In a small ceremony at the Grant Hall Hotel on Feb. 8, the Saskatchewan Realtors Association presented local real estate agent Wally Meili with an award commemorating his 50 years as a member of the organization.
“It’s quite an honour. They’re great people to work with, the Association and the other realtors, and they’re dedicated to helping their clients,” said Meili, about the recognition. “It’s a good thing to be part of. I’ve always enjoyed it.”
Presented by Gord Archibald, interim CEO of the Sask. Realtors Association, the commemorative award is an accomplishment that very few realtors in the province have received.
“I would say probably less than a handful [of realtors] have ever achieved 50 years as a member of the Association, so it’s quite an accomplishment,” said Archibald. “Being a realtor is not an easy thing. You have to have a lot of loyalty and perseverance to be able to work through the ups and downs that occur, and I’m sure that [Wally] has seen a few of those bumps over the years.”
Meili, who is currently an agent with Royal LePage Landmart, first began his career as a realtor in 1970. Meili has since worked as both a real estate agent and broker, while also raising a family and operating a third-generation farm in the Gravelbourg and Assiniboia area.
Over the last several decades, he has served the Moose Jaw area with expertise, handling all types of listings including commercial, residential and farmland properties.
He also held the positions of director and president of the Moose Jaw Real Estate Board, which disbanded in 2015 after more than 50 years of operation.
For Meili, the highlight of the last 50 years as a realtor is seeing the trust his clients have put in him to help with such a big life decision.
“It’s really an honour, that people give you the trust to handle one of the biggest things that will happen in their lives,” said Meili. “It’s always a joy, running into people years after you’ve looked after them, and they come up and say hello and thank you again.”
Meili has seen plenty of changes in the industry over the years — the most notable of which, he admitted, is the increase in the paperwork now required with each sale — and even in the past year, with the pandemic affecting how realtors do business.
“It’s difficult, but it’s actually been extremely busy,” said Meili, about the past year. “Certainly there are challenges in treating the wishes of the people in their houses, to keep them as safe [from] COVID as we can.”
Meili agreed that celebrating 50 years as a realtor with the Sask. Realtors Association is an exciting moment, and he is not looking at retirement on the horizon any time soon — he’s planning to continue working alongside his colleagues for a while yet.
“We’re very blessed in our operation. We have very good support staff, [so kudos] to them, they deserve it,” said Meili. “I’m really honoured by this presentation and appreciate the Association giving it to me. It’s a lovely gift. We’ll find a spot of honour on a wall for it.”
Meili also expressed his thanks to his wife Lea and his family, for their continued patience and understanding over the years as his realty career often calls for sometimes unusual and extended working hours.
Meili’s milestone accomplishment will also be celebrated by the Sask. Realtors Association during their upcoming Annual General Meeting in March, which will be held virtually over Zoom.
