Second career was a natural transition for 2001 CREB® president Marlene Swinton

After years of managing her late husband's architecture practice, Marlene Swinton was looking for a change.

"I wanted to do something different and my cousin said, 'why not real estate? You know buildings.' I thought it might be really interesting, so I took a course and I loved it," said Swinton, who went on to fulfill a 27-year-long career in the industry that included a term as CREB®'s president in 2001.

Proposed bylaw looks to add stricter regulations

Airdrie's decision to follow suit with other municipalities in the province and regulate controversial ride-sharing services is redundant, costly and unnecessary, said opponents to the proposed amended taxi bylaw.

Earlier this month, the City of Airdrie unveiled the amendment that would require app-based ride-sharing companies like Uber to follow similar regulations as traditional taxi companies.

The change would require all vehicles to undergo 134-point inspections, more involved licensing upgrades requiring Class 1, 2 or 4, background/criminal records checks and hefty commercial insurance rates.

Annual Calgary Home + Design Show comes to town at the perfect time

Alberta's home renovations sector is booming.

The Calgary Home + Design Show is back for its 34th year.

Seems like a match made in heaven.

Brought about by ongoing economic uncertainty, more Albertans are looking for ways to upgrade their space rather than their place. According to Statistics Canada, investment on residential renovation in the province has increased by 3.8 per cent over the first six months of 2015 to $3.1 billion.

Fifth annual Doors Open Calgary event returns Sept. 24

Being a tourist in your own town: That's how Alyssa Berry describes Doors Open Calgary.

"You get to re-discover, or newly learn, parts of the city you may pass by but don't know anything about," said the president of this year's citywide event, taking place Saturday Sept. 24.

University District touted as 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'

It is the urban employment hub of northwest Calgary. And now, with a projected influx of 6,000 new residences over the next 15 years, the new University District community is slated to become the quadrant's residential core.

The first two housing developments just launched in the District — Ivy by Brookfield Residential and Noble by Truman Homes — will be uniquely positioned in the 81-hectare project between two hospitals (Foothills Medical Centre and Alberta Children's Hospital) and the University of Calgary, for potential buyers.

CREB® president was just one of many roles Don Dickson looks back on fondly

Don Dickson has held a variety of roles during his lengthy real estate career: Salesman, broker, business practices manager, and, in 2004, president of CREB®.

Through it all, his focus has remained the same.

"It's about helping members. That's been my number-one priority," Dickson said. "It's been a fabulous experience. You couldn't have a more fulfilling career. And I'm not done yet."

Clair J. Cote Jr. follows in father's historic footsteps by leading CREB® through 1974

When Clair J. Cote Jr. became CREB®'s president in 1974, Calgary was partway through a decade marked by unprecedented growth, both in business and real estate development.

The year prior, the Arab oil embargo set off the first global energy crisis, leading to efforts in Alberta to lessen the dependence on foreign oil. Calgary, where oil companies were headquartered, prospered.

For Cote, the 1970s stand out as a time in which his brokerage, which started in 1964, grew.

First Bee City in Western Canada

The City of Chestermere is buzzing with excitement after becoming Western Canada's first Bee City.

The official honour from Bee City Canada recognized Chestermere's efforts in the fight to save Canada's declining bee population. The non-profit organization highlighted the city's current efforts to promote healthy ecosystems such as the community garden, its Chestermere in Bloom program, birth forest, as well as more than 70 parks and green spaces around the community.

Chestermere is only the second city designated in Canada as a Bee City, following Toronto.

Former CREB® president Alan Tennant recalls 1998 as one with few challenges

Alan Tennant summarizes Calgary's resale residential housing market in 1998 in one word: stable.

"I recall doing monthly statistic releases throughout the year, and trying to find new ways to state 'stable,'" said Tennant, who was CREB®'s president that year. "I remember [the market] now more fondly than I did at the time. Back then, it seemed almost boring."

Use increases by 10 per cent from 2005-14

Demand for shelters and beds in Canada is approaching levels not seen since the 2008/09 economic downturn, with a 10 per cent increase in use from 2005-14, according to a new study.

The National Shelter Study 2005–2014: Emergency Shelter Use in Canada released this week by the federal Employment and Social Development Canada ministry revealed that, on an average night in 2014, 13,857 Canadians slept in an emergency shelter, using more than 90 per cent of Canada's 15,000 shelter beds. By comparison, in 2005, average nightly shelter use had reached slightly more than 80 per cent of capacity.

At its peak in 2009, the national shelter occupancy rates was at 94.6 per cent.