- Story by Toby Tannas Photography by Darren Hull

You don乌鸦传媒檛 have to look far beyond a person乌鸦传媒檚 interests and hobbies to get a true sense of who they are. When I sat down to discuss life and business with Luxury Homes Realty broker/owner Michel Tremblay, my first impression was that he is extremely adaptable. When he shared with me his passion for sailing and the particular kind of boat he fancies, the parallels were as clear as blue Caribbean waters.

The Melges 24 is described as a monohull sportsboat, notable for its ability to plane over water in modest wind. Its design is simple and highly tunable.

Michel has continuously re-tuned his career in the sea of real estate while expertly navigating the storms. He乌鸦传媒檚 called 14 cities home to this point乌鸦传媒攎ost of the relocations prompted by a love of travel, curiosity about new places and changing market conditions.

乌鸦传媒淚 was part of the group that opened the first Sotheby乌鸦传媒檚 Realty office in Vancouver,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淭hat was 2005. We grew it to more than 40 offices across the country before the bottom fell out of the market in early 2008.乌鸦传媒�

Instead of abandoning ship for other ventures, as many realtors did at the time, Michel saw the crash as an opportunity to temporarily unplug. A time to re-charge with his family somewhere he truly felt at home.

乌鸦传媒淲e headed to South Carolina, picked up a 40-foot sailboat out of the box and hit the open water,乌鸦传媒� he recalls. 乌鸦传媒淲e ended up in the Bahamas and that乌鸦传媒檚 where we stayed for the most part. It乌鸦传媒檚 such a beautiful place.乌鸦传媒�

The better part of a year at sea in the West Indies was rejuvenating. Michel was ready to jump back into the world of real estate but the Vancouver market was not ready for him.

乌鸦传媒淚t hadn乌鸦传媒檛 recovered, but since I was back my company asked me to take on a huge development project in West Kelowna. I came to the Okanagan, I did my pre-sales in a really tough market. The project was never built but I had fallen in love with Kelowna.乌鸦传媒�

Within two weeks of arriving, Michel purchased a building lot and convinced his wife, who still lived in Vancouver, that the Okanagan was the place to be.

乌鸦传媒淔rom Coal Harbour to Kettle Valley,乌鸦传媒� he chuckles. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e been here since 2010 and we love it.乌鸦传媒�

With two adult children, the Tremblays are nearly empty nesters these days. They moved from Kettle Valley to a home they designed in McKinley Beach, where Michel and his team market four projects ranging from waterfront lots to single-family homes and duplexes. He also oversees sales on a fifth project, Kestrel Ridge, in Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 Upper Mission.

乌鸦传媒淚 work seven days a week; it乌鸦传媒檚 hard for me to take a day off,乌鸦传媒� he admits. 乌鸦传媒淚 think that乌鸦传媒檚 just me. I don乌鸦传媒檛 work 12 hours a day, though: the perfect day would be to work with a few clients and then go skiing.乌鸦传媒�

Skiing. Another hobby that elicits a comparison to Michel乌鸦传媒檚 work ethic.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e skied since I was a small boy. I coached skiers for years and I still like to help people improve their skills乌鸦传媒攑eople who already ski at a high level.乌鸦传媒�

Whether on the slopes, on the water or in real estate, Michel enjoys using his experience to mentor others.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e been at this a while. I乌鸦传媒檝e hired a lot of people and when I乌鸦传媒檓 interviewing I always ask if they play or take part in some kind of sport. I want to see if there乌鸦传媒檚 a competitive spirit in there,乌鸦传媒� he explains. 乌鸦传媒淟et乌鸦传媒檚 face it, if they work just for the money that乌鸦传媒檚 disappointing; we work for the win too. It乌鸦传媒檚 important.乌鸦传媒�

Michel believes worldliness fosters success. He offers this advice to young realtors, especially those who are working where they were born and raised.

乌鸦传媒淵ou need to get out of town. You have to live, you have to explore and I乌鸦传媒檓 not talking about a week in Mexico. Immerse yourself in a culture, get out of your comfort zone, [such as] somewhere you can乌鸦传媒檛 speak the language. As insanely beautiful as Kelowna is, you need to experience the outside world乌鸦传媒攚hen Dr. Henry says we can, of course.乌鸦传媒�

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the wind out of Michel乌鸦传媒檚 travelling sails. He would usually compete in boating races along the US east coast six times a year. He乌鸦传媒檚 also missing Europe, where he once travelled regularly. However, he concedes that if he has to be stuck in one place he乌鸦传媒檚 grateful he chose to drop anchor in the Okanagan.

乌鸦传媒淢y job is to sell the Okanagan lifestyle. When I talk about McKinley Beach, I乌鸦传媒檓 not just a salesperson trying to sell a house. My home is here. I can tell people exactly what it feels like to live at McKinley Beach乌鸦传媒擨 know it乌鸦传媒檚 resort-style living because I live it!乌鸦传媒�

For now, Michel is content to nest in the valley乌鸦传媒檚 beautiful surroundings. But like his beloved Melges 24, he乌鸦传媒檚 not cut out for life in dry dock. The Okanagan may be home, but Michel Tremblay is already charting the course for his post-pandemic, global adventures.

Find Michel Tremblay at Luxury Homes Realty.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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