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 traditional workplace benefits. That’s why Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) has partnered with Advica Health to offer members a new option designed with busy professionals in mind.

In the latest episode of The Critical Path, host Mark Moldowan sits down with Kevin Brady, founder of Advica Health, to talk about this new program and what it could mean for your well-being.

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, we've continued to work on the bigger long-term projects in our Service Re-Imagined plan.

In an annual tradition to kick off the new year at the Critical Path, the latest episode features GVR CEO Jeff King. In a wide-ranging chat, Jeff and host Jesse Lalime cover everything from last year's wins, work you can expect to see completed in 2026, and the outlook for your professional association in what is likely to be another difficult market this year.

In this episode of The Critical Path, host Jesse Lalime sits down with GVR’s Chief Corporate Development Officer, Craig Munn, to talk about how innovation and professionalism are shaping the association’s future.

Munn shares how GVR’s Service Re-imagined initiative is already improving the member experience, while major efforts continue behind the scenes to expand and elevate that work. He also explains what “corporate development” means in the GVR context and why partnerships are key to achieving GVR’s long-term goals.

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 affordable, and the fact that Canada is not building enough housing fast enough to keep up with its growing population.  

Our guest on this episode of the Critical Path is on the front lines of this critical work. Scott Aitchison is the Conservative Party of Canada's MP for Parry Sound - Muskoka and he handles the housing file in the shadow cabinet in Parliament.  

Scott discusses his unique perspective to housing policy as a former REALTOR® and mayor, the challenges of getting each level of government on the same page with housing policies, and solutions for how to address Canada’s housing crisis.  

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 mortgage veteran Don Scott, the founder and CEO of Frank Mortgage, to share his insights and perspectives on how the mortgage industry is shifting and how REALTORS® fit in. 

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 Vancouver housing market.  

Andrew also discusses the nuances of certain statistical measures and offers insights into the most effective way to interpret and use GVR’s statistical offerings. 

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 first step should be to reach out to the Real Estate Errors and Omissions Insurance Corporation (REEOIC) of BC. When REALTORS® in BC face litigation, REEOIC is there to provide you with insurance, protection, guidance, and more.

REEOIC’s Executive Officer Leslie Howatt joined the Critical Path to share more details about how coverage works, free tools all members can take advantage of, how you can protect against common pitfalls that lead to litigation, and a few of REEOIC’s more unique cases. 

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 a Realtor-led movement to turn real estate offices into places where homeowners, small investors, and nonprofits can get expert help to add garden suites, multiplexes, or redevelop underused land.

Their goal? Train Realtors to become community housing ambassadors. It’s an ambitious vision, and one we’re unpacking in today’s conversation.

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’s why we invited BCFSA CEO Tolga Yalkin to give us a preview of the paper, and what their priorities will be.

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 Omissions Insurance Corporation has partnered with globally-recognized cybersecurity company Dynarisk to offer free tools to all REALTORS® and brokers across BC to help mitigate these risks.

In this episode of the Critical Path, we sit down with Andrew Martin, CEO of Dynarisk, to talk about cybersecurity, and what Realtors can do to keep their data, and their clients’ data, safe from hackers. 

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 member professionalism through tailored support.

In this episode of the Critical Path, Brian walks us through what members can expect from GVR's Account Executives now and in the future. 

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 estate businesses. CWIRE's founder, North Vancouver REALTOR® Jacquie McCarnan, joined the Critical Path to discuss these issues and more.

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 Path, we sit down with GVR CEO Jeff King to discuss Service Re-Imagined, and give you an update on what you can expect to see in 2025.

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 Ash to discuss his role, and how it will transform the member experience at GVR.

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 VP of MLS® Solutions, and Leslie Cobb, Product Owner, MLS® Solutions, to discuss these plans and get a sneak peek at what’s coming next.

New episodes each month

The Critical Path is released monthly.

Make sure to subscribe to GVR Podcasts to get the latest episodes of the Critical Path.

Missed the last episode? Check out Shaping the future of REALTOR.ca with CREA CEO Janice Myers.

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 correct move.

New episodes each month

The Critical Path is released monthly.

Make sure to subscribe to GVR Podcasts to get the latest episodes of the Critical Path.

Missed last the episode? Check out our PacificWest special.

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 spot at PacificWest today!

New episodes each month

The Critical Path is released monthly.

Make sure to subscribe to GVR Podcasts to get the latest episodes of the Critical Path.

Missed last the episode? Check out our conversation about AI and the future of real estate with Michael Thorne.

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 custom ChatGPT designed for Realtors!

You can find this version here: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-cgWfzG7AK-realvoice-gpt

Get more AI insights from Michael Thorne at PacificWest!

