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ANNUAL GENERAL
REVIEW 2019
Virtual Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
The London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® provides its Members with cutting-edge technology platforms,
exceptional learning programs, collaborative global partners, and transparent engagement opportunities.
Annual General Review 2019
VIRTUAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
AGENDA
In this issue: 10:00 AM LSTAR’s Virtual AGM Starts
Welcome by Blair Campbell, 2020 LSTAR President
Welcome by Bill Madder, LSTAR CEO
2019 AGM Minutes 3
10:10 PM Call to order by Blair Campbell, 2020 LSTAR President
Approval of AGM Minutes (April 23, 2019) and adoption of:
President’s Report 5
2019 Annual General Review
Audited Financial Statement - Year End December
CEO’s Report 11 31, 2019
Appointment of the Association’s 2020 Auditors and
RCC Report 17 Solicitors
Resolution to amend Bylaws as approved by the
Board of Directors
Standing Committees 19
Approval of the NewCo MLS® Rules and
Regulations
Task Forces 24
11:05 AM Greetings from Costa Poulopoulos - CREA
Greetings from Sean Morrison - OREA
Advisory Groups 25
Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation Update (video)
Social Committees 32 Lyn Coupland Award Presentation
Acknowledging the outgoing 2019 Directors
2019 Sponsors 35 Recognition of Members who have passed away since last AGM
Presentation to and remarks from the 2019 LSTAR President Earl
2019 Business Partners 37 Taylor
11:40 AM Closing Remarks from 2020 LSTAR President Blair Campbell
Service Recognition 38
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Annual General Review 2019
MINUTES OF THE
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Hellenic Community Centre
1. Welcome and Introductions
Masters of Ceremonies, President Earl Taylor (LSTAR) and John Geha, CEO (LSTAR) welcomed everyone. The
singing of the National Anthem by Denise Pelley followed the introduction of the MPs and MPPs present. Mayor Joe
Preston brought greetings from the City of St. Thomas.
2. Panel #1: – Ontario Leadership Panel; Moderator: Chad Lovell
Topic of Discussion: Organized Real Estate
• Michael Beard, CEO of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO)
• Michael Bourque, CEO of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
• John Geha, CEO of London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR)
• Tim Hudak, CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA)
3. Panel #2 – London and St. Thomas MPs; Moderator Matthew Thornton (OREA)
Topic of Discussion: Housing Affordability and Mortgage Stress Test Greetings and Update
• MP Peter Fragiskatos, London North Centre
• MP Irene Mathyssen, London Fanshawe
• MP Karen Vecchio, Elgin Middlesex London
4. Welcome by CEO John Geha (LSTAR)
John Geha gave a brief update on what was happening at LSTAR.
5. Address of 2019 President, Earl Taylor (LSTAR)
President Earl gave his address.
6. Call to Order and Introductions
President Earl Taylor called the business portion of the meeting to order and introduced LSTAR’s Legal Counsel,
Stacey Bothwell, Siskinds Law Firm; and LSTAR’s Auditor, Glenn MacKinnon, Ford Keast. A quorum was declared.
7. Approval of Minutes
MOTION
that the Minutes of the April 24, 2018 Annual General Meeting be approved.
CARRIED
8. Adoption of 2018 Annual General Review
MOTION
that the 2018 Annual General Review, which contains the 2018 Committee Reports, be adopted.
CARRIED
9. Adoption of Audited Financial Statement for the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Following a report on the year-end statements by Auditor Glenn McKinnon, Ford Keast and Finance Chair, Richard
Thyssen, the members ruled:
MOTION
that the Statement of Revenue and Expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2018 be adopted.
CARRIED
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Annual General Review 2019
10. Appointment of 2019 Board Auditors and Solicitors
MOTION
that Stacey Bothwell from Siskinds, the Law Firm, and Lou Radomsky act as our lawyers, and that Ford Keast remain
as our auditors.
CARRIED
11. Approval of Changes to Bylaws, Article 5 – Meetings and Voting
MOTION
that the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® By-law be amended and approved to remove the
provisions allowing Members to vote for the LSTAR Board of Directors at Advance Polls and instead allow them to
vote electronically.
CARRIED
12. REALTORS Care® Foundation (OREA)
LSTAR President Earl Taylor updated the members before showing a video of the charities LSTAR supported in 2018.
13. Lyn Coupland Award Presentation
The Lyn Coupland Outstanding Service Award was presented to Dan Grantham, Laura Leyser and Joanne Shannon.
14. Introduction of Retiring Directors
The retiring Directors were introduced in recognition and appreciation for their efforts during their terms of office: Dan
Grantham, Jim Smith, Bryan VanAcker and Marian Waterhouse.
15. In Memoriam – Lorraine Landgren, David Comley, Judy Fisher and Dale Galloway.
16. Presentation to and Remarks of 2018 President Jeff Nethercott
Jeff Nethercott gave his address before being presented with his outgoing scrapbook and gifts.
17. Closing Remarks
President Earl Taylor and CEO John Geha gave their closing remarks and thanked the many sponsors of the event.
18. LSTAR Prize Draws
19. Adjournment
Prior to a Greek Dinner, the Chair adjourned the meeting.
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Annual General Review 2019
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
THE 2019 REAL ESTATE MARKET
2019 proved to be not only a solid year for real estate in the London-St. Thomas
area, but also the third best year for sales activity since the Association began
tracking its performance back in 1978.
The total number of 2019 residential transactions recorded via MLS® was 10,125 –
up 3.4% over 2018. This is only the third time that sales surpassed 10,000 units. It
happened for the first time in 2016 and then again in 2017, a record year with more
than 11,000 home resales.
In 2019, the average sales price across the region was $409,858 up 11.2% from
2018. By geographic area, London South (which includes data from the west side of
the city) was $418,226 up 10.8% from 2018. In London North, average home sales
price was $494,540 up 8.8% compared to the previous year, while in London East, Earl Taylor
it was $335,241, an increase of 13.3%. In St. Thomas, it was $346,695 up 16.2% 2019 LSTAR President
over 2018.
There were a total of 13,893 home listings, up 7.0% from 2018. Inventory (called Active Listings) was up
11.1% from the previous year.
The following chart is based on data taken from the CREA National Price Map for December 2019, providing
a snapshot of how average home prices in London and St. Thomas compared to other major Ontario and
Canadian centres.
