CREB®Cast

In this episode, Sam sits down with Tom Davis, CREB®’s 2025 Marilyn Jones Volunteer of the Year Award recipient and a 30-year member, to unpack how volunteering strengthens both your career and your mental wellness.  Tom shares why he shifted from banking to real estate and how serving clients through major life moments makes trust more important than ever. He also explains how CREB®’s volunteer community offers connection, support, and a fun break from a sometimes-lonely business and highlights the RAW (REALTOR® and Assistant Wellness) Program, CREB®’s confidential, peer-to-peer monthly support sessions.

In the latest CREB®Cast episode, the 2025 T.W.H. (Bill) Saunders Memorial Award REALTOR® of the Year, Lori Olijnyk shares lessons from 16 years in real estate and a decade in oil and gas as a surface landman—where relationship-building, trust, and verifiable information were everything. Lori explains how volunteering (including six years on the CREB® Board of Directors and five on the Critical Illness Benefit Society) builds connection in a “lonely job,” strengthens the profession as a community and broadens perspectives. She also recalls the surprise and full-circle moment of receiving the award, offers advice to new REALTORS®, and previews an accessibility housing focus inspired by her father becoming an amputee.

In this CREB® Cast episode, Olympian skeleton racer Mirela Rahneva shares how perseverance and mindset shaped her athletic career and now influence her work in real estate. Mirela also discusses the sport’s speed and culture, her Olympic experiences (12th in Pyeongchang 2018, a track-record first run in Beijing 2022 followed by a drop and a climb back to 5th), and lessons about reframing thoughts under pressure. She explains how she entered Calgary real estate through renovating and legalizing a suite, her interest in helping athletes relocate, and the value of integrity, feedback, resiliency, and asking the right questions. She also describes her full-time role in partnership development at KidSport Calgary and her continued involvement in skeleton through occasional coaching support.

It’s May, men’s mental health month, and our newest CREB® Cast episode features Derek Thistle. After a 17-year career with the Calgary Police Service and struggling with his mental health, Derek earned his real estate license during medical leave and ultimately committed to the switch from cop to CREB®. In this conversation, he breaks down how policing skills such as communication, de-escalation, an investigative mindset, stress tolerance, and deep neighbourhood knowledge have translated into client trust, sharper negotiations and safer showings. Derek also talks candidly about the “golden handcuffs” of policing, shifting definitions of success, and why real estate wins through empathy, relationships, and consistent follow-up. If you need immediate mental health support, Distress Centre Calgary provides free, 24/7 crisis support by phone, text, or chat at 403-266-HELP (4357). This includes the Suicide Crisis Helpline 9-8-8.Resources for mental health support and addiction in Calgary: https://www.calgary.ca/social-services/mental-health/resources.html

In this episode of CREB®Cast, Sam Randhawa interviews broker-owner and former CREB® President, Greg Houston, who shares his 1972 start in real estate, early experiences and the launch of his own brokerage. Greg reflects on market booms and busts, the oil embargo and early-80s crash, and how real estate investing helped him build stability. He discusses serving on the Calgary Real Estate Board, including as president in 1989, industry changes from paper listings to modern tech, and the need to be discerning amid AI and misinformation.  Highlights include his long-term ownership philosophy, community involvement, and being the first donor to the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation.

This CREB®Cast episode breaks down the proposed change to Bylaw 6.4, which addresses board composition ahead of the member vote at the AGM happening on Tuesday, April 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at CREB® Campus and online.Mariangela Avila, Chair of the Governance Standing Committee (GSC)  and Shelagh Krause, Director Liaison for the GSC, explain the current limits at the board level—no more than two directors from one brokerage and three from one franchise may serve on the board—and the proposal to increase those caps by one (to three and four) to better reflect today’s brokerage environment. Members can access AGM materials, including additional proposed bylaw amendments, by clicking here.

In this episode of CREB® Cast, host Sam Randhawa sits down with former CREB® Board Chair Lorna Hamm.In this interview, Lorna talks about a 38-year real estate career, how technology reshaped the business, and why volunteering at CREB® can fast-track your network, influence, and understanding of how decisions get made. Lorna shares a candid take on real estate as “a way of life,” balancing family, flexibility, and being on call—plus memorable stories from the field. The conversation also spotlights Lorna’s pivotal role in launching Calgary’s Children’s Cottage, a crisis nursery providing up to 72 hours of safe care for kids when parents are in crisis, and her continued community leadership in retirement.

Former CREB® president and lifelong member Jim Moore joins Sam Randhawa in the latest episode of CREB®Cast. Jim, who spent 25 to 30 years with the Board and 40 years in real estate, shares his journey from owning Dairy Queens, apartment buildings, and buying houses to leaving a brokerage during a double-digit mortgage-rate era and receiving an unexpected bank offer.After a major heart attack changed everything, Jim poured his energy into the Calgary Dream Centre, tracing its roots back to childhood mission work and explaining how a former hotel on Macleod Trail became the beginning of what has grown to 48 properties, 371 clients, and 80 staff. 

Discover CREB® Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie’s unexpected journey into economics, her passion for real estate, and how she navigates the intricacies of the housing market. Gain valuable perspectives on market trends, the importance of localized data, and the human impact of real estate decisions. This is the perfect episode for REALTORS® looking to deepen their understanding and leverage expert insights for their clients' success.

Join us as host Sam Randhawa welcomes Christian Twomey, the former Chair of the Board of Directors and current Chair of the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation. In this episode, Christian shares insights into his dynamic 25-year career and unforgettable client experiences. The conversation takes a riveting turn as Christian recounts a harrowing personal story about experiencing a “widowmaker” heart attack, which only has a 12 per cent survival rate.