PacificWest 2025 Forging the Future of Real Estate in BC

This fall, Western Canada’s premier real estate gathering, PacificWest, returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre East on October 21 and 22. Presented by the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) and Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the conference has quickly established itself as a leading forum for real estate professionals from across the country.

The timing of PacificWest 2025 is particularly significant. With affordability and housing supply dominating national conversations, the event provides a critical space for industry leaders to explore solutions. For two days all corners of the real estate space will come together to exchange ideas, debate strategies, and forge partnerships designed to address the pressures shaping markets across Canada. The conference blends the urgency of current challenges with the promise of future opportunities, offering a platform where collaboration sparks innovation. It will also be a chance for attendees to hear from top thinkers on the market’s direction, providing strategies that can be applied immediately.

“PacificWest 2025 underscores REALTORS®’ role as vital partners in the housing ecosystem,” said Baldev Gill, CEO of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “Its world-class program equips our members with the insight and tools to strengthen that role and help shape solutions to today’s housing challenges.”

Building on the momentum of the first two years, PacificWest continues to grow while retaining the community-focused energy that made it so successful from the start. Last year’s conference drew more than 1,400 attendees, and this year’s edition is expected to be even larger. The speaker lineup will feature all-Canadian voices, offering perspectives that range from coast-to-coast. This lens ensures participants are exposed not only to local realities but also to the shared and diverse challenges influencing Canadian real estate today.

“PacificWest is not just an opportunity for professional development, it is a chance for real estate professionals from across Canada to gather, network, and strengthen our profession,” said Jeff King, CEO of the Greater Vancouver REALTORS®. “This is a Canadian conference focused on Canadian issues, from regulation and professional practice, to technology and disruption.”

Managing Brokers Summit

The conference kicks off on October 20th with the Managing Brokers Summit, sponsored by the BC Real Estate Association. Notable among the presenters during the Summit will be BC Financial Services Authority CEO, Tolga Yalkin, with an examination of the regulatory landscape. His perspective on current and future oversight aims to provide real estate leaders with clarity about how regulatory shifts are shaping the profession. These sessions frame the broader context in which REALTORS® are working, connecting individual practice to the structural landscape of Canadian housing.

“Managing brokers are the backbone of a strong real estate sector,” said Trevor Koot, CEO of the BC Real Estate Association. “The Summit helps them anticipate change, reinforce professionalism, and plan for the evolution of our industry so we can continue serving consumers and communities effectively.”

A Packed Agenda

Things move into full swing at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 21 starting with a high-octane keynote from the team behind Mid-Day Squares, the Gen Z entrepreneurs whose radical approach to brand-building has “redefined branding in the packaged food industry and broke ground for the company as the fastest-growing functional chocolate bar on the market,” according to Forbes.

The two-day conference offers REALTOR® attendees some forty sessions to hone skills and grow their businesses and brands.

• Want to boost your social media strategy with AI? Proptech expert Sam Mehrbod will share how in “10x Your Social Media Reach.”
• Looking to improve your listing strategies? Join Sean Provencher, CEO of EndGame, for “Listing Mastery.”
• Need answers to clients’ energy questions? John Drazic, Regional Energy Solutions Manager at FortisBC, has them.

Beyond meat-and-potatoes sessions to shore up operational strategies, soft skill mastery and work-life balance are must-haves in a sector where market volatility can put client relationships to the test. Attendees will find help at “From Parent Guilt to CEO Mindset” (Jessica Bansal), “Thriving through Rejection and Adversity” (Jordan Penner), and “Emotional Intelligence & Conscious Leadership” (Erin Anderson) plus sessions on personal style (Jason Sarai) and nutrition (Kristine Michaud).

Keeping Sight On The Big Picture

In our current market climate, the business of buying and selling real estate plays out against the bigger backdrop of economic uncertainty and political machinations. PacificWest includes important context that is shaping trends the sector could face six, twelve, twenty-four months from now. Award winning CBC journalist Althia Raj shares her insights into how Canadian politics is influencing the housing market. And leading sector economists, BCREA’s Brendon Ogmundson, and GVR’s Andrew Lis, compare notes on current market trends and future direction.

PacificWest 2025 represents a convergence of ideas, expertise, and perspectives at a pivotal moment for Canadian real estate. For more information, visit www.pacificwest.ca.