Although my term as Chair is ending, I’m proud of what our team has been able to accomplish over the past 12 months.
As 2023-2024 Chair of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), I gave myself two important goals.
One, engage with membership and foster opportunities for discussion. I know when we come together, we’re far more likely to come away with a stronger solution that addresses the issue we’re facing and set up for success in the future.
Next, I wanted to empower members to see themselves in leadership positions. Each of us has our own set of skills, experiences, and backgrounds, which can bring unique perspectives around the table.
Since setting these goals, CREA’s Board of Directors took part in more than 85 speaking engagements with the REALTOR® association community, including more than 50 presentations on the future of REALTOR.ca. In addition, each member of our Board of Directors attended several tradeshows and events, not only in their communities, but also across the country. These speaking engagements allowed our Board to hear and learn from members about how we can continue to move our industry forward.
During my time as Chair, I’m proud to say we’ve accomplished a lot. From going through the process of hiring CREA’s new (and first female) CEO, Janice Myers, ensuring the REALTOR® Cooperation policy reflected the needs of our industry, to being a part of the roadmap to turn REALTOR.ca into a wholly owned subsidy of CREA.
While it was a busy year, it reinforced lessons I learned long ago, including trusting your team, and being ready to adapt. I’m happy to report, your resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment have been the driving force behind our collective success.
I look forward to working with our upcoming Chair, James Mabey, to continue striving for excellence, progress, and continued collaboration.
Lastly, thanks again to each of you and a special thank you to my wife, Sheree, for your support this year.
Larry Cerqua
Chair, CREA Board of Directors
