Gerry Weir, President

Toronto, February 29, 2008... London real estate broker Gerry Weir assumed the role of President of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) at its annual conference on February 27. In this capacity, he will represent the association’s members on the board of directors and the senior level executive committee.

Active in the real estate profession for 21 years, Mr. Weir is a broker with Sutton Group-Preferred Realty Inc., Brokerage. He is a member and past president of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS^® where he chaired several committees including the executive, finance, and political affairs committees. He is also a member of the Woodstock-Ingersoll and District Real Estate Board. As well, Mr. Weir has served as a member of OREA’s leadership development committee and Ontario Commercial Council, and as chair for OREA’s communication, finance, standard forms, and government relations committee, and Northwest Ontario and advertising guidelines task force. He has served on the OREA Board since 2001.

Pauline Aunger, Smiths Falls, will serve as president-elect. OREA directors-at-large are Henry Poulie, Mississauga; Barb Sukkau, St. Catharines, and; Gary Zalepa, Jr., Niagara-on-the-Lake. Phil Nanavati, Burlington, will continue as Commercial Director and Laura Leyser will serve as the director representing the association to the Canadian Real Estate Association. Dorothy Mason of the Toronto Real Estate Board will serve as substantial membership director. Brian Walker, Richmond Hill, remains on the board as past-president.

Provincial directors representing different geographic areas are: for Eastern Ontario Sue Tallen, Kingston; for Central Ontario, Ronald Abraham, King City, and Ettore Cardarelli, Mississauga; for Northern Ontario, Dreena Gilpin, Sudbury; for Western Ontario Costa Poulopoulos, London; for Northeastern Ontario Josephine Manna, Orilla, and; representing Southern Ontario, Mike Cusano, Stoney Creek.

The Ontario Real Estate Association represents 45,000 brokers and salespeople who are members of the 43 real estate boards throughout the province. Members of the association may use the “REALTOR^®” trademark, which identifies them as real estate professionals who subscribe to a high standard of ethics and service.

OREA serves REALTORS^® through a wide variety of professional publications, educational programs, government lobbying and other services. A division of the association, the OREA Real Estate College, provides all real estate registration education courses in Ontario.

- 30 -