More than just the name behind a revered Toronto brokerage, Harvey Kalles was a compass for the industry — a steady, thoughtful leader whose influence transcended the business he built.
Kalles, founder of Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd., died on July 9 at age 98.
In the industry for nearly three-quarters of a century, Kalles was still in tune with the real estate market even days before his passing. His son Michael Kalles, president of the family brokerage, said during the service on Thursday at Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel that his father was still sharp as a tack, and that the two were just talking about mortgage rates, GICs, and the real estate business.
“For the last 30-plus years, I’ve had the privilege to learn real estate and ethics from the greatest teacher there ever was,” said Michael during the service.
In 1951, Kalles transitioned from wholesaling fruit – the business his father was in – to real estate. He founded his brokerage in 1957, focusing his early efforts on syndicating farm land in Mississauga.
After 20 years, his wife, Elise, joined in sales.
Today, the brokerage boasts 300 real estate agents, representing over $10 billion in sales from 2021 to 2023, according to its website.
As much as the business as grown in scale, it’s also grown in loyalty.
Michael said during the service that the brokerage recently celebrated 53 agents and support staff who have been there for 25 years or more.
Kalles inherited work ethic and generosity
Kalles was a second-generation Canadian, according to a writeup on the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto website.
He wrote that, like so many newcomers, his parents were on their own to support themselves in their new country.
“I was fortunate to be born in Canada, and into relatively improved living conditions, compared to what my parents faced in their early years. But money was still scarce, and antisemitism was rampant, even in Toronto. I was beaten up many times by my non-Jewish peers, and no one dared to intervene,” he wrote.
He said his parents were generous with the little money they had, which was a value passed down to him.
“There was a simple credo by which their generation operated: work hard and look after each other,” he wrote.
One specific memory stuck with him forever, he said.
“It was near the end of World War II, and the horrors that befell the Jews in Europe were just beginning to come to light. The Jewish wholesalers in Toronto banded together to help Europe’s Jewish refugees by collecting funds. Every one of us contributed. I donated my full week’s salary. In that moment, my commitment to help others was cemented.”
Impact on the industry
Evan Malach, who has worked at HKRE since 2018, said he was immediately impressed with Kalles’ attention to detail, even after the age 90.
He said Kalles always made him feel like he and his goals were important to him.
“You just felt like he was someone you could really talk to and relate to,” he said.
“The name was big, but the person behind the name was real. The genuine authenticity you felt in his presence was very unique and special.”
Of the many messages left on the funeral home notice, dozens were from colleagues who shared memories of Kalles, and talked about the impact that working alongside him had on their careers.
“His sense of humour and that unforgettable smile brighten even the toughest day. It was a true privilege to know and work with him for 40 years,” wrote HKRE agent Olga Shrage.
Courtney Zwicker is a digital reporter and associate editor for REM. Based in Atlantic Canada, she has over a decade of experience covering daily business news.