REALTORS® from the North Bay Real Estate Board and the Timmins Real Estate Board have collectively gathered an estimated 1,600 books for the Elliot Lake Public Library, to replace the ones lost in the devastating mall collapse this past June.
“Our book drive was a huge success,” says Rhonda Fiddament, Executive Officer of the North Bay Real Estate Board. “I am so proud of how our REALTORS®, families, and friends have pulled together.”
Rhonda and Administrative Assistant Colette Revenboer will be personally delivering the books collected by their members to the library in Elliot Lake, once it has a new home. Each book from their Board will feature a “Donated By” sticker, so that future readers will be reminded that REALTORS® cared about their community’s loss and stepped up to help in the rebuilding process.
Both book drives were inspired by Mervin Burgard, Q.C., real estate lawyer, educator, and counsel to the Ontario Real Estate Association, who came up with the idea after reading an article about the effects of the Algo Centre Mall collapse on the community in the Toronto Star. He sent an email to all Ontario Boards encouraging them to rally their members to help this small community in the face of disaster.
Merv reports that he is delighted that Canadian REALTORS® responded to his suggestion, although it did not come as a surprise. “REALTORS® are well known for their generosity and compassionate contributions to their communities,” he explains.
Pictured (top): Brad Minogue, President-Elect; Darrel Falconi, President; Ed Valenti, Director; and Brian Graham, Past President, North Bay Real Estate Board.
Pictured (bottom): Ellen Pankiw, President-Elect, and Anne Marie Vaillancourt, Executive Officer, Timmins Real Estate Board.