AVERAGE HOME PRICES ACROSS CANADA - DECEMBER 2019*
* Data taken from the Canadian Real Estate Association’s National Price Map for December 2019
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Annual General Review 2019
According to a research report by Altus Group, a total of $67,425 in ancillary expenditures is generated by
the average housing transaction in Ontario over a period of three years from the date of purchase. Based on
the total sales for 2019, that translates into potentially generating more than $682 million back into the local
economy between 2019 and 2021.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
In 2019, the Governors of the Ontario Collective™ (OC), a regional group providing MLS® System services
to 12 real estate associations representing over 5000 REALTORS®, and the Directors of the Ontario
Regional Technology & Information Systems Inc. (ORTIS), a regional group providing MLS® System
services to 10 real estate associations of over 8,500 REALTORS®, announced a Transition Agreement to
blend their two separate systems into one common shared regional MLS® System.
The OC is comprised of Bancroft and Area Association of REALTORS®, Kawartha Lakes Real Estate
Association Inc., London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®, North Bay Real Estate Board,
Northumberland Hills Association of REALTORS®, Peterborough and The Kawarthas Association of
REALTORS®, Quinte & District Association of REALTORS® Inc., REALTORS® Association of Grey
Bruce Owen Sound, Southern Georgian Bay Association of REALTORS®, The Lakelands Association of
REALTORS®, Tillsonburg District Real Estate Board and Woodstock-Ingersoll and District Real Estate Board.
ORTIS is comprised of Barrie and District Association of REALTORS®, Brantford Regional Real Estate
Association, Cambridge Association of REALTORS® Inc., Guelph and District Association of REALTORS®,
Huron Perth Association of REALTORS®, Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS®, Mississauga
Real Estate Board, Niagara Association of REALTORS®, The Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board,
Simcoe and District Real Estate Board.
Both groups are using CoreLogic®’s leading edge Matrix system to power their MLS® Services. CoreLogic®
is a global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider and Matrix is used by more than
700,000 REALTORS® across North America, and 32,000 in Canada alone.
Once launched, the new MLS® System will serve more than 13,000 REALTORS®, with MLS® access to
22 associations across Ontario. New features that will be available to Members include Prospects, Instanet
featuring Authentisign, and the Canadian Real Estate Association’s Home Price Index, which measures home
prices and home price growth, further enhancing the home price statistics that LSTAR Members may share
with consumers. The launch is expected to happen in 2020.
In April, LSTAR led a delegation of southwestern Ontario business, government and community leaders
on a trade mission to Toledo, Ohio, to engage with top-level leadership and change makers, discussing
opportunities and issues facing the Great Lakes region.
One of the key themes that emerged was how vital collaborative partnerships are to moving economic
initiatives forward, to build strong and sustainable communities. Growing economic development in the global
marketplace will require capitalizing on the region’s competitive assets, such as our trade opportunities,
natural resources, transportation links and educational institutions.
In October, LSTAR members heard a presentation from well-known pollster and public opinion expert
Nik Nanos on what Londoners think of their city, in a number of key areas. London earned high scores
for healthcare and family friendliness, while residents were critical of how municipal leaders create an
environment for affordable housing.
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Annual General Review 2019
In March, the Board of Directors developed LSTAR’s 2019-2021 Strategic Plan to guide the Association
into the future. The plan identifies targets, actions and measurements for its Strategic Priorities and
identifies current, future and perceived risks to the business of real estate. In this plan, LSTAR utilizes an
inclusive, collaborative approach, maintaining an active transparent dashboard, highlighting key metrics for
measurement, Association milestones and cost effective management. The dashboard is a fluid and flexible
document, adaptable to the changes happening in the marketplace.
LSTAR STRATEGIC PLAN 2019 -2021
The London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® provides our Members cutting edge technology platforms,
exceptional learning programs, collaborative global partners, and transparent member engagement.
LSTAR is focused on the following stategic priority areas:
Finance:
◦◦ Ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability of the LSTAR Budget.
MLS® and Membership:
◦◦ Deliver top notch Technology programs, led by a state-of-the-art MLS® System, to support the livelihood of
LSTAR Members.
◦◦ Solidify trust and respect with consumers, to elevate the REALTOR® brand across Southwestern Ontario and
beyond.
Governance:
◦◦ Focus on maintaining a culture that promotes and fosters professionalism and respect, and places the con-
sumers’ needs and interests as the highest priority.
◦◦ Raise and sustain public awareness of the value of working with a REALTOR®.
Education:
◦◦ Make Education a major focus area and offer relevant and impactful content to enhance professional standards
and business acumen of LSTAR Members.
Community Engagement
◦◦ Raise and sustain awareness of the passion and dedication LSTAR REALTOR® Members have for community rein-
vestment and volunteerism.
◦◦ Establish new partnerships and collaboration opportunities with regional influencers in the corporate world,
small business and the real estate profession.
Communications and Member Engagement
◦◦ Regularly engage LSTAR Members in Question of the Month and annual Member Survey and leverage feedback
for future strategic planning.
Political Affairs
◦◦ Sustain solid government relations program with London and St. Thomas MP, MPP and municipal leadership,
advocating issues on behalf of Members.
◦◦ Enhance relationships with all levels of government to provide a regional voice for LSTAR REALTOR® Members on
issues impacting the Association.
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Annual General Review 2019
POLITICAL AFFAIRS
The past year was another eventful one for your Political Affairs Committee (PAC) Team. Your PAC team took
REALTOR® concerns to Toronto as part of the annual Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) lobbying days
in November, and engaged in numerous meetings throughout the year with London and St. Thomas MPs and
MPPs in the constituency.
Prior to the 2019 Federal Election, LSTAR hosted two events for members to get to know the candidates
running for Member of Parliament (MP). Thirteen of 15 candidates from the major parties from London-
Fanshawe, London North Centre and London West met with LSTAR members on October 2 in London. On
October 3 in St. Thomas, four of the five candidates from the major parties met with LSTAR members and
participated in a debate that highlighted housing, affordability and other community issues.
On the municipal level, as one of the founding partners in Progress London, we continued to meet with
London Mayor Ed Holder, and other Senior City Staff on pro-business issues, related to the London Plan as
well as housing affordability. For a more in-depth account of 2019 PAC activities, please see the PAC Report
on page 26.
QUALITY OF LIFE
LSTAR experienced a banner year for our various Quality of Life initiatives in 2019, raising nearly $55,000 for
various shelter-based charities from LSTAR’s Business Partners Program, sponsorship, various fundraising
events and the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, of which LSTAR is a proud supporter. For more on our
efforts to improve the Quality of Life in the community, please see the Community Engagement Committee’s
report on page 28.
