and accessible supports.”

“For us at the United Way of Chatham-Kent, building community-based solutions means listening deeply to our neighbours and finding out what’s important to them,” says Patricia Peters, acting CEO. “It also means that we partner with like-minded organizations such as the Chatham-Kent Association of Realtors to connect people with the resources they need to build a community where no one is left behind.”

The Ontario Realtors Care Foundation has supported organizations throughout Ontario since 1967. In 1999, the focus shifted to primarily supporting shelter-based initiatives.

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This year “we have decided to open up fundraising to a broader membership,” says the foundation.

It’s holding Realtors in Motion – A Week of Movement for Charity, which will be held October 4 to 10, 2021.

“Register today and help us raise funds for shelter and shelter-related causes by doing what you love to do – walking, running, biking, riding, swimming, roller blading, dancing – individually or as a team,” says the foundation. There is no set location, trail or path for completing your preferred type of motion – it’s up to you to create your own challenge and get friends and family to rally behind you, says the association. You can use the hashtag #realtorsinmotion to share your progress during your week of movement.

Registration is free for Realtors and friends. There are no fundraising minimums. “Get your fellow Realtors, friends or family members to get involved by registering or pledging to support you as you get moving.”

Here is the registration link.

Following registration, participants can create a personalized individual or team fundraising page and then they can start raising funds. Participants will have one week (October 4-10, 2021) to complete their preferred type of “motion.”

For over 40 years, the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation has supported shelters and shelter-based charities across Ontario.

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