As President of the MIABC it is my duty and privilege to deliver the Annual Report for the Association. This is an update on the status of the organization and the vision for our future for the Board of Directors and the Membership. 

The MIABC currently has over 700 individual members in over 100 member companies who have continued to do business throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, which has dramatically altered the way they do business and how we all see the world.

In this challenging and uncertain time we will look to maintain and grow opportunities for our association in different and exciting directions, such as:

adopting new technologies for speakers and networking; ensuring the organization’s strategies remain viable for longevity and continued success; and streamlining operations so that communications internally and externally can be delivered with greater ease and efficiency.

The Speakers Committee ensures relevant engaging speakers are selected. Over the past few years the average luncheons’ registration has increased from the low 80’s to the high 120’s. In January 2020 we out preformed our own attendance record with over 230 registered guests for our regularly sold-out event.

The Special Events Committee has always delivered fantastic Winter and Summer Social networking events, including the annual AGM. As we continue to adapt to the changing times, since March 2020 all events have been transitioned to a virtual format, thus MIABC has been offering alternative networking options for our Members. We continue to look for ways to expand our networking capabilities while monitoring guidance from health officials for when we can gather safely again in person.

The Annual MIABC Charity Golf Tournament generated amazing turnouts, which has contributed to its’ huge success in the past. In 2019 MIABC reached a milestone of $250,000 in accumulated donations to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, which is due to the generosity of our Membership and the Board. The 2020 Tournament was on course to provide a fresh take on the annual event; unfortunately due to COVID-19, the decision was made to cancel this years event to maintain the health and safety of our membership. The Golf Committee will be making changes to this future event, while still providing a high level of enjoyment and networking that will ultimately continue supporting the community.

The Executives and Directors are a crucial part of this volunteer Association. With the great many changes to how we live, work and play, their experience, support and guidance are even more appreciated today.

I am proud to report the success of our newest committee, the Future Outreach Committee. This group has connected with the major educational institutions through the lower mainland by creating awareness of MIABC in the market place. During the pandemic the committee was able to deliver a trial run for new virtual coffee sessions, whereby one industry veteran is paired with a student with the general goal of exploring career opportunities within the real estate industry. This committee was also able to drive many of the discussions for changes to the organization, recognizing that the MIABC should look to provide more value to not only our current but our future members.

Time is such an important commodity in all of our lives and made even more so with the dramatic events that have shaped our world today. Our board is entirely made up of volunteers who willingly give of their precious time to take on the new challenges that lay before us. As always, I want to express my gratitude to the board for their donation of their quality time and efforts on behalf of the MIABC - thank you. 

As in any years, this year also marked some departures from the Board.  I wish to thank Sam Dayal, Derek DiMartile, Sam Fogell, Golden Ma, Fai Murray, and Mark Wong for their volunteer service to the organization. I would also like to single out the contribution of Sam Dayal for special thanks and note that his initial involvement with the MIABC board consisted of being Treasurer for seven years. The position of Treasurer is a very important and onerous task that Sam Dayal performed diligently.

I would like to thank the 2020-2021 Board members for their dedication:

• Mark Baron, Past President

• Graham Collings, Vice President

• Wesley McCrorie, Treasurer

• Janice Funke, Secretary
  

Directors:

• Lea Billard

• Jeremy Bramwell

• Andrew Howard

• Tim Lack

• Crystal Lo

• Amanda Magee

• Jim McGregor

• Lonnie Neufeld

• Jeff Puhl
  

A big thank you also to our Executive Coordinator, Michelle Holst, for all the help and support throughout the year.

Most importantly it is the members of the MIABC that make this industry association such a valuable part of BC’s real estate and mortgage investment community; so thank you to all the members and their guests that support the activities of the MIABC.

The world has changed and with thought, I will end with a quote from a fellow human being, Jack Layton:

“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.”

Respectfully,

Andy Pham

President, MIABC 2020 – 2021