Meet A Member

Deborah Nixon, RI

I started my real estate career in the year 2000 as a commercial lease administrator at Colliers International. During that time, I received both my trading and rental property management licenses and after some years went to work for Oxford Properties Group while working towards completing my Diploma in Urban Land Economics.

Currently, I am working as the Manager of Real Estate & Leasing for the B.C. Health Authorities. Our department manages the entire lease portfolio; I am responsible for all Provincial Health Services Authority and Providence Health Care leased sites in B.C. My job is very rewarding; I get to help medical researchers, doctors and aid workers find locations that complement their program.  This can be quite a task depending on the program, but I enjoy the challenge of negotiating to obtain space that meets their requirements and budget. 

When I am not working, I really enjoy travelling and exploring nature.  I used to consider myself a ‘water’ person (I was born on the “Rock” in Newfoundland), but since discovering Utah and its canyons with red rock I am drawn to the desert States and have visited them many times, together with my husband.  

Edith Chan, RI 

I started my real estate career in residential sales back in the early 1990’s and since  I have worked with a number of big-name developers on many residential projects in the Lower Mainland.  In 1999 I joined Dairyworld Foods Ltd. and was tasked with the responsibility to divest their surplus properties across Canada.  This brought me into the world of industrial real estate which has become the main focus of my real estate career.

In 2000, I started working for Canfor, one of the largest softwood lumber manufacturers in North America.  In the following year I obtained my RI designation and joined REIBC as a professional member.  I have since been managing Canfor’s vast land holdings in Western Canada consisting of sawmills, pellet plants, pulp mills and private timber land.  At Canfor, I facilitate all land related transactions which includes negotiating land use tenures on both private and crown land, acquire right of ways and easements, undertake subdivision and rezoning of our land to accommodate operational needs.  While merger and acquisition keeps my job interesting; divesting non-operating and surplus properties turns out to be a recurring task.  Overseeing Canfor’s property tax and assessment portfolio is also an important part of my responsibilities.

The biggest reward in my real estate career is the people experience.  I am blessed that I constantly have the opportunity to work with a broad spectrum of experienced and talented people which allows me to continue to advance myself and explore new area of interest within the industry.

Outside of work, I love to travel the world and have the good fortune of visiting many exotic destinations in North America, Asia and Australia.  I enjoy the food, cultures and beautiful sceneries but best of all the friends and memories I have made from my travels are what I cherish most.

Member news

David Podmore, RI

David Podmore, RI, Concert Properties, has been inducted into the UDI Hall of Fame for his incredible career achievements and contributions to the industry. He will be receiving this honor at the UDI Awards for Excellence.

Since 1984 the biennial UDI Awards for Excellence in urban development have been the highest form of peer recognition for completed development projects in the Lower Mainland and throughout British Columbia. The Awards are also an opportunity to recognize the career achievements of some of BC's most influential developers.  The UDI Awards Gala will be held November 22, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. 

Congratulations, David! 

Kelvin Coley-Donohue, RI

Kelvin Coley-Donohue AACI, P.App, RI, was awarded the 2018 Keith Goodwin Award at the AIC-BC AGM on October 11, 2018. The 2018 Keith Goodwin Award was presented to Kelvin by AIC-BC President Graham Held, AACI, P.App (pictured Kelvin, left, Graham, right).

The Keith Goodwin Award is presented annually by AIC-BC to recognize a designated member for outstanding service, leadership, achievement, education, or mentoring. The award is named after AIC-BC's past provincial & national president, Keith Goodwin, who personifies these attributes.

Kelvin has been an AIC member since December 1997, and became a designated AACI, P.App in November 2003. Kelvin has also been an RI since March 2004.

Kelvin has held many roles with the AIC-BC, both at the Regional and Provincial level over his career as an Appraiser. Kelvin has participated in Professional Competency Interview Panel for the past 10 years, held various roles on the Chapter Executive and as a Provincial Board member where he was the Chair of the Marketing Charter. In addition to these duties, Kelvin contributed significant time as the Co-chair of the Vancouver Chapter led initiative in the planning and implementation of the AIC National convention that was held in Vancouver.

Congratulations Kelvin!

REIBC Events

BCIT Meet-the-Pros, Residential

On Wednesday October 10th, REIBC graciously hosted the Meet the Pros, Residential Edition, networking event at the BCIT Burnaby campus. REIBC invited six experienced and very informative professionals who fielded questions regarding their respective industries. All students in attendance would like to give a huge and appreciative thank you to:

• Daniel John, Realtor, Sutton Seafair Realty & President of REIBC
• Ravi Punia, Team 3000 Realty Ltd.
• Shirley Brightman, City of Burnaby
• Damon Whitbread, BridgeHouse Mortgages
• Scott Ullrich, Gateway Property Management
• Nav Kandola, Axis Real Estate Solutions.

