Jean-François Bigras
CPM®, RPA, MBA

A property manager and real estate owner for 37 years, he has worked for Royal Lepage Property Management, Public Works Canada, PROFAC, Canadian National Railway, Mabaie construction. Today, he owns more than 500 apartments in Longueuil and Lennoxville. A project of 300 new apartments is in the works.

Bachelor of Administration and Urban Studies from Concordia University. He has an Executive MBA from the same institution. He holds two professional designations: the CPM® (Certified Property Manager) designation awarded by IREM® (Institute of Real Estate Management), and the RPA designation (Real Property Administrator) awarded by BOMA (Building Owners' and Managers' Association).

​He has been teaching regularly for twenty-five years, property management, real estate investment, real estate finance and accounting at UQAM, for IREM® for CPM® and FRI designations among others, for BOMA in the RPA and FMA designations, for CORPIQ as part of real estate management seminars. IREM granted him the status of Faculty in 2012.

Winson Chan
FRI, CRES, CLHMS, CIPS, MBA

Winson is a Real Estate Professional with over 30 years of experience and currently leads Tridel’s award winning sales team as Vice President, Sales Development.  He is a strong believer in supporting the professional growth and development of future leaders in the Real Estate industry, and has been heavily involved in advancing the standards and practices of the Real Estate Industry in a variety of leadership positions.

~ The Canadian Real Estate Association- Regional Director, Ontario (2023-2024)
~ Real Estate Institute of Canada - National President (2018-2019)
Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), Founding Director/Advisor, Greater Toronto Chapter
~ International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI)- Director, Canada

Recipient of Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award; Senator Recognition Award and COVID-19 Humanitarian Service Medal

Awarded Best Sales Manager - Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD)
Recognized with the Member of the Year Award and Meritorious Award by Real Estate Institute of Canada, Toronto Chapter

Melanie Chiu
ABR®, CIPS, CRB, C-RETS, RENE, SRS®, SRES®, RSG.D

With almost two decades of experience in facilitating, teaching, or designing courses,  Melanie Chiu has also been practicing in the real estate industry since 2011. She is a distinguished real estate educator and career development mentor. She has brokerage management experience along with contributing course content and delivery to real estate boards and organizations.

When facilitating, teaching, or designing courses, her mantra is to make learning meaningful, memorable, and motivational. She takes joy in weaving real estate knowledge and experiences with modern adult learning principles and practices.

Melanie is an Ontario Certified Teacher with a master's degree in Higher Education (M.Ed.) in the Professions field from OISE, University of Toronto.  She has devoted her coursework and research to deepen the understanding of the real estate professional locally and globally, thereby contributing to the continuous advancement of the industry. With Melanie's guidance, aspiring professionals can navigate the complexities of real estate with confidence and expertise.

Susan Colyer

Susan is a highly accomplished real estate broker with over 40 years of outstanding sales performance. She is a dedicated professional known for her exceptional interpersonal communication, relationship-building, team management, client service, and presentation skills.

In addition to her extensive experience, Susan has served as an instructor and facilitator for Ontario's Real Estate Program for many years. She also owned and operated her own brokerage, specializing in collaborating with builders on new home developments.

Susan's passion for real estate and mentoring new salespeople is evident in the numerous real estate awards she has earned as well as the glowing accolades she has received from her students.

She is a member of the Canadian Real Estate Assocation, Ontario Real Estate Association, and the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. Susan lives in Richmond Hill and actively lists and sells in Toronto and York Region.

Avtar Dhinsa

Avtar is a seasoned lawyer with a wealth of experience as both a solicitor and barrister, specializing in mortgages and real estate law. 

His practice encompasses trial experience in these areas ensuring clients receive exceptional representation and advice. Beyond the courtroom, Avtar is deeply committed to education, serving as a business law and real estate law instructor at Ascenda College.

Through teaching, Avtar is proud to inspire and mentor the next generation of legal and business professionals.

Neil Fawcett
CPM® ARM® CERE Associate, ACM, BA

Neil Fawcett is a Certified Property Manager CPM®, Accredited Residential Manager ARM®, IREM/REIC Faculty member and Real Estate Associate with a deep knowledge of Property Management. With more than 18 years of property management experience, he has held Senior Property Management roles with local, national and international property management companies.

