Growing up in the small, close-knit farming and fishing community of Cascumpec, P.E.I., Noreen Barwaise (Bryan), much like another island girl, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s fictional character Anne of Green Gables, believed that life was filled with limitless opportunities. As a child, she had no idea that her uplifting and positive outlook on life would lay the groundwork for her future pursuits, becoming one of Atlantic Canada’s most respected Realtors.
The wisdom she gathered from the good people of Cascumpec—values such as authenticity, community, hard work, and dedication—would remain with her throughout her life.
“What struck me,” Barwise says, reflecting on her life and many accomplishments, “when I first got into real estate was how fortunate I was to have learned some basic skills for success in the industry at a young age, things like resilience in the face of life’s ups and downs and understanding that we’re all in the same boat, trying to do the best we can.”
Barwise credits her P.E.I. upbringing for her strong work ethic and for teaching her the skills that proved essential in her real estate career, where strong relationships and seizing opportunities are vital.
Early career in banking
As she entered adulthood, Noreen’s optimism and determination grew even stronger. One pivotal opportunity arose when she was 16 and received a job offer from the Bank of Commerce nearby in Alberton. Despite her self-described “attention span of a gnat,” Barwise thrived at the bank, gaining expertise as a lender specializing in mortgages and other types of loans. “I discovered I had a talent for reading people, which came in handy for determining who was honest and who was not.”
Noreen and her daughters: A mother’s pride. Noreen Barwise (right) with her daughters, Michele (left), who continues her mother’s real estate business, and Penny (back), a social worker (supplied)
Barwise’s career included a series of moves and transfers, with significant time spent in Toronto and Calgary. Living in large cities gave her an urban perspective that helped expand her extensive network of professional contacts. In 1960, she and her husband, Tom Barwise—whom she had known since childhood and later married—settled in Fredericton. “Tom was easygoing, and I had plenty of room to grow. You bring home the bacon,” he told me when I told him I wanted to get into real estate, “and I’ll cook it.”
Breaking into real estate
Michele, Barwise’s daughter who now operates Barwise Realty—the company founded by her mother providing top-tier commercial sales and leasing services—smiles as she explains that her mother wanted to sell real estate because she wasn’t earning enough at the bank and felt undervalued.
Undeterred by the challenges of securing a position with local firms, Barwise persisted and landed a position at Royal Trust (now Royal LePage). With her confidence, people skills, strong client base, and solid market understanding, she quickly became a top-producing realtor, solidifying her reputation in the Fredericton market and throughout the province.
A trailblazer in the industry
Early in her real estate career, a well-known Fredericton businessman, Charlie Forbes, bumped into Barwise at the Fredericton City Club. Impressed that she frequented and felt so comfortable in the bastion of Fredericton’s “old boys network,” he hired her to manage the development of a new subdivision in suburban Fredericton.
“Charlie headed to Florida for the winter and left me in charge. Everything was going well until I found out the existing wells were running dry. I had to quickly educate myself on water rights, soil testing, and infrastructure development.”
Impressed with her skill in solving problems, including working with engineers and soil and water specialists, Forbes became a big supporter, and his subdivision became one of the most successful in Fredericton.
No shrinking violet, Barwise smiles when she thinks of how well she fit into Fredericton’s male-dominated City Club and how that experience helped her navigate male-dominated spaces and make her mark in the trailblazing role of being the only woman on the Canadian Real Estate Association board for a period of her five-year term.
No shrinking violet, Barwise smiles as she reflects on how well she fit into Fredericton’s male-dominated City Club and how that experience aided her in navigating male-dominated spaces. (Supplied)
A life beyond real estate
A music lover, Barwise regularly gathers with friends to make music, which she says is one way she managed the stress of selling real estate all those years. Though now retired, she remains deeply connected to her community and inspires others to pursue their goals.
“Of all the things I’ve learned from my mom about the key to success, this is one of the most important,” Michele says. “No matter what you do, you must have fun and be kind to yourself and others while you’re doing it.”
Barwise, the recipient of many awards, recently became the first female member of the Fredericton City Club, an honour with which she is particularly pleased. After all, it’s been over half a century since she first walked through the front door of Fredericton’s “old boy’s network.”
No doubt, Charlie Forbes would be pleased.