The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is proud to honour Kandice Henry of Brampton, Ontario, with the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2025 Proudly Presented by REALTOR.ca for the difference she’s making in the lives of marginalized youth in the Greater Toronto Area.
<iframe width="100%" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8DUW4dEzAh8?si=SQUq4rl6iaBY6kW&" 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 she’s not serving her clients as a REALTOR® and salesperson with iPro Realty, Kandice Henry can be found giving back in her role as Founder of Shining Lighte Youth Charity, where she creates spaces for underprivileged youth to learn more about themselves and build confidence in their abilities.
“It’s really heartfelt just to see that what I’m doing is actually coming to life because it’s full circle for me,” shared Henry. “I’m trying to help youth who are in underserved positions and neighbourhoods and places, and I came from that.”
Growing up, Kandice became quickly involved in fighting injustices. Her aunt, Sue Botelho, traces her passion back to a Black History Month event she brough Kandice to when she was only seven years old. After hearing from speakers in an auditorium full of adults, Kandice took it upon herself to take to the mic and ask the room about programs in Toronto for youth like herself to get more connected with the community. She’d continue on this journey during her university studies, when she’d spend time volunteering within the justice and social services systems, gaining deeper insights into the struggles of underserved communities.
“It’s really heartfelt just to see that what I’m doing is actually coming to life because it’s full circle for me.”
While building her career as a REALTOR®, Kandice was approached to help start the LIFE Foundation, which endeavoured to support at-risk youth through education. She would spend 10 years with the organization, serving as their Vice-President and honing her skills as a charity leader. During this time, she spearheaded efforts to establish consistent programming and achieve registered charity status for the organization.
After a transformational trip to Africa, Kandice was determined to deepen her commitment to underserved youth, so she started the Shining Lighte Youth Charity. Lighte, standing for “Leaders in Generational Healing Through Empowerment and Education,” guides the organization’s mission. “We are all about a holistic view of healing, so mind, body and soul, and we want to educate and empower to promote that healing,” explained Henry.
Through a mix of programming, events, initiatives and workshops, Kandice hopes that Shining Lighte Youth Charity’s efforts will show youth that, regardless of their circumstances, they can create the future of their dreams. She spends countless hours developing curriculum and organizing within the community to help this become their reality.
Their Youth Drop-In Program, offering fun, educational activities and tutoring, provides kids aged six to 12 the opportunity to build their confidence, and have fun doing it. Their “Literacy Life Skills” program provides high school students with a secure and welcoming environment to develop important skills to growth both academically and in their personal lives.
“When the youth attend our sessions, the biggest thing for me, for them to get out of it, honestly, is just for them to have a good time,” shared Henry. “Some of these kids are coming from households or situations where they just can’t be happy, they’re not able to enjoy things.”
Also part of their program offering, the three-month “Regenerating Our Roots” program is based in self-love and anti-racism. It highlights the positive aspects of the melanated community while teaching youth about racial barriers and tactics to overcome them, leading to greater resilience and renewed sense of self-worth.
When she’s not planning or delivering programming, Kandice and the Shining Lighte team also look to bring whole communities together to create environments where everyone can thrive. Each year, they host the “Healing Humanity Festival,” which looks to show the world how the Afro-Caribbean culture heals. She’s also started the “Unity in the Community” initiative, which sheds a spotlight and funds other like-minded organizations in the Greater Toronto Area, in the hopes of working together to better serve the many underprivileged youth in need.
While the dual role of REALTOR® and charity leader keeps Kandice Henry busier than most, she is determined to shine a light on the potential of the youth she serves, no matter how large the commitment.
In Kandice Henry’s honour, CREA has donated $10,000 to the Shining Lighte Youth Charity.
Click here to see the 53 REALTORS® nominated for the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2025.
