Feature Article
THE 'ART' OF GIVING BACK
Written By: Kim Vanderleer
Published By: Calgary Real Estate News
Article Used with permission of the Calgary Real Estate Board. © Copyright Calgary Real Estate News, 2007
2005-02-24
; "The ’Art’ of giving back")
Art Dixon, founder and agent of Dixon Real Estate Services Inc. has made significant contributions to both the real estate profession and the community.
His beliefs in hard work, dedication and honesty have made him successful as a Realtor, a speaker for the Alberta Legislature and an active volunteer with many organizations.
Art was born on December 1, 1919 in England, moved to Canada at an early age and was raised in Okotoks. He served in the Canadian Airforce from 1940 to 1946 and during that time he met and married Dorothea Evans.
After he was discharged in 1946, he moved to Calgary in the community of Rosedale and eventually owned a hardware store.
I was interested in politics, but I had a hardware store on 14th Street after the war, Art said. I wanted to get out and be free and I thought - well, the real estate industry does that, it allows you to set your own hours, you aren't tied to an eight hour day, you can work 14 hours if you want!
He began in the real estate business in 1949 working for Clark Real Estate and Insurance.
At the time, the population of Calgary was about 80,000, the average selling price of home was between $3,000 and $4,000 and the outer districts were Rosscarrock, Windsor Park, Forest Lawn, Riverside and Hillhurst.
The real estate business was also a lot smaller according to Art.
There were very few people in the business at that time, I knew practically everyone.
The familiarity with the other agents and the customers was one of the reasons that Art enjoyed the business so much.
He says that mortgages were not easy to obtain in his early days in the business and people had to save up to buy a house. So, when you sold someone a house, it was important that it was a quality home at a reasonable price.
I liked seeing people again that I had sold a house to, and they were still living there and seemed really happy. I very seldom had complaints, Art said. A deal has to bless both parties.
Art enjoyed the real estate business, but he was passionate about politics, an interest he obtained from his mother who was a social activist during the Depression.
He became a Calgary MLA in 1952, a position he held for 23 years.
Whatever industry you are in, whether you are a lawyer or a real estate agent, it is important to realize it’s not about making money, it’s about giving back to the community, Art said about why volunteering and politics are important to him.
In 1956, Art started his own real estate company, Dixon Real Estate Services Inc. Today he is still an agent there, with his oldest son Tom running the company.
Dixon Real Estate Services Inc. is one of the oldest family-owned and operated real estate companies that is still in existence.
Art’s success as a residential and commercial Realtor grew and so did his activism with politics. He was the Speaker of the House in the Legislature from 1967 to 1975.
In 1979, a great honour was bestowed upon Art; he was nominated and received the Canada Medal for his volunteerism with seniors and young people.
This distinction also made him a member of the Order of Canada.
Art is a lifetime member of CREB, has served on various committees and was a director with the board. Last year he celebrated 55 years in the real estate business.
I thought that the board has done a wonderful job over the years, it’s a very important part of Calgary - the real estate industry headed up by the Real Estate Board, Art said. I had no idea that Calgary would get as big as it is today as quickly as it has grown.
He notes that the industry has changed dramatically over the past 56 years.
When I started in the business, it was very amateurish. Today they have everything electronically, which is easier for Realtors; it’s all computerized now. They have a wonderful system of advertising houses through the Calgary Real Estate News and it’s also on the Internet. In the early days there was none of that, when I started in real estate there wasn't even MLS, that came along a little later.
Art retired from Dixon Real Estate Services in June of 1990, but retained the role of Agent. He is still quite busy with a number of different organizations.
He is a Life Member of the Salvation Army Citizens Advisory Board, the President of the William Aberhart Historical Society, a Citizen Court Judge, a Lifetime Member of Calgary Chinook Kiwanis Club and SAIT alumni.
His wife Dorothea passed away in 1991, and he has been re-married for eight years to Marguerite. He has two sons, a stepdaughter, eight grandchildren and he just recently became a great-grandfather.
Art is grateful for his wonderful life and successful career. He believes that the way to be successful is to, always be truthful in your deals, do the best you can and keep respect for everyone you deal with.
This article was written for Calgary Real Estate News, a division of the Calgary Real Estate Board, for the series “Legends of Real Estate” showcasing important members of the Calgary Real Estate Board. Please visit the Calgary Real Estate Board online.This article is part of the collection of the Calgary Real Estate News. Please visit them online.