Every year, Lower Mainland REALTORS® organize a blanket drive to collect blankets and warm and/or waterproof clothing to help people in need stave off the winter cold and wet. Thousands of REALTORS® and members of the public generously donate to this worth while cause.

Dozens of real estate offices across the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver serve as drop-off locations to collect an astounding 4,000+ bags of blankets and clothing, which REALTOR® volunteers personally deliver to local charities.

In 2011, the Blanket Drive took place Monday, November 28 to Monday, December 5.

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Since 1995, Fraser Valley REALTORS® have joined forces with police acting as "extra eyes and ears" to fight crime in their communities. REALTOR® members at the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board joined the Realty Watch program in 2003. In 2006, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver members launched Realty Watch for their areas.

Realty Watch is a crime prevention program whose mission is to reduce and prevent crime by assisting police in time-critical situations — usually lost, missing or abducted people.

Police contact the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board and request a fan-out for the missing person. The information sent out as a text message to REALTORS®. After receiving the fan-out message, if a REALTOR® sees or hears anything that could help police with that case, he or she calls 911.

REALTORS®, with their smartphones and community mobility, are an excellent resource for police. Over 14,000 REALTORS throughout the Lower Mainland of BC, from Whistler to Hope, can be mobilized within 30 minutes.

In the Fraser Valley, Realty Watch is led by a group of volunteer REALTORS®. For more information, call 604.930.7630.

Visit www.realtywatch.net for more information.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board launched the REALTORS® Make Good Neighbours Awards in 2002 to honour community volunteering by REALTORS®. 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.

Congratulations to all our individual and corporate winners who have given back through charitable donations, volunteer work, coaching, fundraising and other valuable initiatives.

Click here for the latest news on this prestigious award.

If you know or a Fraser Valley REALTOR® or office deserving of this award, please email us at communications@fvreb.bc.ca and we'll forward you a nomination form.