A couple important reminders....

• If you have not renewed your membership, your membership will expire on March 31st. Don't forget to login and renew. When you login you're membership will show as expired, you can still renew.
  
  
• The AIC-BC & REIBC Valuing Diversity Conference is taking place from May 10-12 at the Delta Grand Okanagan Conference centre in Kelowna. Early bird pricing ends tomorrow, Friday March 30th. Register now before prices go up.

Meet A Member

Meet Michael Drouillard, RI

I started my real estate career when I was 18 years old as a licensed real estate agent. I worked as an agent for 7 years while I studied real estate part time at the UBC Sauder School.  I then wrote the LSAT and got accepted to law school.  Nowadays, I practice exclusively in the area of real estate law.

I currently work for Harper Grey LLP which is a large law firm based in Downtown Vancouver.  My real estate practice includes transactional work, primarily in commercial real estate, including commercial conveyances, leasing, and secured lending, but my practice also includes real estate disputes.

Real estate is all that I have known since I was 18.  It is also my primary personal investment.  It is an area of law that is intellectually challenging and less routine than many might realize.  So far I really like practising law at a downtown firm even if it can be very busy most of the time

I encourage anyone in a position to take university courses to enroll in the Diploma in Urban Land Economics program offered through the UBC Sauder School of Business and to then move on to a bachelor of business in real estate from either UBC or Thompson Rivers University of Open Learning.  The courses comprising the DULE gave me a strong foundation in the area of commercial real estate.

Meet Christine Eriksen, RI

I started my Real Estate career in 2000 while employed by the Fraser River Port Authority whose office was in New Westminster. I gained valuable experience assisting with lease transactions and administering the Port’s payments in lieu of the tax program, both of which I found to be interesting and challenging. I am currently employed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, a successor to the FRPA after the three lower mainland ports amalgamated in 2008.  I started my Urban Land Economics Diploma at the Sauder School of Business with the appraisal option in 2008 and after having completed it in 2011 I joined REIBC as a professional member.  

My role as a Property Administrator consists of managing a portfolio of land and water leases within the Fraser River and Burrard Inlet. Lease negotiations, rent reviews, and various other lease transactions form the basis of my role as do compliance monitoring and maintaining effective tenant relations.

Working for the Port is a unique experience in that I have the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of industries and stakeholders across a variety of business sectors. 

I guess I could say I fell into my career, as I hadn’t initially planned for a career in real estate but quickly learned how exciting and multi-faceted a role it is.   Being involved in the management of a valuable resource in light of the critical role the Port plays in our economy makes me feel like I’m contributing to the bigger picture so to speak. I am also blessed to work with a talented and fun group of people.

In my personal life I am passionate about travel and have been to Australia, Portugal, France, Ireland and Nova Scotia.; though  I would love to see more of the world. Italy and Thailand are at the top of my list! I have family in Australia and would like to visit them more.  I was originally born and raised in Vancouver and spent a few years during my childhood on Vancouver Island but have always felt most at home here.  it’s hard to beat our natural beauty and moderate climate.   I also like to spend my time running, cycling, kayaking and recently learned stand up paddle boarding.

Would you like to be profiled in next months' newsletter? Let us know!

Member News

Stan Hamilton, Honorary Member

In late November 2017, sixteen exceptional civic leaders were appointed to the Order of British Columbia, the Province's highest form of recognition by Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon, chancellor of the Order.

The Order of British Columbia recognizes exceptional individuals whose hard work, generosity of spirit and outstanding achievements have contributed immeasurably to the well-being of their communities.  

We are excited to announce that Honorary Member, Stan Hamilton, who has been a member of REIBC for the past 46 years  was one of the recipients of the 2017 Order of BC. 

Dr. Stanley Hamilton is a respected professor emeritus at Sauder School of Business whose contributions go well beyond the academic world and leave an indelible mark on the arts, urban planning, industry governance and property tax reform.

For over 40 years he inspired thousands of students who now play significant roles in communities, in both the public and private sectors. He was engaged in UBC’s diploma, continuing and community programs; in regulatory and industry governance; pension plans and trusts; and in the expansion of UBC as he co-chaired and managed construction for the new UBC campus at Robson Square.

