1994
White Rock, BC teen Pamela Joy Cameron is murdered and buried less than
four blocks from where she was last seen. Paul Cameron, her father,
had contacted his REALTOR® to enlist the help of REALTORS® in
her search. He pointed out that REALTORS® in general would be an
excellent resource to help search for missing persons. The concept for
Realty Watch was born.
1995
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) launch Realty Watch as a
neighbourhood watch program, similar to Block Watch. The Fraser Valley
Real Estate Board (FVREB) is one of the first boards in Canada to implement
it.
1998
Fraser Valley REALTORS® receive a Crime Prevention and Community
Safety Award from BC’s Ministry of Attorney General for demonstrating
“commitment, perseverance and innovative thinking in the interest
of helping police officers, municipalities, and Fraser Valley citizens
to build safe communities.”
2000
The FVREB expands Realty Watch to include a direct REALTOR® fan-out.
Upon police request during business hours, over 1,500 REALTORS®
are text messaged to be on the lookout in emergency situations.
2000
Langley RCMP activate a fan-out for a runaway 11-year old boy. A REALTOR®,
in the middle of an open house, receives the text description on his
pager, looks through the front window and spots the boy. He calls 9-1-1
and very relieved parents are reunited with their son.
2003
The Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB) joined Fraser
Valley’s Realty Watch fan-out program taking the number of REALTORS®
being text messaged to over 2,000.
2004
Thanks to a donated pager from Surrey’s Apex Communications to
the FVREB, the fan-out system goes 24-7. REALTORS® in charge of
Realty Watch carry the pager at all times. If police contact the FVREB
after-hours to initiate a fan-out, the pager goes off, any time, day
or night. The FVREB wishes to thank Messaging Solutions Inc. for donating
the fan-out paging service to all of its REALTORS®.
2004
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) launch a Realty Watch
fan-out pilot project in Burnaby, New Westminster and the Tri-Cities
(Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam).
2004
Another success, this time in Ontario. A REALTOR® in the Niagara
region spots a missing senior citizen and calls in the information.
2006
Thanks to technological innovation, the REBGV is able to text message
it’s entire membership simultaneously.
Realty Watch is now 12,000 + REALTORS® strong across BC’s
entire Lower Mainland.
2006
Realty Watch's most recent success! Again in Langley, a REALTOR® was instrumental in helping RCMP locate a missing teenager. The REALTOR® shared her fan-out text message with a friend, who unbeknownst to her, knew the missing girl. As they were reading the message together, the girl phoned. Police were contacted and she was reunited with her loved ones that afternoon. See the complete story on the What's New page.
2007
In a Media Advisory, the Surrey RCMP credit a REALTOR®, victimized in a harrowing robbery and confinement, for her conscientious and quick assistance in the investigation, allowing police to make a quick arrest. They also praised Lower Mainland REALTORS®’ crime prevention program: Realty Watch. The Fraser Valley Board sent a text description of the two suspects to its 3,000 plus members. See the complete story on the What's New page.
2008
Two high-ranking Lower Mainland police officers, Superintendent Andy Hobbs, of the Vancouver Police Department and Inspector Richard Konarski, of the Langley RCMP addressed a 'packed house' at Realty Watch's 9th Annual Police Breakfast held in Burnaby. Both commended REALTORS® for taking the initiative to implement the Realty Watch program, adding that active community involvement in assisting police is vital for the safety of our neighbourhoods and cities.
2009
The White Rock RCMP credit Realty Watch for helping them locate a missing, vulnerable senior within one hour of asking for their assistance. See the complete story on the What's New page.
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