The creative side of Canadian real estate investing and the pros and cons of multi-unit investment headline the first-annual Real Estate Investors Summit to be held at the Port O' Call Inn on McKnight Boulevard this Saturday, Feb. 5.

Organized by Calgary's own Women Investing in Real Estate (WIRE), the day-long event is expected to attract about 80 investors to hear presentations by Matt Bowman, the American creator of www.REItoolbox.com and Thomas Beyer, an Alberta real estate investor who will talk to summit participants about the advantages and pitfalls of commercial real estate investment.

Launched just over a year ago by local investor Cindy Girard, who hosted WIRE's first meeting in the living room of her northwest Calgary home, WIRE's low monthly fees ($25) and small-group meetings fill what Girard maintains was a critical gap for women in Calgary who want to invest in real estate.

"I really like the opportunity to network with people who are wanting to do the same thing," says Sharon Trenaman, a partner in Advantage Home Buyers Ltd. and an 18-year veteran of real estate investment. Like several of WIRE's 26 active members, Trenaman belongs to other real estate investment organizations, but is convinced WIRE offers something special to women who might not be as comfortable in larger organizations and want to network with women as they develop their businesses.

Mike Sturk, Business Edge
Cindy Girard, right, and Pat Christie are using a real estate conference to benefit women in need.

"It's another avenue to network. It's another avenue to learn. I'll go to anything where I can learn even one thing in an evening," says Trenaman, whose residential holdings range from Calgary to Fort McMurray.

Girard, who got into real estate investing the old-fashioned way, by buying property that included living quarters and a suited basement, is hopeful Saturday's meeting will boost WIRE membership and bring in more of what the organization calls "connections."

Connections are real estate-related businesses that increase WIRE's membership value by offering member discounts for industry-related services and providing speakers for monthly meetings.

"I think (WIRE) is going to expand a lot," predicts Trenaman, who's been with WIRE since its first meeting in January 2004.

Saturday's day-long summit at the Port O' Call is also expected to raise $2,500 for Calgary's Women in Need Society (WINS), a registered charitable organization that operates five Women in Need thrift stores in Calgary (Bowness, 14th Street S.W., Richard Road, Fisher Park and Dover).

WINS also funds social work and early childhood education support at family resource centres located in three of Calgary's low-cost housing projects, offers entry-level employment through its thrift stores and organizes children's programs and a Christmas gift program.

Profits from donated clothing, household goods and furniture (Dover store only) sold at the thrift stores go back into the society. Its goods referral program ensures women and children in crisis situations have a place to get the personal and household items they need. To date, close to 60 organizations refer women to the society, says fund development manager Pat Christie.

Girard says WIRE members chose the society because it gives women in crisis a literal hand up in a time of need. Ironically, Girard did not know WINS was the brainchild of a long-time Calgary realtor Catherine Tkach, although she likes the historical connection between WINS and women in real estate.

Tkach, who has since moved on to other charitable endeavours, started WINS 12 years ago to help women coming out of shelters, single mothers and their children in crisis situations and women in transition, including new Canadians. Tkach says the idea came from her own life experiences and she's pleased a new group of business women has singled out the society for assistance.

Christie says the support comes at a good time, given WINS' recent efforts to raise the organization's profile.

Web watch: www.wireconnections.ca (Joy Gregory can be reached at joy@businessedge.ca)