Why You Should Apply to Join a CREA Committee

The application period to join a volunteer committee for the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is open now through November 23, 2025, at midnight.

Whether you’ve been a REALTOR® for one year or ten years, live in Labrador or Nanaimo, or your family came to Canada 15 or 150 years ago, if you’re a REALTOR® in good standing, you can apply to be a member of a board or operational committee. Staff members from local and provincial boards and associations are also encouraged to apply.

There are eight volunteer committees accepting applications this year; five board committees and three operational committees. 

Board Committees 

• Audit and Risk Management Committee: Develops and implements an annual work plan to appoint an external auditor and oversee the audit process.
• Federal Affairs Committee: Provides strategic direction on federal policy, programs and initiatives that support REALTORS®, promote homeownership, and strengthen the housing continuum in Canada.
• Finance Committee: Develops and implements an annual work plan to review, monitor and provide guidance and/or recommendations to the Board of Directors, related to the financial stewardship of CREA.
• Governance and Bylaws Committee: Develops and implements an annual work plan for the improvement of the Board of Directors’ good governance policies and practices.
• Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee: Operates as a resource to CREA’s Board of Directors on environmental, social and governance (ESG) related matters, providing strategic direction on policies, practices and programs through which CREA may address prioritized ESG issues, risks and opportunities.

Operational Committees 

• Association Executives Committee: Functions as a resource to CREA’s CEO in promoting and encouraging the highest standards among Association Executives Network (AEN) affiliates and the organizations they administer.
• Marketing and Communications Committee: Provides high level strategic direction and feedback to CREA’s marketing and communications activities in support of achieving this mission.
• REALTOR® Code Committee: Monitors the implementation, organization and application of the REALTOR® Code across the country and makes recommendations to ensure the continuing relevance of the REALTOR® Code and the strength of the REALTOR® trademark.

Those eligible can apply for and serve on two board committees and two operational committees. Full terms of reference for each committee are available on CREA.ca. 

Why join a committee? 

CREA committee members get to put their unique perspectives, expertise, and talent to good use by contributing to the work of the national association on behalf of fellow REALTORS®.

Members have the opportunity to share strategies on navigating challenging markets, and learn about and discuss industry policy changes, market updates and regulatory shifts. Such service can also enhance your reputation as a community-focused professional.

Additionally, volunteers gain valuable experience and perspective from the national level which can come in handy if you choose to seek leadership roles in the future. Above all, it’s a wonderful opportunity to make friends and industry contacts from across the country.

But, don’t just take our word for it. 

We spoke to several CREA committee members about their experience in their roles and here’s what they said. 

Pauline Aunger, Vice-Chair of the ESG Committee, and 2015 CREA President 

Pauline Aunger is a REALTOR® and the broker of record at Royal LePage Advantage Real Estate in Smith Falls, Ontario. She says the work is meaningful, helps move the national association forward, builds a referral network by working with other REALTORS® and gives back to an industry they owe their livelihood to. 

“It’s a chance to make a difference,” she says. “My business, as a result, has always benefitted from referrals plus the great knowledge I have about our industry, and I truly believe that our volunteers in organized real estate committees are also the training ground for our future leaders. So, consider putting your name forward. It’s a journey you won’t regret.”

Luc Woolsey, Vice-Chair of the Marketing and Communications and Governance and Bylaws Committees, and Director-at-Large for the CREA Board of Directors 

Luc Woolsey is a REALTOR® and broker with RE/MAX Hallmark Chay Realty in Barrie, Ontario, and says his committee work has given him valuable insight into what industry associations do.  

“One thing I’ve come to learn is the reason the members don’t know what we do is because we're doing it,” he says. “That’s a bit cryptic but it’s the reality. The agent on the ground just wants to sell real estate. They don’t care about lobbying and policy, and legal battles and forms development and software licenses and data aggregation and all the other background processes that make selling real estate possible. 

“They don’t care because they’ve never had to care. It’s just always been done. But that doesn’t happen on its own. It happens because the volunteer leaders and staff of our local, provincial and national associations make it happen. And the moment any of those three levels of organized real estate stop doing what they do, the members would realize very quickly how important that work was.”

