Scholarships

Application

Please check back in February 2023 for information on how to apply for the 2023 Past President's Scholarship.

2023 Winners

Explore the eight winners' essays, bios, and how their chosen post-secondary studies and career goals could impact the real estate industry in the future. To read their full answers, please click their quotations.

Topic #1

The Ontario government is proposing to swap some of the protected land in the Greenbelt with other land to be protected to allow for development in order to tackle the lack of housing supply in the GTA. What are the pros and cons? Are you for or against this plan, and why?

Topic #2

Do you think it is better to rent or own? You will always have both renters and owners in the GTA housing market. Which option do you think makes sense for various segments of the GTA population, and why? What might your personal decision be after your post-secondary graduation, and why?

Past Winners

2022

• 1 - Surprising Cause of the Toronto Real Estate Bubble by Ryan Tan
• 1 - The Remote Living Revolution: How Remote Living Has Impacted Suburbia and the Greater Toronto Area by Deborah Ojo
• 2 - The Future of Generational Wealth: A Glimpse Intro Reality by Dream Tuitt-Barnes
• 2 - The short to medium term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Real Estate industry of Toronto by Jonathan Sekyewa
• 3 - Investigating Intergenerational Wealth Within GTA’s Real Estate Industry by Tivona Mwangi
• 3 - Increasing Relocation to the Suburban Areas of Ontario by Darrah Tan
• 4 - The Great Wealth Transfer and its Impacts on the Epidemic of Housing Unaffordability in the GTA by Zufishan (Amber) Siddiqui
• 4 - Outcomes of the Pandemic Exodus by Mahak Mishra

2021

• 1 - [Ensuring a Stable Future for the GTA Housing Market] by Sarah Ahmed
• 1 - [The Canadian Dream of Homeownership] by Hana Mirbagheri
• 2 - A Growing Population: Addressing the Future Housing Needs of the Greater Toronto Area by Matthew Berger
• 2 - Housing Within Toronto by Alexa Amelio

2020

• 1 - The Future of the GTA’s Housing Market: Bright but Tight by Holden Kunde
• 1 - The Real State of Toronto’s Real Estate by Kothai Gunaratnam
• 2 - The Future of Toronto Housing: Taller, Smarter, Greener by Anika Shenoy
• 2 - Widening the Belt: Improving Affordability through Better Transportation Links by Eric Xu

2019

• 1 - Do you think home ownership will be attainable for you in the future? Why or why not? by Elisa Verrilli
• 1 - What is the “missing middle” in housing, and do you think it will impact the issues facing the GTA real estate marketplace? by Sukhamrit Singh
• 2 - Do you think home ownership will be attainable for you in the future? Why or why not? by Chloe Drury
• 2 - What is the “missing middle” in housing, and do you think it will impact the issues facing the GTA real estate marketplace? by Brett Gugel

2018

• 1 - In April 2017, the Ontario government released its Fair Housing Plan, which included the imposition of a 15 per cent Non-Resident Speculation Tax in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area. In your opinion, was it wise to implement this tax on foreign buyers of homes? Why or why not? by Kristina Miller
• 1 - Governments at all levels have announced changes or proposals to address affordability issues when it comes to both ownership and rental housing across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Do you think recent measures such as a possible Toronto vacancy tax, the new OSFI mortgage stress test for uninsured mortgages, the Ontario Fair Housing Plan, and short-term rental (home sharing economy) regulations in Toronto are adequate to address affordability concerns? by Tega Aror
• 2 - In April 2017, the Ontario government released its Fair Housing Plan, which included the imposition of a 15 per cent Non-Resident Speculation Tax in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area. In your opinion, was it wise to implement this tax on foreign buyers of homes? Why or why not? by Milen Negash
• 2 - Governments at all levels have announced changes or proposals to address affordability issues when it comes to both ownership and rental housing across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Do you think recent measures such as a possible Toronto vacancy tax, the new OSFI mortgage stress test for uninsured mortgages, the Ontario Fair Housing Plan, and short-term rental (home sharing economy) regulations in Toronto are adequate to address affordability concerns? by Alex Hu

2017

• 1 - Do you think better transportation infrastructure would improve housing affordability in the GTA? Why or why not? by Janae Knott
• 1 - Do you believe home ownership will be attainable for you in the future? Why or why not? by Xia (Sophia) Ge
• 2 - Do you think better transportation infrastructure would improve housing affordability in the GTA? Why or why not? by Brittany Chang-Kit
• 2 - Do you believe home ownership will be attainable for you in the future? Why or why not? by Mica Ong

