Opening the International MLS Forum: Trust, Place, and the Global Role of MLS
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The opening session of the International MLS Forum – Toronto 2025 set a thoughtful and deliberate tone for the days that followed, anchoring global conversations about data, markets, and technology in two foundational ideas: respect for place and trust in systems.
The session featured welcoming remarks from The Canadian Real Estate Association CEO Janice Myers, followed by John DiMichele, CEO of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board and Chair of the Council of MLS.
Recognizing place and responsibility
Janice Myers opened by welcoming delegates to Canada and acknowledging that the Forum was being held on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinabek, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. With National Truth and Reconciliation Day approaching in Canada, she emphasized that land acknowledgements are not ceremonial, but an important step in the ongoing work of Indigenous reconciliation.
The moment framed the Forum not simply as an industry gathering, but as a space where leadership, accountability, and long‑term responsibility matter.
MLS as a system of trust
Janice then turned to the role of the Multiple Listing Service in Canada’s real estate ecosystem. She underscored that MLS® and Multiple Listing Service® are trademarks owned by CREA, representing more than a century of cooperative practice.
Across Canada, MLS systems connect more than 160,000 Realtors with buyers and sellers through a shared, verified information framework. Rather than functioning as an advertising platform, MLS operates as a cooperative selling system, designed to provide consistency, transparency, and confidence during one of the most significant financial decisions individuals make.
She cited research showing that properties listed on MLS systems sell for 13–17% more on average, reinforcing the link between trusted data, professional cooperation, and market outcomes.
Myers also highlighted CREA’s broader social purpose, noting the organization’s belief that housing is a basic human right, and that a home provides dignity, security, and belonging. In that context, MLS is not only infrastructure—it is part of how markets serve people.
Toronto as a global crossroads
John DiMichele followed by welcoming participants to Toronto, describing the city as one of the world’s most diverse urban centers. More than half of Toronto’s residents were born outside Canada, representing over 230 nationalities and 180 languages. As Canada’s financial capital and largest technology hub, Toronto was positioned as a natural meeting point for global real estate dialogue.
DiMichele reflected on the purpose of the International MLS Forum itself: a place where leaders from different regions can collaborate across borders to strengthen the profession and adapt to rapid change.
He traced the Forum’s journey from Paris in 2023, to Milan in 2024, and now Toronto in 2025, acknowledging the founding organizations Realtyna and RESO, as well as Stellar MLS for its partnership and support.
Looking ahead: global markets, shared frameworks
The opening remarks concluded with a forward‑looking perspective. The International MLS Forum exists to explore how MLS systems, data standards, and property technology can support sustainable, inclusive, and resilient housing markets around the world.
As DiMichele noted, these conversations will continue at the next edition of the Forum in Abu Dhabi in 2026, where global leaders will again examine how trusted data and cooperative frameworks can help markets adapt to demographic change, cross‑border investment, and evolving consumer expectations.
The Toronto opening did more than welcome delegates—it grounded the Forum’s global agenda in shared values, professional trust, and the responsibility that comes with shaping real estate markets worldwide.
