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Growth of the Co-op

Once the Edmonton Real Estate Board Co¬operative Listing Bureau had been established, the next challenge was promoting its use by the various real estate companies. Norm Winterburn also played a very important role in this campaign. He made presentations to the sales staff of various companies. He encouraged their participation by pointing out that the multiple listing service would allow a salesman to have a listing circulated to other members. It also helped smaller companies with a small staff and few or no branch offices to build up a clientele.

Norm was also involved in the organization of social events. The philosophy behind these activities was to encourage camaraderie amongst members of the real estate industry. These events included charter trips to Las Vegas and Spain. He also organized events in Edmonton that featured his expertise as a magician.

Despite some initial opposition, the co-op became an established institution in the industry through the efforts of Norm Winterburn and others. The first property listing of the Edmonton Real Estate Board Co¬operative Listing Bureau was received on August 7, 1952, for a house located at 11158 ¬65 Street in the Highlands. Norm Winterburn had the first listing and also sold the first house through the Co-operative Listing Bureau. By September 23, 1952, they had 177 listings. By then the Bureau had sold 25 properties with a total value of $241,200.00. The value would continue to increase every year thereafter until 1982.

This article is extracted from John Gilpin, Responsible Enterprise: A History of Edmonton Real Estate & the Edmonton Real Estate Board. (Edmonton: Edmonton Real Estate Board, 1997). The Heritage Community Foundation and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation would like to thank John Gilpin and the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton for permission to reproduce this material.

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