FEATURES
COVER STORY: ELITE WOMEN JOANNE EVANS Century 21 Millennium Collingwood, ON
Joanne Evans got into real estate in 1986 as a way of providing for her four children. Thirty years later, she oversees a staff of 180 as the broker of record and co-owner of one of the top 10 Century 21 firms in Canada. Evans uses her success to support several charitable initiatives, including Caring for Kids, the My Friends’ House women’s shelter and TenderFeet.
ISABELLE BOIVIN Century 21 Maison3D.com/Century 21 Innovation Montreal, QC
MYLENE ALBERT Creativ Realty Dieppe, NB
Mylene Albert’s large, tight-knit family taught her the value of loyalty. “I apply that every day in my business,” she says. “Surround yourself with like-minded people with the same values you have. Be honest and honourable in every transaction.” A supportive team player, Albert hopes to provide mentorship and out-ofthe-box solutions to smaller brokerages by bringing them into the Creativ Reality fold. “We want to offer franchises to small but elite teams so that everyone can and will accomplish more for those who matter the most – their clients.”
Isabelle Boivin is one of Montreal real estate’s brightest lights. The owner of two thriving agencies – one of which, Century 21 Maison3D.com, has won the Centurion Office Award every year since 2012 – Boivin currently oversees six offices and 75 agents throughout the City of Saints. She is a tireless philanthropist who has contributed her resources to a number of causes, including the fights against multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and autism.
LORRI WALTERS Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate Saskatoon, SK
Coming from Saskatchewan, it’s no surprise that Lorri Walters maintains a realistic, respectful approach toward her customers and her profession. “I treat others as I wish to be treated,” she says, noting that her reliability and availability are what clients appreciate most about her. Like a number of Royal LePage employees, Walters is involved in her company’s Shelter Foundation, but she is also an avid supporter of the Saskatoon Diversity Network and OutSaskatoon. “Everyone deserves to feel safe,” she says.
BARBARA LAWLOR Baker Real Estate Toronto, ON
After 30 years of experience in the Toronto condominium market, Barbara Lawlor could rightly be considered the city’s Condo Queen. The president and CEO of Baker Real Estate, Lawlor’s career comes down to three words: “People are everything.” A former entertainer, Lawlor has always been adept at capturing the interest of others. But turning that interest into results takes more than just charisma; it takes credibility and caring as well. Lawlor attributes her success to another influential woman, the founder of the company that bears her name. “My leadership style is inspired by Pat Baker,” she says. “She set the example of caring about each other, our clients and their buyers. Like Pat, I engage people in teamwork and collaboration, and I listen to the suggestions of my team members. I care what they think, and I consider everything they say when I make decisions.”
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GAIL SPURGEON Colliers International Vancouver, BC
After a career in advertising, Gail Spurgeon has spent the past 10 years managing commercial properties in the Greater Vancouver area. “I was offered a shopping centre manager job before I realized shopping centres had managers,” she says. The lessons learned over the course of a successful battle with breast cancer have made Spurgeon a leader in male-dominated sector of the industry. “Commercial real estate is still a man’s world, so be ready to fight for what you want and never give up on the job expectations you have.”