New Year, New Directors

With the beginning of 2019, we welcome some new faces to our Board of Directors for 2019.

Hank Balfoort

Hank Balfoort

Director

Hank Balfoort is a Broker at Right at Home Realty Inc. He has worked in organized real estate and been a member of RAHB for 15 years. Hank served on the RAHB Arbitration Committee during 2018 and he will bring his critical thinking and open mind to the RAHB Board in 2019.

Jacqueline Norton

Jacqueline Norton

Director

Jacqueline Norton is a Salesperson at Realty Network: 100 Inc. She has worked in organized real estate and been a member of RAHB for 19 years. Jacqueline also worked for the City of Hamilton where she worked closely with the City Councillors, their committees and Council. Jacqueline is excited to help RAHB take on challenges in the year to come.

Andrew Robertson

Andrew Robertson

Director

Andrew Robertson is a Broker of Record at Keller Williams Complete Realty. He has worked in organized real estate and been a member of RAHB for 13 years. Andrew previously served two years on RAHB’s Board of Directors and is excited to return to help RAHB in the coming year.

Julie Sergi

Julie Sergi

Director

Julie Sergi is a Salesperson at Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services. She has worked in organized real estate and been a member of RAHB for 13 years. Julie sat on the RAHB Professionalism Task Force and Member Engagement Committee. Julie is very interested in keeping the professionalism of the RAHB Board as a top priority so the general public and RAHB membership continue to appreciate, respect and value the service RAHB REALTORS® offer.

Brian Shaw

Brian Shaw

Director

Brian Shaw is a Salesperson at Royal LePage State Realty. He has worked in organized real estate and been a RAHB member for eight years. Brian has served on RAHB’s Charity Auction Task Force as a co-chair for two years and as a member for five years. Brian hopes to continue to be a part of the positive change within RAHB and the community.

Nicolas von Bredow

Nicolas von Bredow

Director

Nicolas von Bredow is a Broker at Royal LePage Macro Realty. He has worked in organized real estate and been a RAHB member for 13 years. Nic was the 2018 Chair of the Government Relations Committee and has served on other committees in the past. Nic looks forward to helping guide the Association into the future during 2019.

Happy New Year!

Wishing every day of 2019 is filled with success, happiness and prosperity! Happy New Year from your RAHB staff and Board.


The 2018 Year End Review was sent to members on Friday, December 28, 2018 by Jack Loft, 2018 RAHB President, and George O’Neill, RAHB CEO. Click here to read the review.

Lunch with the President!

RAHB President Jack Loft had an informative lunch today with John Lusink, the President of Right At Home Realty (the largest independent brokerage in Toronto). John is also a former Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) member. He is impressed with our hard working personnel at the Association, and the wide range of services we offer. John stressed the value of teamwork and professionalism. Jack was privileged to meet another of our engaged members!
As Jack’s last Lunch with the President, we thank Jack for his dedication to RAHB, members, professionalism and lunch!

Have you seen our ads on the new digital signs throughout Hamilton?

RAHB has reserved digital ad boards throughout Hamilton this holiday season to promote local REALTORS® and OpenHouses.ca, and to simply wish everyone happy holidays.

RAHB is using this as an opportunity to test out the capabilities of these new digital ad boards. Unfortunately, Burlington, Haldimand and Niagara North do not have these types of digital boards, and so we were unable to place digital ads in these markets. We have included Haldimand and Burlington messaging on the boards throughout Hamilton. If the test is successful and we wish to place future ads we will be sure to place similar messaging on standard billboards. For this time frame, standard billboards within Burlington were not available.

These photos are of the ad boards on Upper James (by the HSR terminal) leading into Caledonia.

Other boards include those in the Ancaster Meadowlands, by Limeridge Mall, near the Heritage Green Shopping Centre, and the digital ad board at King and Dundurn.

Keep and eye out for these ads and please let us know what you think by e-mailing Wendy Stewart at wendys@rahb.ca

Lunch with the President!

