The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) bestowed REALTORS Care® Awards on three members at its awards luncheon on February 27, 2015.
VIREB hosted the event in conjunction with its annual general meeting to recognize members who give back to their communities and work diligently to enhance the professional image of REALTORS®. Brian Godfrey, Aaron Nicklen, and Wendy Shaw are this year’s REALTORS Care® Award recipients.
For several years, RE/MAX of Nanaimo REALTOR® Brian Godfrey has been an active member of the office committee for the Children’s Miracle Network, spearheading a variety of projects. Godfrey’s most successful undertaking to date was his 7,825-kilometre trek across Canada to raise money for BC Children’s Hospital. With the help of colleagues, Godfrey raised over $13,000 before embarking on his journey. By the time he stepped off his bike, Godfrey had raised over $23,000 for the hospital.
The list of causes and charities to which Aaron Nicklen has devoted his time is a long one. Whether riding a bike for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, donating his Hawaiian condominium to raise funds for community events, or anonymously co-funding community Christmas dinners for the needy, Nicklen consistently shows that REALTORS® truly care. He has also served as past president of the Rotary Club of Parksville AM and been an active sponsor of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.
When not helping clients buy and sell houses, Wendy Shaw is a passionate advocate for the homeless and mental health. For over 15 years, she has been collecting coats and blankets for the homeless, donating them to the Salvation Army and Canadian Mental Health. Shaw has also delivered these items directly to people living on the streets in makeshift shelters and tents. She also works as volunteer coordinator for Warmland House in Duncan, which provides transitional housing for individuals who have fallen through the social safety net.
Throughout the year, members of organized real estate work together to make a difference in their communities by volunteering time and raising funds for a diverse array of causes and charities close to their hearts. Many of these initiatives fall under the REALTORS Care® umbrella. This guiding principle and brand celebrates the great philanthropic work done by REALTORS®, real estate boards and associations and broker offices across Canada.
