Nominations and Elections – Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®

Board Nomination and Election Timeline – 2026

This timeline outlines the key steps and dates in Cornerstone’s board nomination and election process. It is intended to help members understand what to expect and when.

DATES	What’s happening
April 2	Call for expressions of interest opens
April 23 (4:30 PM) NOW CLOSED	Expressions of Interest CLOSED
April 27 – May 15	Review and interviews by Nomination Committee
May 21	Notice of Annual Meeting issued and recommended board slate announced. A call for additional nominations opens
June 4 (4:30 PM)	Deadline for additional nominations
June 8 – June 12	Review of any additional nominations
June 16	Final board slate confirmed or election announced
June 18 – June 22	Electronic voting period (if an election is required)
June 25	Annual Meeting of Members

Eligibility Criteria to serve on Cornerstone’s Board of Directors

In accordance with Cornerstone’s Governance Policy & Practices Manual: Candidate Requirements, Eligibility and Disqualification 

Candidate Leadership Development Requirements 

Candidates are strongly encouraged to complete the OREA/CREA Leadership 100 course prior to running for office.  Successful candidates must complete Leadership 100 within thirty (30) days of being elected to office, Leadership 200 within sixty (60) days, and Leadership 300, if offered, must be completed prior to end of the first year of being elected to office.  (Find out more about the program here)

In accordance with Cornerstone’s Bylaw:

An individual is disqualiﬁed from being a Director if they:

are under eighteen (18) years old;

are a person who has been found under the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 or under the Mental Health Act to be incapable of managing property;

are a person who has been found to be incapable by any court in Canada or elsewhere;

have the status of bankrupt;

are a director or ofﬁcer of another real estate board or association, OREA, CREA or RECO or any entity owned or controlled by any other real estate board or association;

have ever been removed as a director or ofﬁcer of another real estate board or association, OREA, CREA or RECO or any entity owned or controlled by any other real estate board or association;

are not an Individual Member, unless they are an Independent Director; or

have been convicted of a criminal or RECO offense involving fraud or moral turpitude.

Additional Information

Directors must sign and comply with the Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest policy.

Nominations and Elections FAQ

What does the nomination and election process look like? 

The Nomination Committee is tasked with nominating a full slate of candidates to fill eleven (11) positions on the twelve (12) person board of directors (the “Board”) of the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® (the “Corporation”) as follows:

Composition:

Six (6) elected for two-year terms
Five (5) elected for one-year terms (including three (3) from current Board)

The Chair-Elect serves as an ex-officio director of the Corporation (a “Director”) and is automatically appointed to a one-year term.

The Nomination Committee will encourage eligible members of the Corporation (each, a “Member”) to complete an application for consideration as possible candidates for available Board positions. A call for expressions of interest will also be sent to all Members, and any eligible Member can submit their interest through an online application to serve as a Director. 

After their evaluation, the Nomination Committee will nominate a full slate of candidates directly to the Corporation’s membership. Note, the Nomination Committee reports directly to the membership, not to the Board, ensuring autonomy in its recommendations.

What happens after the Nomination Committee announces the initial slate for the Board?

When the slate is announced to the membership, there will be a call for additional nominations, allowing Members to nominate additional candidates beyond those included in the initial slate.

If additional applications are received during the call for additional nominations period, the Nomination Committee will review them to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria set out in section 5.4 of the Corporation’s bylaws. The eligible candidates will be added to the initial slate to form a final slate of candidates, which will then be distributed to the membership.

If the final slate includes more than eleven (11) candidates, Members will vote electronically before the annual meeting of Members to elect the Directors. The election results will be ratified at the annual meeting of Members on June 25, 2026, through a vote confirming the elected Directors.

If no additional eligible nominations are received, then those candidates named in the initial slate will be acclaimed and sworn in at the annual meeting of Members on June 25, 2026.

How will the term lengths be decided?

In accordance with section 5.3 of the Corporation’s bylaws, six (6) Members will be elected to serve as Directors for a term of two (2) years; and five (5) Members will be elected to serve as Directors for a term of one (1) year, including three (3) Directors from the current Board to ensure Board continuity. 

All candidates must be prepared to serve either a one-year or two-year term to be considered. As part of the application process, candidates will be asked to indicate whether they prefer a one-year or two-year term, or if they are flexible.

In determining the terms lengths for the initial slate:

The Nomination Committee will assign term lengths based on the following priorities:

candidate preferences will be honoured wherever possible; and
when multiple candidates prefer the same term length and not all can be accommodated, the Nomination Committee will consider:
- individual candidate circumstances shared during the interview process.
- Board composition needs (e.g., skills, experience, diversity);
- succession planning requirements; and

If additional nominations are received (election required):

All eligible candidates will be placed on a single electronic ballot. Term lengths will be assigned based on the number of votes received, using the following process:

Initial term assignment: Candidates will be ranked based on the total number of votes received:
- the six (6) candidates receiving the highest number of votes will initially be assigned two‑year terms; and
- the remaining five (5) candidates will initially be assigned one‑year terms.
Bylaw compliance check: The elected Board must include at least three (3) current Directors serving one-year terms:
- if fewer than three current Directors are assigned one‑year terms following the initial assignment, the lowest‑ranked current Director(s) initially assigned to two‑year terms will be reassigned to one‑year terms until this requirement is met; and
- where a current Director is reassigned, the next‑highest ranked candidate will move up to fill the corresponding two‑year term.

