Laura-Leah Shaw, REALTOR® from Vancouver, selected for national award celebrating wide range of philanthropic work

OTTAWA, March 27, 2017 – The Canadian REALTORS Care® Foundation has named Laura-Leah Shaw, of Vancouver, British Columbia, the recipient of its national award – the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2017 Proudly Presented by REM.

Shaw, of RE/MAX Crest Realty Westside, was selected because of the multitude of charities and activist organizations she actively supports. From supporting Vancouver-based homeless shelters and spearheading animal rights’ groups, to dropping off items at city food banks and being the longest-serving volunteer of the REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive, Shaw fully devotes herself to helping others.

For more than 15 years, Shaw has been collecting healthy food options for the Lookout Society, an emergency aid organization helping Vancouver’s most vulnerable. Last year, she delivered more than 2,500 boxes of food – as well as furniture, clothes and appliances – to the Lookout Society and similar organizations in the city’s poorest neighbourhoods. She was also the first REALTOR® to join the HomeStart Foundation more than 11 years ago, helping those who are less fortunate complete their home.

As well as going above and beyond caring for humans, Shaw is passionate about the welfare of animals. She’s president of the Anti-Vivisection Society of British Columbia, advocating for an end to animal testing, has been volunteering with the Vancouver Humane Society for 12 years and estimates having saved the lives of thousands of animals.

“Laura-Leah is a relentless force for good in her community,” said Ralph Fyfe, chair of the Canadian REALTORS® Care Foundation. “Her noble commitment to helping others and working towards creating a cruelty-free world is truly inspiring.”

In recognition of the award, the Canadian REALTORS Care® Foundation will be donating $5,000 to Animal Justice Canada – a registered non-profit animal law organization close to Shaw’s heart.

“Being honoured with the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award is truly humbling. It’s not an award for me, it’s an award for all the people and animals in need that we can touch and help,” Shaw said. “Helping those in need feeds my soul. I hope to be able to use the award to bring new ideas of how to help and encourage the generous giving spirit in even more REALTORS®.”

The Canadian REALTORS Care® Award was established in 2015 to honour REALTORS® who do outstanding charitable work in the communities where they live and work. The Foundation’s inaugural winner was Vince Mirabelli of Thunder Bay, Ontario. A selection committee reviews nominees and chooses a winner based on the REALTOR®’s personal contribution and commitment to supporting one or more registered charities in Canada.

- 30 -

The Canadian REALTORS Care® Foundation is the REALTOR® community’s national charitable foundation, founded in 2007 and funded by the Canadian Real Estate Association. Our Foundation is dedicated to inspiring, supporting and sharing REALTORS®’ charitable achievements in their communities and raising awareness about the charities they care about.

From 2012 to 2015 alone, the Canadian REALTOR® community reported giving in excess of $91.2 million to the various charities close to their hearts. Please visit www.REALTORSCare.ca to learn more about how REALTORS® are making a difference in communities across Canada.

About the Canadian Real Estate Association

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is one of Canada’s largest single-industry trade associations, representing more than 120,000 REALTORS® working through some 90 real estate boards and associations.

For further information, please contact:

Pierre Leduc, Media RelationsThe Canadian Real Estate Association613-237-7111 or 613-884-1460pleduc@crea.ca