Ontario REALTORS® have Real Heart

The REALTOR® team at Williams & Follows saw a need during the pandemic to connect with the people in their community and promote local businesses and the arts. Using Facebook, they created a community group that has grown to over 9,000 members. The group is a safe space for people to connect, engage in positive discussion, and learn about the businesses and artists in their community.
October 20, 2021

REALTOR® Alexandra Cote is the Vice-Chair of Parkdale Community Food Bank in Toronto. Alexandra is particularly proud of the work the organization did during the pandemic to ensure the community had access to food.
September 20, 2021

REALTOR® Amber Leis wanted to help promote the local businesses in her community during the pandemic. Amber reached out to 19 local businesses and throughout the month, raffled 19 prizes to her community through social media. The initiative brought her community closer and helped bring awareness of the struggles faced by businesses during the pandemic.
September 20, 2021

REALTOR® Wanda Latuszak understood the logistics and safety issues facing seniors who needed groceries during the pandemic. Wanda took the initiative to volunteer and do regular grocery pick-ups for seniors in her community.
September 20, 2021

REALTOR® Dominique McIntyre wanted to give back to her community while honouring her grandmother who passed in a nursing home during the pandemic. She knew how isolating and upsetting it can be for residents of long-term care homes during this time. In collaboration with Dahlia May Farms, she sponsored a flower delivery initiative to have a bouquet of flowers delivered to every resident of Crown Ridge long-term care home in Trenton.
September 20, 2021

Suzanne Othmer and Royal LePage Best Choice Realty rallied together to purchase a vaccine fridge for their local nursing home. The fridge has helped the healthcare staff safely store and handle its vital vaccine supply during the pandemic.
September 20, 2021

REALTOR® Eric McCartney has gone above and beyond during the pandemic to help his community. Eric has done everything from assisting his neighbours, to providing help at vaccination clinics, to purchasing commemorative benches in memory of the people we lost to COVID-19 and the dedicated healthcare workers who held their hands. Eric's contributions have supported his community in a time of need, and he was named Aurora's 2021 Citizen of the Year as a result.
September 20, 2021

REALTOR® Sean O'Hearn has seen the benefits first-hand of belonging to the Sea Cadets, a free youth-based program for 12 to 18 year olds who learn to sail, work as a team, work in the community, travel and meet new friends. That's why Sean is a member of The Navy League of Canada, the organization that sponsors the Sea Cadets program. Sean is excited to help children discover the joys of sport and team work.
September 20, 2021

For the last nine years, REALTOR® Anne Sheppard has volunteered her time to give back to her community. She has worked with Meals on Wheels in Brant County, cooking and delivering food to those in need. For Anne, it's heartwarming to be able to support her community.
January 24, 2022

REALTOR® Daniela Rodrigues, along with her business partner Sue Driver, raised $15,300 to support the Denise House, an organization committed to supporting women and children impacted by violence. The REALTOR® duo are invigorated to help the organization and continue spreading awareness about this important cause.
January 24, 2022

REALTOR® Lidia Tagliabracci has donated more than $33,100 to charities of her clients’ choice since May of 2020. Lidia has felt invigorated by being able to help so many charities and continues to promote her donation goal to donate over $70,000 by the end of 2021.
January 24, 2022

REALTORS® Jennifer and Terry Ames started the Terry Ames Care Fund at the Northern Cancer Foundation to help Sudbury families who need financial help so they can focus on beating cancer. The fund has raised over $575,000 to date.
January 26, 2022

Every February for the last six years, the Alex Irish & Associates team has run their Kindness Tour, a month-long initiative where the team donates to local charitable organizations in Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, Hamilton, and beyond. Over the last six years, they have supported over 150 charities and impacted thousands of lives.
March 1, 2022

From personal donations to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI), to co-hosting a golf fundraiser that raised $50,000, to serving on the board for Project North (an organization that donated over $1 million in hockey equipment to communities in Northern Canada), REALTOR® Colin Zappia is a dedicated volunteer in his community. Most recently, he combined his passions and donated 20 cents per save for every game in the OHL in honour of Heart Month in February to UOHI. In the past, Colin was also part of 'Leaders at Heart,' which raised over $1.5 million for UOHI.
May 20, 2022