He is a passionate facilitator who enjoys teaching emerging property management professionals how to succeed and advance in their careers through engaging learning opportunities, collaboration, and mentorship.

He has been on the REIC Calgary Chapter Board since 2013, serving in numerous roles and is the Chapter President. In 2021 was elected to the REIC National Board of Directors and serves as director.

Neil freelances as an instructor, educator, property manager and consultant in Calgary and is the President of Eureka Solutions Inc. and the General Manager of Rise Real Estate Academy.

Brian Finley
ABR® SRES® CRB RENE C-RETS CIPS RSPS ePro® 

Ronald (Ron) Fraser
CPM®

Ron Fraser is the Vice President of Asset Renewal Management, in the Real Estate Division of the Infrastructure Ontario (IO). He is responsible for the planning, substantiation and optimal utilization of capital renewal/repair investment funding for approximately 28 million square feet of government-owned office and special purpose buildings located across the province of Ontario.
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​Prior to joining IO, Ron was with BLJC Facility Management Ltd, where he was active in transitioning-in and the subsequent management of new client contracts, including Canada Post Corporation; Public Works and Government Services Canada; and the Royal Bank of Canada.

​Ron, holding a Certified Property Manager (CPM®) designation since 1992, is a Past President of the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC), and continues to work towards advancing real estate education and knowledge. In his spare time, Ron is on the faculty of the REIC, where he teaches the “Managing Maintenance Operations and Property Risk” course to real estate professionals, and grades management plan exams for CPM® candidates.

Margaret Gourlay
​FRI MVA REI

Marg has been in real estate sales for over 45 years. She has been the Broker of Record for her own brokerage since 1990 servicing her clientele in the York Region of Ontario in all areas of their real estate endeavours.

She has authored real estate courses and has had the priviledge of instructing and facilitating real estate courses for over 35 years. Her love of the industry is evident in her sales success and her love of providing educational instruction to course participants. She has been part of the REIC faculty for many years instructing the Ethics and Business Practice course as well as the Consumer Behaviour and Negotiating course. Marg received the 2021 Education Award from the Toronto Chapter of REIC.

Donna Harding
FRI CIPS SRES®

Donna is a visionary thinker who has a tremendous passion for people, community and real estate. Her quest for challenge led her on her journey from Senior Naval Officer in the Canadian Navy, to successful real estate Broker and co-owner of Engel & Völkers in Nova Scotia. 

Donna’s genuine enthusiasm for her profession, innovative approach and love of service to her clients and her advisors, are evident from the moment you meet her. A take-charge negotiator; she knows what it takes to sell. 

Donna’s energy thrives off the success of others so she has added teaching, coaching, and mentoring to her portfolio.  Amongst her many qualifications, Donna holds the FRI designation and is a teacher with the National REIC faculty helping others become qualified. She holds both a CIPS and SRES designations and she currently sits on three Boards, including the Chair of the Board for CUA, Director on the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and Education Chair on the REIC Atlantic Chapter.

Mary Jones
FRI CRES SRES REI

Having been an active professional in Real Estate since 1981, Mary’s passion and dedication to the job are evident. Her designation as an instructor with OREA and REIC has kept her knowledge of an ever-changing industry current. Mary's outstanding contributions as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to real estate educational programs as well as her professional commitment and enthusiasm as an instructor have garnered her many designations, including the REI from the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) as well as OREA's Education Merit Award. She was granted the FRI CRES and SRES from the Real Estate Institute of Canada, and was awarded the honour of being named Manager of the Year for 2013 by RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada Inc. 

Mary is a Past President of her original board, the Niagara Falls - Fort Erie Real Estate Association, and also a Past President for REIC Niagara Chapter. Mary's incredible wealth of knowledge and solid foundation has allowed her to author 17 continuing education seminars for the real estate community.
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She is often referred to as "The Ringleader" because she is motivating, vigorous and compelling! 

