HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Dear friends and family,

I write to you this Thanksgiving, from the kitchen counter in my parent's home in sunny Picton, Ontario.

As the aroma of mom's traditional home-cooking emanates from her busy stove; the sounds of my family's laughter echos through the home my father and I built, as he plays "Showers of Blessings" on his electric organ; and my sister and her family laugh at the dreadful 1970's clothing and hairstyles depicted in our childhood photos, I feel truly blessed.

Just moments ago, Adam, my friend and business partner of six years, related a similar scene taking place at the Gant household. With his beautiful wife, two blonde-haired blue-eyed boys -- and their third bouncing boy on the way -- enjoying the company of extended family and friends in their living room in Victoria, BC, thankfulness permeates their happy home also.

As has been our Thanksgiving custom for as many years we've known each other, Adam and I connected for a few moments to remember and "count our blessings" and recount their significance.

We are humbled to think that on this day in 2006, 181 families were joined together in Member-Partnership with ours to acquire $42 million in assets. This Thanksgiving, we are so thankful and proud that your 2,600 families are united in LEAGUE with ours to share ownership of nearly $600 million worth of real estate across Canada.

What brings the meaning of these accomplishments more sharply into focus, however, is recalling of the many challenges we overcame together to continue to provide and protect the intergenerational wealth of our Member-Partners and families.

We are thankful that, despite the tumultuous economic events of the past two years, our positively interdependent investment structure continued to protect and advance the fortunes of our families and yours.

We are thankful that Canada's financial system has recovered and its commercial real estate markets continue to strengthen, leaving us poised to take advantage of improving conditions and further advance our Member-Partners' fortunes in the weeks and months ahead. We are thankful that Canadian employment is steadily increasing. For the individual families involved, and the economy at large, this is most welcome news.

Most importantly, Adam and I are thankful for your continued friendship, support, and the trust you've placed in us. We count it a great privilege and honour to be your friends as well as your investment partners. Each day we are keenly aware of the responsibility to you that we bear and the trust you place in us. As I've said in the past, if trust is capital, then we are truly wealthy men.

For Adam and I, wealth for wealth's sake has never been the basis of our aspirations. LEAGUE is neither a career, a vocation, nor a paycheque; it is our life's vision and mission, and we are deeply grateful that you and your family are a part of it.

It is our hope that through the investments we make with you in LEAGUE, your family will achieve Intergenerational Wealth™, spend less time working and invest more time with your family and contributing to your community -- just as we affirmed in the 12th tenet of Our Credo, and make the world a better place for all of us. Above all else, it is for you that we are truly thankful.

From all our families at LEAGUE to yours, we wish you continued health, happiness and prosperity.

Happy Thanksgiving!