Guy Bezeau, broker and realtor with Re/Max Ocean Pointe Realty, has been elected president-elect for the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board.
It is the first time in the board’s 60-year history a Ladysmith realtor has been given the honour.
It’s a three-year commitment that will see him become president in 2012 and past-president in 2013.
For Bezeau, it’s an honour to be able to give back to an industry that has given him so much.
“And the best way I can do that is give back through volunteering my time and some of my experience.”
“I’m very honoured,” said Bezeau, adding there will be a lot of travel this year. “It’s a great responsibility.”
Bezeau said he put a lot of time and energy into his agencies and is pleased he is now has the opportunity to be an active member of the board. As president-elect, Bezeau will chair the executive committee that is responsible for the governance and financial stability of the board. The executive is made up of the current president, Jim Stewart, past-president, Cliff Moberg and himself.
Bezeau said he is also thrilled to be working with board chief executive Bill Benoit and his staff.
During his time as president-elect he is to shadow the president and act on his behalf in his presence.
The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board represents more than 1,000 licensed realtors on the Island. The board is also a member of the British Columbia Real Estate Board and the Canadian Real Estate Association.
“The board’s responsibility is the best interest of its realtors,” said Bezeau.
“(It’s) Providing the Multiple Listing Service, providing a code of ethics and business standard practice and providing, to a certain degree, eduction.”
The real estate board also provides statistics and other information and provides new technologies to realtors.
Bezeau is somewhat of a board veteran having served as co-chair of business standard practice and ethics committee and has five years at the commercial division as chair and co-chair.
Bezeau feels extremely honoured to be in this position, especially since he was elected by his peers.
The executive nominates who they would like to see become president-elect and the board has a chance to add an extra name.
“The decision of who will be president-elect is a very difficult decision,” said Bezeau.
The board is also responsible for hearing complaints from consumers and other realtors.
“If we don’t govern ourselves in the best interest of the public, then someone else will be doing it for us.”