In the vibrant community of North Vancouver, Jacquie McCarnan, a REALTOR® and salesperson with RE/MAX Masters Realty, has been using the power of social media to bring people together and build lasting relationships between strangers. Through her tireless efforts, she has created a network of support that touches the lives of many individuals and non-profits, demonstrating the profound impact one person can have on their neighbours.
“We need a physical connection with our neighbours. We need to know our neighbours. It makes you live longer. It makes you happier. Helping people makes you happier,” shares Jacquie. “The secret to happiness is helping somebody else.”
<iframe width="100%" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/guife1YX2Dw?si=XsDTl6k-dhJLksne" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Jacquie was deeply concerned about the well-being of her parents who were half a country away in Ontario. Unable to travel, she channeled her worry into action, and focused on the seniors in her local community who were dealing with the same isolation and medical needs as her parents.
With the help of her two daughters, Jacquie founded the Facebook group “North Van Cares” in March of 2020 to recruit volunteers for seniors who needed help with grocery and prescription deliveries. Within weeks, the initiative quickly grew into a vital resource, connecting volunteers to those in need, and providing essential services during a time of unprecedented uncertainty.
As the group grew, so did the types of requests from seniors; including safe socializing and healthy lifestyle activities. Jacquie continued to mobilize through North Van Cares and sourced volunteers who happily answered the call. Within 12 months, thousands of volunteers were raising their hands to support hundreds of seniors, and Jacquie and her daughters were connecting and overseeing personalized supports across all North Vancouver neighbourhoods.
“I’m very appreciative that North Van Cares stepped up through Jacquie to address the variety of issues associated with seniors in particular regarding the isolation that occurred because of COVID,” says senior Dennis Josey. “I think she realized that somebody had to step up to the plate and she did immediately, and she got a tremendous response.” By the spring of 2021, North Van Cares had become part of the fabric of the North Vancouver community and a trusted grassroots resource. When a local neighbourhood experienced a heartbreaking tragedy, Jacquie was asked to step in to help. McCarnan not only facilitated the collection and distribution of funds but also acted as a protective barrier between the media and the victims of the Lynn Valley stabbings, allowing them the privacy and space needed to heal. The GoFundMe campaign she spearheaded raised over $140,000, providing crucial financial assistance to the victims and their families.
As North Van Cares grew, so did Jacquie’s vision and impact. She utilized her graphic design background to create custom logos for select charities and partnered with local retailer Deep Cove Collective to sell shirts, bags, and hoodies displaying the artwork, with proceeds going back into the causes close to her heart.
“We carry the North Van Cares products from the printed shirts to the pillowcases and things. But the absolute favourite is the North Van Cares candle because it smells like the North Shore,” says Deep Cover Collective co-owner and North Van Cares volunteer Erian Baxter. “And the proceeds of it goes back to the foundation completely. She’s amazing that way with how generous she is with that, and we’re happy to support that.
Much like her other North Van Cares initiatives, the custom pieces were an instant success and products flew off the shelves. She began creating additional logos for individual neighbourhoods, a signature scented candle, and running limited-edition campaigns for flood victims, Kid’s Help Line Vancouver, and the Lion’s Gate Hospital Foundation.
Jacquie’s North Van Cares Galas, celebrating the impact of collective action in 2022 and 2023, further unified the community. The events raised funds and highlighted the work of local non-profits already receiving support through the sale of North Van Cares products including Backpack Buddies, an organization that packs and distributes individual bags of food each weekend to over 6,000 hungry youth facing food insecurity across British Columbia. Jacquie’s galas not only have helped to bring awareness to their cause, she also volunteers with her brokerage and donates a portion of her commissions to their work.
“One thing that everybody should know about Jacquie is her dedication to bettering the community that she lives in and the people around her, the lives,” says Backpack Buddies co-founder Joanne Griffiths. “She’s a very committed individual to bettering the community that she lives in, and she works tirelessly to help vulnerable individuals.”
With plans for continued growth of North Van Cares, sponsor recruitment for a 2025 Gala underway, and a new nationwide initiative for women in real estate on the horizon, this Canadian REALTORS Care® Award nominee is building a brighter, more connected future through her leadership, compassion, and innovative approach for North Vancouver and beyond.
REALTORS Care® Spotlight shares stories of how featured nominees of the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award are working to make their communities a better place for all.
