As we come to the close of 2025, I want to reflect on a year of steady progress and key accomplishments. I recognize that many of you continue to operate in a challenging market that has now persisted for several years. 

Throughout this period, your association has remained focused on supporting your immediate business needs while advancing the long-term priorities you have identified as most important: higher professional standards, modern and responsive services, innovative tools, and strong partnerships.

This year, GVR helped lead and secure important changes to the Professional Development Program, increasing the education requirement for all REALTORS® in British Columbia from 18 to 21 PDP credits within each two-year licensing cycle starting in January. Alongside this work, we expanded professional development offerings in areas such as AI and climate resilience and continued to lead nationally on strengthening entrance standards for new licensees. 

Aligned with this work, GVR is leading a province-wide initiative to establish a single, consistent set of MLS® rules for all Realtors in BC. Our goal is to improve clarity and consistency in the standards and responsibilities Realtors are held to across the province, regardless of where you operate. We hope to gain the support of every real estate board in BC by year-end so we can proceed in 2026 with drafting these common standards and ultimately seeking your support for their adoption. 

We also made progress in our relationship with regulators. A recent data-sharing agreement with the BC Financial Services Authority enables GVR to provide data that supports more effective oversight and public protection, while reducing administrative requirements for brokers. As part of this agreement, GVR brokers were exempted from participating in the regulator’s 2026 data call.

We expanded member value through additional partnerships throughout the year, entering into relationships with organizations such as Telus, Payload, and Canada Post to help reduce costs, streamline operations, and support the service you provide to clients. 

Explore how you and the clients you serve can benefit from these partnerships, and watch for more in 2026.

Service modernization within GVR’s internal operations continued through our Service Re-imagined initiative. The launch of our brokerage account executive model, the rollout of the Member Engagement Centre, and the release of a new secure online payment portal for members are all designed to improve how you access our services and support. 

Innovation and technology remained a focus within the year as well. We introduced several new member services designed to improve data access, market insight, and workflow efficiency. 

Among them, we introduced Restb.ai within the MLS®, which leverages AI to enhance listing descriptions and productivity; ChartBook Mobile for on-the-go market data; Payload, a secure digital deposit platform that’s free for brokerages to use; and enhancements to Paragon Connect, which improves mobile access to MLS® tools.

These are but a few examples of the work accomplished this past year on your behalf. We are excited about what’s to come in 2026, including new partnerships that are under negotiation, the rollout of a new member portal, expanded economic reports and services, broader and more detailed data sets within the MLS®, and increased information sharing across the province. I encourage you to stay engaged, as the year ahead promises to be another fast-paced period of progress. 

On behalf of everyone at GVR, I wish you and your families a warm and restful holiday season. And we look ahead to 2026 with optimism and a continued focus on delivering value to you day in and out.