If you want to learn more about AI from Michael Thorne, you can catch him at this year’s PacificWest conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre from Oct 1 – 2.

Michael is just one of many experts sharing their best practices, insights, and more at this year’s conference.

For more information, and to register, check out pacificwest.ca.

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 together to build confidence in our profession together. 

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 products your association is working on. 

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 Greater Vancouver REALTORS®’ partnership with CCIM and how a designation can help boost your career goals, practical advice on how to enter the commercial real estate profession, and how CCIM courses can benefit residential Realtors. 

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.

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 means for you.

Find out more about the pension plan here: https://membernews.gvrealtors.ca/my-profession/new-partnership-to-provide-personal-pension-plan-investment-oppo.html

Note, this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. We encourage you to discuss this plan with your legal or financial advisors.

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’s latest strategic plan that sets a new mission for GVR: Leading professionalism and innovation in real estate.

In episode 9 of Standards Matter, we look at a case where a client’s request went a little too far, and a Realtor’s reluctance to say “no” had dire consequences.

This episode also features advice from REBGV’s Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer on how to walk the fine line between customer service and professional standards. He also discusses the “why” behind the rules, giving his perspective on the reason behind the standards we work within.

Each episode of our Standards Matter podcast reviews real disciplinary cases from REBGV’s Professional Conduct Committee to help you understand the issues and scenarios that cause some members to breach the rules of our profession.

If you’re a Realtor with a question about rules, standards or professionalism in real estate that you’d like us to answer on the podcast, email standardsmatter@rebgv.org.

In episode 8 of Standards Matter, we delve into two real estate cases that highlight how professional standards intersect with social media. 

This episode also features advice from REBGV’s Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer on best practices for Realtors navigating social media. He tackles questions such as whether it is acceptable to vent about another Realtor's conduct online, the concept of privacy within social media groups, and how to differentiate oneself without disparaging others. 

Each episode of our Standards Matter podcast reviews real disciplinary cases from REBGV’s Professional Conduct Committee to help you understand the issues and scenarios that cause some members to breach the rules of our profession. 

If you’re a Realtor with a question about rules, standards or professionalism in real estate that you’d like us to answer on the podcast, email standardsmatter@rebgv.org. 

In the latest episode of REBGV’s professionalism podcast, we look at cooperation and reputation, and how frustration over a colleague’s business model can escalate into damaged reputations and fines.

This episode also features advice from REBGV’s Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer on how to deal with conflict with other Realtors.

Each episode of our Standards Matter podcast reviews real disciplinary cases from REBGV’s Professional Conduct Committee to help you understand the issues and scenarios that cause some members to breach the rules of our profession.

If you’re a Realtor with a question about rules, standards or professionalism in real estate that you’d like us to answer on the podcast, email standardsmatter@rebgv.org.

In the latest episode of REBGV’s professionalism podcast, we look at due diligence in listing information, and how misrepresenting your listing is at best unhelpful to your client, and at worst, fraud.

This episode also features advice from REBGV’s Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer on what liabilities you may face when it comes to listings information, and how you can protect your client and your business.

Each episode of our Standards Matter podcast reviews real disciplinary cases from REBGV’s Professional Conduct Committee to help you understand the issues and scenarios that cause some members to breach the rules of our profession.

If you’re a Realtor with a question about rules, standards or professionalism in real estate that you’d like us to answer on the podcast, email standardsmatter@rebgv.org.

How does the Professional Conduct Committee come to their decisions? How do they decide a proper punishment? And how do they weigh the damage done by misconduct with the consequences to the parties involved?

We answer these questions and more with Ethic Guy® Kim Spencer.

Each episode of our Standards Matter podcast reviews real disciplinary cases from REBGV’s Professional Conduct Committee to help you understand the issues and scenarios that cause some members to breach the rules of our profession.

If you’re a REALTOR® with a question about rules, standards or professionalism in real estate that you’d like us to answer on the podcast, email standardsmatter@rebgv.org.

This episode also features:

-       Advice from REBGV’s Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer, and

-       Cyber security and privacy tips from expert Steve Chapelle. 

If you’re a REALTOR® with a question for the podcast, email standardsmatter@rebgv.org.

This episode also features a discussion about communication best practices and multiple offer situations.

If you’re a REALTOR® with a question for the podcast, send it to standardsmatter@rebgv.org. We may answer it in the next episode!

This episode also features: 

·      Advice from REBGV’s Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer. 

·      Your questions on professionalism.  

If you’re a REALTOR® with a question for the podcast, email standardsmatter@rebgv.org. 

This episode also features:

-       Advice from REBGV’s Ethics Guy® Kim Spencer, and

-       Answers to member questions from lawyer Kaitlin Smiley. 

If you’re a REALTOR® with a question for the podcast, email standardsmatter@rebgv.org.