RAHB President Jack Loft had a great lunch on Wednesday, December 12, with Steve DeVisser of City Brokerage.  Jack and Steve enjoyed Italian at Caro’s at Ottawa and Main Streets in Hamilton. Steve lives and works in the core and is passionate about the rental licensing issue currently working its way through Hamilton City Hall. He would like to see a zoning requirement on all RAHB listings. He also likes the idea of compulsory electronic lock boxes and is a big fan of ShowingTime.  Thanks again Steve!

RAHB Annual Election Meeting

In case you weren’t able to attend the RAHB Annual Election Meeting on Wednesday, December 5, here’s a brief recap of what you missed.

New Directors!
Congratulations to RAHB’s newest Directors:

Hank Balfoort
Jacqueline Norton
Andrew Robertson
Julie Sergi
Brian Shaw
Nicolas von Bredow

These six new Directors will join continuing Directors to form the 2019 Board of Directors

Bob Van de Vrande (President)
Jack Loft (Immediate Past President)
Nikola Bucalo
Kathy Della Nebbia
Stephanie Pinet

The new Board was installed by CREA President Barb Sukkau at the Annual Election Meeting

CREA Update
CREA President Barb Sukkau discussed the approval for sold information to be displayed on REALTOR.ca (with agreement from individual boards and associations) and how CREA will keep REALTOR.ca the number one choice for consumers.

PowerPoint Presentation

Professionalism and Ethics
CREA General Counsel Bill Harrington discussed the importance of members individually and collectively adhering to ethical practice in their businesses.

PowerPoint Presentation

Bylaw Amendments
Members approved  three recommended amendments to the RAHB Bylaw:

  • To reduce the number of scrutineers required at an Annual Election Meeting
  • To incorporate a provision to the Professional Standards/Discipline process to allow for automatic fines for infractions of 14 Basic MLS® Rules
  • To allow staff to make small edits such as punctuation, spelling or number sequence to sections of the Bylaw affected by the first two amendments.

Click here to view approved amendments to the Bylaw. Scroll down to Voting Items.

Scholarship Presentations
Scholarships in Memory of Karan Barker were awarded to five sons and daughters of RAHB members.

Read more about the scholarship and recipients.

Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to five sons and daughters of RAHB members who were awarded $2,000 Scholarships in Memory of Karan Barker! The scholarships were presented at the RAHB Annual Election Meeting on December 5, 2018.

DMITRI CIRACO, son of Connie Kowalski of Heritage Realty.  Dmitri is a graduate of Assumption Secondary School.

Dmitri is currently attending Western University in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and is pursuing a career in film production so he can write and direct meaningful films that shed light on prominent and controversial issues in our society.

In school, Dmitri was on Student Council for three years, and was elected Vice-President in his last year. He led multiple events at the school, including fundraisers, dances, barbeques and community-driven events. He was part of the Athletic Council for four years and was appointed President of the Council in his last year. He also served as an Ambassador, a role helping new students integrate into the school community. Dmitri played football from grade nine until his graduation, and was made captain in his last year. He volunteered extensively outside of school activities as well.

MOSES COOK, son of Lana and Ken Cook of Royal LePage Macro Realty. Moses is a graduate of Sherwood Secondary School and has earned his B.Sc in Biophysics from the University of Toronto.  He is currently pursuing his M.Sc degree at the University of Toronto in the Department of Medical Biophysics, with the goal of becoming a clinician scientist.

He expects his clinical work will be complemented by research in cancer therapeutics to develop new techniques for treating cancer using radiation therapy.

An experience with a brain tumour and treatment – which resulted in vision impairment – led Moses to focus his education and also gave him a unique empathy for others undergoing the same experience he had.  He has served as a peer mentor for students with disabilities in the U of T “Access Us” program, and has become an advocate for those students as he continues to support the program. As an undergrad, he published a paper in the Journal of Undergraduate Life Sciences. Outside of his academic studies, Moses also volunteered at McMaster Children’s Hospital.

LAURYN HARRISON, daughter of Richard Harrison of Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services. Lauren graduated from Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School and is now attending McMaster University in the Integrated Business and Humanities program, with a view to pursuing a career in social services.

