The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is proud to honour Dale Devereaux of Red Deer, Alberta, with the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2023 Proudly Presented by REALTOR.ca, for pairing his determination with empathy to make a difference for his community.
Upon moving to Red Deer in the 1980s, Devereaux, a REALTOR® with Century 21 Maximum, joined the Piper Creek Optimist Club. While he did not have much money to give at the time, joining the club allowed him to give back through hard work.
Devereaux organized Sunday night bingo, which raised $100,000 annually. The club raised more than $1 million while he was an Optimist, which went on to support projects like the Children’s Library, Neonatal Intensive Care facilities, and Boys and Girls Club camps.
The hard work Devereaux put into volunteering was mirrored in his real estate career. Often working long hours, Devereaux cherished his time with his family. His passion was cooking for loved ones and sharing a meal.
After a particularly successful year, he wanted to do more for his community. “We felt that we’re a very fortunate family, and that we should try to give a meal to families who are less fortunate,” recalled Devereaux.
He would go on to donate 100 Christmas meals, one for each house sold that year, to the Red Deer Food Bank, so that families in need could enjoy the holidays.
That was year one of Dale Devereaux’s “Feed a Family at Christmas” campaign. Each fall since, he has rallied the Red Deer community to donate Christmas dinners to the Red Deer Food Bank.
“Dale has been that guy for us,” explained Mitch Thomson, Executive Director, Red Deer Food Bank. “He’s shown leadership, called on his friends and neighbours, he’s led by example, and he’s done it with character.”
2022 marked its 25th anniversary, and Devereaux’s initiative has, to date, fed almost 30,000 Central Albertans.
Devereaux has a special appreciation for the recipients of these meals who have come back years later to contribute. “They were thankful that they were given the opportunity to come into the food bank and help their family through that hard time. So, for them to comeback and help another family, I think that’s a pretty special moment.”
In the mid-2000s, Devereaux was approached to find a piece of land suitable for a Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer, so families would have a comfortable home away from home while their child is at the hospital.
While he was given years to find the land, Devereaux wasted no time, finding the perfect piece of land within six months, forcing the project to accelerate.
Devereaux felt strongly about the need, so he volunteered to join the capital campaign, raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House’s construction and opening operations. They raised a staggering $12.1 million in 15 months.
The Red Deer Ronald McDonald House opened in February 2012, and has since housed more than 3,000 families.
Over the years since, Devereaux has rallied friends to cook several gourmet dinners for the families staying in the home. “The people that come to the house are, you know, they’re under a lot of stress,” he explained. “They got bigger fish to fry than worrying about what to eat.”
Devereaux’s determination to make Red Deer a better place has been felt by many. “It’s an extraordinary, extraordinary legacy, that he’s leaving the community,” remarked Mayor of Red Deer, Ken Johnston.
While he may have already created a legacy in his community, Devereaux has no plans of slowing down. “When your heart feels good, your body feels good and your eyes are kind of welling up, that’s a pretty special feeling, and that’s what happens when you do good things for other people”.
In Dale Devereaux’s honour, CREA has donated $5,000 to the Red Deer Food Bank.
Click here to see the 48 REALTORS® nominated for the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2023.
