Landmark Realty in Abbotsford and Louise McKnight of Bay Realty in White Rock have received the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s (FVREB) highest recognition for community service, the 2010 REALTORS® Make Good Neighbours award.
 
Of almost three thousand REALTORS® in the Fraser Valley, McKnight is the only individual award recipient for 2010; and Landmark Realty, the single corporate recipient in a possible field of over 100 real estate offices. The award was accepted by Managing Brokers Bob Johnston and Jim McCaughan.

The honours were presented by Deanna Horn, Board President at FVREB’s Annual General Meeting held on February 16 at the Coast Hotel & Convention Centre in Langley.

“Considering 65 per cent of REALTORS® tell us they volunteer at some level in their communities, to be recognized as being the most active and making the greatest impact is quite incredible.”

“Louise McKnight and Landmark Realty stand as positive examples and role models not only for our profession, but for everyone. They illustrate the profound difference volunteerism and advocacy make in helping our communities become more vibrant, friendly and comfortable places to live.”

Landmark Realty’s supportive presence in the community is visible on multiple levels – from amateur sport to food drives to providing transportation for community groups. The brokerage, which manages over 110 REALTORS® and has served Abbotsford for 20 years, sponsors the Abbotsford Minor Baseball Association and the Abbotsford Police Challenge Run; as well as events such as Christmas in August, the November Challenge and a Christmas Light Tour all in support of the Abbotsford Food Bank; and offers its 25-seat passenger bus to non-profit groups, which last year included the Olympic Torch Relay. 

McKnight, a REALTOR® of three years, is the founder, coordinator and mentor to a group of young teenage women who call themselves the “Angel Wings”, organized after one of the members lost her mother to breast cancer. The group raises money for breast cancer research through fund-raising activities including its main annual event co-chaired by McKnight, called “She Has Hope”.  McKnight established and chairs the annual Great Pumpkin Walk to benefit the Peace Arch Hospital where she is also a Foundation Board member. In addition, she is an active member of the Student Planning Council and the current Past President of the PAC at Elgin Park High School in South Surrey.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board launched the REALTORS® Make Good Neighbours awards in 2002 to honour community volunteering by its members – 2,894 real estate professionals in North Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Abbotsford, and Mission. Recipients are selected based on the amount of time they spend volunteering, level of responsibility undertaken as volunteers and overall impact of their efforts within their communities. The selection panel is composed of people outside the real estate profession who work in local charities and non-profit associations.