May 20, 2021, Huntsville and Collingwood, ON —The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® (The Lakelands) and Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS® (SGBAR) are pleased to announce their merger, following an overwhelming membership vote in favour on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at each association’s respective membership meeting. The merger is scheduled to be effective October 1, 2021.

“By merging our two associations to create a membership of over 1,400 REALTORS®, our new association will be in a strong position to represent the small community and recreational property perspective within organized real estate,” offered Chuck Murney, President of The Lakelands. “It will also increase our political clout with the provincial and federal governments since the boundary of our new territory is better aligned with our political boundaries. We are pleased that the Lakelands and SGBAR members saw the benefits of this merger and voted in favour of the motion.”

“Our members will enjoy the cost savings that come through the merger and benefit from reduced member fees to improved programs and services, made possible by having a larger membership base”, offered Matthew Lidbetter, President of SGBAR. “Our members have put our new association in a stronger position to add depth and strength to our many programs and services, many of which exist to enhance the professionalism of our REALTOR® members and better respond to the evolving conditions as the market shifts.”

The proposed name for the new association will be Trillium REALTORS® Association, pending approval from Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) and Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).

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For more information, please contact:
Kelly Warr, Interim Executive Officer, The Lakelands, 705-788-1504, ext. 229
Sandy Raymer, Executive Officer, SGBAR, 705-445-7295, ext. 5

About The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®: The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® represents over 850 local REALTOR® members who serve the District of Parry Sound, District Municipality of Muskoka, Haliburton County, and Northern Simcoe County including the City of Orillia.

About The Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®: The Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS represents over 640 REALTORS® who serve Townships of Clearview, Springwater, Oro-Medonte, Tiny, Tay, Severn and Georgian Bay, as well as Municipality of Meaford and Grey Highlands including The Blue Mountains, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Midland, Penetanguishene.

December 4, 2020

Huntsville – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® is continuing its tradition of supporting local shelter-based charities, donating a total of $21,704 to organizations in the regions they serve: Muskoka Women’s Advocacy Group (Bracebridge/Huntsville); H.E.R.S Emergency Rural Safe Space Women’s Shelter (Haliburton); Esprit Place Women’s Shelter (Parry Sound); Lighthouse Shelter/Community Kitchen (Orillia); and the United Way (Simcoe Muskoka). The donations were announced during REALTORS Care® Week- a national initiative held November 23 -27. In response to the upheaval of COVID-19, focus of this year’s initiative was homelessness.

“The pandemic has had made difficult lives even harder,” says Chuck Murney, president of the Lakelands Association of REALTOR® Board of Directors. “Our organization believes in supporting the communities in which we work. These donations reflect our organization’s principles about access to safety, food and a roof over your head.”

Several of the charities the association is supporting provide a haven for women and children. Shelter Voices – a recent national survey by Women’s Shelters Canada – has shed some light on women fleeing violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those turning to shelters are reporting more violence that is also increasing in severity.

“It has been a tremendously challenging year for those we serve,” says Kim Dolan, Executive Director, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. “Now, more than ever, organizations like ours really need this kind of support, from individuals and organizations like The Lakelands Association of Realtors. On behalf of the women and children we support at our Haliburton Emergency Rural Safe Space (HERS) as well as the counselling and support programs at the Women’s Centre, we are deeply grateful for their support.”

Members of the association also attended a virtual conference about homelessness on November 24 as part of REALTORS Care® Week.
“Our profession is about more than buying and selling homes,” says Murney. “It’s about giving back and demonstrating our values in meaningful ways.”

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CONTACT
Crystal Henderson, Executive Director, The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®
705-788-1504 x 222

November 24, 2020

Huntsville, ON – The Lakelands Association of Realtors® members have selected their board of directors for 2020-21. Their representatives are: Chuck Murney (Parry Sound), Catharine Inniss (Port Carling), D’Arcy Hunt (Orillia), Lindsay Elizabeth Elder (Minden), Heather Scott (Port Carling), Andrew Hodgson (Haliburton), Anastasia Langiano (Orillia), and Bonnie Looby (Magnetawan).

The association represents over 800 Realtors® in Parry Sound, Muskoka, Haliburton, and Orillia. Board representatives are elected by the association’s members. The board makes a variety of decisions on behalf of members, from political action priorities, to how to distribute funds for charitable causes, and professional development opportunities.

Langiano and Looby are new to the board this year. Murney is this year’s president, taking the helm after Inniss served in 2019-20. Murney has been involved in board activities for most of his career, including a term as president of the former Parry Sound Real and Area Association of Realtors® and three years on The Lakelands Association of Realtors® board. “As we step towards a new year and the end of a crazy 2020, our members have proven their professionalism and ability to adapt,” he says. “Our members have been working through the stresses of Covid-19 and the business lockdowns that have come with it, all while maintaining the highest standards in client service. It’s been remarkable and I’m proud to represent them.” This year, while stressful, was also one of the busiest on record in terms of demand for real estate in the Lakelands regions.