REALTOR® Callum Wallace is flying around the world to support Home Suite Hope, an Oakville charity that helps single parents overcome financial hardship. In May 2023, Callum will set out to become the fourth Canadian in history to solo-circumnavigate the world in a small, single-engine aircraft. His goal is to raise $1,000,000, which will fund an affordable housing campaign, launching alongside Flight for Hope in the summer of 2022.
June 14, 2022

For the last eight years, REALTOR® Dori Mueller has been volunteering in her local community of Clair Hills. She started as a school council member, then created a community group Facebook page, which has spurred volunteer activity from members across the community. From holiday cards for the Clair Hill Retirement Residence, to business referrals, Dori's initiative has brought her community together and helped support the residents of Clair Hills.
May 26, 2022

Since moving to Oshawa a few years ago, REALTOR® Mohamed Karatella has been helping feed the members of his community. Every Tuesday, he works with Durham Dignity for the Homeless to prepare approximately 70 sandwiches to be handed out to those in need. In addition to this, Mohamed is also the Vice Chair for the Durham District School Board's Ignite Learning Foundation, which is an organization that aims to alleviate poverty for students.
May 26, 2022

Janice Macaulay has demonstrated excellence in her community of Brantford, both through her work as a REALTOR® and through her volunteerism. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Crime Stoppers in Brantford, is a member of the Kiwanis Club, and spends her free time volunteering at the Steadman Hospice/Hankinson House, where she is passionate about cooking for the residents. Janice has also been involved with three Habitat for Humanity builds and was a board member for the Glenhyrst Art Gallery.
June 13, 2022

During the pandemic, REALTOR® Ashanti Maingot felt compelled to give back to her childhood community of Parkdale, Toronto. She was drawn to supporting 'Sistering,' a local shelter that is a multi-service agency for at-risk women and trans people in Toronto. Ashanti used social media to inspire others to join in on the donation efforts, and was thrilled to see there was an abundance of people who wanted to support the cause.
July 13, 2022

REALTOR® and author Debbie Payne decided to begin journaling at 50. This hobby quickly took off and prompted her first book, "No Thanks, I'm Full" – a memoir sharing her experience being born into generational trauma, how and why she broke the cycle, and the life lessons she learned along the way. Debbie decided to donate 50 percent of the book's proceeds to the Canadian Mental Health Association, in memory of her sister, Gale, who suffered with mental health issues most of her life. Her hope is that we keep the conversation going surrounding mental health to help each other in whatever ways we can.
July 13, 2022

Ever since he started in real estate, REALTOR® Chip Barkel made a commitment to donate to charitable organizations in the communities he did business in. He has donated to community gardens, local churches, women’s shelters, hospitals, and the AIDS Committee of Durham, among others. In 2020, he decided to focus his efforts on donating bicycles to the Toronto Firefighters' Toy Drive – a cause that’s close to home for him, as both his father and grandfather were volunteer firefighters. Last year, he donated 25 bicycles and is hoping to grow this number in 2022 with additional donations to the York Region Police's Holiday Heros Toy Drive.
July 22, 2022

From organizing fundraising events to collecting food for the Ottawa Food Bank, REALTOR® Nancy Allen is a dedicated volunteer in her community. Nancy organizes annual fundraising events for the Ottawa Food Bank, has hosted a fundraiser for first responders during COVID-19, helps to fundraise and raise awareness for cystic fibrosis through charity walks, and has spent the last 10 years raising funds for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Through her efforts, Nancy has inspired her friends and colleagues to take action in bettering their communities.
July 22, 2022

REALTOR® and legal expert Peggy Blair wanted to help support Ukrainians who were looking for asylum. After sharing on social media that she had space in her home for those in need of housing, Peggy was contacted by individuals looking for support. This snowballed, and soon she was building a list of volunteer families that could host Ukrainian asylum seekers, and connecting them with each other. Peggy hopes others will replicate what she's done in their own cities and continue to help those in need.
August 16, 2022

REALTOR® Marina Ostromich is a volunteer for B'nai Brith, Canada's oldest independent Jewish Human Rights organization. Marina helps deliver food boxes to seniors on a weekly basis and also assists them with other needs, like getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Many of the seniors are Russian-speaking, which can be complicated for them at times. Marina's ability to speak Russian provides them comfort and ensures they get the support they need. Marina also volunteers for clothing drives and represents B'nai Brith in bingo halls, supporting the bingo hall, which then supports B'nai Brith in return.

