Know a REALTOR® Making a Difference? Nominations are Now Open for the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award
Community impact often starts with people who turn compassion into action. We’re betting that you know a REALTOR® who does just that. They give their time, support causes big and small and make a difference for the people and non-profits in their community.
Now’s your chance to help make sure their impact is recognized!
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is accepting nominations for the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2027 Proudly Presented by REALTOR.ca.
Since 2016, the award has recognized REALTORS® whose volunteerism is making communities across Canada better places to live. Past recipients have rallied friends and neighbours, championed local organizations, and created programs and resources that respond to community needs.
Last year’s recipient, Sue Heddle of Oakville, Ontario, is both a dedicated REALTOR® and a passionate charitable leader. As founder of Hockey Cares, a reconciliation project through True North Aid, she brings together youth from Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities where participants learn about each other’s cultures and connect through their shared love of hockey. Hundreds of youths from Oakville, Attawapiskat, Constance Lake First Nation, and, most recently, St. Catharines, Ontario, and Kugaaruk, Nunavut, have participated.
If a REALTOR® in your life reminds you of Heddle, head to REALTORSCare.ca and nominate them for the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2027. Every year, the recipient is announced at CREA’s Annual General Meeting in April and is celebrated nationally for their outstanding impact. The recipient’s charity of choice also receives a $10,000 donation from CREA to continue their impactful work.
Nominators have until November 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (EST) to submit their nomination packages. Putting together a nomination package that stands out can take some time, so we’ve gathered a few recommendations to help.
Jump Ahead
Your voice matters
As the nominator, you’re the storyteller. You, and those you recruit to help, hold the power to show us why the REALTOR® you’re nominating deserves to be recognized. Your insight, perspective, and passion will bring your nominee’s story to life.
Many hands make light work
Even if you know your nominee well, there will be ways they’ve given back you haven’t heard of.
Start your nomination by reaching out to friends, colleagues, family members, fellow volunteers and the organizations they support. They might be able to confirm details, share examples, or share information about volunteerism and impact you didn’t already know. You can also work with others to draft answers offline before adding them to the online nomination form.
The more you share, the more our selection committee knows!
Make every part of the nomination count
You might have far more to say about your nominee than one form can hold. As you work through the nomination, think about what someone who’s never met your nominee would need to know. Try giving each part of the nomination package a different job, so the committee learns something new or in more detail as they read.
- Use the community impact section for the big picture. How has the nominee’s volunteerism made a difference, and why does it matter? Remember that the selection committee may not know your community, so include enough context to help them understand the nominee’s contribution.
- Use the organization-specific sections for details, such as what the nominee does, how often they volunteer and the impact of that work. To help explain the impact, include any quantitative details and/or numbers available.
- Consider including additional perspectives through the letters of support and adding other supporting documentation that can help bolster your responses.
Include multiple perspectives
Hearing directly from people who’ve seen the nominee in action can be a compelling way to explain why they should be recognized nationally. Invite people who know the nominee’s impact first-hand to add their perspective through a letter of support.
Be sure to review the award requirements for how many letters can be included and share the letter writing guide with anyone you ask to contribute.
A picture is worth a thousand words
A video, article, social post or page of photos can tell a story in ways that written answers can’t. Find the best supporting documents that add context, fill in details and/or help demonstrate the nominee’s impact.
If a REALTOR® came to mind while you were reading this, show them how much their efforts have made a difference by starting your nomination today!
Have questions about the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2027? Contact CREA’s REALTORS Care® team at REALTORSCare@CREA.ca.
