Membership Type: Nonprofit

What We Believe
United Church faith communities welcome people from all backgrounds and orientations. This section offers an overview of our beliefs.

Faith and the Bible
The Bible is the shared standard for our faith, but members are not required to adhere to any particular creed or formulation of doctrine.

Baptism and Communion
The United Church celebrates two sacraments-baptism and communion-by which we encounter the presence and goodness of God.

Marriage
Each person is a unique, loved creation of God; we welcome all people to the full life of Christian community, including marriage.

Relationship and Inclusion
Respectful of the religious practice of all people of goodwill, we are a welcoming church that is challenged to ongoing renewal.

Social Justice
Following the example of Jesus, we believe that we strengthen one another to work, through God’s grace, for a better world.

Giving, Generosity, and Gratitude
God’s endless generosity to us encourages our own response to contribute in many ways to God’s mission in God’s world.

The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) is a philanthropic organization based in British Columbia, Canada. Our work supports land use and real estate practices that contribute to resilient, healthy communities and natural environments.

The Foundation works to transform land use attitudes and practices in two ways: through grants to support research, education and law/policy reform; and through initiatives and special projects that bridge gaps in research and collaboration.

REFBC Grants

Since launching the grants program in 1988, we have approved more than $75 million in funding to support real estate and land use projects across the province. Our grants support non-profit organizations working to improve BC communities and natural environments through responsible and informed land use, conservation and real estate practices.

Our Funding

In most cases, when property is purchased in British Columbia, real estate brokerages will hold the deposit in a pooled trust account until the sale closes. Under the Real Estate Services Act, the Foundation receives any interest earned on these trust accounts. In turn, we use those funds to support real estate related education, research, law reform, and other land-related activities intended for the public or professional good.

Governance

The Foundation is directed by a Board of Governors, which consists of seven appointed members. The British Columbia Real Estate Association, the Real Estate Council of British Columbia, the Real Estate Institute of British Columbia, and the Union of BC Municipalities each appoint one member. The Minister of Finance (BC government) appoints three members.

Each Governor’s term varies according to their appointing body, and they can be appointed for two consecutive terms. The Foundation’s Chair and Vice-chair are elected at REFBC’s annual general meeting in March and each serve for one year.

History

In 1985, the British Columbia real estate industry, in cooperation with the provincial government, enacted legislation that established the Real Estate Foundation. Under the Real Estate Services Act (BC), our main purposes are “to undertake and carry out real estate public and professional education, real estate law reform, real estate research and other projects intended for the public or professional good in relation to real estate activities.”

While there are parallel foundations across Canada in the legal field, the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation are the only two foundations of their kind.

Located in the heart of Canada’s largest and the world’s most diverse city, MaRS is uniquely placed to lead change. We bring together educators, researchers, social scientists, entrepreneurs and business experts under one roof. Founded by civic leaders, we have a mission that is equal parts public and private – an entrepreneurial venture designed to bridge the gap between what people need and what governments can provide.

Place Matters

MaRS is more than a building, it’s building on MaRS co-founder Dr. John Evans’ vision for the future. Great minds may not think alike but they like each other’s company; a brilliant idea in isolation is not enough to create a real breakthrough.

MaRS is a leader in the trend toward urban innovation districts, which allow entrepreneurs access to corporations, investors, mentors, university institutions and labs to test their concepts. We are where inspiration meets realization.

Community Leader

Innovation doesn’t just happen. As the Toronto Discovery District’s commercialization hub, MaRS gives entrepreneurs what they need most: a home with access to networks and capital. This community keeps our most promising talent here, and supplies established businesses and institutions with a steady stream of creativity.

Partnerships

As a home to entrepreneurs and a bridge to the business world, MaRS helps companies bring breakthrough ideas to market and scale globally. Partnerships are key, and building our corporate network has been a priority.

We work with corporations willing to leverage their global reach to assist startups seeking footholds in foreign markets. Corporations, in turn, are embedding teams at MaRS to boost creativity, scout talent and rekindle their entrepreneurial flames.

Venture Services

Entrepreneurs are a sociable bunch; they enjoy interaction as well as transaction. A chance to meet like-minded individuals is a major reason startups join MaRS Venture Services, whose main goal, of course, is to help them accelerate by providing expert advice, market intelligence and access to capital, as well as connections to talent and customers.

Impact

MaRS is not just about creating billion-dollar companies, but touching a billion lives. We are creating a vanguard of entrepreneurs working to improve society for future generations and making a difference beyond our borders.