On May 17^th at The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors was installed with two new members and Mike Stahls taking over the helm as President from Mike Taylor.  Also, the board selected their President-Elect for the new term: Wendy Webb of Bracebridge.

“Having served as president in 2014, a lot has changed in the real estate industry.  I’m really looking forward to building on the work we’ve done as a board over the past year, looking to the future for our region and members,” said Mike.  Mike’s perspective on special projects over his time serving on the board and his work on committees both at the local board level and provincially including Government Affairs and Marketing/Communications has been a great asset.  His knowledge of organised real estate was put to work during the project of merging Muskoka and Haliburton with the former Orillia board, and during the Search Integration project with neighbouring boards.  Mike was also instrumental in the hiring of current Lakelands Executive Officer Crystal Henderson and for the work being done by several boards and associations across the province in the search for a new MLS® System.

Long-serving Board member Wendy Webb returns as well, bringing proven expertise as President-Elect.  Having served as president in 2010, and with the board for 29 years, Wendy is very active at all levels of organized real estate.  She has worked on several local association committees and with the Futures Implementation Task Force for the Canadian Real Estate Association.  Wendy also has been integral to the recent project in partnership with 12 other boards across the province to develop a new MLS® System for the membership.

The Lakelands is excited to welcome two new board members: Lindsay Elder of Haliburton and Doug Monett of Huntsville.

Local REALTORS® have donated over $17,000 to local shelter-based charitable organisations across Muskoka, Haliburton, Orillia and Almaguin to support their efforts in providing services to the most vulnerable members of the community.  Each month, members of The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® contribute $2 to the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation Every REALTOR® Campaign. At the end of the year, the funds are divided across the jurisdiction.

The organisations that benefited from the funding this year are:

Burk’s Falls & District Food Bank: provides food and resources for those in need. Covers 7 districts.
Table Soup Kitchen (Huntsville): provides hot meals & resources. Also operates a men’s shelter.
Muskoka Interval House (Bracebridge): provides shelter and resources for women & children.
The Lighthouse (Orillia): meals and drop in services.  Also provides shelter for men.
Places for People (Haliburton): renovates homes to provide affordable housing to qualified applicants.
Cottage Dreams (Haliburton): provides rental cottages for families to enjoy following cancer treatment.

The contributions by Lakelands members through the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation boost the ability for these organisations to support residents. Lakelands President Mike Taylor: “Local Realtors have a deep pride for their community.  The donation initiative through the Every REALTOR® Campaign gets us directly involved with organisations that make our communities stronger. Many of our local brokerages give to and support causes in their own specific communities on top of these monthly contributions.  Across The Lakelands Board, Realtors are committed to our mission of being an integral part of the communities we live in.  We’re all honoured to help.”

Local Realtors are committed to improving Quality of Life through their support of community initiatives that ensure economic vitality, housing opportunities and safe neighbourhoods. 

Lakelands REALTOR® members gathered in Haliburton on November 3rd for a second annual log splitting day to benefit Heat Bank Haliburton County.  The Heat Bank supplies emergency heat for members of the community in need. With winter closing in, the most vulnerable in the community are left to make the tough decision to heat their home, or spend money on other necessities of life.  Seniors, homes with small children or those unable to work are at risk once the temperature plummets. Heat Bank Haliburton County will provide fire wood, or funding for heating costs.

For about 3 hours, Realtors from the area met at Abbey Gardens to split logs, stack wood and put together another shelter for more logs as they’re ready. The spirit of community and team work made light work of the task.

– 2016 fundraising ride stops in Muskoka today –

MUSKOKA, July 6, 2016 – A group of Ontario motorcycle-riding Realtors will roll into town today as part of the 11^th annual Motorcycle Ride for Charity. Riders started in Newmarket and will end in Sudbury, with stops along the way to help raise funds for the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, which supports homeless shelters and charities across the province.

“We are excited to have Muskoka as a stop on this great ride,” said Mike Taylor, president of the Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®. “These dedicated Realtors are riding for a great cause, one that will help people all across Ontario.”

The ride has taken place every summer since 2006, with increasing amounts pledged each year. Since its inception, the riders, along with boards and associations, family and friends have worked hard to raise over $322,000, with 100% of these funds going to the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation. This year’s goal is $25,000. Last year, the foundation gave out $926, 000 in grants to charities across the province. Since its inception, the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation has granted nearly $5.5 million on behalf of Ontario Realtors to shelter-based organizations across the province.

“Being a Realtor requires a lot of time on the road, so it’s completely fitting that one of our biggest fundraising successes is a motorcycle ride throughout the province,” says Ray Ferris, president, Ontario Real Estate Association.  “This ride is a chance for our members to visit new corners of the province, meet fellow Realtors and community members, all while raising money for a great cause.”

About the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation

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.  Every donation to the Foundation is invested, and the interest earned from the investments is allocated to the cause. All of the interest generated goes directly to supporting local charities, as the Foundation’s administrative costs are covered by the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA).

About the Ontario Real Estate Association

The Ontario Real Estate Association represents over 64,000 brokers and salespeople who are members of the province’s 40 real estate boards. OREA serves its members through a wide variety of publications, education programs and special services. The association provides all real estate licensing courses in Ontario.

March 22 in Bracebridge, ON – In November 2015 a tremendous wind storm destroyed over thirty mature, beautiful trees in Bracebridge’s beloved Annie Williams Park.  The trees, some over 100 feet tall, were uprooted, broken or were left unsafe for the busy park.  Responding to a call for help by the park’s volunteer Board of Directors, The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® has donated $3,800 to fund the purchase and planting of more mature trees in an effort to restore the park to its former glory.

Established in 1926 by Bracebridge physician and philanthropist Dr. James Francis Williams in memory of his late wife Annie, the park has long been central to the vibrant community.  While each year many young sapling trees are planted in the park, the loss of so many large and mature trees has greatly changed the park’s nostalgic feel. Starting in the spring, with the funds from The Lakelands donation, the Annie Williams Park Board will purchase trees of more significant size to replace those lost in November.

The donation by The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® will go toward the purchase of 10 mature trees.  “Open spaces, natural environment, fresh air – these are the hallmarks of what it means to live and work in Muskoka. Local Realtors work hard to preserve the important quality of life that we hang our hat on,” says Lakelands Association President Tom Wilkinson. “Annie Williams Park brings so much joy to the residents of Bracebridge. We’re proud to step up and donate to such an iconic and beloved park and in turn, support healthy sustainable communities across our board area.”

The donation to Annie Williams Park on behalf of local Realtors was presented to park Board of Directors Chair Cathryn Willard on March 22^nd on-site at the park. Several members of The Lakelands were in attendance.  The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® holds an Emergency Relief fund in their budget to help support significant causes across their area.  The committee responsible for the fund considers tragic events throughout Almaguin, Muskoka, Orillia and Haliburton that require a quick injection of funds to prevent further impact.

In Our Community will be the place to find out all of the great things local REALTORS® are doing in and around our communities and regions.  Check back often for more stories and images.