Canada’s real estate landscape is experiencing a wave of notable transitions, strategic partnerships, and structural developments. From high-performing agent teams making high-profile brokerage switches to the launch of national associations and advanced artificial intelligence platforms, the industry continues to evolve rapidly. Brokerage expansions, leadership appointments, and community-driven initiatives are reshaping how real estate professionals operate from coast to coast.
Expansions, Conversions and Agent Moves
Jay Patel and Team Join Remax Infinity in St. John’s
In the bustling Atlantic Canadian market, prominent St. John’s real estate agent Jay Patel and his accomplished team have officially joined Remax Infinity. The transition integrates Patel and his associates directly into Team Burton, a powerhouse group led by brokerage owner Jim Burton alongside Teri-Lynn Jones.
Patel is accompanied in the move by fellow associates Rajwinder Singh, Jasvir Khokhar, and Matthew Blundon. Together, the four-person team will continue to service clients across St. John’s and the surrounding communities, bringing a renewed level of energy and comprehensive expertise to their new home.
Patel first launched his real estate career with Century 21 in 2021 and has since built an impressive track record. In just a few short years, he has successfully closed more than 250 property transactions, representing an aggregate sales volume in excess of $50 million. His exceptional performance earned him a coveted spot on Century 21’s Top 30 Under 30 list in Canada for three consecutive years, while also securing his position as the top producer at his former brokerage throughout both 2024 and 2025.
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Patel noted that the opening chapter was about establishing a firm foundation and testing his professional limits. By making the switch to Remax Infinity, he aims to scale his business to the next level. The expanded Team Burton now pools an extensive array of specialties, combining deep-rooted experience in residential resale, new construction projects, commercial real estate ventures, and land development.
Karen Doering Joins Royal LePage Estate Realty, Launches New Team
Moving westward to the Toronto market, seasoned real estate professional Karen Doering has made a significant career move by joining Royal LePage Estate Realty and establishing a brand-new enterprise, The Karen Doering Group.
Doering completed the transition at the end of the summer season, outlining clear strategic plans to deepen her footprint in Toronto’s east end, a neighborhood where she both lives and actively works. She cited Royal LePage Estate Realty’s deeply established and respected presence within the local market as a primary catalyst for the decision, noting that it provides an optimal platform to service her expanding client base with greater efficiency.
The foundation of Doering’s business has always been anchored in the local community, making her alignment with a hyper-local brokerage a natural fit. Looking toward the future, she intends to continually scale her team to better serve local families—particularly those navigating changing market conditions and looking to transition into larger properties as new housing opportunities emerge. Demonstrating the immediate growth of the initiative, real estate agent Sandra Wendland has officially joined the ranks of the newly formed Karen Doering Group. Prior to her move to Royal LePage Estate Realty, Doering honed her craft as an agent with Bosley Real Estate.
Industry News and Announcements
Mary-Ann Mears Joins Remax Canada as Director of Global Services
National leadership changes continue to shape the corporate real estate sector. Mary-Ann Mears has taken on a prominent role as the new director of global services for Western Canada at Remax Canada.
The appointment was shared publicly via a LinkedIn announcement by Remax Canada president Don Kottick. In her new capacity, Mears will collaborate closely with brokerage owners throughout Western Canada, providing strategic support across critical operational pillars, including business operations, corporate growth, agent recruitment, and long-term retention.
Mears brings more than two decades of comprehensive real estate experience to the table. Over her distinguished career, she has operated as a front-line agent, an associate broker, a broker of record, and an industry leader—including a previous tenure within the Remax network. Most recently, she served in the capacity of managing broker for Alberta at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, where she was instrumental in establishing the firm’s physical offices in both Calgary and Canmore. Furthermore, her industry leadership extends to governance, having previously served on the board of directors for the Calgary Real Estate Board.
Kottick praised her deep industry comprehension and dedication, emphasizing that Mears possesses a profound understanding of the Western Canadian market and a genuine passion for fostering brokerage growth.
New Association Launches to Unite Indigenous Realtors Across Canada
In a historic step forward for diversity and representation within the sector, the Indigenous Association of Realtors (IAR) has officially launched. The newly formed organization aims to bring Indigenous real estate professionals together, strengthen meaningful representation across the industry, and significantly improve education regarding Indigenous land ownership, leasing, and housing frameworks.
The Indigenous-led initiative was founded by Tanya LaRose of Saskatoon, who is joined on the founding board of directors by Kevin Isbister of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and Alyx Lamy of Winnipeg.
