At its May 2009 strategic planning session the Real Estate Foundation's Board of Governors reaffirmed the Foundation's prime purposes: to support real estate and land use related research, education, and law reform. The new strategic vision and Foundation motto support this emphasis.*

While the Foundation has always supported these kinds of initiatives, per its mandate under the Real Estate Services Act, the "other/good works" area has consumed a disproportionate amount of funding. While "good works" projects meet important needs in BC communities, they generally have not advanced real estate and land use practice in ways that research, education, and law reform can.

In striving to be a pivotal connection in making land use knowledge and practice in BC a model for the world, the Real Estate Foundation will "align resources" and "lead learning" in a variety of ways, such as:

• convening organizations and individuals to exchange information and discuss topical real estate/land use issues
• encouraging collaboration among groups to leverage their work and improve outcomes on the ground
• disseminating research reports, tools, and other information in person and via our website

"We want to conribute to the body of knowledge related to responsible land use practices in BC and globally," says Executive Director, Karin Kirkpatrick. "Together, 'aligning resources' and 'leading learning' create a focus on sharing information so fewer groups need to reinvent the wheel. And if they are so innovative that they are 'reinventing the wheel', we' d like to talk to them!"

* Motto: Aligning Resources. Leading Learning.  |  Vision: The Real Estate Foundation strives to be a pivotal connection in making land use knowledge and practice in BC a model for the world.