Expert advice, market reports, and tips from the Niagara Region real estate professionals.
I love Montreal. How can you not? There’s so much to see and do. Wander the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal. Frequent the unique shops or enjoy dining at the wonderful patio of The Old Port Steak House or Nelson’s Jardin. Head up to the mountain to Beaver Lake. Just a great spot to wander and enjoy. And eateries, Schwartz’s on St Laurent Blvd., famous for its smoked meat. Dunn’s in downtown. Or if you enjoy the fabulous French Canadians tradition of a sugar bush adventure, you can find it 12 months of the year at the Sucrerie De La Montagne.
Over the last 18 months, the real estate industry and society, in general, has encountered challenges that one may not have ever dreamed of, never mind planned for. No one could have predicted multiple province-wide shutdowns due to a pandemic.
They say that all good things must come to an end. I don’t know whether that’s true for everything in life, but in the case of Phyllis Gleeson our wonderful manager at Re/Max Garden City Realty, that is exactly what is happening. After 11 great years as manager, Phyllis has decided to retire. Not entirely, since she will continue on with us as a Broker/Salesperson, but her role as full time sales manager has ended as of the end of May.
Our Brokerage, RE/MAX Garden City Realty Inc., offers an abundance of professional realtors, long- standing dedicated staff but the most valued asset or compliment is our culture. We are a family that supports each other and goes the distance to ease the stress of the business of selling and buying real estate.
It is March 2021, I am wearing my most elegant evening gown, paired with just the right accessories. I take one last look in the mirror, checking my hair and makeup. I am greeted by Wayne Quirk, our Broker of Record/Owner. He is in his finest tuxedo. We are ready for our…… RE/MAX Garden City Realty 2020 Annual Awards Gala! The lights are brighter than usual and there are three cameras in front of us. There is no champagne however, and no lively chatter from the normally crowded banquet hall. That’s because we are standing in our “Green Room” at our office creating a digitally enhanced awards Gala.
They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and so, when COVID-19 landed on us in the busiest real estate market in decades, we realized some changes would need to be made.
My boss, Wayne Quirk, our Corporate Administrator and myself put our heads together in meeting after meeting on what to get our agents for Christmas. No party, no gathering of more than 10 inside our office, no music even. A gift card to a local restaurant was suggested but that was quickly turned down by Wayne, as he felt it was too “cold” of a gift. No real thought or meaning was involved. At our final meeting a plan for a holiday gathering solidified, thanks again to our commander in charge.
The holiday season is quickly approaching, with still so many uncertainties of how we will be able to celebrate.
Over the years RE/MAX Garden City has had the privilege of meeting and working with a number of fine people. People who greatly enrich your life simply because of who they are. One of those very special individuals was a man named Tony Tripodi. Tony joined RE/MAX Garden City Realty back in 1987 and brought with him not only 18 years of experience in real estate but also the enormous respect he had earned in the industry. Over the next 33 years he proved to be not only an outstanding realtor and co-worker but also a dear friend to many.
I have been absent from writing the “Nuggets” portion of our monthly newsletter this year, but now that I am back to work it’s back on my work agenda plate again.