August 16, 2022

For over 15 years, REALTOR® Mike Castiglione has volunteered for Basket Brigade Canada, a charitable organization that provides baskets of food to families in need. Mike is an active member of the Board of Directors, continually working to help Basket Brigade Canada expand their work across the country.

August 16, 2022

The Durham Region Association of REALTORS® (DRAR) is dedicated to supporting charities in their community. Each year, they host an annual golf tournament and select a charity to donate proceeds to. This year, DRAR is supporting The Super Sophia Project, an initiative that inspires and supports children who are battling cancer.

August 31, 2022

Over the last several years, REALTOR® Sorin Vaduva has taken part in the CIBC Run for the Cure. Sorin's team has raised an average of $2,100 per year, which is donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. The goal of the run is to fund breast cancer research that will help more people live with and beyond cancer, shape health policies that prevent breast cancer, support Canadians who have been diagnosed, and provide a national support system. Sorin also sponsors 5-10 families every year through the Caring and Sharing Exchange program, which helps families struggling during the holidays have a Christmas meal.

August 31, 2022

For the better part of the past 30 years, REALTOR® Robert Samery has immersed himself in social justice issues. He is a former Vice Chairman at the Parental Alienation Awareness Organization, working with survivors of abuse, specifically psychological abuse related to high-conflict divorce. Robert is also the former Founding Chair at the Canadian Association for Equality where he worked to bring equality to improving the understudied issues relevant to boys, fathers, and men. Most recently, he initiated, fundraised, and politically advocated for a domestic violence shelter for men and their families, now operating in North York. Robert is continuing his advocacy efforts in the United States with issues that are harming boys, men, and fathers.

August 31, 2022

REALTOR® Rajat Joshi is a strong believer in leaving the world a better place than he found it. The way Rajat chooses to do this is through donating blood. He began donating as soon as he could, right on his 18th birthday, and has not stopped since. Rajat is always looking for more ways to help spread awareness and promote this cause.

August 31, 2022

Every year before Christmas, Sarnia REALTOR® Theresa Powers does a pajama and book drive for Lambton Circles, an organization aimed at ending poverty. Kids are given a new pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve and a book to read at bedtime. Hundreds of pairs of pajamas are donated each year. Additionally, Theresa hosts an annual community food drive and is involved in many other charitable programs. Through her continued community support, Theresa has inspired several of her colleagues to get involved as well.

October 5, 2022

REALTOR® Kate McGinnis is a long-time volunteer at Brantford's The Soup for the Soul Program. She dedicates half a day every week to help provide a nutritionally-balanced, hot meal to approximately 200 people, five times a week. Not only does she donate her time, but she also donates a portion of her real estate transactions to support the initiative. Additionally, Kate helped organize St. Andrew's Church's Shine Gala, which has helped raise over $800,000 for the church. Outside of this, Kate continues to support numerous other local charities in her community of Brantford, including Handbags for Hospice and local youth sports teams.

July 22, 2022

Mississauga-based REALTOR® Rose Streete can do it all. She is a mother of seven, but while pregnant with her fourth child, Rose lost her job and found herself homeless. During her time living in a shelter, Rose was able to identify the gaps in services which further alienated and marginalized people. She decided she would not only advocate for herself, but also on behalf of every woman has found themselves at a similar crossroad in their lives. Through her mobilization and advocacy for social justice, Rose has been recognized for her anti-violence initiatives, social justice work, and advocacy in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding. Outside of her advocacy work, Rose is a real estate broker, paralegal, immigration consultant, flight attendant, community worker, author, and motivational speaker.
 

October 12, 2022

"We keep doing this because it keeps us real. It keeps us grounded."

"I wanted a way to connect with my community a little bit better."

"My family was a volunteering family. My father set the stage."

"Treat everyone around you with respect and do your best to build others up, even if they don’t ask for it."

"There’s something inherent in a REALTORS’® DNA to give back. "

REALTOR® Janet Kay is passionate about assisting members of her community. As volunteers and board members of Church Community Volunteers, Janet and her husband help provide transportation for seniors to medical appointments, facilitate social programs, and give companionship to those in their community. They are also community responders in Peel Region, equipped with first aid kits and AEDs to start emergency first aid and/or CPR while first responders are on their way.

October 19, 2022

"I remember that at any time in our life, we could lose everything."

"I had to find a creative and fun way to engage people."