REALTOR® VALUE
Another one of our Strategic Priorities is to promote REALTOR® Value in the marketplace. For many years
now, OREA and CREA have been running high quality campaigns at the national and provincial level
promoting the value of a REALTOR® with positive results. CREA and OREA have made resources available
to our members to sustain awareness of this messaging, which has helped to enhance perception of
REALTORS®.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Serving as your President in 2019, it was certainly a year full of change, change and more change and I’d like
to wrap up by bestowing thanks and gratitude to those who truly made 2019 such an amazing and memorable
year.
First, special thanks to the LSTAR Board of Directors. We endured many adventures in 2019, and it was an
absolute pleasure working with each one of you. Being from St. Thomas, I was honoured and proud to be the
President of LSTAR on the 50th Anniversary of the amalgamation of the St. Thomas and the London Real
Estate Boards.
A huge thanks to former LSTAR CEO John Geha, who I worked with very closely throughout the year. I
commend your leadership, commitment and your passion for the business of real estate. Although you have
moved on to serve another association, know that your impact will be felt at LSTAR for a long time.
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Annual General Review 2019
And speaking of passion, I want to thank the entire team at LSTAR, for everything they do to support our
members, each and every day. Thank you for the unwavering support you gave and continue to give to LSTAR
members.
Thank you LSTAR staff:
●● Vice President, Administration & Strategic Engagement Joanne Shannon
●● Vice President, Public Affairs & Diversity Chad Lovell
●● Director of Membership & MLS® Kelly Blakely
●● Director of Finance Csaba Hegedus
●● IT Manager Daphne Alward
●● Executive Assistant & Education Specialist Kelly Bougie
●● Manager of Digital Media Adina Chirita
●● Manager of Special Projects Claire Dawson
●● Accounting Clerk/Membership Coordinator Christina Benkel
●● Education Coordinator Karoline Churilla
●● MLS® and Membership Coordinator Alison Maybery
●● MLS® and Membership Coordinator Laura Maybery
●● MLS® and Membership Coordinator Alex Mercurio
●● Membership and Education Coordinator Penny Miller
●● First Impressions and MLS® Coordinator Meredith Murdock
On a personal note, special thank you to my wife Nancy, and to my real estate family at Coldwell Banker at
Success Realty, thank you for all the support during my year as President.
Finally, to the nearly 2,000 members of LSTAR. THANK YOU. You are the heart of the Association and we
wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the tremendous work, both professionally and personally, you do in our
communities.
Earl Taylor,
2019 LSTAR President
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Annual General Review 2019
2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Front Row (l-r):
●● Mike Jakupi, Commercial Director
●● Lindsay Reid, Director
●● Buffy Ellis, Director
●● Earl Taylor, President
●● Nadia Habib, Director
●● Jack Lane, Vice-President
●● Jeff Nethercott, Past President
Second Row (l-r):
●● John Geha, Chief Executive Officer
●● Adam Miller, Director
●● Blair Campbell, President-Elect
●● Ann Smith, Director
●● Richard Thyssen, Director
●● Randy Pawlowski, Director
10Annual General Review 2019
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT
It is a bittersweet occasion, as this will be my final report as LSTAR CEO.
As an organization, LSTAR has accomplished so much in the last few years.
Let’s take a look at the 2019 highlights.
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND OPERATIONS
The Board of Directors and LSTAR staff have a deep commitment to
provide Members cutting edge technology platforms, exceptional learning
opportunities, advocacy expertise and transparent member engagement to
ultimately influence the business of real estate.
John Geha
LSTAR is guided by the Association’s Strategic Plan and by the principles of
LSTAR Chief Executive Officer
running an efficient, scalable and nimble operation. A real estate resource
for Members as they support the community with real estate transactions, LSTAR is also passionate about
strengthening the region through volunteerism and charitable activities with shelter-based and social justice
organizations.
As of December 2019, LSTAR was made up of 1,907 REALTOR® Members. There were 151 active MLS®
subscribers, 128 active Key subscribers, 23 Appraisers and 35 Appraisal staff. LSTAR gained more than 100
new REALTOR® Members in 2019.
In February, Clareity Risk was launched in support of secure data sharing and to allow implementation of a
policy for remediating unauthorized use of Matrix.
In April, LSTAR demonstrated its thought leadership while a hosting a delegation of southwestern Ontario
business, government and community leaders on a trade mission to Toledo, Ohio, engaging with top-level
leadership and change makers, discussing opportunities and issues facing the Great Lakes region.
11Annual General Review 2019
One of the key themes that emerged from these discussions was how vital collaborative partnerships are
to moving economic initiatives forward, to build strong and sustainable communities. The business of real
estate is a leading economic driver in all of this, whether it’s housing, commercial real estate or community
redevelopment.
In December, LSTAR hosted an initial meeting with thought leaders, developers and the business community
across London and St. Thomas to discuss housing issues and how entities might work together. Follow up
meetings are scheduled in 2020.
Digital tablets have replaced printed paper copies in LSTAR meetings, significantly reducing paper use and
providing savings in printing costs and staff time.
MEMBER ENGAGEMENT
Education and Learning
In 2019, REALTOR® Halls were the setting for 24 classes, with 732 attendees. In addition, 1,088 registrants
attended 118 courses taught in the LSTAR Computer Lab.
One of the most in-demand lab classes was WEBForms® 2019, with CREA cutting over to the new version at
the end of 2019. LSTAR offered value-added WEBForms® classes between May and December.
In 2019, LSTAR instructors worked to update the educational curriculum of the lab classes and developed new
lesson plans and participant handbooks.
With the launch of the ShowingTime application in July, a one-hour ShowingTime information session was
delivered to Members regularly between July 8 and August 29.
Member Events
In March, LSTAR hosted a Member Day event, featuring an update on 2019 OREA Forms by Cassandra
Walker, Head of Forms at OREA. The event also included Association news, as well as presentations by
CREA Vice President Patrick Pichette and Zillow Director of Broker Relations Laura Gillespie.
LSTAR continued to keep Members engaged throughout the year, holding regular Town Hall meetings in
London and St. Thomas.
In June, 2019 LSTAR President Earl Taylor and I had the opportunity to meet with Members in a Breakfast
with the President and CEO, which gave Members the chance to have their voices heard.
In July, LSTAR was thrilled to host a Charity barbecue event in support of the Ontario REALTORS Care®
Foundation’s Motorcycle Ride, where 100% from the proceeds of the Ride were donated to shelter-related
charities in Ontario. London was the last stop for the riders.
In October, LSTAR Members heard a presentation from well-known pollster and public opinion expert
Nik Nanos on what Londoners think of their city, in a number of key areas. London earned high scores
for healthcare and family friendliness, while residents were critical of how municipal leaders create an
environment for affordable housing.
