March 11, 2024
Ontario, Canada - The Board of Directors of Guelph & District Association of REALTORS® (GDAR), REALTORS® Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound (RAGBOS) and The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® (LAR) are pleased to announce that they have tentatively approved the integration of their respective associations, subject to their members’ final approval.
This proposed integration will combine the 650 members of GDAR, the 440 members of RAGBOS and the 1,500 members of LAR to form the fifth-largest real estate association in Ontario. With the announcement of Anne Schneider’s (EO of RAGBOS) pending retirement in 2024 and Sandy Raymer’s (EO of LAR) in 2025, this is an ideal time to create a larger association. With strength in numbers, it will be in a stronger position to represent its members, deliver expanded programs and services, and continue each association’s history of volunteer engagement.
“Our REALTOR® members face many similar challenges and opportunities and will benefit from a larger, stronger association representing the perspectives of our area as our markets and industry evolve,” offered Dillon Fraser, President of GDAR. “Through our discussions, it has become clear that each of our associations has an embedded philosophy of member service, which will be central to the new association.”
Doug Pool, President of RAGBOS, also spoke of the benefits of this proposed merger. “By combining our three associations, we are reducing overhead expenses that will be passed onto our members in the form of reduced fees and, we are doing so while also maintaining the high level of technology support and services, professional development, networking and charitable events that our members have enjoyed for many years.”
“Over the last few years, there has been a trend towards integrations across the many real estate boards in Ontario, which then enabled the redirection of resources into enhanced programs and services,” observed Bonnie Looby, President of LAR. “By creating a new association with GDAR and RAGBOS, we will also strengthen our voice within organized real estate and with external stakeholders. It’s an exciting opportunity.”
Each of the three associations will be hosting virtual town hall meetings and launching an information portal where you can learn more about the proposed integration. Details will follow in the coming weeks. The Boards of Directors are eager to share the benefits and opportunities this integration will provide and look forward to discussing it at the upcoming meetings.
 | Dillon Fraser President The Guelph and District Association of REALTORS® |
 | Doug Pool President REALTORS® Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound |
 | Bonnie Looby President The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® |
For further information, please contact:
Katrina Steffler, Executive Director, GDAR, 519-824-7270, ext. 4
Anne Schneider Executive Director, RAGBOS, 519-364-3827, ext.4
Sandy Raymer, Executive Officer, The Lakelands,705-788-1504, ext. 222