The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) has announced that Michael Trites was elected as its president for the 2019-2020 period at its annual general meeting this week.

Licensed for more than four decades, Trites brings solid expertise to BCREA. He is currently the managing broker of Royal LePage Northstar Realty in South Surrey and White Rock and previously served as a director for the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board for four years. 

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“Working in organized real estate has always been a rewarding experience,” said Trites. “In 2018, there was a lot of focus on helping realtors adapt to change. In 2019, I look forward to helping shift that perspective and working with BCREA and the province’s 11 member boards to lead change.”

Also elected to BCREA’s board of directors are president-elect Anthony Bastiaanssen, the former president of the Okanagan Mainland Real Estate Board; former president James Palanio of Royal LePage Penticton; and BCREA CEO Darlene Hyde.

BCREA also brings in new realtor directors Gian-Piero Furfaro (Victoria) and Janice Stromar (Vancouver Island). Returning realtor directors include Ray Harris (Port Coquitlam), Dan Morrison (Vancouver), Cory Raven (Vancouver) and Katherine Rutherford (Kamloops). Public directors Kam Raman and Mark Sakai are also returning.