Eighteen second year Real Estate Program students attended, and the event was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The information and experiences shared by the REIBC professionals was very relevant to the student body as our first semester of schooling primarily focuses on the residential side of the real estate industry. We would also like to extend a major thank you to Brenda Southam and Maggie Hill for organizing the entire event! All the students involved can’t wait to attend the Commercial Edition in Semester two!

Submitted by: Alec Forsyth, President - Real Estate Association

Upcoming REIBC events

Webinar: A Primer on Manufactured Home Communities in British Columbia
November 22, 2018 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Guest speaker: Al Kemp, A.G. Kemp & Associates Inc. & Michael Drouillard,RI, Harper Grey LLP 
Register here

REIBC Holiday Receptions
November 15 - Terrace - Click here to register 
November 20 - Kamloops - Click here to register 
November 21 - Dawson Creek - Click here to register
November 22 - Prince George - Click here to register
November 28 - Cranbrook - Click here to register
November 28 - Abbotsford - Click here to register
November 29 - Kelowna - Click here to register
November 29 - Surrey - Click here to register
December 11 - Courtenay - Click here to register
December 12 - Burnaby - Click here to register 
December 12 - Nanaimo - Click here to register
December 13 - Vancouver - Click here to register
December 13 - Victoria - Click here to register

2018 Presidents' Luncheon: Let's talk real estate value, risk & return with Community Builders
Guest speakers: Stephanie Allen, Catalyst Development; Mandy Hansen, Insight Specialty Consulting; Jennifer Johnstone, Central City Foundation
December 6, 2018 11:30am - 2:00pm
Hyatt Regency Hotel
655 Burrard St, Vancouver
Register now 

Title Sponsor: Vancity , Event sponsor: BC Housing, Table Sponsors: AEC Property Tax, BC Assessment, Real Estate Foundation of BC, UBC Sauder School of Business, Real Estate Division

Career Opportunities

Rental Property Manager position - Advance Realty Ltd

GM, Real Estate and Facilities Management - City of Vancouver

Property Management Agent - Translink

VP Originations, Western Canada - Vancouver, BC - Cameron Stephens Mortgage Capital Ltd.

Webinars

Did you know that if you are unable to catch a webinar we record them? They are on our website under Events and Webinar Recordings. Cost is $34.99 for members and a little more for non-members. You don’t have to worry about not being able to stay on top of the latest issues as you can listen at any time.

Click here to check out our most recent webinars

Our next webinar will take place on November 22. Click here for more information and to register.

Industry Information

South Coast Conservation Program

The South Coast Conservation Program (SCCP), has created a new resource developed for audiences whose work ties to private land development. Species at Risk and Critical Habitat: Understanding Responsibilities & Making Informed Decisions On Private Land has been developed specifically for addressing roles and responsibilities around dealing with species at risk and critical habitat on private lands on BC's South Coast. http://sccp.ca/blog/new-decision-guide-protecting-critical-habitat-private-land

SCCP outlines that this tool is useful as part of relaying regulatory and land stewardship responsibilities in work with partners, clients, local governments and other land use interests. Ideally SCCP sees this guidance document as being part of the front counter tools that local government permitting processes share with developers and land owners. SCCP also sees this resource as being important to inform the real estate industry, especially given the new approaches and legislation being implemented by the Province around professional reliance. 

Real Estate Foundation of BC Land Awards Gala

The 2018 REFBC Land Awards Gala was held on Thursday October 11, 2018 at The Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre.  Awards were handed out in three categories, Land Award - Projects, Emerging Leader and Land Champion.

The Land awards recognizes projects that demonstrate innovation, impact, collaboration and community engagement The following are the 2018 Winners:

Fresh Water and Food Systems: POLIS Water Sustainability Project (POLIS project on Ecological Governance at the University of Victoria

Built Environment: BC Energy Step Code (Energy Step Code Council)

Land Use and Conservation Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (Brooke & Associates, Smart Prosperity Institute, David Suzuki Foundation, Town of Gibsons)

An Emerging Leader Award is also given, this recognizes an individual who is demonstrating early successes and the capacity to make wider change.

The winners are: Veronika Bylicki and Tesicca Truong (CityHive)

Special mention to: Emilee Giplin (National Observer), Melissa Tesche (Okanagan Kootenay Sterile Insect Release), Sunny Le Bourdais (Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation)

The Land Champion Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant impact on land use practices in British Columbia

The winner is: Lana Lowe (Fort Nelson First Nation). It was noted by her peers that this award is recognition of “all she has done & all she will do”

Special mention to: Agnes Jackson (Napier Lake Ranch), Greg Halseth (University of Northern British Columbia)

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.