12Annual General Review 2019
After the event, LSTAR received positive feedback from attendees, who included LSTAR Members as well as
several provincial and municipal elected officials. They found the data valuable and relevant to the ongoing
conversation to housing affordability.
In December, LSTAR hosted a Tampon Tuesday event in London, with a strong turnout from the community.
E-Newsletters
In 2019 the average rate of unique opens for our e-Bulletin, LSTAR’s main e-newsletter, was 47.3%, while the
average rate of unique clicks for the same communication vehicle sat at 10.5%.
The average rates for our other e-newsletters were as follows:
●● e-Broker Biz-Buzz – 51.8% unique opens and 3% unique clicks;
●● e-Stats – 48.2% unique opens and 4.9% unique clicks;
●● e-Break – 46.6% unique opens and 3.6% unique clicks;
●● LSTAR Question of the Month – 49.3% unique opens and 4.5% unique clicks;
●● e-Admin – 49% unique opens and 3% unique clicks;
●● e-Election – 43% unique opens and 2% unique clicks.
Most of these rates are well above the industry averages. According to MailChimp, as of October 2019, the
average rates for the real estate industry were 19.17% for unique opens, respectively 1.77% for unique clicks.
Public Website
According to Google Analytics, between January 1 and December 31, 2019, www.lstar.ca had 27,515 users
and garnered 90,109 page views in a total of 43,421 sessions (one session can consist of multiple page
13Annual General Review 2019
views). The average session duration was one minute and 46 seconds, while the average number of pages
viewed per session was 2.
84.3% of the web site were new visitors, while 15.7% were returning visitors. The new visitors spent on
average one minute and 21 seconds per session and returning visitors – two minutes and 27 seconds.
55.35% of the sessions were generated by Google searches, 26.88% came from direct links, 5.46% from
Facebook Mobile, 2.32% from Bing, 1.51% from Facebook (Desktop) and 1.41% from Matrix.
86.85% of users were located in Canada and 7.19% in the United States. The rest of the visitors are located in
other countries, such as: China (1.21%); Japan (0.93%); India (0.42%); South Korea (0.37%); France (0.31%),
United Kingdom (0.26%), Germany (0.25%) and Philippines (0.19%).
Out of the 27,515 users, 15,052 (55%) accessed the site via desktop, 10,568 (38%) via mobile and 1,879
(7%) via tablet. The visitors who accessed the site from their desktop spent the most time on LSTAR.ca –
on average two minutes and 6 seconds per session. For mobile, the average duration per session was one
minute and 9 seconds, and for tablet, two minutes and ten seconds.
Out of the 90,109 page views, most were garnered by the home page of the web site. That page had over
21,000 views. The second most visited page was the ‘Market Updates’ page (https://www.lstar.ca/market-
updates), followed by the ‘Contact Us’ page (https://www.lstar.ca/contact-us).
Social Media
Facebook Public Page
On January 1, 2019, our Facebook Page had 1,787 friends and, as of December 31st, 2019 the number of our
Facebook friends had grown to 1,968. This means that, in 2019, we gained 181 new Facebook friends. During
the same period, the number of this page’s followers increased from 1,728 to 1,932.
53% of our Facebook fans are women and 44% are men. 57% of the people engaged by our Facebook posts
are women and 41% are men. The reach of our Facebook Page was at its highest on March 19, 2019. At that
point in time our Facebook Page reached 6,348 people*. That day we shared an article from the London Free
Press based on our Statistical News Release mentioning the rising home prices in the London-St. Thomas
area. However, the most engaging post of 2019 was the photo album with pictures from the 2019 Winter
Wonderland Christmas Gala, which garnered 557 reactions.
This year, LSTAR’s videos were watched for a total of 5,222 minutes on Facebook.
Facebook Closed Group
As of December 31st, 2019, the closed member-only group had 859 members.
Twitter
On Twitter, we started out the year with 2,141 followers and ended it with 2,198. In 2019 our most engaging
day on Twitter was April 23rd, when we tweeted live from our Annual General Meeting. That day our tweets
generated 43 likes and 2 retweets.
14Annual General Review 2019
LinkedIn
In 2019 we gained 125 new followers on LinkedIn. At the end of 2019 we had 303 followers.
2019 VIDEOS
In 2019, LSTAR produced 28 videos and broadcast 10 times via Facebook Live. Seven of the live broadcasts
took place at LSTAR’s Slo-Pitch Tournament and the other three at the 2019 REALTOR® Christmas Kettle
Drive.
Here are the statistics for the rest of LSTAR videos:
1. LSTAR History: The Sixties – 238 views on Facebook, 16 views on YouTube
2. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report: January 2019 – 406 views on Facebook, 328 on YouTube
3. You Asked, We Answered – 115 views on Facebook, 397 views on YouTube
4. LSTAR Viewpoint: February 2019 – 126 views on Facebook, 221 views on YouTube
5. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report: February 2019 – 171 views on Facebook, 149 views on You-
Tube
6. LSTAR Viewpoint: March 2019 –1150 views on Facebook, 349 views on YouTube
7. President’s Statistical Report: March 2019 – 469 views on Facebook, 252 views on YouTube
8. LSTAR Viewpoint: April 2019 – 108 views on Facebook, 112 views on YouTube
9. Message from 2018 LSTAR Beneficiaries – 197 views on Facebook, 16 views on YouTube
10. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report for April 2019 – 167 views on Facebook, 184 views on YouTube
11. LSTAR Viewpoint: May 2019 – 167 views on Facebook, 119 views on YouTube
12. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report for May 2019 – 396 views on Facebook, 234 views on YouTube
13. LSTAR Viewpoint: June 2019 – 142 views on Facebook, 151 views on YouTube
14. 2019 LSTAR Slo-Pitch - Dunk Tank Video Highlights – 170 views on Facebook
15. LSTAR’s Charity BBQ in Support of Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation’s Motorcycle Ride –
176 views on Facebook, 71 views on YouTube
16. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report for June 2019 – 184 views on Facebook, 184 views on YouTube
17. LSTAR Viewpoint: July 2019 – 117 views on Facebook, 152 views on YouTube
18. LSTAR Viewpoint: August 2019 – 506 views on Facebook, 172 views on YouTube
19. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report for July 2019 – 327 views on Facebook, 190 views on YouTube
20. National Housing Statistical Highlights – 230 views on Facebook, 159 views on YouTube
21. LSTAR Viewpoint: September 2019 – 232 views on Facebook, 158 views on YouTube
22. National & Regional Highlights - September 2019 – 230 views on Facebook, 135 views on YouTube
23. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report for August 2019 – 214 views on Facebook, 26 views on You-
Tube
24. Important Updates Regarding LSTAR’s MLS Policies & Coming Events – 167 views on Facebook,
206 views on YouTube1
15Annual General Review 2019
25. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report for September 2019 – 237 views on Facebook, 156 views on
YouTube
26. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report for October 2019 – 171 views on Facebook, 70 views on You-
Tube
27. A Message from LSTAR CEO John Geha – 260 views on Facebook, 205 views on YouTube
28. LSTAR President’s Statistical Report for November 2019 – 157 views on Facebook, 114 views on
YouTube
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am so proud of what LSTAR accomplished in 2019, and I know the Association has a solid foundation for the
journey ahead.
