UCREW Receives Continued Support from AREF

Monday, Sep 29, 2025

The CREW Calgary UCREW program is proud to receive funding through the sponsorship stream of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF). Established in 1991 under the Real Estate Act, AREF invests in projects that strengthen Alberta’s real estate industry and benefit communities across the province.

In 2024, AREF awarded UCREW a $10,000 sponsorship and renewed that support again this August. Their generous backing helps us grow and deliver meaningful programming for emerging real estate professionals.

To highlight this partnership, UCREW Committee Chair Carla Barney spoke with Josh Traptow, Executive Director, and Sarah Stuebing, Manager, Grants Program, about AREF’s priorities and why they chose to support UCREW.

CB: What inspired your company to support our initiative?

AREF: AREF took a real interest in CREW as an organization and sees value in what we offer to the industry. One of our funding priorities is Real Estate Leadership, and the UCREW program offers a unique opportunity to engage upcoming leaders currently in real estate studies. We see value in introducing our industry to students. Real estate is not always talked about as a career path, and UCREW can help young leaders gain a better understanding of opportunities.

CB: Do you often support initiatives like ours, or was this a unique opportunity for you?

AREF: Fairly unique, as this program is specific to students and is fostering up and coming leaders in our industry.

CB: What types of causes or impact areas does your company prioritize when selecting sponsorships?

AREF: One of the areas we support is education. We want to see quality conversations, opportunities to connect industry leaders with students, and space to learn from one another. We also like to showcase the work of those we have sponsored.

CB: What kind of return (social, brand, community impact, etc.) were you hoping to gain from this sponsorship?

AREF: We hope our support of UCREW creates awareness for AREF. We want people to know who we are, who we fund, and how proud we are to support the next generation of leaders in programs such as this.

In 2025, UCREW welcomed nine students into its inaugural program. These students connected with mentors, received scholarships, and some secured internships. With AREF’s support, UCREW is looking forward to expanding its student program in 2026.

Learn more about AREF: www.aref.ab.ca