After a 40+ year career of outstanding service and leadership in Alberta’s nonprofit sector, we are announcing and celebrating the retirement of Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, effective June 30, 2025.

The Foundation is grateful for Patti’s leadership over the past four years. Patti joined the Foundation in December of 2020 during a time of reflection and strategic change.

Patti is an extraordinary relationship builder, coach, and enabler. Patti’s leadership style is deeply rooted in a human-first approach, and as a result, together with a talented team of staff, governors and committee volunteers, we have achieved so much during her tenure.

Patti is proud of our work together:

• Creating an exciting strategic vision to guide us forward;
• Renewing and strengthening our connections to our important interest-holders: industry professionals, grant recipients, other grantmaking colleagues, government, consumers, and more;
• Developing our brand and building greater awareness of the Foundation, the good work of our grantees, and the opportunity to create positive change together;
• Being a part of a community who are working together on projects that are making positive impacts in industry and in our province; and importantly,
• Creating a safe, healthy, and thriving workplace, including piloting and adopting the 4-Day Week.

Patti’s warm energy, authenticity, and enthusiasm have been pivotal in shaping the Foundation’s culture and realizing our mandate for today’s challenges and opportunities. The staff team will be the first to describe the sense of a strong and supportive workplace Patti has cultivated. One where staff, governors, and grantees feel supported and valued, consistently fostering trust and mutual respect. Patti’s unwavering commitment to creating a safe and inclusive space has strengthened partnerships and empowered everyone involved with the Foundation to contribute meaningfully to positive change across Alberta and within the real estate industry.

“With sincere thanks to Patti’s leadership, the Foundation has never been stronger, internally as an organization, and within Alberta’s dynamic real estate ecosystem. We are privileged to be in our grantmaking role and thank Patti for leaving us so well-positioned as an engaged partner alongside all our interest-holders.” - Penny Omell, Chair, Public Member

“Patti brought the stability and ability we were seeking as a board of governors to navigate the changing nature of the real estate industry, and thus the reflective changes required of the Foundation. It’s been my pleasure to serve the Foundation alongside Patti, and as a REALTOR® am thrilled at how the Foundation is engaging with the industry to benefit us all.” - Janice Resch, Past Chair, Appointed by the Alberta Real Estate Association

Prior to the Foundation, Patti was the Chief Executive Officer of Wellspring Calgary (now Wellspring Alberta) for 14 years, leading the charity from inception to remarkable growth. Patti has long been improving the lives of Albertans, working with youth, people with disabilities, people living with cancer, and now through the grantmaking work of the Foundation.

The Board of Directors has engaged Leaders International to facilitate the search for the Foundation’s next Executive Director.

Thank you, Patti, for your lasting impact on the Foundation, and Albertans. With gratitude, our best wishes and congratulations to Patti in her retirement!