GVR Podcasts

If a client asked you today if their title is still valid because of what they’ve heard about the Cowichan case decision, would you know how to respond? On the latest episode of the Critical Path, we welcome two lawyers from DLA Piper, Wally Braul and Josh Jantzi, for a deep dive into the Cowichan case. What have the courts actually decided? What remains to be determined? When will we have more an...

For many REALTORS®, real estate is more than a job. It’s a business, a lifestyle, and often a seven-days-a-week commitment. That kind of pace can be rewarding. But it can also make it difficult to prioritize something that underpins everything else we do: our health. Accessing timely, coordinated healthcare can also be a challenge for self-employed professionals who don’t have access to traditiona...

At GVR, we've been talking about Service Re-Imagined a lot. You hear about it every time we deliver a new service, tool, or partnership that delivers real value to you, your business, and your clients. From things like our partnerships with BCFSA, Payload, and TELUS, to new profile and payment self-serve options on our member website, 2025 was a busy year for GVR. And in addition to all that, ...

Change is the only constant in real estate, and at Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), it’s at the heart of everything we do. From transforming how we serve members to leading new conversations on professionalism and housing, GVR is reimagining what a modern professional association can be. In this episode of The Critical Path , host Jesse Lalime sits down with GVR’s Chief Corporate Development Off...

In our society, everyone has a right to an adequate place to live. We view it as a human right in Canada and, as such, housing policy in our country is developed and enacted by our governments at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels.   One thing everyone can agree on is that there are serious issues – the speed (or lack thereof) of delivering housing, managing costs to keep housing afford...

Shifting consumer expectations and technological advancements are transforming the industry. Sound familiar?  It’s happening everywhere, not just real estate, and the mortgage industry is no different. So, what are the changes in consumer habits and the new ways they can leverage technology for a better experience securing a mortgage?  On this episode of the Critical Path podcast, we welcome mortg...

A challenging 2025 market is showing signs of emerging strength in the waning summer months. Are the signals real, or is there more at play?   On this edition of the Critical Path podcast, we ask Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) Director of Economics and Data Analytics, Andrew Lis, to peer into his crystal ball for an idea of what the final months of the year have in store for the Greater Vancouv...

Picture this: You’ve just been sued by a former client who claims you misrepresented the square footage of their basement. You hired a professional measuring company; there’s no way the measurements were wrong, right? And now your mind is filling up with thoughts of going to court and the potential hit to your business reputation. You’re panicking, and you’re not sure what to do next. Your very fi...

It’s no secret that affordability is a major challenge in Metro Vancouver. Despite efforts from all levels of government, many Metro Vancouverites are still feeling the sting of the housing crisis. That’s why some REALTORS® are exploring a different kind of approach. This week, we’re joined by Larry Traverence and Joseph Maclean from Four Pillars Community Housing. They’re building what they call...

Reputation is everything in real estate. That’s why our regulator, the BC Financial Service Authority (BCFSA) has been working on a new discussion paper called Strengthening Consumer Confidence, set to release in the coming weeks. This paper outlines many ways BCFSA will be looking to reassess our current regulatory system to increase consumer confidence in the market. It’s a meaty topic, and that...

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest, and fastest growing threats facing businesses today, and our profession is a prime target for cyber criminals. In a recent report examining real estate brokerages in BC, most were found to be significantly below average when it came to cybersecurity, and over a quarter were found to be critically at risk for an attack. That’s why the Real Estate Errors and Omis...

The Account Executive model is a key component of the Service Re-Imagined initiative at Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR). The role will blaze a new trail for the way GVR engages and supports our broker community. As GVR's first Account Executive, Brian Spencer will lead the way. Brian's a former Realtor who brings extensive insider knowledge to his new role along with a drive to enhance m...

The paths women in real estate tread can be very different than that of men. From personal safety issues and gender bias, to navigating invisible labour, there are unique challenges to becoming successful that all women face. The Canadian Women in Real Estate Foundation, known as CWIRE, is building a community and offering women the resources and tools they need to find success in their real estat...