Greg Hamre, Marketing and Communications Committee Member

Greg Hamre, a REALTOR® and salesperson with RE/MAX Affiliates Realty Ltd. in Ottawa, Ontario, says he didn’t quite know what to expect when he joined the Marketing and Communications Committee in 2024. 

“My motivation was simple,” he says. “I wanted to give back to our profession as a REALTOR® and help uphold the high standards and positive image that define our industry.”

Hamre leads a team of eight REALTORS®, including three family members. “They look to me to stay ahead of industry trends and to set the tone for professionalism in every client experience we deliver,” he says. 

In the 1990s, before transitioning to real estate, Hamre was marketing manager for RCA Canada (Thompson Consumer Electronics at the time). “That experience gave me a strong foundation in understanding marketing strategy and communication, which has proven invaluable in real estate,” he says. “From my very first meeting as a CREA ambassador, collaborating with the CREA marketing team and their agency partners, I was inspired. I immediately connected with their vision and found myself both contributing and learning in meaningful ways.”

“Until that point, I hadn’t fully realized the breadth of CREA’s work or how integral it is to maintain the strength and reputation of our profession nationwide. Through this experience, I’ve had the opportunity to help CREA and its partners better understand how REALTORS® engage with clients and the public today.”

Hamre says he has taken the insights about marketing and communications he has picked up from the committee and applied those to his own operation, directly benefiting his own business. 

“It is truly a privilege to be part of such a dedicated organization, and I have great appreciation for everyone at CREA who works tirelessly behind the scenes to strengthen our profession,” he adds.

I wanted to give back to our profession as a REALTOR® and help uphold the high standards and positive image that define our industry.”

Greg Hamre, REALTOR®

Adam Neustaedter, Marketing and Communications Committee Member

Adam Neustaedter, a REALTOR® and broker with Century 21 Gold Key Realty Ltd. in Steinbach, Manitoba, says he has always felt a sense of duty to give back. He has served on the Manitoba Real Estate Association board and a few of its committees in the past, and is now on CREA’s Marketing and Communications Committee.

“The industry has given me a lot and being involved is my way of returning the favour,” he says. “Joining CREA’s Marketing and Communications Committee felt like a good next step. It’s been a great experience so far. There’s a real energy that comes from working with people across the country who care about where this profession is headed. It’s opened my eyes to new ideas and helped me grow in how I think about marketing, communication and leadership in my own business. At the end of the day, it’s about showing up, giving back and helping move the industry forward.”

Phil Moore, Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee, Federal Affairs Committee Member, and Director-at-Large for the CREA Board of Directors 

Phil Moore is a REALTOR® and broker with RE/MAX Crest Realty in Burnaby, British Columbia. Committees give REALTORS® a voice in shaping the policies, tools and advocacy work that directly impact their profession and their clients, he says. 

“Serving on the Federal Affairs Committee has been particularly rewarding,” he says. “It allows me to bring my experiences from the trenches to the table—to help members of Parliament understand how proposed housing policies would play out in the real world and in communities like mine. I think all of us as REALTORS® can be powerful advocates by sharing personal stories from our daily work and by connecting with the MPs who serve our ridings.”

The work helps him in business as well, helping to build relationships and credibility as a REALTOR®, with clients able to see his engagement beyond just buying and selling homes. 

“You’re helping to elevate the entire profession,” he says. “I’d encourage every REALTOR® to consider volunteering—whether it’s at the local board, provincial association or at the CREA level. The time commitment is small compared to the professional growth and sense of purpose you gain.”

Garry Bhaura, Chair of the Federal Affairs Committee, Finance Committee Member, and Chair-Elect for the CREA Board of Directors 

Garry Bhaura is a REALTOR® and broker with RE/MAX President Realty in Brampton, Ontario. “If you truly want to contribute, join a committee,” he says. “If you want to create change, make a difference and leave the industry better than you found it, this is where it begins. Committees are where ideas turn into action and where your voice can shape the future of real estate.”

It's important to CREA’s leadership team that our committees reflect the diversity of our membership. We encourage every single one of our members to consider applying to join committees that pique your interest and fit your unique backgrounds and talents.

More information about the committees, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available on CREA.ca. The committee member appointments are approved by the CREA Board of Directors in March and all applicants will receive a notification regarding the results shortly thereafter.