Thursday, January 8, 2026

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) is entering a new phase of collaboration with your provincial association, the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), that is focused on delivering more efficient, streamlined, and effective services for Realtors across the province.

As part of this collaboration, GVR and BCREA are launching two one-year pilot initiatives that will align resources across both Government Relations and Professional Development. These pilots are designed to improve coordination, increase efficiency, and enhance service outcomes while keeping member needs at the centre of this work.

"Our profession is evolving, and the expectations placed on Realtors and their associations continue to grow. By working more closely with BCREA in both government relations and professional development, we can reduce duplication, strengthen our collective capacity, and deliver more consistent, high-quality support to members. This work reflects a closer operating relationship between our organizations and a shared commitment to modernizing how we support members."
Jeff King, GVR CEO

On the Government Relations front, GVR and BCREA are re-constituting a more integrated approach to advocacy. This will bring stronger alignment of policy priorities, clearer coordination across boards, and a more unified voice with governments on key housing and real estate issues.

This transition also marks the retirement of Harriet Permut, who led Government Relations at GVR for nearly two decades. During her tenure, Harriet earned multiple industry awards and played a leading role in advocacy efforts that helped shape the real estate landscape in British Columbia. We extend our sincere thanks for her exceptional service and lasting contributions to the profession.

GVR’s Government Relations Committee will continue to play a central role by providing timely, member-driven insight that helps inform and shape advocacy priorities at the provincial level, while ensuring local issues affecting GVR members are identified, well resourced, and advanced on your behalf.

In Professional Development, GVR and BCREA are aligning efforts to enhance learning and development for all BC Realtors. As part of the pilot, Carmen deFoy will serve as a shared resource between the two organizations, supporting initiatives such as the implementation of a standardized Learning Management System and broader education modernization efforts. This approach will help improve consistency, reduce overlap, and strengthen the overall learning experience.

These initiatives represent an important step toward new models of collaboration in organized real estate. By combining strengths, sharing expertise, and building integrated capacity, GVR and BCREA are positioning themselves to better serve members today while preparing for the future needs of the profession.