The association is actively recruiting members on a national scale, with a long-term vision to establish localized board representation spanning the entire country. Among its core operational goals are the development of a specialized Indigenous real estate professional designation, the creation of robust educational programs centered on reserve land and property ownership, and the establishment of a dedicated Elders and Knowledge Keepers Council.
Beyond professional development, the IAR intends to guide Indigenous homebuyers smoothly through the complex real estate transaction process while offering a unified national platform for knowledge-sharing around land ownership, community development, and indigenous housing initiatives.
Mina Hossine Takes on New Role at OREA
At the provincial level, Mina Hossine has stepped into a new professional chapter, taking on the role of operations specialist at the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA).
Hossine shared news of her advancement via a professional update on LinkedIn. She originally joined OREA in October 2025, initially serving the organization as a standard forms specialist.
Her professional background reflects a robust administrative and operational foundation within the real estate sector. Prior to her time at OREA, Hossine held the position of real estate operations manager at Realtris Inc. and gained valuable corporate sales administration experience at SmartCentres REIT. Additionally, she spent nearly six years building extensive industry expertise with Forest Hill Real Estate, where she successfully fulfilled duties as both a sales representative and a senior branch deal administrator.
Sutton Group Partners with Ace Project Marketing Group
Strategic alignments are also reshaping brokerage capabilities. The Sutton Group has announced a major partnership with Ace Project Marketing Group, a British Columbia-based enterprise specializing in residential presales, comprehensive project marketing, and dedicated development services.
The collaboration bridges Sutton’s expansive national real estate network with Ace’s specialized project marketing prowess. The synergy is designed to deliver enhanced, hands-on support to real estate developers, individual agents, and new-home buyers right across Canada.
Ace has operated within British Columbia since 2020, representing a diverse portfolio of developments ranging from woodframe multi-family projects and high-rise concrete towers to sprawling resort master-planned communities. As a core component of the new agreement, Ace will act as an official development services partner for Sutton’s broader national platform. Furthermore, the partnership will facilitate the launch of Ace Everywhere, a proprietary project marketing program crafted exclusively for the benefit of Sutton agents.
This strategic alliance arrives on the heels of Sutton Group’s acquisition by McCredie Investments, which signaled a new era of growth and expanded business opportunities for the brand.
Real Launches New AI Platform for Agents
Technology continues to redefine daily workflows in the real estate space. The Real Brokerage has officially rolled out Leo Pro, an advanced artificial intelligence platform engineered to assist agents with a wide spectrum of daily professional tasks—ranging from listing marketing creation and social media content generation to transaction paperwork management and administrative streamlining.
The new technology was formally unveiled to the industry at the company’s annual RISE conference, held in Las Vegas. The platform launches with an initial suite of more than 40 specialized AI tools, with corporate leadership signaling intentions to expand that technological offering significantly over the coming year.
A standout feature of the system is the Leo Pro AI Builder, which empowers agents to construct their own customized AI tools and automated operational workflows completely independent of any coding experience. Available on a subscription basis, the platform is being rolled out to agents across the Real Remax Group, following Real’s acquisition of Remax earlier in the year.
Good Works
P.E.I. Broker Recognized for Easter Seals Fundraising Efforts
Highlighting the deep philanthropic commitment embedded within the Canadian real estate community, Della Parker has been nationally recognized for her exceptional charitable contributions. Parker, who serves as the owner and broker of Coldwell Banker Parker Realty in Charlottetown, was awarded Coldwell Banker Canada’s October 2026 Extraordinary Impact Award in honor of her dedicated volunteer work with Easter Seals PEI.
Serving as committee chair, Parker played an instrumental role in helping raise an impressive $270,000 for the charity this year alone, a figure that includes a special milestone of $70,000 raised specifically to mark the organization’s 70th anniversary. According to data shared by Coldwell Banker Canada, Parker had dedicated more than 100 days of active volunteer time to the role by the time her award nomination was finalized.
Parker is well-known for her community leadership, having previously served as president of the Rotary Club of Charlottetown, and maintains deep-rooted ties to Easter Seals PEI. Her heavy involvement this year included lending her time and energy to the annual Tim Hortons Ambassador School Tour, which successfully visited 63 schools located across the province.
Reflecting on her community engagement, Parker expressed that the genuine enthusiasm and happiness of the students provide her with the ongoing motivation to achieve more for Easter Seals. The funds secured through these continuous community efforts directly support essential medical equipment, including wheelchairs, as well as vital community programs such as the Joyriders therapeutic riding program and Camp Gencheff.
In acknowledgment of her outstanding philanthropic leadership, Coldwell Banker Canada announced it will donate $1,000 directly to Easter Seals PEI in Parker’s honor.