by G. Sax, Head of Communications, RESO
This week’s interview is with Patrick Pichette, Vice President at REALTOR.ca, Strategic Business and Innovation at The Canadian Real Estate Association and RESO Board Member.
We talked about RESO standards in Canada, how he would position RESO’s marketing and communications, and the greatest professional sport on the planet. Enjoy!
Q1: CREA has helped to bring French-Canadian translations to the RESO Data Dictionary. Given that Canada requires bilingual French and English translation for all content-related initiatives, is this a true leap forward for data standards in Canada? And is there a chance that RESO standards will become a greater part of Canadian real estate culture and why?
Patrick: The short answer is yes.
The long answer involves our National Data Standard (NDS), which we launched about 20 years ago.
REALTOR.ca displays listing and member data from every MLS system across the country, and the NDS makes it possible to have consistency across all jurisdictions in both English and French.
The NDS data is structured with our own data dictionary, but our long-term vision is to be native RESO Data Dictionary. RESO allows for broader localization beyond Canadian borders, and we believe wholeheartedly in a global standard.
From there, we use REALTOR.ca DDF® [Data Distribution Facility®], a service for REALTORS® and broker owners to extend the reach of their listings. DDF makes it possible to have up-to-date and accurate listing information across the Canadian ecosystem, including third-party advertiser, franchisor and brokerage websites and apps.
We have already enabled the RESO Data Dictionary and Web API in the DDF, and we’re in conversations to deepen our ties to RESO.
It goes back to the Bluetooth example that helps people understand the importance of standards. REALTOR.ca is the largest real estate portal in Canada. We need to be able to innovate, which means we can’t be doing custom integration jobs. Data standards should be as plug and play as Bluetooth.
Q2: You have a rich history in marketing and product management. If you were to apply that expertise to RESO, what would be your first areas of focus?
Patrick: I would keep the focus on the “why” of RESO.
Before getting into how to enable tech and who to enable it to, you should be telling us, your member organizations and potential new members, “why” a standard is needed to move our industry forward.
The tech implementers within an organization already understand the challenges of adoption without standards and the time savings that occur with standards in place. But oftentimes they have to explain this to other decision makers, and that can be difficult to do if you are not adept at making pitches and selling a vision.
Ultimately, decision makers like the CEO and Board of Directors need to have an understanding and conviction for the benefits of common standards and to be onboard for mass adoption to happen. RESO can help provide the content that helps make that happen.
Q3: Are you a hockey fan?
Patrick: Yes. My whole life.
RESO: Correct answer! You have unlocked three three-part micro questions!
Q3a: 1) What team do you support? 2) How do you support them? 3) Why do you support that particular team?
Patrick:
- Montréal Canadiens.
- I watch as many games as I can, and I’m a collector of hockey cards. I’ve tried to brainwash my kids, but we live in Ottawa, and they are Senators fans. My wife is from Québec City. Her allegiance did not move to Colorado with the team, and she’ll never be a Montréal fan, so she supports Ottawa as well. I’m alone in my home.
- My grandfather was a Montréal fan, and he passed that on to me, even though I grew up playing street hockey in Hamilton, Ontario.
Q3b: 1) Why do Canadian teams struggle to win Stanley Cups? 2) What will be the next Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup? 3) Why do you think it will be that team?
Patrick:
- It’s squarely the fault of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. No, no. It’s a coincidence.
- Montréal Canadiens.
- The leadership is much smarter than other Canadian franchises.
Q3c: 1) Do you ever watch Hockey Night in Canada? 2) Do you like any American teams? 3) What is your least-favorite team in the NHL?
Patrick:
- I did as a kid, because there were only two TV stations to choose from – CBC in English and Radio-Canada in French – and it was and continues to be a marvelous tradition every Saturday night.
- I like the Chicago Blackhawks. Visually, I think it’s the nicest logo. I love the city, too – the home of NAR!
- Equally the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, Montréal’s natural rivals.
Patrick: It should be noted that hockey is not my number one sport though. Baseball is.
RESO: I wouldn’t say that out loud unless you want your maple leaf revoked.
Three Questions is an interview series that features real estate industry professionals, their businesses and how they interact with real estate standards in a fun way.