More broadly, British Columbians have a more equitable and efficient property tax system due to his work on property tax reform over the past decades; better communities through his contributions to planning development commissions; and better economies through his contributions to industry governance and regulation.

After his retirement, Stan volunteered his business and project management acumen to help transform the arts landscape, spearheading significant projects. For example, he helped acquire a sponsorship to pay off the mortgage on Vancouver’s Stanley Theatre. He led a team of staff and volunteers to locate and secure the BMO Theatre Centre, home of Bard on the Beach and Arts Club Theatre Company. For over three years he was its volunteer project manager for its construction. He served as a board member and chair of the BC Arts Council, where he ensured its stabilization and the commitment of unprecedented funding for artists.

Stan also provided counsel to other arts organizations, a First Nations trust, and local and provincial government agencies and was a significant donor to arts organizations. He and his wife founded the Arts Club Silver Commissions Project, which has developed the work of over 17 local professional playwrights and contributed to the creation of a Western Canadian theatrical cannon.

His peers in the business community have recognized his contributions with honorary memberships in their national, provincial, and community organizations. His service at UBC’s Sauder School was recognized with the establishment of the Stanley Hamilton Award, awarded annually to an outstanding student and the Stanley Hamilton Professorship.

Congratulations, Stan!

Valuing Diversity Conference

Registration is well underway for the 2018 Valuing Diversity Conference. This years' conference is taking place at the Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan in Kelowna from May 10-12, 2018.

This day and a half multi-disciplinary conference features sessions on the City of Kelowna's evolution, first nations assessment and taxation, mortgage rule changes, natural disasters and it's effect on real estate markets, real estate fraud, discounted cash flow analyses, data, and google earth. 

Click here to view our full conference program for more details on each session and their speakers.  Early bird registration closes on March 30th and discounted hotel rates are only available until April 3rd so don't miss out! Register today and save!  

REIBC News

Webinar Series

Late last year the REIBC surveyed members requesting help finding topics of interest to them that they would like to learn more about. We received many great ideas and as a result have begun a webinar series that will bring you an informative webinar 10 months this year.

Today, Andrew Sakamoto, Executive Director of the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre and David Hutniak, CEO of LandlordBC spoke on Rental Housing: The Law, Challenges & Opportunities. If you missed this webinar,  or any of our most recent webinars, we have them available for purchase on our website; click here.

Our next webinar is taking place on April 26 with presenter Graham Farstad, Principal, the Arlington Group. He will be speaking about sea level rise and Adaptation Strategies for BC. Click here to register.

Charity Golf Tournament 

Registration for the 25th Anniversary REIBC Charity Golf Tournament is now open! This years' tournament is taking place on June 18th, 2018 at the Richmond Country Club.   Click here to register.

Over the past 25 years, the REIBC has donated more than a half a million dollars to charity thanks to the generous support of many sponsors, some of whom have participated in the tournament from the very beginning.  

We receive updates from the the Make-A-Wish Foundation  shedding light on the difference that the dollars raised at our golf tournament is making for kids and their families. Check out Jada's wish. Jada is 14 years old and suffers with Immune deficiency. Her wish was to meet spoken word poet, Shayne Koyczan. 

Let's make a record this year! Click here to register or donate!

REIBC Events

Webinar 
Speaker: Graham Farstad, MA, RPP
Sea Level Rise - Adaptation Strategies for BC. 
April 26, 2018 12:00 pm - 1:00pm PST
Register here 

AIC-BC & REIBC Valuing Diversity Conference, 2018.
May 10-12, 2018
Delta Grand, Okanagan Resort
1310 Water Street, Kelowna
Check out the program here.
Registration

REIBC Chapter Events

Chapter Week of Recognition
April 16 - 20, 2018
Click here for information on the event in your chapter.

Career Opportunities

Property Management Agent – TransLink

Senior Property Administrator - Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

Property Valuator - Negotiator - City of Coquitlam

Property Administrator - Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

Members Seeking Employment

Are you looking for employment? If you are an Associate, Professional or Nominee member looking for a career - tell us a little about yourself here.