Looking ahead to the coming year, Murney is confident that The Lakelands Association of Realtors® Board of Directors and all of its members will be better equipped than ever to rise to any potential challenges that 2021 may bring. “Our local Realtors® are looking forward to continuing to meet the demands of their clients going into the new year and transferring the many lessons learned from this past year to whatever challenges lay ahead.”
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CONTACTS:
Crystal Henderson, Executive Director
chenderson@thelakelands.ca
(705) 788-1544 ext. 222

Kelly Warr, Operations Manager
kelly@thelakelands.ca
(705) 788-1544 ext. 229

Facebook: @TheLakelandsAssociation
Twitter: @TheLakelands
Instagram: @lakelands.realtor.association

HUNTSVILLE– The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® has donated to the Sharing Place Food Centre as part of their Ontario REALTORS Care® and Tragic Relief Fund programs. This financial support is in response to the pandemic, the impacts of which are being felt by hundreds of local families and individuals, as well as the people who are working tirelessly to help feed the region’s most vulnerable residents.

“It was wonderful to receive the generous donation from The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® during COVID-19,” says Chris Peacock, Executive Director of The Sharing Place Food Centre. “The economic impact and job losses during this time have made it difficult for many families and individuals to afford food. The support we received allows us to invest in fresh, healthy food for many vulnerable households across our region.”

According to Food Banks Canada, the number of people requiring help has skyrocketed by at least 20 percent in most regions across the country since the lockdown began, with projections that these numbers will continue to rise in the weeks and months to come.
The Sharing Place provides a four-day emergency supply of healthy food once a month to families and individuals who identify as food insecure and 32 percent of their members are children. This type of support from the corporate sector is vital.

“During these unprecedented times, the most vulnerable members of our community have been impacted the hardest,” says local REALTOR® D’Arcy Hunt who represents Orillia on The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors. “It is important for our association to assist our community by giving back. By donating to the local food bank in Orillia, local REALTORS® are giving a helping hand in the hope that none of our local citizens have to go hungry to keep a roof over their head.”

Between the two organizations – the association’s Tragic Relief Fund and The Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® has donated $10,780 to food banks in the regions they represent (Haliburton, Muskoka, Orillia and Parry Sound) in response to the pandemic.

Provincially, the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has donated $480,000 to Ontario shelters and shelter-based charities through the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation. OREA’s donation will reach the most vulnerable populations through more than 50 shelters and food banks across Ontario.
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The Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, formerly the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) Foundation was established in 1967. The Foundation supports shelter-based charitable organizations across Ontario, making a difference in the lives of people and communities where REALTORS® live and conduct business.

The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® holds a Tragic Relief fund in their budget to help support significant local causes. The committee responsible for the fund considers tragic events throughout Parry Sound, Muskoka, Orillia and Haliburton that require an injection of funds to prevent further impact.

For more information contact:
Crystal Henderson, Executive Director of The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®
chenderson@thelakelands.ca

HUNTSVILLE– The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® has donated to The West Muskoka Food Bank (Port Carling), The Salvation Army Food Bank (Gravenhurst), The Manna Food Bank (Bracebridge), The Table Foundation (Huntsville) and The Burk’s Falls and District Food Bank as part of their Ontario REALTORS Care® and Tragic Relief Fund programs. This financial support is in response to the pandemic, the impacts of which are being felt by hundreds of local families and individuals, as well as the people who are working tirelessly to help feed the region’s most vulnerable residents.

“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® for their timely financial donation,” says Heather Cassie, CEO of The Table Foundation. “During this difficult time, many in our community have reached out for support. It is because of generous people and businesses, like the association, that we are able to continue to provide our services.”

According to Food Banks Canada, the number of people requiring help has skyrocketed by at least 20 percent in most regions across the country since the lockdown began, with projections that these numbers will continue to rise in the weeks and months to come. This type of support from the corporate sector is vital.

“We are so thankful for the generous donation received from the Lakelands Association of REALTORS®,” says Joy Murphy, who is a coordinator at the Burk’s Falls and District Food Bank.
“Donations such as this go a long way in helping us to provide our clients with a more healthy and nutritious diet, enabling us to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and some dairy products that they would not normally have access to.” Murphy says that a lot of their clients are also dealing with physical disabilities and other health problems; having access to healthy food plays an essential role in improving their day-to-day lives and overall health.

“REALTORS® care deeply about our communities,” says Port Carling REALTOR® Catharine Inniss, who is president of The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors. “We believe that now more than ever, we need to support those who are most vulnerable. We know that members of our association are proud to be part of a profession that extends itself with these types of initiatives.”

Between the two organizations – the association’s Tragic Relief Fund and The Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® has donated $10,780 to food banks in the regions they represent (Haliburton, Muskoka, Orillia and Parry Sound) in response to the pandemic.

Provincially, the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has donated $480,000 to Ontario shelters and shelter-based charities through the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation. OREA’s donation will reach the most vulnerable populations through more than 50 shelters and food banks across Ontario.

_______________________________________________________________

The Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, formerly the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) Foundation was established in 1967. The foundation supports shelter-based charitable organizations across Ontario, making a difference in the lives of people and communities where REALTORS® live and conduct business.

The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® holds a Tragic Relief fund in their budget to help support significant local causes. The committee responsible for the fund considers tragic events throughout Parry Sound, Muskoka, Orillia and Haliburton that require an injection of funds to prevent further impact.

Contact:
Crystal Henderson, Executive Director of The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®
chenderson@thelakelands.ca