Lauryn has a long list of academic accomplishments, including Ontario scholar, achieving the highest marks in various subjects, Grade 12 University Award and recipient of the Canadian Federation of Women Scholarship. Lauryn was also a member of Mock Trial teams, the track & field team and served as a Grade 11 student mentor. In addition to all that, Lauryn has also been active in community endeavours. Two years ago she coordinated a children’s book drive for the Syrian refugees in her community. She has also volunteers with the Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation where she helped organize charity events and awareness conferences.

KAITLIN JOHNNY, daughter of Leanne Johnny of RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc.   Kaitlin is a graduate of Bishop Tonnos Secondary School and is now attending Brock University in the concurrent program with a view to becoming a teacher.

In school, Kaitlin was active in Hallowe’en for Hunger, the school fashion show, senior girls’ volleyball and Best Buddies. In the community, she was the top fundraiser under 19 for the 2014 Moonlit Memory Walk, played competitive beach and indoor volleyball and volunteered with the Mountain Volleyball Club youth camp. Kaitlyn is a recipient of the Directors’ Award for Health and Physical Activity.

GINA MONTANI, daughter of Gino Montani of Royal LePage State Realty.  Gina graduated from Saltfleet District High School and is currently enrolled in the Humanities program at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Gina has a wide range of interests and says she’s uncertain as to what career she wishes to pursue, but cites an interest in military service, justice, medical, writing or drama. Whatever her eventual choice, her goal is to make a difference in the world.

In high school, Gina participated on the badminton and volleyball teams, in the drama club, Positive Space, choir, student parliament and slam poetry. She won the Valedictory Award and was Class Valedictorian in her last year. Gina received awards for public speaking and her anti-bullying efforts, as well as for top marks in various subjects.

**
The Scholarship in Memory of Karan Barker is named for Karan Barker, a former executive officer of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington. Karan was an outstanding EO, winning awards from both OREA and CREA in recognition of her contributions to our association and the real estate profession.

 Scholarships in Memory of Karan Barker are presented each year to students who are children or grandchildren of RAHB members or RAHB staff. All recipients are attending or will be attending university or college. These young people have demonstrated academic excellence and a high level of involvement in their school or the community.

To date, $106,500 has been awarded to 75 students since the inception of the Scholarships in 2001.

RAHB Holiday Hours

The RAHB office – including the Realty Shoppe – will be closed for the holidays on the following dates:

December 24, 25 and 26
December 31, January 1

We will be open all other regular business days, at regular hours.

The Realty Shoppe will also be closed all day Wednesday, December 19 for inventory.

RAHB mail/supply delivery schedule for the holidays:
Week of December 17 – regular delivery schedule
Week of December 24 – deliveries will be made on Thursday, December 27 and Friday, December 28
Week of December 31 – regular schedule will resume on Wednesday, January 2, 2019

RAHB Dues Notice

RAHB dues deadline December 31, 2018

The first quarter for 2019 RAHB dues have been billed and e-mailed to you as part of your November monthly invoice.  Please note that dues are payable no later than December 31, 2018.

Full Member
$125.00 – RAHB dues (January – March 2019)
$28.75 – OREA dues (January – March 2019)
$77.50 – CREA dues (January – March 2019)
$30.06 – HST
$261.31 – Total

Acceptable methods of payment are:
In Person: Visa, MasterCard, Interac, cash or cheque
By Phone: Visa or MasterCard
Online through Matrix: Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Visa Debit   http://my.rahb.ca

Online: CIBC/PC Financial, Royal Bank, Scotia Bank, TD Canada Trust – for assistance to set-up, please contact Karin at 905.529.8101 x 258 or karinc@rahb.ca

Pre-Authorized payment subscribers will be processed on Thursday December 20, 2018.

A reminder about notifying RAHB of terminations in your office

Brokerages are responsible for notifying RAHB via Camryn Holmes at camrynh@rahb.ca when members in their office resign or otherwise leave. Notice must be received by RAHB within seven business days of the member leaving.  If notice is delayed beyond the seven business days, the Brokerage will be assessed a penalty of $50 per incident. (RAHB Bylaw, Article 4, Section 1.02.)