December 1, 2025 at the Hilton Toronto represents a defining moment in the real-estate profession’s increasing engagement with public policy. The OREA Power House Conference, billed as “Canada’s best political affairs conference,” is poised to bring together more than 450 politically motivated REALTORS® from across the province, offering them not just conversation, but influence.
A Gathering with Gravitas
At its core, Power House is a forum where real estate policy meets political power, and where REALTORS® can directly engage with some of the most influential voices in Ontario and beyond. This year’s agenda features a remarkably high-profile lineup, current and former provincial leaders, municipal mayors, media insiders, and even international figures.
Among the Speaker roster:
- Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario.
- Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP.
- Mike Schreiner, MPP and Leader of the Green Party of Ontario.
- Kathleen Wynne, former Premier of Ontario, in a “Premier Conversation” panel.
- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, delivering a keynote address.
- Luigi Favaro, CEO OREA
- Cathy Polan, President OREA
The inclusion of Prince Harry adds an especially striking international dimension. While his appearance may raise eyebrows among some, as one critic publicly quipped, “how much does he really know about real estate?” it underscores OREA’s ambition, to frame real estate advocacy within broader narratives of leadership, public service, and global civic engagement.
More Than Talk, Advocacy and Action
Power House goes beyond passive listening. Delegates will engage in education sessions, fireside chats, and keynote presentations, all designed to deepen their understanding of Ontario’s housing challenges, economic landscape, and political levers.
That said, arguably the most consequential component lies in REALTOR® Advocacy Day (RAD), which precedes the main conference. On November 30, 2025, participants will receive practical training in advocacy, communications, and political engagement, regardless of whether they’re brand new to advocacy or seasoned veterans who already meet their MPPs.
The very next day, equipped with fresh insight and strategy, these REALTORS® will put their learning to work. They will meet with their MPPs at Queen’s Park. These one-on-one meetings are not ceremonial, they represent real opportunities to influence policy, push for pro-housing legislation, and make the case for reforms that matter to Ontario’s real estate sector.
Why This Matters
We at BUZZ have been informing people that this is not just a real estate conference. In an era when housing affordability, supply crunches, and municipal-provincial tensions dominate public discourse, Power House stands out as a place where REALTORS® can exercise political agency, not merely react to regulation, but shape it.
OREA’s push into political advocacy is deeply rooted in its track record. Over the years, the association has influenced landmark reforms, for example, the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA), which modernized real-estate regulation in Ontario, is one such outcome of REALTOR® engagement.
Moreover, the conference’s agenda reflects a sophisticated understanding of the intersection between real estate and governance. Panels such as the “Mayors’ Panel, Housing in Ontario Municipalities”, featuring mayors from Cornwall, Guelph, and Sudbury, highlight how local leadership links directly to provincial housing debates. Meanwhile, sessions on media strategy and government relations during RAD help REALTORS® amplify their voices in the heart of policy-making.
While the conference gathers 600 attendees, the diversity of political perspectives, geographical regions, and board sizes will influence whose voices and interests are amplified. We believe this event is important for both smaller and larger real estate boards and regions. This event will leave them feeling empowered about housing opportunities.
Lastly, real political influence isn’t guaranteed, meeting with MPPs is one thing; securing meaningful policy shifts is another. The long-term value of Power House may hinge on how effectively REALTORS® sustain their advocacy after the conference, turning inspiration into sustained engagement.
A Forum for the Future
At its best, the OREA Power House Conference is a potent symbol, REALTORS® are not just market participants, they are civic actors. They have skin in the policy game, and they’re increasingly unwilling to be passive bystanders.
As Ontario grapples with housing instability, affordability pressures, and evolving regulation, the political savvy instilled through Power House may well become a critical lever in shaping a more balanced, sustainable real estate future.
If this conference session is as dynamic as its agenda suggests, we may look back on December 1 as more than a meeting, but as a launch point for a new phase of REALTOR® advocacy in Ontario.
About Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, OREA POWERHOUSE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Prince Harry is a humanitarian, mental health advocate, environmentalist, and military combat veteran. His work is dedicated to creating positive and lasting change for communities and the planet, particularly in advancing conversations around resilience and healing.
Since 2021, he has served as Chief Impact Officer at BetterUp, the largest mental health and coaching startup in the world, and along with his wife, has become an investor in Ethic, a sustainable investing platform. In that same year, he was asked to join a panel of experts at the Aspen Institute’s Commission for Information Disorder. In 2023, he was named a New York Times best-selling author for his memoir, Spare, which became the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time on its release date. Prince Harry is a respected voice on global issues, and in recent years has delivered impactful keynote addresses at the United Nations General Assembly and the Clinton Global Initiative.
Alongside his wife, Meghan, he co-founded The Archewell Foundation whose mission is: ‘show up, do good, reflecting the ways in which they work to support communities, offline and online, in ways big and small. The Archewell Foundation focuses on social impact initiatives, including digital safety and education, all under the umbrella of protecting our collective mental health.
Prince Harry is also the founder of the Invictus Games, an international adaptive & sporting event that celebrates wounded service members and veterans from 25 nations, and Travalyst, a global coalition of the biggest travel and technology brands focused on promoting sustainable travel practices to protect both people and places.
He serves on the Board of African Parks, supporting critical wildlife conservation and community-led initiatives across Africa. His leadership in both environment and mental health advocacy has earned him recognition from TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” alongside his wife in 2018, 2021, and for his climate work in 2024.
To learn more about OREA POWERHOUSE CONFERENCE, visit OREA POWERHOUSE
To learn more about OREA, visit OREA