Over the past three and a half years as your CEO, LSTAR implemented a brand new MLS® System,
developed a new three-year Strategic Plan, and achieved a balanced budget, ensuring fiscal strength and
sustainability.
LSTAR also created a robust community engagement strategy and enhanced relations with the greater
community, solidifying a partnership with Fanshawe College Corporate Training Solutions, collaborating with
Western University on real estate research projects, and strengthening LSTAR’s relationships with its elected
federal, provincial and municipal leaders.
Thank you to the Board of Directors and the Staff at LSTAR for such an amazing journey. I am excited about
where the journey leads LSTAR next.
John S. Geha
Chief Executive Officer
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REGIONAL COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE
The Regional Commercial Committee (RCC) of the London and St. CHAIR
Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) is committed to assisting Mike Jakupi
its members to succeed in commercial real estate. The Committee’s
mandate is to: MEMBERS
●● Establish and foster professional expertise through educational
activities and programs; Knute Dohnberg
Lisa Lansink
●● Formulate recommendations to the Board of Directors on matters of
public policy involving commercial real estate issues; and Larin Shouldice
Rick Spencer
●● Foster cooperation in the exchange of information among Members of Bryan VanAcker
LSTAR.
In pursuing its mandate, RCC recognizes that the LSTAR Board of STAFF LIAISONS
Directors has the primary responsibility and authority to manage the John Geha
Association’s affairs and agrees to conduct its activities in such a way as Chad Lovell
to avoid conflict or duplication. At the end of 2019 the Membership of the Joanne Shannon
RCC numbered 68.
DON SMITH COMMERCIAL BUILDING
AWARDS
LSTAR received nominations for the 2019 Don Smith Commercial Building Awards. Launched in 2009
and established by the RCC of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®, the “Don Smith”
Commercial Building Awards recognize and celebrate commercial building excellence. The biannual awards
were established to inspire the architectural and construction community to include and embrace innovation
within their design criteria, so that our built heritage might better serve and better reflect our community.
The program was named after the late Don Smith, legendary co-founder of EllisDon, a world-renowned
construction company with London roots.
Eligibility
Investment, commercial or industrial building, development or renovation projects located within the
jurisdiction (Elgin and Middlesex Counties) of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®
(LSTAR).
Categories
Categories include Commercial (retail and office), Industrial, Multi-family and Institutional (community). A
judging panel evaluates the projects, with the following criteria:
●● Building, development or renovation located within LSTAR’s jurisdiction
●● Design and innovation
●● Addresses a specific developmental need within the community
17Annual General Review 2019
●● Sensitive to the environment
●● Completed between August 1, 2017 and July 31, 2019
The panel judges were:
●● Ted Aziz, Senior Engineer, Hastings & Aziz Consulting Engineers;
●● Lynne Cram, Community Board Member;
●● Sean Dyke, CEO, St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation (St. Thomas EDC);
●● Joe Ruscitti, Editor-in-Chief, The London Free Press.
18Annual General Review 2019
STANDING COMMITEES
EXECUTIVE CHAIR
Blair Campbell
The mandate of the Executive Committee is to:
MEMBERS
●● Recommend all Board of Director committees and task forces to the
Board of Directors for approval; Earl Taylor
Jack Lane
●● Evaluate the CEO and establish the CEO’s compensation on an Jeff Nethercott
annual basis (as required by CREA’s Minimum Standards);
John Geha
●● Represent the Association as appointed Voting Delegates at CREA
and OREA Conferences.
STAFF LIAISONS
Joanne Shannon
The Committee may also perform other such duties as required and as
requested by the Board of Directors. Chad Lovell
Every year, the Executive Committee is tasked with selecting one or
more worthy individuals for the Lyn Coupland Outstanding Service
Award. This award recognizes those whose service to the Association the Committee deems to be above and
beyond the call of duty to receive LSTAR’s most prestigious honour. The Committee is asked every year, but
that does not mean it’s obliged to select a recipient every year – only if someone is judged to be truly worthy of
the honour.
In 2019, the Executive Committee honoured three individuals to receive the Lyn Coupland Outstanding
Service Award. The recipients were Dan Grantham, Laura Leyser and Joanne Shannon.
19Annual General Review 2019
FINANCE
CHAIR
The mandate of the Finance Committee is to develop and implement
Richard Thyssen
an annual work plan to review, monitor and provide guidance and/
or recommendations to the Board of Directors, related to the financial
MEMBERS stewardship of LSTAR.
Blair Campbell
Troy Couwenberghs Responsibilities include:
Andrew Crook
Dan Grantham ●●Ensure the integrity of the corporation’s financial affairs;
Warren Shantz ●●Develop and seek approval by the Board of Directors for financial
Earl Taylor policies;
John Geha ●●Review and recommend the corporation’s operating and capital
Ron Murdoch (Ford Keast) Budgets;
●●Review and recommend any capital plan for facilities and
STAFF LIAISONS equipment;
Joanne Shannon
Csaba Hegedus ●●Oversee the performance of the investment manager and
investments;
Heather Dignard
●●Review and submit financial statements and reports to the Board of
Directors on a minimum quarterly basis; and
●●Review the investment policy and all investments by LSTAR.
In 2019, the Finance Committee recommended and the Directors approved the annual COLA increase (Cost
of Living Allowance increase) of $3.20 to take effect February 1, 2020. This annual increase was approved
back in 2015 by LSTAR’s Board of Directors to help keep the Association’s finances sustainable.
The Finance Committee also recommended and the Directors approved an additional assessment of $4.30
per member per month also effective February 1, 2020 to help manage the operations of the shared MLS®
System between the Ontario Collective™ (OC), a regional group providing MLS® System services to 12
real estate associations representing over 5000 REALTORS®, and the Ontario Regional Technology and
Information Systems Inc. (ORTIS), a regional group providing MLS® System services to 10 real estate
associations of over 8,500 REALTORS®. This assessment helps cover the cost of new features that will be
available to Members including Prospects, Instanet featuring Authentisign, and the Canadian Real Estate
Association’s Home Price Index. Starting February 1, 2020, the monthly assessment will be $152.75 plus HST
per month.
