Meet a Member

Whether you have years of experience or are new to the industry, REIBC is your key to career advancement and connection with the real estate industry. Professional members have achieved the RI designation, which provide employers and clients with instant confirmation of advanced levels of education and experience.

This month we are pleased to introduce you to Megan Adams, RI and Ranj Dhaliwal, RI

Megan started her real estate career in 2014 when an appraisal company in Vancouver, hired her with little experience in an administration/appraiser assistant position and gave her an opportunity. While there she was promoted to Junior Appraiser and that allowed her to go on site inspections and to assist in writing commercial appraisal reports. She then decided it was the path for her. While there she completed her Diploma in Urban Land Economics to continue her appraisal career path.

Currently, Megan works at BC Assessment as a residential appraiser in the Vancouver office and has done so for the last 2 years. Megan has always enjoyed learning and challenging herself and has wanted a career where continued growth was available. She believes a career in appraisal will continue to do that. during her short time in the industry, she has come across many different challenging scenarios and believes that there are other areas of appraisal to move into and to continue to learn and grow. Meghan has her Bachelor of Business in Tourism & Hospitality and finished her degree in Melbourne, Australia. Travel is her first passion and her subsequent time in Australia, has given her the opportunity work as a flight attendant for a few years based in Dubai. The experience was life changing and she managed to travel to over 35 countries by the age of 25. Travel is still very important to her and she plans to continue to experience new places and cultures throughout her life.

Welcome to REIBC Megan.

Ranj’s family has been involved in construction since he was a child, and he formally started his real estate career almost nine years ago working in the residential construction sector, and he has been a licensed realtor for the last six years. He is currently working as a project manager for single-family residential construction projects in Vancouver and the surrounding area.

Ranj has always had a strong passion for real estate and development and its ability to create value. Not only in monetary value but the social and spatial benefits it can provide. Therefore, it was a natural choice to pursue an education in real estate and learn the construction and project management aspects. Every day is unique and being involved in the creation of something so physically tangible is quite rewarding. He chose to pursue the RI designation for several reasons. He believes it provides an excellent platform for real estate professionals across various disciplines to collaborate, learn and network with each other. The depth and breadth of the professionals across so many segments of the real estate sector are unique to REIBC member and not only is he excited; he is also proud to be amongst such an esteemed group of people.

Ranj likes to stay active in his spare time, try out new places to eat, and travel to cities with great architecture.

REIBC welcomes you Ranj.

Member News

Connie Fair, RI

After 36 years in the real estate industry, Connie Fair retired at the end of 2020. She was the CEO of BC Assessment for 8 years and the role she retired from was CEO of Land Titles Survey Authority which she held for 5 years. What she enjoyed most about her roles was providing better service to the citizens of BC by modernizing systems and giving them better access to information about real estate.

After one month of retirement, Connie continues to practice yoga, golfing twice per week where she noted that there was “still not much improvement!” She started playing the piano again, continues to volunteer with alumni at UBC, spends more time with children who now both live in Victoria (one with a 1912 fixer-upper). She also is spending more time with her husband, John Savage, who retired 1.5 years ago from the BC Court of Appeal.

She is looking forward to international travel and has been able to do some trips closer to home in the interim including some skiing, the Gulf Islands and biking locally. She has optimistically booked a Christmas market river cruise in Europe for the end of 2021 as it was something they always wanted to do. The Galapagos and Easter Island are on their list to visit as well as Egypt and Jordan, although first, a road trip in New Zealand from one tip to the other. Of course, all this will depend on vaccines and what various countries will allow them to do; they will be patient.

It doesn’t seem there will be any boredom in your future, and REIBC congratulates you on your retirement and we wish you all the best.

Don Burrell, RI

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Don Burrell, RI. Don became an RI in December of 1990 and passed on January 4, 2021 of cancer. Don was the principal of Magellan Real Estate Law Corporation and started his law practice in Langley over 30 years ago. In his solicitor’s practice, he focused on residential real estate conveyancing and mortgages, commercial real estate, commercial banking and wills and estates. His clients include individuals, small businesses and closely-held corporations, as well as lenders and most credit unions, banks, mortgage investment corporations and other lending institutions.

Don was born and raised in British Columbia; he attended UBC earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1980 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1981. He was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1982. With a strong interest in the real estate industry, Don earned a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration at UBC (now the Sauder School of Business). Pursuing his keen interest in the real estate industry, Don held senior management positions with the Real Estate Division at the University of British Columbia from 1990 to 1994.

Don was on the Board of Stepping Stone Community Services in Langley and participated in and donated to numerous fundraising events for local non-profits. When time permitted Don enjoyed travel and scuba diving and preferably combining the two.

Our condolences to his family.

Webinars

As 2021 comes into full swing we will be offering a series of webinars to our members. We have your thoughts from the survey conducted early in 2020 and that is where we look to put our webinars together over the year. If you have any ideas or suggestions on what you would like to hear, forward them to info@reibc.org and we will be happy to try and put them together for you.

The January webinar with Bryan Yu, Chief Economist of Central 1 was well attended and a lot of great information was received. Bryan left us with a few points to think about as we move through 2021.

1. There is Short term pain, medium term optimism for economy contingent on vaccine roll out and second wave. Canadian economy to pick up in second quarter
2. Housing market strong heading into 2021 but sales cycle expected to cool. Home prices supported by low inventory and mortgage rates

Thank you to all who attended and we look forward to the next one which is Venture Kamloops.

We also have been working on a panel to discuss the ever-growing city centre in Surrey and have just confirmed it for March 4, 2021. Please mark your calendars and watch for registration coming soon.

February 18, 2021 – 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
Jim Anderson – Executive Director Venture Kamloops
Venture Kamloops - Moving Forward
Register here

REIBC Grapevine

As we move into 2021 REIBC is working on keeping you abreast of what is happening in the industry. We strive to have our webinars be of interest and also to be educational for you.

In the next few weeks, watch for a short poll (about 60 seconds to complete) as we ask you, our members how the pandemic has affected areas of your work. We will share the information from the polls so that you can see how the profession has fared over the last year.

REIBC Announces ProSeries

Have you had an opportunity to check out the ProSeries? It’s a great series of our own members talking about what they have learned and are sharing their expertise with you. If you have some time be sure to check it out! They are first class information for you and for members they are free.

Have any ideas on who you would like to hear, send them to info@reibc.org as we would be happy to hear your feedback.

Career Opportunities

Senior Real Estate Specialist - Infrastructure (2 year term) - Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

Vice President, Development & Asset Strategies - BC Housing

Property Valuator Negotiator 1 - City of Burnaby

Manager/Managing Broker RE Office - Top Producing RE office on Vancouver Island

Property Valuator - Negotiator 2 - City of Burnaby

Supervisor - Realty and Lands - City of Burnaby

Property Acquisition Coordinator - Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

Senior Real Estate Specialist - Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

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