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Doris McRae

Doris McRae was a pioneer for women in the real estate industry, entering the industry at the age of 48 in 1967. McRae initially worked at Keith Homes, presenting show homes to prospective buyers. She was then called up by Arthur Lee, sales manager for Keith Homes and founder of Arthur Lee Real Estate, who asked her to become part of his sales team because they wanted a lady to bring "glamour" into the office.

Doris McRae worked with Arthur Lee for six years, until one of her sales was given to someone else in the office. She quit and began working for Royal Trust, which would later become Royal LePage.

While working at Royal Trust, her husband Don developed cancer of the stomach and colon, and was given three months to live. Doris mortgaged her house to bring her husband to a clinic in Jamaica, and she was given a special mortgage rate by Royal Trust. The clinic worked out, and Doris spent 17 more years with Don, raising their children Collin, Sharen and Dayle.

Doris joined RE/MAX in 1985, in her late 60s. In addition to working in real estate, Doris also spent her time teaching meditation courses, taking continuing education courses, and taking trips to clinics in Mexico and the United States for her husband's treatments. Don died on Novemeber 30, 1990.

Doris McRae retired from real estate at the age of 72. She now frequents the Retired REALTORS® monthly luncheon at the Calgary Real Estate Board; she also plays bridge, ballroom dances, and spends time with her grandchildren.

For more information on Doris McRae, read the Calgary Real Estate News article Real estate, the Mayne way in our feature article database.

References

Goheen, Krista. Real estate, the Mayne way Calgary Real Estate News, 24(12), March 23, 2006.

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