Saadat Keshavjee
CPM®, CMOC

Saadat has been active in the business of property management for over forty years. He started his career in Calgary in the eighties and is now into a second generation in the business of property management. Born in South Africa, educated and worked on three continents and based in Calgary, Saadat offers consulting to real estate investor clients, court work, corporate training, developer consulting and management in the areas of residential single and multi family, commercial and residential condominiums. Saadat is a Certified property Manager (CPM®), a certified manager of condominiums (CMOC), a licensed broker In the Province of Alberta, and has a certificate in Adult Education. He has been teaching for the Real Estate Institute and IREM for over forty years and has written a course in successful condominium Management for Mount Royal University, Calgary. He also writes custom courses for corporate training in property managers. Saadat has received the award Emeritus from the REIC and the Distinguished teaching award of the year from Mt Royal University, Calgary. Saadat has served on the boards of REIC, IREM, Rotary International, Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation, IREM foundation, Journal of Property Management, Alberta Theatre projects, Calgary West Seniors Housing, Calgary Heritage Housing and many task forces on Education, DEI Initiatives, International business and education. He takes an active role in Civil society. In his spare time, Saadat has travelled extensively, enjoys live theatre, and is well known for leading tours to Africa including many safaris to Kenya. 

Steve Leistner
FRI(A), CPM® CMOC CRU CRP ACoM

Steve Leistner has been active in real estate since the 1970’s. He was REIC National President in 1996, and has been involved in 16 different REIC committees, including but not limited to the Institute’s Professional Standards Committee and Liaison Committee. He is involved in appraisal, acquisition, development, finance, mortgages, property management, construction, manufacturing and real estate advisory. Steve has also won a number of awards at the Real Estate Institute of Canada.

Living in Beamsville, Ontario, Steve is owner of Quest Realty Inc., Leistner Appraisal Services, Request Construction, and also serves as owner CEO of Niagara Pharmaceuticals. Steve attended Brock University, in St. Catharines.

His all-encompassing experience in different real estate markets, (in Canada and throughout the world) brings real world examples into the classroom. Steve passionately believes in the importance of continued and higher education along with advanced levels of skills, ethics and professionalism.
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Steve has instructed for, most of the Colleges in Ontario, REIC, many banks, The ECHMB (the East Caribbean Home Mortgage Bank), the CPA (was CGA) association, and the Law Society Upper Canada.

Dixie Lee MacDonald
REALTOR®, B.A., SRES®, GREENre®, ABR®, Certificate in Adult Learning, eLearning Specialist ;Certificate in Workplace and Community Education;
Certificate in Online learning

Dixie have been a real estate professional since 2009 and a yearly award winner. In her twenties she built a small but successful domestic services company, which she sold. Dixie has been a recruiter for commercial real estate staffing firms and co-owned a staffing firm in Toronto for 21 years. This experience has greatly influenced her approach to adult education in the real estate industry. As a facilitator, coach, and trainer, Dixie brings a rich business development and team-building history to her current roles.

Dixie's interest in training and education evolved naturally from her entrepreneurship as I developed and delivered all our internal training and skills development programs. 
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She holds an honours B.A. in English Literature from the University of Prince Edwared Island and three certificates in Adult Education from the University of Calgary, a certificate in Adult Learning specializing in e-learning, an Adult and Community Education Certificate, and an Online Learning Certificate.

Dixie is passionate about the Real Estate Industry and deeply committed to making learning as impactful and engaging as possible. SheI sets a tone that builds rapport, encourages teamwork, and promotes collaboration and active learning, inspiring and motivating those she work with.

Todd Main 
CPM®, ARM®

Todd Main is a Regional Property Manager with BGO with over two decades of experience in the multi-familiy sector. He is a Property Manager and Licensed Real Estate Professional based in Calgary, Alberta. He holds two REIC designations: CPM® (CERTIFIED PROPERTY MANAGER) and ARM® (ACCREDITED RESIDENTIAL MANAGER) and an Associate Real Estate License from the Real Estate Council of Alberta. Todd's expertise includes tenant relations, sales and marketing, building operations, acquisitions, budget management, and business transactions.

Todd takes immense pride in honing the property management skills of aspiring professionals. He strives to foster a conducive learning environment while leading and coordinating groups.

William P.J. McCarthy
A.A., B.A., B.G.S., B.Th., M.A., MAIS, MS, MSc., M.B.A.
CPM®, FRI, CLO, RPA, FRICS, RI, ICD.D., Q.Arb., CCIM, CRE

​William is the first person to be elected by his peers to Chair a provincial organization (IREM BC), a national organization (REIC), and an international organization (Counselors of Real Estate – serving this year.)  McCarthy has received most of the major award these organizations present. He has been awarded three REIC literary awards, two J. Patrick Henry Awards, and Emeritus Status in 2012.  The REIC Partner of the Year Award, which he endowed, bares his namesake.