In 2019, the Finance Committee recommended and the Board of Directors approved moving forward with
Libro Credit Union, to manage the Association’s banking services. Libro is a thriving local financial institution
right here in London and St. Thomas, supporting LSTAR’s strategy to collaborate and partner with strong local
entities.
20Annual General Review 2019
GOVERNANCE
The mandate of the Governance Committee is to monitor all governance
CHAIR
issues and provide recommendations to the Board of Directors. Richard Thyssen
Responsibilities include to review, provide guidance and/or recommend
to the Board, governance issues to include, but not limited to: MEMBERS
Laura Leyser
●● Stakeholder Relationship Development; Costa Poulopoulos
●● Board of Directors Structure; Earl Taylor
Carl Vandergoot
●● Committees/Task Forces/Advisory Groups of the Board of Directors; John Geha
●● Association Governing Principles; Blair Campbell (Observer)
●● Board of Directors Development and Orientation;
STAFF LIAISONS
●● Board of Directors Evaluation and Accountability; Joanne Shannon
Chad Lovell
●● Association Bylaws and General Policy; and
●● General Membership Meeting issues.
In 2019, the Governance Committee recommended and the Board approved to keep the continuity of the
Governance Committee, Compliance Task Force and Strategic Alliance Task Force for a minimum of two
years.
ARBITRATION CHAIR
The mandate of the Arbitration Committee is to arbitrate disputes over Randy Pawlowski
commissions between Firms as defined in Article 8 of LSTAR’s Bylaws.
The Committee is responsible to review all pertinent material provided to MEMBERS
make an informed, unbiased decision as defined in Article 8 of LSTAR’s Buffy Ellis
Bylaws. Mark Laskey
Mike Marienwald
In 2019, there were a total of four Arbitration Claims. Three were
Peter Meyer
resolved through conciliation, and one is currently in progress.
Jeff Nethercott
Michelle Orsini
Nate Parsons
Rachael Polakovic
Andy Sheridan
Carl Vandergoot
STAFF LIAISONS
John Geha
Joanne Shannon
21Annual General Review 2019
CHAIR DISCIPLINE
Maureen O’Halloran Upon referral of a matter by the Professional Standards Committee,
the mandate of the Discipline Committee is to hold a Hearing to
determine if the Respondent has engaged in the conduct as set out in
MEMBERS
the Referral Document and to discipline any Member if so determined
Paula Bodkin
as defined in Article 9 of LSTAR’s Bylaws.
Blair Campbell
Rika Orrendorf In 2019, there were no discipline hearings.
Ann Smith
Harry Tugender
Barb Whitney
STAFF LIAISONS
John Geha
Joanne Shannon
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
CHAIR
Jack Lane The mandate of the Professional Standards Committee is to receive
formal complaints of alleged breach of any LSTAR Bylaws, General
MEMBERS Policies, MLS® Rules and Regulations or MLS® Policies as defined in
Article 9 of LSTAR’s Bylaws.
Kevin Barry
Mark Hornyak Responsibilities are:
Justin Konikow
●●Either on its own initiative or upon receipt of a written complaint from
Lynda Lalich any source whatsoever, and after complying with the provisions
Marla Marnoch of Section 4 of this Article 9, proceed to research the conduct of
any Member of the Association and proceed to take any action
Dale Marsh as prescribed in this Article or in furtherance of its mandate and
Michelle Orsini obligations as set out in this Article 9; and
Pat Pope
●●At any time after having received a complaint or having proceeded
Andy Sheridan on its own initiative, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute
Robin Tiller discretion, decide that no further action should be taken in respect
of the matter under research and such decision shall not be subject
to review or Appeal as defined Article 9 of LSTAR’s Bylaws.
STAFF LIAISONS
John Geha
Joanne Shannon Fourteen formal complaints were received in writing over the course of
Kelly Blakely 2019. Nine complaints were resolved, four were referred to the Real
Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), and one is currently in progress.
The Committee levied fines in five cases and referred one case to the
Discipline Committee.
22Annual General Review 2019
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
CHAIR
The mandate of the Education Committee is to engage and inform Adam Miller
LSTAR Members and partners by facilitating and collaborating their
access to education and information to enhance their ability to serve the MEMBERS
general community. Kathy Amess
Bonita Hannon
Responsibilities include:
Michelle Orsini
●● Work with staff in establishing a curriculum that meets the needs of Steve Parker
the Members and general community; Christy Ruth
●● Support LSTAR strategic initiatives with collaborative educational Karen Smylie-Smith
institutions (e.g. Fanshawe College and Western University); and Robin Tiller
Candace Miller (Fanshawe)
●● Act as an ambassador to champion Member and public engagement.
The Committee discussed hosting a Member Education Day. STAFF LIAISONS
John Geha
On March 22, 2019, LSTAR hosted a Member Day, with 160 Members Karoline Churilla
attending sessions with Cassandra Walker, OREA Head of Standard
Forms, who gave an update on 2019 OREA Forms; Patrick Pichette,
CREA Vice President, REALTOR.ca, who shared latest REALTOR.
ca updates; and Laura Gillespie, Director of Broker Relations at Zillow
Group, who shared information about Zillow.
23Annual General Review 2019
TASK FORCES
COMPLIANCE TASK FORCE
CHAIR
Troy Couwenberghs
In 2019, the Board of Directors approved combining the Lock Box Task
Force and the Compliance Task Force to manage lock box and claw
MEMBERS back commission issues.
Nadia Habib
Mike Harris Claw backs have become more common in MLS® listings and members
have asked for clarification on where information should be shared
Nate Parsons
with other REALTORS®. CREA has specific rules applied to listings
Earl Taylor on REALTOR.ca – only comments that refer to the description of the
Ainslee Tracey property are allowed to be noted in the Internet (Public) Remarks. All
Carl Vandergoot other pertinent information must be added to the REALTOR® Remarks.
The Compliance Task Force recommended and the Board approved
STAFF LIAISONS
amending MLS® Policy 8.01, Miscellaneous Listing Information to
John Geha include:
Kelly Blakely
Chad Lovell
●● Commission Claw Backs by a Listing Brokerage must be detailed in
Joanne Shannon the REALTOR® Remarks (i.e., commission that will be reduced if a
buyer is introduced to a property by the Listing Salesperson). This
information must not be shown in the Internet (Public) Remarks as
determined by CREA and REALTOR.ca (see MLS® Policy Section
12).