Last year saw a pivotal shift in our profession, laying the groundwork for a future where we strive to set the standard for professionalism and innovation. To do that, GVR is working through a process called Service Re-Imagined, which launched last year. This process will fundamentally shift the way your professional association operates to better serve you and your clients. In our latest Critical...

Earlier this year, Greater Vancouver REALTORS® recruited Ash Anil to a newly-developed, senior leadership role – the Chief Membership Officer (CMO). With his years of experience in customer experience, Ash is looking to identify the tools and technology, systems, and process improvements necessary to provide exceptional customer service to our members. In our latest Critical Path, we sit down with...

The MLS® is both our most important tool and our greatest achievement. As technology continues to progress at a breakneck pace, the MLS® will need to adapt and innovate to continue to serve our needs. That’s where ICE comes in. ICE, the provider of our MLS® platform Paragon, has big plans to stay on the cutting edge, and we recently sat down with two ICE representatives, Lucie Fortier, Executive V...

REALTOR.ca is one of the most important tools we as REALTORS® have to market our MLS® listings. But the site is at a crossroads. To keep up with the times, REALTOR.ca needs more funding. One approach has been presented by CREA – to make REALTOR.ca a wholly-owned for-profit entity. This week on the Critical Path, we sit down with Janice Myers, CREA’s CEO, to discuss why they believe this is the cor...

In our first seven episodes, we interviewed GVR CEO Jeff King, CCIM's Steve da Cruz, and AI expert Michael Thorne. What do all of these guests have in common? They’ll be presenting at this year’s PacificWest Conference on October 1-2 at the Vancouver Convention Centre! To get you excited, we’ve compiled the best clips from these interviews. Want to see more of these guests? Register for your s...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer science fiction – it’s here and already overturning the status quo across multiple sectors including ours. How will you survive the AI revolution in real estate? In our latest episode of the Critical Path, we talk to Realtor, and one of Inman News' 100 Top Real Estate Innovators, Michael Thorne to discuss this very question. Check out Michael's cus...

Our profession is changing. In the past few years, we’ve seen regulatory changes at an unprecedented pace. But why are these regulations cropping up? And what’s the outcome our regulator, the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA), is looking for? In our latest episode of the Critical Path, we discuss the philosophy behind BCFA’s regulation of the real estate profession, and how our we can work t...

The MLS® is more than just a marketing platform – it’s a vast database of vital housing statistics. But numbers on their own don’t tell a story. That’s where Greater Vancouver REALTORS®’ Director, Economics and Data Analytics, Andrew Lis comes in. In our latest episode of the Critical Path, we sit down Andrew discuss how Realtors can harness statistics, what stories the numbers tell, and what new...

Commercial real estate is a difficult niche. Beyond real estate trading experience and expertise, commercial practitioners need to have a deep understanding of finances, risk mitigation, investment principles, and more. That’s where the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Institute comes in. In our latest episode of the Critical Path, we sit down with Steve Da Cruz, CCIM to discuss Great...

Professionalism is a key part of Greater Vancouver REALTORS®’ (GVR) strategic plan. But how do we attain our goal to become more professional? With his retirement on the horizon, we sit down with Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer to discuss the initiatives set in place to improve professionalism in real estate, and how the real estate profession has changed in his nearly 50 years in the business.

Did you know Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, in partnership with INTEGRIS, is offering members an optional pension plan? For PRECs, this unique pension plan can provide tax-deductible investment room and thus tax-saving opportunities well above what’s available under the RRSP and TFSA programs. To learn more about this plan, we sat down with JP Laporte, INTEGRIS CEO, to go over the plan and what it m...

The Critical Path, a new interview-based podcast presented by Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), is now available in our existing podcasting stream on all major podcast networks. Through candid discussions with industry leaders, the Critical Path offers practical insights on the crucial pathways to success in Greater Vancouver. The in the inaugural episode, we interview our CEO Jeff King about GVR...