2016

• 1 - Home ownership is widely accepted as a cornerstone of good financial planning and wealth management for individuals and families. In contrast, the benefits of home ownership on other aspects of the lives of individuals and families gets much less attention. How and why can owning a home impact non-financial aspects of individuals' and families' lives, such as social and community interaction, health and well-being, and educational achievement? by Jingyuan Helen Feng
• 1 - Although "affordable housing" is a priority public policy issue, there is often differing and competing understandings of what this term includes. In some instances, "affordable housing" refers only to government subsidized social housing units, and in other instances it is more broadly defined to refer to the affordability of the broader, non-government subsidized, rental and ownership real estate markets. Provide an analysis of government definitions of "affordable housing", and articulate how public policies regarding "affordable housing" may or may not affect the affordability of housing in general. by Mansi Sheth
• 2 - Home ownership is widely accepted as a cornerstone of good financial planning and wealth management for individuals and families. In contrast, the benefits of home ownership on other aspects of the lives of individuals and families gets much less attention. How and why can owning a home impact non-financial aspects of individuals' and families' lives, such as social and community interaction, health and well-being, and educational achievement? by Janet Wang
• 2 - Although "affordable housing" is a priority public policy issue, there is often differing and competing understandings of what this term includes. In some instances, "affordable housing" refers only to government subsidized social housing units, and in other instances it is more broadly defined to refer to the affordability of the broader, non-government subsidized, rental and ownership real estate markets. Provide an analysis of government definitions of "affordable housing", and articulate how public policies regarding "affordable housing" may or may not affect the affordability of housing in general. by Tiffany Bouchard

2015

• 1 - As our changing population produces new communities, there are many considerations to be addressed in making these communities successful. Identify a key consideration that you feel needs to be addressed to ensure success. by Jacob Broz
• 1 - How may the Pan Am Games impact the surrounding communities prior to, during, and once the games have concluded? by Andrew Kwong
• 2 - As our changing population produces new communities, there are many considerations to be addressed in making these communities successful. Identify a key consideration that you feel needs to be addressed to ensure success. by Amy Qiu
• 2 - How may the Pan Am Games impact the surrounding communities prior to, during, and once the games have concluded? by Fairoza Manjra

2014

• 1 - What programs or policies would you advocate to make home ownership more attainable? by Martin Lai
• 1 - Share your vision for the optimization of the GTA’s infrastructure, and include observations from other major international cities by Aravind Rajendran
• 2 - What programs or policies would you advocate to make home ownership more attainable? by Eva Xu
• 2 - Share your vision for the optimization of the GTA’s infrastructure, and include observations from other major international cities by Natalia Szatoba

2013

• 1 - What municipal revenue sources do you think the City of Toronto might utilize for future infrastructure funding? by Michelle Kwong
• 1 - Which is a more viable financial decision today, homeownership or renting? What do you think is the impact of this decision on society? by Maxwell Tran
• 2 - What municipal revenue sources do you think the City of Toronto might utilize for future infrastructure funding? by Rebecca Steele
• 2 - Which is a more viable financial decision today, homeownership or renting? What do you think is the impact of this decision on society? by Natalie Wainwright

2012

• 1 - What initiatives could be implemented in the GTA to solve our gridlock crisis? (You may include, but are not limited to, worldwide initiatives and examples). by Kelsey Chisamore-Johnston
• 1 - Do you think home ownership in the GTA remains attainable and/or desirable? by Amanda Cannon
• 2 - What initiatives could be implemented in the GTA to solve our gridlock crisis? (You may include, but are not limited to, worldwide initiatives and examples.) by Tucker McLachlan
• 2 - Do you think home ownership in the GTA remains attainable and/or desirable? by Yusuf Sharif Yusuf

2011

• 1 - How do you envision the ideal GTA community? (residentially and/or commercially) by Christina Chong
• 2 - Like the “Doctors Without Borders” concept, what initiatives could be undertaken by real estate professionals? by Claire Guimond

2010

• 1 - What impact do you think taxes, such as the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), will have on affordability for the residential or commercial real estate consumer? by Ashley Sewrattan
• 2 - Quality of Life is an approach that local real estate boards, associations & individual REALTORS® have adopted to demonstrate the commitment of the real estate profession to improve Quality of Life throughout the province of Ontario. What initiatives would advance the Quality of Life principles by the year 2020? by Brianna Smrke

2009

• 1 - What initiatives would you like to see embraced by government & real estate developers to help create environmentally conscious communities in the GTA? by Konrad Teichman
• 2 - How will GTA real estate be impacted by rising energy costs & uncertain international economies? by Cristiana Mergianian

2008

• 1 - How does a Grow Op/Chem Lab, operating either residentially or commercially, impact the broader community? by Cathleen Brennan
• 2 - What specific modifications would you make to Ontario building practices (residentially and/or commercially) to compensate for the effects of global warming & extreme weather conditions? by Monika Mahindra

2007

• 1 - Should property rights be enshrined in the Canadian Constitution? by Adam Kahn
• 2 - Describe the environmentally friendly home of the future by Rachel Johnston