REMAX Brand Welcomes 17-Office Operation into Global Real Estate Network

Seeking to open new doors of opportunity for their agents, a prominent Toronto real estate family has brought its real estate brokerages into the global REMAX network. Representing 17 offices and over 1,200 sales associates, it's the largest conversion in the long history of the REMAX brand, which has leading market share across Canada, is in more countries than any other real estate brand, and is home to the most trusted real estate agents in Canada.*  

 On January 15, 2026, Vivian Risi, Michelle Risi and Justin Risi announced the conversion of their 17-office brokerage group in the Greater Toronto Area from Royal LePage to REMAX. The transition includes Your Community Realty, now operating as REMAX Your Community Realty, and Connect Realty, now operating as REMAX Connect Realty. 

'They deserve the best' 

"We didn't make this move for ourselves. We did it for our real estate agents – because they deserve the industry's best services, global reach, support and competitive advantages," says Vivian Risi, a renowned broker, speaker, coach and author who's been an active, impactful presence in Toronto real estate for 50 years. "The REMAX tools, leading national market share and brand marketing will help them connect with more potential clients – and win that business. This move will be a huge benefit for them – and that realization really drove our decision." 

Michelle Risi is just as excited about what the change means for the brokerages' agents.

"This is about helping our agents stay ahead in today's competitive environment – and to be positioned to keep winning well into the future," she says. "REMAX presents a whole different level of advantages for real estate professionals, with everything designed to help them increase their productivity and build their business."   

Growing world-class brokerages 

Supporting real estate agents has been a mission of the Risi family for years. Vivian entered the industry at age 18, working as an award-winning agent and then an office manager before purchasing an 18-agent office in 1994.  

She grew the brokerage to nearly 60 agents in less than a year before converting it from the Coldwell Banker brand to the Royal LePage brand. Through acquisitions and organic recruiting, she built the company into what it is today.  

Michelle and Justin grew up in the business and built their own strong leadership paths. Since 2017, they have led the growth of Connect Realty – a successful five-office brokerage. 

The importance of trust 

All three leaders understand the importance of earning – and keeping – their agents' trust. 

"This decision was made with our agents firmly at the center," Justin Risi says. "Aligning Your Community Realty and Connect Realty with the REMAX brand positions our brokerage for long-term growth, expanded reach, and greater opportunity. REMAX is an iconic global brand, and we are excited about the tools, exposure, and support this move brings as we look confidently toward the future." 

Leading by example 

Vivian, Michelle and Justin lead with a highly visible and collaborative approach, working closely with their managers to stay directly connected to their agents. Their leadership style is hands-on, accessible and grounded in genuine relationship-building. 

"We lead by example and show up as ourselves," Vivian says. "Our agents know they can reach us. We're present, we're engaged and we're invested in their success. Our managers and staff provide outstanding day-to-day support, but we believe it's important that agents see and feel our leadership too. That connection has always been part of what sets us apart." 

Complementary leadership

Vivian, Michelle and Justin each bring distinct strengths to the business – and the combination of their styles has shaped the brokerage's growth and culture. Vivian brings instinct, experience and decisive leadership. Michelle brings structure, operational clarity and a deep focus on agent support. Justin brings strategic vision and a forward-looking approach to growth. Together, they create a leadership team that is balanced, collaborative and consistently aligned around one priority: helping agents succeed.

This complementary approach has allowed the brokerage to adapt through changing markets, scale responsibly, and invest in new opportunities while staying closely connected to the people at the heart of the business. 

That same leadership lens guided the decision to transition to REMAX. The family recognized an opportunity to expand reach, elevate brand presence, and open new pathways for referrals, luxury and commercial growth – all in service of providing agents with a stronger platform for the future.   

Vivian reflects: "Our strength has always been thinking ahead – anticipating where the industry is going and making decisions that keep our business ahead of the curve. The move to REMAX is about positioning our agents for what's next, not just what's now."  

*Voted most trusted Real Estate Agency brand by Canadian shoppers based on the BrandSpark® Canadian Trust Study, years 2021-2025, 2019, and 2017. 

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