Whistler realtor John Ryan has been picked by the Real Estate Board of Great Vancouver as this year’s Realtor of the Year for the Squamish-Whistler region. The REBGV hands out the accolades annually to recognize realtors who make outstanding contributions to their communities through fund-raising and volunteer activities. Ryan’s was a hard act to follow. Last summer, the successful realtor, who was paralyzed in a 1994 car accident, handcycled across the country and raised $1 million for spinal cord regeneration research. His epic trek started May 1 last year at Cape Spear in Newfoundland. He travelled across Canada with his support team to dip the wheel of his handcycle into the waters of the Pacific Ocean off Vancouver Island at the Mile Zero mark of the Trans Canada Highway. He then cycled up the Sea to Sky Highway and wheeled into Whistler Sept. 11 to a 5,000-strong home-town hero’s welcome. His trip lasted 134 days over 8,688 kilometres and Ryan averaged speeds of 16 km/h with a daily target of 100 km. It is that same determination Ryan brings to his profession. Other Realtor of the Year winners for 2000 include Atish Ram for Vancouver Eastside; Brad Leslie for Vancouver Westside; Roger Birrell for North and West Vancouver; Nizar Bhimani for the Richmond, South Delta, Ladner and Tsawassen area; Sandra Wyant for Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows and Tim Zimich for the Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody area.
