CREB^®’s inaugural Diamond Gala was an outstanding success! Members toasted their profession and 75 years in a dazzling celebration.

Above all, it was a fantastic night to get together, network and celebrate the best of CREB^®. Many members took the opportunity to raise a glass with their peers and share stories.

“It felt like a reunion of sorts,” said CREB^® CEO Alan Tennant. “The market has been a challenging one for the past few months and it was a fantastic opportunity to get together and support one another while celebrating the best of what we do.”

"The feedback about the night has been incredibly positive. We clearly have an annual event on our hands."

New awards and lasting honours

There were many surprises along the way as well – including new honours and awards that made their debut at the Gala, honouring some of CREB^®’s biggest contributors.

To acknowledge the impact of his more than two decades of leadership as CREB^®’s CEO, a new scholarship at the University of Calgary established in Ron Esch’s name. Every year, CREB^® will award one Bachelor of Commerce student with a concentration in Real Estate at the Haskayne School of Business a scholarship to support their education. 

CREB^® also created a new award to celebrate the memory and volunteer spirit of Marilyn Jones. The Volunteer of the Year – Marilyn Jones Memorial Award will serve as an annual celebration of the woman who, at the time of her passing, had the most recorded volunteer hours of anyone in CREB^®’s history.

In her remarks to the crowd, the inaugural winner of the award, Alyssa Campos, noted Marilyn’s historic achievements, and personal leadership. 

“This is a complete surprise, and such an honour to be up here in this moment of celebration for Marilyn…I loved her.”

Keeping traditions alive

This year, CREB^® inducted three new Honourary Life members; Cliff Stevenson, Iris Talbot and Jack Horn for their service to the real estate industry, our board and the public.

And in the final accolade of the night, CREB^® recognized Nettie Hendricks with our most prestigious award, the REALTOR® of the Year – T.W.H. (Bill) Saunders Memorial Award.

In multiple letters of support for their nomination, Nettie was saluted for her unimpeachable work ethic, humility and dedication.

“Her own clients referred to them not only as knowledgeable, kind and professional – but they referred to them as their friend,” said Gary Bain, the 2017 REALTOR^® of the Year honouree. “There is no higher compliment that can be paid to a REALTOR^®.”

Laughs and fun aplenty

The night wasn’t only pomp and circumstance, as the presenters delivered plenty of entertainment. The night’s emcee, Jessica Holmes, showed why she was a key cast member of Royal Canadian Air Farce for so many years with a combination of hilarious one-liners, rapid-fire impressions and a knockout Celine Dion-inspired ballad that brought the house down.

Following the ceremonies, The Barry Shaw Band kept the party going with great performances of classic jazz and rock tunes, which got the crowd dancing  - all the way into the theatre lobby!

Learn more about the Gala and honourees

Combining CREB^®’s 75^th anniversary celebration with the amalgamation of all of CREB^®’s member recognition events, the Diamond Gala combined the Long Service, Volunteer Recognition Board Builders, Honourary Life Awards and REALTOR^® of the Year - T.W.H. (Bill) Saunders Memorial Awards.

For a full list of Volunteer Recognition Board Builders, Honourary Life and Long Service Award winners, visit the Diamond Gala website.