Governors' Page

by Theresa Eichler


Since my appointment to the Real Estate Foundation’s Board of Governors in 2001, I have been consistently impressed by the quality of the work done by the Foundation, thanks to the generosity of the real estate industry.

As a city planner, I find it gratifying that many projects supported by the Foundation provide ways for real estate, planning, and environmental practitioners to work with educational institutions, various levels of government, and the non-profit sector to improve sustainable land use practices and build communities for the future.

It is increasingly evident that the real estate and land use issues we face must be understood by the community at large. Many of our 2002 grants focused on public education and involvement in a broad range of topics—from shoreline stewardship to low-impact development.

Sustainable communities also include affordable housing. Many people rely on the non-profit housing sector for accommodation, and the Foundation continues to help organizations provide housing choice for low-income seniors and families, homeless people, and “hard-to-house” individuals, including adults with disabilities and folks recovering from addictions. These projects demonstrate the heart of the real estate industry.

With the fast-paced changes of a high tech world and myriad legislative revisions affecting the industry, organizations are striving to help their members keep abreast of the times. Pursuing a new model for delivering real estate education and the reformation of the Real Estate Act are two important undertakings that will affect organized real estate in B.C. in the coming years.

Working with the Real Estate Foundation offers many opportunities to learn how organizations around B.C. are striving for the betterment of their communities. Their work is good news for all of us.