In the instance that fewer than three (3) current Directors receive enough votes to place within the top eleven (11) candidates, the three (3) incumbent Directors who receive the highest number of votes amongst returning Directors will be elected to satisfy the Corporation’s bylaw requirement of three (3) returning Directors. The Nomination Committee will work proactively to prevent this scenario through careful slate management and Member communication about the importance of Board continuity.

Can current Directors be nominated during the additional nominations period?

Yes. Current Directors not included on the initial slate recommended by the Nomination Committee may be nominated during the additional nominations period if they meet the eligibility requirements. However, the initial slate will already include three (3) current Directors to meet the Corporation’s bylaw requirements for Board continuity.

If more than three (3) current Directors appear on the final ballot.

all candidates (both current Directors and new candidates) will compete equally for the eleven (11) Board positions;
Members will vote for up to eleven (11) candidates;
the eleven (11) candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected; and
term lengths will be assigned to ensure at least three (3) current Directors serve one-year terms (see “How will term lengths be decided?” for further details).

If fewer than three (3) current Directors are elected.

In the unlikely event that fewer than three (3) current Directors receive enough votes to finish in the top eleven (11) candidates, the three (3) incumbent Directors who receive the greatest number of votes among the returning Directors will be elected in order to satisfy the bylaw requirement. The Nomination Committee will communicate proactively with Members to help prevent this scenario.

Any tie vote that affects the election outcomes or term assignments will be decided by random draw. Election results will be announced at the annual meeting of Members on June 25, 2026.

What is the time commitment for serving on Cornerstone’s Board of Directors?

Serving on Cornerstone’s Board of Directors requires a time commitment, though the exact amount varies from person to person and from year to year. The Board ensures that the number, frequency, and structure of meetings support effective monitoring and decision-making.

In 2025, the Board held ten meetings which is more than a normal year, however, as Cornerstone’s first full year it was anything but normal. In 2026 we have seven scheduled director meetings though additional meetings may be called if business arises that requires a timely response. Meetings typically begin at 9:30 a.m. and end by 12:30 p.m., though this can vary depending on the agenda.

Directors are expected to come prepared by reviewing the agenda material thoroughly before each meeting. The information provided in the agenda package can be substantial, so it’s important to set aside a few hours in advance to review it. This will ensure that Directors are informed, engaged, and able to participate effectively in the meeting.

In addition to board meetings, Directors participate in orientation, strategic planning, and annual budget review and approval. They also attend the OREA and CREA Conference and are expected to attend Cornerstone events throughout the year, such as the annual membership meeting, broker of record/manager meetings, and other special events. Furthermore, Directors are called upon to serve on and some chair committees and task forces.

While the commitment is significant, Directors consistently report that the professional development, networking opportunities, and satisfaction of shaping the association and impacting the community make it highly rewarding.

Where are board meetings held?

Most meetings are held in person at our headquarters in Hamilton, but some may also be held in person in Kitchener or Mississauga or virtually.

Are Directors Compensated?

Directors are remunerated with $400 per scheduled Board meeting. They are also entitled to compensation for any reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as a director, with proof of such expenses and in accordance with policy. No director shall derive any direct or indirect profit from their position as a director.

What if I complete an Expression of Interest, but I am not included on the recommended slate?

If a member completes an Expression of Interest but is not included on the initial slate presented to the membership, the member may submit a Nomination application between May 21^st and June 4^th at 4:30 pm. The nomination committee will review all further nominations received during that time to ensure they meet the criteria set out in section 5.4 of Cornerstone bylaws. The eligible candidates will be added to the initial slate to form a final slate of candidates, which will then be distributed to the membership.

Who is on the Nomination Committee, and what is their role?

Andrea Fedy, Chair
Tamer Fahmi
Melissa Mummery
Maria Quintero
Faisal Susiwala
Jay Van Amelsvoort
David Zalepa

Accountability

The Committee is accountable to the Cornerstone BOD. The Nominating Committee reports to Members through correspondence distributed prior to the Annual Election Meeting, and at the Annual Membership Meeting.

Responsibilities

The Nominating Committee is established pursuant to the provisions of the Cornerstone Bylaws. The committee is responsible for presenting a slate of directors to Cornerstone members to ensure that the Association is governed with excellence and vision.

The Committee has the authority within policy parameters established by the Board to:

Encourage the submission of eligible member names to the Nominating Committee for its consideration as possible nominees for available Board positions
Evaluate all received applications and additional nominations against a set of criteria established by the BOD from time to time
Nominate a full slate of candidates for election to the BOD
Review nominating committee policies and procedures and make appropriate recommendations to the Cornerstone BOD and staff
Ensure the integrity of the nominating procedure
Recommend new committee members for future terms

Committee Composition

The Cornerstone Nominating Committee will consist of the following and will strive to reflect jurisdictional and member diversity representation:

Chaired by a current Director who is not running for re-election
Two (2) additional Directors (note – neither of these are are running for re-election either)
Four (4) additional voting members of the Association

Consideration will be given to ensuring that the Committee diversity and composition considers governance/nominating/not for profit expertise and experience, as well as real estate profession diversity.

Any participant on the Nomination Committee shall be ineligible for nomination.

Support

Staff provides support to the Committee through the office of the CEO

2026 Board of Director Elections

Board Nomination and Election Timeline – 2026

Eligibility Criteria to serve on Cornerstone’s Board of Directors

Nominations and Elections FAQ