Linda Turner Community connections are key
B
eing a successful real estate agent means being connected to the community. For Linda Turner of RE/MAX Kamloops, that’s not just her job; it’s a way of life – and a literal work of art. When not helping thousands of clients buy or sell their homes as one of the top Realtors in Kamloops over the past three decades, Linda is also a talented stained-glass artist – and she’s put her passion to good use for the community. “It’s very important for me to give back to the community,” says Linda. “When lightning strikes, Linda is usually in her studio,” says Brian, Linda’s husband. She’s made 16 unique stained-glass windows which she has put up for auction at the annual RE/MAX Children’s Miracle Network convention fund raiser, one of which can be seen at the front of the downtown office. Her windows have fetched more than $167,500 over the years – with the highest fetching $20,000. Linda donated her time and supplies so all proceeds could go to the Children’s Miracle Network, raising funds for the children’s hospitals across Canada. Touring the B.C. Children’s Hospital, the local recipient of Children’s Miracle Network funds, made a major impression on Linda and inspired her to help out to raise funds and awareness for the charity. In addition to her stainedglass donations, she contributes a cash donation for every sale she makes during the year. She served for many years as an operator in the telethon – but instead of waiting for the phone to ring, she called out to people, raising more than $3,000 in 90 minutes on the phones. The windows are a serious labour of love – each one took months to complete, and after creating 16 of them over the years, she promised
her last buyer that theirs would be the last, making it even more valuable. More recently, in the wake of the news of more than 215 unmarked graves found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, she created 215 tiny orange T-shirt stained-glass suncatchers to sell, with funds going to T’kemlúps te Secwépemc. Her art is only one of the many ways Linda gives back to her community. She is a major donor to TRU’s new Nursing program, a profession she wanted to enter as a child but could not for health reasons. She’s one of eight charter members helping to raise funds so for every $50,000 raised, one aspiring nursing student, who can’t afford to do so, can have a fully funded scholarship through TRU. Annually, she donates a scholarship for TRU’s School of Business and Economics, the alma mater of both her daughter and daughter-in-law, as well as supporting Ducks Unlimited, the Masons, & the Shriners. As a gold sponsor for the ICCHA-Wish Foundation for the Cardiac Unit at Royal Inland Hospital she helps raise needed funds to donate state-of-theart equipment to improve health care. She is an annual sponsor for the United Way and the newly built Spero House, paying to outfit one room in its entirety for the supportive-housing project aimed at giving the homeless and those at risk of being homeless a place to live and access support. Linda supported this year’s campaign to aid those affected by the wildfires. When not in the studio or selling homes, Linda loves to garden on their 3.5-acre property – and even there, she gives back, donating food from her harvests to the Mustard Seed and helping a client forced out of their home during this summer’s wildfire by sheltering their horses in their own pastures.
Family is the other pillar of Linda’s life. Her daughter Kristy Janota joined the team in 2008 as a licenced agent and her son-in-law Paul Janota, helps Linda’s team with IT and sign management. Linda’s son Wade is a Community Consultant and Partner with Urban Systems and his wife, Tricia, is a leadership coach and an accountant with BCLC Linda is very proud of their successful careers. Linda especially enjoys her four grandchildren and feels fortunate to have them close by. During the pandemic, the entire family brought their camper trailers and parked at their property for a family staycation where they could maintain their distance and still enjoy time together. Linda has earned the RE/MAX Chairman’s Club Award for the past four years as well as the RE/MAX Diamond Award. In addition, she has earned the RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Spirit of the West Award and most recently, she earned the Circle of Legends Award. Put Linda’s experience, expertise and passion to work for you today – and know that you’ll be fuelling some serious community commitment when you do!
Real Estate (Kamloops) REALTOR® of the Year
250-374-3331 | LindaTurnerPREC@gmail.com | www.LindaTurner.bc.ca
