Real estate torch bearers

Linda Middleton

Several real estate professionals have taken part in the Olympic Torch Relay program in recent weeks.

“The honour to carry the Olympic Torch through my community was so gratifying,” says Linda Middleton, broker of record and owner of Sutton Group Prince Edward County Realty in Picton, Ont. “The most heart-warming part was all the children who were so enthusiastic and just swarming me to touch me, to touch my torch, to have a picture taken and to hold the torch. I advertised a complimentary photo opportunity for local children to attend our office and get their picture taken with the torch. The response was overwhelming. Many of the local schools have asked me to attend their next school assembly and speak about the experience this month.”

Middleton says she was chosen to carry the torch because of her volunteer work, which has included running a foster home for emotionally disturbed children for 11 years, creating Collective Kitchens for Developmentally Delayed Adults, and launching a program called Just Friends, which matched community volunteers with developmentally delayed adults. “Although you never expect any return on your volunteer role, to be given this privilege to carry the torch and have my previous foster children and the developmentally delayed adults out there this day to cheer me on was so emotional,” she says.

In Bedford, N.S., it was a wet and windy evening when sales rep Moya Farrell of Prudential Property Specialists carried the torch for her leg of the relay. Following the conclusion of the run, Farrell shared her piece of history with the other members of the brokerage as her torch, soot and all, was passed around at the weekly sales meeting.

David Weir with his children Kyle, left and Chelsea, right, who recently earned her real estate license.

Trenton, Ont.’s David Weir of Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty interrupted a family vacation in Florida to come back and pull his stint with the torch on Dec. 15. Weir was born in Scotland, but has had his Canadian citizenship for many years and served in the Canadian Forces for 20 years. He was featured on REM’s April 2008 cover.

“It’s even more special to me, knowing that I will be guiding the flame in my adopted country after having served all those years in the Canadian military,” Weir told The Trentonian before the event. “It’s a lifetime opportunity.”

Arlene Forbes

Arlene Forbes, a sales rep with Coast Realty Group Nanaimo, carried the Olympic Torch in Royston, B.C. on Vancouver Island on November 2 and then posed for photos with staff and children.  Arlene is married to Randy Forbes, general manager at Coast Realty, and their son Scott is also a licensed Realtor.

Torch participants can keep their torches – at a cost of $300 – but they are rendered inoperable.