Since its inception in 1955 as the Canadian Institute of Realtors with 92 members, REIC has evolved from representing real estate sales professionals, into an organization representing multiple sectors of the real estate industry.
REIC has seen its share of changes, yet the organization's goals have stayed the same - raising professional standards and ethical practice in the industry, and supporting its Members. REIC continues to promote and champion the benefits of advanced education and lifelong learning.
1943
The Canadian Association of Real Estate Boards (CAREB) is formed
Eleven Ontario Boards and delegates from Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Montreal drew up the first constitution of the Canadian Association of Real Estate Boards (CAREB). At its first conference in April, 1944, CAREB adopted the term "REALTOR®" for use by all of its member real estate professionals.
CAREB will eventually evolve into the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).
1955
CAREB forms the Canadian Institute of Realtors (CIR) to provide organized advanced education to its members
CIR will eventually change its name to the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC). J.A. Weber, B.Comm, FRI, SIR, CRE, from Edmonton AB is the first CIR President, from 1955-56.
The Fellow of the Real Estate Institute (FRI) is the first designation program offered by REIC. The FRI remains the real estate industry's longest standing and most prestigious professional credential.
1956
The first year of the CIR correspondence course
199 students from across Canada are enrolled in the program.
1958
First year of graduate students
45 students graduate from the first CIR course and are able to apply to become CIR members and obtain their FRI designation.
1961
Expansions to the education program
The CIR course is offered at four universities in Canada: University of Toronto, University of Alberta, University of Manitoba and McGill University.
A law course is designed especially for Quebec students at the University of Montreal
1962
Chapters established
The REIC Toronto and Edmonton Chapters are established.
The first CIR national seminar is held in Banff, AB - this will become an annual event.
1971
CIR becomes the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC)
CAREB changes its name to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).
Canadian members of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) join with REIC.
Torontonian Neil C. McDonald, FRI is the 1000th person to complete the Institute’s educational requirements and earn the FRI designation.
1972
Partnership with IREM
REIC forms partnership with IREM to provide the ARM® and CPM® designation programs. There are now two divisions of REIC – the FRI division and IREM division.
1974
The royal visit
Donald P. Leaney, chairman of the IREM division, accompanies Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon on their royal visit to Winnipeg.
The Don Hill Trophy, in its first year, is awarded to the Quebec Chapter for highest percentage increase in membership.
1975
REIC becomes an autonomous entity
CREA and REIC legally separate with REIC becoming autonomous.
The REIC logo becomes the official emblem of the Institute.
A franchising agreement and partnership is finalized with IREM.
1977
REIC enters into partnership with CMHC offering the "Mortgage Lending for Residential Housing" course.
1981
REIC Annual Conference held in Montreal
During the conference, the REIC national board agrees to establish a finance section of the FRI division and offer a course in real estate finance.
An executive member of the Institute dares Simon Vieyra, Director of Education & Admissions, to shave off his beard if $1,000 could be raised towards the REIC trust fund. He shaved his beard the following evening.
1982
The first REIC faculty training program is held in Toronto.
REIC presents a one day conference “Real Estate and the Economy: Impact and Strategies” in Toronto. Ed Broadbent, leader of the NPD, makes opening remarks. Doug Fisher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance also speaks at the seminar.
1983
REIC leads industry computerization
REIC presents a real estate computer show and conference in Toronto following a successful seminar on “Computerization in Real Estate”.
REIC celebrates the 25th anniversary of the first ever graduating class of 1958.
REIC and CMHC partner for the development of a real estate finance education program.
1984
REIC publishes a textbook on computers in real estate.
REIC announces its first marketing course leading to the Certified in Real Estate Marketing (CMR) designation.
1985
REIC member Shirley Lohmer, FRI CMR CRA is chosen as businesswoman of the year for the Kitchener-Waterloo, ON area.
Leslie O’Brien, FRI, is elected the first woman president of the Manitoba Real Estate Association in its 35 year history.
REIC's faculty training is named the "Most Outstanding Educational Program of 1985" by the Chicago-based Real Estate Educators Association (REEA).
1986
In 1986 the average FRI was male, 48 years old, and had 18 years experience in the industry. The average personal gross income for an FRI professional was $69,742.
1988
REIC participates in the CREA conference in Vancouver.
REIC assists in the production of five half-hour television programmes, by TVOntario and the Ontario Ministry of Housing, geared to providing small-scale landlords with effective property management skills. The series, called The Successful Landlord, was hosted by David Stringer.
1989
John H McDermid, FRI, MP is elevated to cabinet rank as Minister of State (Housing) and Minister of State (International Trade)
1990
Charla M. Ramsay, FRI CMR becomes the first female president of REIC
June 9 marks the first "Education and Networking Symposium AGM", held in Ottawa. Special guests include Mike Duffy and the Muppets!
1995
REIC Celebrates it's 40th Anniversary
The REIC AGM takes place in Winnipeg. The mayor of Winnipeg, Susan Thompson, declares June 5-11 "REIC Week".
REIC offers the Certified Real Estate Specialist (CRES) and Certified Residential Underwriter (CRU) designation programs.
2000
REIC offers the Certified Reserve Planner (CRP) and Associate Reserve Planner (ARP) designation programs.
2001
REIC launches a CRU program agreement with the Eastern Caribbean Mortgage Home Bank.
2002
REIC offers courses leading to the CMOC designation.
2005
REIC celebrates it's 50th anniversary.
2009
REIC and the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA) sign an MOU for formal endorsement of the BOMA BEST program.
2012
REIC Past President, William McCarthy FRI CPM® CLO, gifts $21.4 Million to BC Cancer Foundation. It is the largest charitable bequest to a single beneficiary in BC’s history.
2013
REIC responds to Ontario Condominium Review Stage Two Solutions Report.
REIC enters into education partnership with The Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board (OMDREB) and the Brampton Real Estate Board (BREB).
2014
University of Fredericton launches first fully online Canadian MBA and EMBA with a specialty in Real Estate Leadership in partnership with REIC.
REIC offers its first online course – Ethics in Business Practice.
REIC enters into education partnerships with Learning Library Inc., the Mississauga Real Estate Board (MREB), the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC), FIABCI and the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR).
2015
REIC celebrates it's 60th anniversary.
REIC Members earned 4 finalist nods for the IREM REME Awards Program, recognizing excellence in the real estate management industry.
REIC makes a submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs Regarding Bill 106
2016
REIC and Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) launch education partnership.
REIC and Nature of Real Estate form joint initiative
Cheryl Gray, CPM® earns IREM Secretary Treasurer nomination
2017
REIC President Don Kottick, FRI CRES is Appointed to CREA 2017-2018 Board of Directors
2018
REIC forms partnership with The Professional Association of Managing Agents (PAMA)
REIC designates 25 new FRI Members from the Canada-China Realty Professional Association (CCRPA)