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L-R: Mitch Thomson, Red Deer Food Bank executive director, Mike Platte, Sobey’s South owner, and Dale Devereaux, Century 21 and Feed a Family organizer. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)
astonishing accomplishment

Red Deer realtor honoured by real estate association for decades of giving back

Apr 20, 2023 | 11:57 AM

Red Deer realtor Dale Deveraux is being heralded by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) for his 25 years of giving back to the community.

Devereaux, known for his massive yearly donations of food hampers during the holidays, is a recipient of the Canadian REALTORS Care Award.

The owner of Century 21 Maximum, Devereaux’s efforts have undoubtedly had a lasting impact on lessening food insecurity.

READ MORE: Local realtor marks 25 years of giving Christmas hampers; food bank has great need

“Our committee was deeply impressed by Dale’s relentless commitment to charitable efforts that support community development,” says Darcy McLeod, Chair of CREA’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Committee and a member of the selection committee for the award.

“During the 37 years of his career as a REALTOR®, he has gone above and beyond to contribute to charities such as the Red Deer Food Bank and the Ronald McDonald House, all the while rallying his community to join his efforts. His impact has been immense, providing meals to nearly 30,000 central Albertans in need, and helping raise an astonishing $12.1 million for the Ronald McDonald House Red Deer.”

Devereaux moved to Red Deer in the 1980s, joining the Piper Creek Optimist Club, and spearheading Sunday night bingo, which raised $100,000 yearly.

The club raised more than $1 million for projects like the children’s library, the NICU at Red Deer Regional Hospital, and Boys and Girls Club camps.

He eventually began his ‘Feed a family at Christmas’ campaign in 1998, consistently feeding more than 100 families every year.

“When I was approached to help find a suitable site for the new Ronald McDonald House, I started doing research and I found a lot that was close to the hospital and faces a main road in Red Deer. I think everyone just assumed this was just escarpment land as it had never been on the market. The company that owned it was out of the U.S., so I got a hold of them, and we made a deal,” says Devereaux.

“CREA’s Canadian REALTORS Care Award is very special to me. Real estate has been my career and my life, I’m proud to be a REALTOR and I’m happy to be able to donate my time and resources to causes that are important to our city. This award means so much to me because it highlights the work of REALTORS across our county—we are by nature of our jobs, entrenched in our communities, and many of us spend countless hours volunteering our time to support them.”

The award was presented at the recent CREA AGM. CREA will give $5,000 to Devereaux’s charity of choice, the Red Deer Food Bank.