24Annual General Review 2019
ADVISORY GROUPS
BROKERS ISSUES ADVISORY GROUP
CHAIR
Kathy Amess
The mandate of the Brokers Issues Advisory Group is twofold:
MEMBERS
●● To provide a peer forum at which brokerage and real estate industry
issues might be identified, vetted, discussed and debated. Blair Campbell
Vito Campanale
●● To make recommendations to the Board of Directors (or appropriate Glen Gordon
Committees, Advisory Groups or Task Forces) on issues that have
the potential to impact real estate brokerages and/or the real estate Glenda James
industry and, through this mechanism, to alert organized real estate Kris Kewley
at the provincial and national levels to issues impacting brokers.
Justin Konikow
Peter Meyer
In January, LSTAR hosted a meeting with principal brokers, which Jeff Nethercott
featured presentations from CREA on REALTOR.ca and Zillow. Brokers Michelle O’Brien
engaged in discussion with representatives from CREA and Zillow Nate Parsons
about their platforms. Doug Pedlar
In November, the Advisory Group met to discuss a multitude of topics, Joe Pinheiro
including ShowingTime, office codes, sub-franchise offices and Form Rachael Polakovic
244. Costa Poulopoulos
Gary Robinson
Andy Sheridan
Bruce Sworik
Earl Taylor
Richard Thyssen
Carl Vandergoot
Gerry Weir
STAFF LIAISONS
John Geha
Kelly Blakely
Joanne Shannon
Chad Lovell
25Annual General Review 2019
CHAIR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Jeff Nethercott
The mandate of the Political Affairs Committee (or PAC Team) is to
maintain an active and open channel of grassroots communication with
MEMBERS LSTAR MPs, MPPs and municipal leaders concerning REALTOR®
Ann DeBono issues. REALTOR® issues are defined as issues that have a far-
Buffy Ellis reaching impact on Members of organized real estate, which have
Glen Gordon significant negative or positive impact either on a sizeable group of
Dan Grantham Members or property owners, or housing issues, especially housing
affordability issues. The PAC Team also seeks to enhance awareness of
Betty Kallai
and build support for OREA and CREA positions within the Association
Jack Lane and the greater community. LSTAR’s PAC Team is empowered to advise
John Geha the Board of Directors on political affairs at the municipal, provincial and
Earl Taylor (Ex-Officio) national levels.
Blair Campbell (Ex-Officio)
With an October federal election, 2019 proved to be an engaging,
STAFF LIAISON energetic and dynamic year. Highlights included MPP meetings in the
Chad Lovell spring, followed by MP candidate events in London and St. Thomas in
the fall, and culminated in the Ontario REALTOR®Party Conference in
November.
MP Engagement
LSTAR Annual General Meeting
At the LSTAR Annual General Meeting (AGM) in April, the program featured a Member of Parliament (MP)
panel, which shared insights on housing, the economy and the business of real estate.
26Annual General Review 2019
The panel included Peter Fragiskatos, MP London North Centre; Irene Mathyssen, MP London-Fanshawe;
and Karen Vecchio, MP Elgin-Middlesex-London.
Constituency Meetings
LSTAR met with Karen Vecchio, MP Elgin-Middlesex-London in August to talk about the dynamics of the real
estate marketplace in LSTAR’s jurisdiction and to discuss housing affordability. LSTAR continues to strengthen
its relations with its federal leaders, keeping housing issues top of mind.
Candidate Events
LSTAR hosted two events for members to get to know the candidates running for MP in the 2019 federal
election. Thirteen of 15 candidates from the major parties representing London-Fanshawe, London North
Centre and London West met with LSTAR members on October 2 in London.
On October 3 in St. Thomas, four of the five major party candidates from Elgin-Middlesex-London met with
LSTAR members and participated in a debate that highlighted housing, affordability and other community
issues.
MPP Engagement
Spring MPP Visits
Members of LSTAR’s PAC team had productive meetings with London and St. Thomas Members of Provincial
Parliament (MPP) in April and May, where the conversations focused on REBBA (Real Estate Business
Brokers Act 2002) reform. LSTAR met with MPP Teresa Armstrong, London-Fanshawe; MPP Terence
Kernaghan, London North Centre; MPP Peggy Sattler, London West; and MPP Jeff Yurek, Elgin-Middlesex-
London. Each MPP showed support on the recommendations to reform REBBA 2002.
Ontario REALTOR® Party Conference
In 2019, the Ontario REALTOR® Party Conference took place November 17 through 19. Members of the PAC
Team met with MPPs at Queen’s Park in Toronto, advocating support for Bill 145, the Trust in Real Estates
Services Act (TRESA), which amends REBBA 2002. LSTAR’s PAC Team had productive conversations and
garnered support from MPP Teresa Armstrong, London-Fanshawe; MPP Terence Kernaghan, London North
Centre; MPP Peggy Sattler, London West; and MPP Jeff Yurek, Elgin-Middlesex-London.
The proposed legislation offers better protection for the province’s home buyers and sellers, elevates
REALTOR® professional standards, and creates stronger enforcement of the rules governing real estate
practices. TRESA also focuses on fair tax treatment for REALTORS®, specialty certifications, and allowing
consumers to choose the REALTOR® they know and trust.
Municipal
In 2019, LSTAR continued to be an active voice in Progress London, a group of influential stakeholder
organizations focused on advocating for job creation and economic growth by providing a balanced
perspective on its benefits to the community. Progress London held a meeting with London Mayor Ed Holder
and other senior staff to discuss such issues as the skilled trades shortage, housing affordability and London’s
most vulnerable population.
A white paper LSTAR collaborated on with the London Chamber of Commerce, “The Impact of the
Mortgage Stress Test on Local Economies” was accepted with majority support at the Canadian Chamber of
Commerce’s Annual General Meeting. It presented recommendations to the federal government that further
27Annual General Review 2019
reinforce LSTAR’s efforts to support the reform of the mortgage stress test.
In October, LSTAR members heard a presentation from well-known pollster and public opinion expert
Nik Nanos on what Londoners think of their city, in a number of key areas. London earned high marks
for healthcare and family friendliness, while residents were critical of how municipal leaders create an
environment for affordable housing. The research was conducted through an Issues Mobilization Grant Award
LSTAR received through OREA.