He is a teacher, scholar and academic.  He has written three REIC course textbooks and has taught and mentored thousands of real estate practitioners over 35 years. He has been a lecturer, presenter, panelist, and a project judge in various real estate forums around the world. Throughout his career he has endeavored to elevate the real estate industry to reflect the importance of it for the socio-economic good of this country and world.

In addition to his high-level pro bono work (about 30% of his time), McCarthy continues to operate his own business interests which include developing, leasing, managing and owning his own extensive portfolio and doing selective consulting assignments for clients. He is also committed to his many philanthropic efforts and leadership therein.

George Renaud
​CPM®, FRI

Georges benefits from 40 years of real estate experience in Quebec and Western Canada. Georges holds the CPM® and FRI designations and has a Certificate in Urban Land Economics from the University of British Columbia. Georges has been responsible for the management, leasing and marketing of diversified portfolios of hotels, shopping centers, industrial, office and multi-family residential projects. Georges has instigated retrofit programs that have created added value for owners and extended the life cycle of heritage office buildings, neighborhood shopping centers, multi-family and industrial properties. Georges is a past-president of the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC) and the REIC Quebec chapter. He is a faculty member for REIC as well as the OACIQ commercial program at John Abbott College. Georges’ commitment to teaching and mentoring creates a great team environment at Royal LePage Village.

Jonathan Rhee
FRI, RSG.D

Jonathan Rhee is the Broker of Record at Keller Williams Realty Centres, where he leads the Commercial Division and oversees brokerage operations. With over 25 years in real estate, he has held senior leadership roles, including Managing Broker at national firms and founding Director of the Pre-Construction Division at Canada’s largest independent brokerage.

Jonathan began his career managing his family’s property portfolio, evolving into a full-time practice consulting for investors, medical professionals, and corporate clients. He is recognized for his strategic, client-focused approach and leadership in operations, compliance, training, and mentorship.

A respected instructor and speaker, Jonathan has delivered training in lease negotiation, investment evaluation, and business development. He created the MAPLE LEAD system to help agents grow their businesses and simplify complex real estate concepts into actionable strategies.

His commercial experience includes office development, lease negotiations, and representing both landlords and tenants in transactions with major property groups such as Cadillac Fairview, Oxford, and Tridel. He has also guided medical professionals through leasing, ownership, and tenant portfolio management.

Jonathan’s background includes project management in the software industry, further enriching his operational expertise. He continues to serve as an instructor for multiple real estate organizations, bringing hands-on leadership and deep industry insight to every role.

Arcangela Roy
​B.Comm, CPM®

Rick Shelley
FRI

Rick Shelley has been in the real estate profession for over 35 years.  During that time, he has been a Broker of Record for many brokerages including his own.  He has been involved in all aspects of real estate including being part of numerous boards and committees locally and provincially, and being a dedicated instructor for the real estate industry.
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After many successful years working with clients to buy and sell properties in both the residential, commercial and rural markets, he began teaching with the Ontario Real Estate College. There, he was recognized in 2009 with the highest honour of being able to use the Real Estate Instructor (REI) designation for excellence in teaching.  Rick also holds the Fellow of the Real Estate Institute (FRI) designation granted by the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC).

Rick has had the privilege of being part of a Subject Matter Expert team for the real estate education program where he contributed knowledge and expertise in the field of rural and commercial real estate. He is also an Educator for the Provincial Real Estate Program.
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Rick is committed to advancing the highest professional and ethical standards in the real estate profession in each of the courses he teaches.

Subhir Uppal
FRI

​Subhir Uppal is a savvy, entrepreneurial MBA-educated professional offering extensive knowledge and experience in the real estate sector through the roles of a real estate manager, real estate broker, project lead in real estate developments, property manager, commercial and residential lease specialist and mortgage broker.

He is a self-motivated and goal-driven leader who has worked within high-performance teams in several consulting engagements in diverse sectors including television broadcasting, non-profit, start-up, real estate, and banking technology. Subhir is an enthusiastic volunteer who enjoys sharing experiences with various professional, charitable and non-profit organizations, particularly in teaching and coaching roles.