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$1M investment shows confidence in North Bay

Local contractors and suppliers employed for renovations and upgrades
Royal LePage
Sue Symons, owner of Royal LePage Real Estate Services, stands outside her company's newly renovated office space. Photo submitted.

Sue Symons knows how to build a brand in her community. When her brokerage, Royal LePage Real Estate Services outgrew its office space at 36 Lakeshore Dr., she found an existing structure that could be renovated and upgraded to meet the company's growing needs.

The firm then hired locally to get the needed work done to the new property. Said Symons, "Virtually all of our tradespeople, our architect, engineers, designers and contractors are out of North Bay. These people were wonderful to work with. We had great experiences working with the talented men and women of our region."

Symons began working as a realtor in 2008 and purchased the Royal LePage brokerage just five years ago. The move to the former school board property at 117 Chippewa St. W (across from Memorial Gardens) will more than triple their office space from 2,800 square feet to 8,900.

Symons has big plans for the newly-created space. The existing 2,000 square foot gymnasium will be utilized as training and meeting space for her staff. When available, Symons will offer the area to outside groups or new business ventures. For Symons, it's all about giving back to the community.

"We have taken on a huge task, trying to complete six months of renovations in about" half of that time, said Symons. "I've learned that in this community there's nothing you cannot accomplish when good people come together."

The move was necessitated by success. When Symons purchased the company, there were 15 realtors on staff. Royal LePage now boasts 29 realtors and three administrative staff. The hope is to double that number, yet again, over the course of the next decade.

Royal LePage's annual community garage sale, which generates funds for the Nipissing Transition House to provide shelter for women and children fleeing abuse, will coincide with the official grand opening next spring. The cause is dear to Symons, as she and her staff have collaborated to raise over $45,000 in recent years.

A Nov. 30 move-in date has been set for Symons, her staff, and this continuing local success story.


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Stu Campaigne

About the Author: Stu Campaigne

Stu Campaigne is a full-time news reporter for BayToday.ca, focusing on local politics and sharing our community's compelling human interest stories.
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