The Association continues to be represented on the City of London’s Housing Advisory Committee, as well
as the London Homeless Coalition and the St. Thomas Housing and Homelessness Action Group, part of the
Elgin-St. Thomas United Way Community Matters initiative.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Quality of Life
‘Quality of Life’ (QOL) is both a philosophy and a helpful analytical tool, helping to identify how LSTAR as
an Association, or its Members as individuals, can improve or enhance the social, physical or economic
environments of the communities we passionately serve. It serves as a filter, which can be used to determine
whether a political issue is, in fact, a REALTOR® issue. This is useful, since, in the past, REALTOR® issues
have been dictated either by self-interest – pro-business, pro-REALTOR®, or pro-development – or by our
constituents – first-time buyers, property owners, landlords, etc. There was no mechanism to determine social
policy, i.e., the greater good. Embracing QOL makes the communities where we live our constituents and in
turn, is giving the Association that mechanism. It has considerable implications for both LSTAR’s Government
Relations initiatives and community engagement activities.
Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation
LSTAR continued to honour its pledge to the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation’s Every REALTOR®
Campaign in the amount of $1.00 per member/per month in 2019. The Foundation’s mission is, “to advance
the Foundation’s philanthropy by enabling REALTOR® Members and real estate boards to practice effective
and ethical fundraising in support of shelter-related causes in Ontario.” The Foundation defines shelter as
“a refuge, haven or protection that provides or improves quality of life from hunger, the elements, physical/
psychological abuse, disabilities and illness.”
In 2019, the Foundation provided more than $1 million in grants to shelter-based organizations across Ontario
communities. LSTAR’s support of the Foundation has deep historical roots. In its earliest days LSTAR
Member Peter Whatmore chaired it. In 2014, LSTAR Past President Barb Whitney served as the Foundation’s
Western Ontario Director, then 2015 President-Elect, and 2016 President. In 2019, LSTAR Member Heather
Arnott was named the Foundation’s Western Ontario Director.
QUALITY OF LIFE PRINCIPLES
◦◦ Principle 1: Ensuring Economic Vitality
◦◦ Principle 2: Providing Housing Opportunities
◦◦ Principle 3: Preserving Our Environment
◦◦ Principle 4: Protecting Home Owners
◦◦ Principle 5: Building Better Communities
28Annual General Review 2019
Community Engagement Committee
CHAIR
LSTAR’s Community Engagement Committee is responsible for:
Christine Cecchetto
●● Building collaborative relationships with key influencers.
●● Raising the awareness of LSTAR. MEMBERS
●● Building the LSTAR brand. Kevin Barry
●● Advancing key initiatives within Social Responsibilities including but not
limited to the charitable giving (Application and beneficiaries as defined Kimberly Broad
by the Ontario REALTORS Care®Foundation). Betty Kallai
Dale Marsh
In 2019, the committee presented nearly $52,000 to 12 local
Adam Miller
organizations. They were Anova, the Grace Café, Hockey Helps the
Homeless, Inn Out of the Cold Elgin, Investing in Children, London Tracey Peifer
Affordable Housing Foundation, Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Yvonne Steer
Centre, Mission Services of London, St. Joseph’s Hospice, The Unity Earl Taylor
Project, Violence Against Women Services Elgin County, and Women’s Trevor Tyson
Rural Resources Centre of Strathroy and Area. Lore Wainwright (Pillar)
Jason Dearing (Libro)
The grants come from LSTAR’s Business Partners Program, sponsorship,
various fundraising events and the Ontario REALTORS Care®
Foundation, of which LSTAR is a proud supporter. STAFF LIAISON
John Geha
Charitable Giving Joanne Shannon
As of the end of 2019 and since 1992, LSTAR has given the following Chad Lovell
grants to these worthy organizations.
Beneficiary 2019 Amount at Year End
Mission Services of London $337,732
Anova $8,000
Grace Café $6,000
Unity Project $113,821
VAWSEC $61,574
Women’s Community House $33,883
All Our Sisters Conference Bursaries $2,000
Hockey Helps the Homeless $37,500
London Affordable Housing Foundation $10,000
Youth Opportunities Unlimited $128,861
Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre $84,372
London Housing Registry $6,000
Investing in Children $17,925
St. Joseph’s Hospice $53,000
London Health Sciences Foundation Adult Eating Disorders Clinic $50,000
Meals on Wheels “Home to Stay” Program $15,000
Inn Out of the Cold Elgin $4,000
Women’s Rural Resources Centre of Strathroy and Area $3,000
TOTAL $972,668
29Annual General Review 2019
QUALITY OF LIFE AWARD
The LSTAR Quality of Life Award recognizes and honors outstanding contributions to the community in accordance
with one or more of the five Quality of Life Principles championed by LSTAR, OREA and CREA.
Nominations are sought from the Membership at large, but candidates may also be named by the Quality of
Life Advisory Group, which will then recommend the winners to the LSTAR Board of Directors. The Award is not
necessarily an annual one. It is given when a recipient is deemed worthy of recognition.
At the time the Award is announced - at LSTAR’s Annual General Meeting (which takes place the following year) - a
donation of $200 is made to the recipient’s charity of choice in his or her name, the recipient receives a plaque and
his or her charitable activities are showcased across all LSTAR media.
The Award was not given out in 2019.
Other Activities and Partnerships
In August, LSTAR Members helped raise $3,700 toward relief efforts supporting those impacted by the
Woodman Avenue explosion in Old East Village, in collaboration with Libro Credit Union and other community
partners.
More than 125 REALTORS® came out to participate in the 2019 Christmas Kettle Campaign across London
and St. Thomas. LSTAR Members helped The Salvation Army to surpass its fundraising goal.
LSTAR also continued to partner with the Canadian Blood Services as a Partner for Life.
PARTNER FOR LIFE: CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES
In 2012, LSTAR joined over 580 partner companies, including a number of our fellow real estate associations, in
becoming a Partner for Life with the Canadian Blood Services. Partners for Life is a nationwide program designed for
corporate and community organizations.
Did you know that it can take up to 50 donors to help a car accident victim and up to eight donors a week to help
someone with leukemia? That’s a lot of blood! And the demand for blood and blood products of all blood types just
keeps growing. In fact, about 500,000 more Canadians are needed to become donors to meet the demand.
Help save lives. Join our team. To register, take the following steps. Please note, if you are older than 61, you will
need a form completed by your doctor to register. You can obtain this form by calling 1-888-2-DONATE.
Step 1: Join the team at Canadian Blood Services. Register and insert LSTAR’s Partner #: LSTA013463.
Step 2: Book an appointment by selecting location, day, and time to donate or call 1-888-2-DONATE.
Step 3: Feel GREAT about yourself!
Maybe you already donate regularly. Maybe this is your first time. It doesn’t matter. By registering just this once, each
donation you make – wherever you make it – will automatically be attributed to LSTAR’s Partners for Life team from
that point on. REALTORS® give back to the community by giving the gift of life.
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