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Whitney & Company History

The WHITNEY & Company history goes back to 1932 when George Whitney opened a commercial real estate brokerage in Kitchener. Our company has deep roots in the area and has guided local businesses through decades of growth and change. WHITNEY & Company is a wholly owned private company with John Whitney as Broker of Record and member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR).

 

We specialize in Commercial Leasing and Sales in these sectors – Office, Industrial, Retail, Land, Multi-Family, Investment and Residential. Our team is comprised of agents active in all facets of the real estate industry within the Region of Waterloo.

 

The success of WHITNEY & Company has been a result of our extensive knowledge of the local real estate market as well as our respected relationships within the Waterloo Region business community. As a result, WHITNEY & Company is one of the primary commercial real estate leaders in the Region of Waterloo.

Our Services

Learn more about the types of commercial real estate services WHITNEY & Company provides.

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Company History Timeline

WHITNEY & Company upholds over a century of real estate transactions in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. The Whitney family legacy goes back to George Whitney Limited in the early 1900s.

 

Scroll down the company history timeline to see how WHITNEY & Company started, where we have been and where we are going. 

  • 1911
    Charles Isaac Fenwich Whitney moves to Toronto from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and establishes his own real estate firm downtown.
  • 1930
    He then moves to KItchener and his son George Whitney enters the real estate business. George was the salesman on duty at an office located on King Street between College and Water Streets in Kitchener.
  • 1932-1938
    George Whitney chooses to go into real estate on his own and becomes a broker. He obtains his license as a general insurance agent. He opens a real estate and insurance brokerage in Kitchener where he sells residential, commercial and industrial properties. George became President of the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board, and was the first Canadian member to serve on the Governing Council of the U.S. institute known as the Society of Industrial Realtors (SIOR).
  • 1946
    After being discharged from the navy, Charles Richard Whitney embarks on his real estate career at his father’s firm George Whitney Limited. He becomes a Broker and obtains his American & Canadian Appraisal Certification, his insurance license, and his status as a Registered Property Manager. Richard was President of the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board and the Ontario Real Estate Board. He was also President of the Society of Industrial Realtors (SIOR) for Canada.
  • 1950
    George Whitney bridges the North American Real Estate Market when he masterminds the construction of the Parliament Building in St. John’s, Newfoundland, now known as the Confederation Building - a $13 million contract. The construction of the building was made possible through an innovative lease/buy back concept. George continues to organize real estate at local, provincial and national levels.
  • 1959
    The Parliament Buildings in Newfoundland are formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II upon completion. Richard Whitney and his wife Lois are presented to their Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip.
  • 1964
    Richard Whitney is appointed to the Kitchener Planning Board where he serves 10 years, culminating as Chairman. The WHITNEY office moves to Frederick St. in Kitchener.
  • 1975
    John Whitney joins his father Richard’s firm and becomes a Broker. John eventually renames the firm WHITNEY & Company Realty Limited. John was a Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board.
  • 1977
    John Whitney obtains his Society of Industrial and Office Realtors accreditation (SIOR)
  • 1982
    Colleen Whitney obtains her real estate license and joins her husband John Whitney’s firm WHITNEY & Company in the residential sector.
  • 2010
    Ginger Whitney graduates from Wilfrid Laurier University & obtains her real estate sales representative accreditation and joins her father’s firm as the 5th generation Whitney Realtor.
  • 2012
    The Whitney office moves to its current location at 103 Bauer Pl. in Waterloo.
  • 2013
    Ginger Whitney receives her designation as Broker. She becomes Vice President of WHTNEY & Company. Ginger is also serving as a Director on the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board. Ginger is accredited as a Society of Industrial Office Realtor (SIOR) in 2016. Ginger is also accredited as a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) in 2016.
  • 2014
    Michael Lambert obtains his real estate license and joins WHITNEY & Company. Michael, a relentless competitor, was and is, a perfect member of the Whitney Team. Michael had participated in two Olympics: Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 representing the Canadian Snowboard Team.
  • 2017
    Ginger Whitney becomes a shareholder at WHITNEY & Company. John Whitney moves to CEO and Ginger Whitney becomes Vice President. Joe Anstett obtains his real estate license and joins WHITNEY & Company as Sales Representative.
  • 2018
    Richie Evanoff obtains his real estate license and joins WHITNEY & Company as a Sales Representative.
  • 2020
    Matthew Hayward joins WHITNEY & Company after graduating from the University of Guelph. He obtains his real estate license at the beginning of 2021.
  • 2020
    John Whitney celebrates 45 years as a member of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS (KWAR)
  • 2021
    Michael Lambert obtains his Society of Industrial and Office Realtors accreditation (SIOR)