Re/Max Canada cuts ties with Calgary’s Re/Max Central

Re/Max Canada has abruptly ended its franchise agreement with Calgary’s Re/Max Real Estate (Central), regarded as one of its top-performing offices .

“We are writing to inform you that effective today … Re/Max Real Estate (Central) has been terminated and is no longer affiliated with the Re/Max brand,” Re/Max Canada president Don Kottick wrote on Thursday in an internal email to associates.

“This action was taken to protect the Re/Max brand and your business.”

In a separate message to Re/Max Central associates, managing broker David Lem confirmed the termination and emphasized the brokerage remains licensed with Alberta’s real estate regulator.

“This morning, we received official notification from Re/Max Canada that the franchise agreement for Re/Max Central has been formally terminated, effective immediately,” Lem wrote. “This does not affect our status as a brokerage registered with RECA, our trust or commission accounts and is still operating as a licensed brokerage.

Texts of both emails were obtained by Postmedia.

“Like you, we were blindsided and completely shocked,” Lem added, inviting agents to attend an information session hosted by Re/Max Canada in Calgary later in the day.

Re/Max Central is owned by Pat Hare, a relative of Eric Drinkwater, a former associate at Re/Max Central who’s facing a charge of defrauding investors.

On May 8, Calgary police announced Drinkwater had been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000 in connection with a $1.9-million fraud scheme involving 16 victims between 2020 and 2024.

A victim came forward in July 2024 with allegations they had invested $80,000 with a realtor but had never received repayment, Calgary police said in a release at the time.

Hare is named in an ongoing civil lawsuit that also includes the Real Estate Council of Alberta and a numbered company.

Drinkwater, who had his licence as an associate broker suspended by RECA in June 2024, settled with the four complainants in March.

Senior official resigns from Real Estate Council of Alberta

The termination of Re/Max Central’s franchise has sparked wider industry fallout, including the resignation of a senior official with the industry regulator.

Jason Bamlett resigned Thursday as vice-chair of RECA’s residential industry council, citing frustrations with the regulator.

“I can no longer lend my time and efforts to this organization, an organization that continues to fail by every measure,” he wrote in a Calgary realtors Facebook group.

In an interview with Postmedia, he said seeing Re/Max Central lose its franchise was the final straw that led to his resignation.

“It breaks my heart. This is a very sad day for a lot of good friends of mine in the business,” he said.