June 2025 marks a turning point in how innovation will reshape the way we live, work
and connect.

Emerging trends reveal a future in which technology, sustainability and community
intersect in transformative ways.

1. The Hybrid Work Revolution 2.0

Although remote work is now common, hybrid models are evolving further. According to Gartner Inc.’s 2025 “Hybrid Work Trends Report,” companies are integrating flexible office designs and advanced virtual tools to boost productivity, redefine work-life balance and create a moreadaptable

workforce

2. Ethical AI And Human-Centered Technology

AI is becoming an everyday reality with a strong focus on ethics. World Economic Forum’s 2025 “Ethical AI Report” shows new AI tools — from mental health apps to personalized learning — are being designed with empathy, fairness and transparency, ensuring technology enhances both efficiency and individual well-being.

3. Sustainable Solutions For A Greener Future

Environmental challenges are fueling breakthroughs in sustainable innovation. McKinsey and Company’s 2025 “Sustainability Outlook” notes that advancements in renewable energy, smart urban planning and eco-friendly products are reshaping industries. Startups and established companies are investing in green tech, such as solar infrastructure and biodegradable materials, to reduce carbon footprints and build resilient communities.

4. Blending Digital And Real-World Experiences

AR and VR are merging the digital and physical worlds by transforming tourism, education and local arts. According to the International Data Corp’s 2025 “AR/VR Forecast,” these immersive technologies offer innovative ways to engage with history, nature and creativity, making cultural events more accessible and engaging.

Xeriscaping is a sustainable landscaping approach that uses drought-tolerant plants to conserve water while still creating a beautiful outdoor space. The term comes from the Greek word xeros, meaning “dry,” and the practice is designed to minimize the need for irrigation and maintenance.

A key principle of xeriscaping is strategic plant placement. Plants that require more water should be positioned closer to the house; those that can thrive with little or no irrigation can be placed farther away, reducing the need for extra watering.

Many popular perennials fit perfectly into xeriscaped gardens, including hen and chicks, yucca, sedum, yarrow (Coronation Gold and Moonshine), sagebrush and lavender. These plants withstand dry conditions and add color and texture to the landscape.

Container plants and annuals, which, typically, need more water, should be kept near the house and a water source for easy maintenance. To embrace xeriscaping further, you can expand your patio, add stone pathways or replace sections of your lawn with drought-resistant shrubs and plants.

By incorporating xeriscaping principles, you can create a low-maintenance landscape that saves water and enhances the beauty of your outdoor space.

This vibrant salad, perfect for summer BBQs, is packed with fresh, grilled veggies and a zesty lime dressing.

Salad Ingredients:

4 ears of fresh corn, husks removed

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 avocado, diced

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

4 cups mixed greens

Optional:Grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for extra protein

Zesty Lime Dressing Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon honey (or your preferred sweetener)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Preheat your grill to medium-high.Grill the corn on the cob for about 10–12 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred. Once cooled slightly, cut the kernels off the cob into a large mixing bowl.

Prepare The Vegetables:Add the diced red bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion and chopped cilantro to the bowl with the corn. Gently fold in the diced avocado.

Make The Dressing:In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, cumin and honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble The Salad:Place the mixed greens on a serving platter. Spoon the grilled corn and veggie mixture over the greens. Drizzle the dressing evenly over the salad, toss lightly, if desired, or serve as a layered dish.

You’ve heard the saying, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” It’s one of those bits of wisdom we tend to brush off — until life reminds us why it stuck around. In today’s fast-paced world, we often rush to experience results and define success by what we can measure. But that endearing phrase is a gentle nudge to slow down.

Each unhatched egg holds more than just potential; it holds a promise. It's not a guarantee; but an invitation.

A quiet chance to nurture something without demanding immediate proof that everything will eventually work out. Yet we find ourselves penciling in outcomes and charting the end before the beginning has had its moment.

Some of the most meaningful things in life unfold on their own time. Love, growth, creativity and healing don’t thrive under pressure or deadlines: instead, they need space, patience and trust. The kind of care that doesn’t rush, but simply shows up repeatedly.

What if we stopped counting and started tending? What if we stopped chasing certainty and started honoring the mystery? Life is a garden, not a scorecard — messy, unpredictable and often slow to bloom.

Maybe the real measure of success isn’t in how many chickens you end up with.

Maybe it’s in how tenderly you hold the unknown, how willingly you trust the process and how bravely you believe in beginnings — even the uncertain ones.

During 2015, the city of Melbourne came up with a clever idea: give each of its 70,000 trees a unique ID number and an email address. The practical goal was to help citizens report fallen branches, damaged trees or tree-related trouble. Each tree’s email was linked to a database, making maintenance a breeze.

But then something adorable happened. People didn’t simply send emails to report issues; they wrote to the trees. They sent love letters, shared life updates and checked in on their leafy friends. One particularly lucky elm received a sweet note: "I hope you're doing well this autumn!"

Instead of shutting down the program, the city leaned into the fun and turned it into a PR success. Some emails even got replies (although Melbourne’s city employees might wish the trees could type the responses.)

Of course, these trees aren’t actually scrolling through their inboxes, but that hasn’t stopped people from sending a little love to their favorite branches!

Some months feel big — full of milestones, decisions and changes you can see coming from a mile away. But May is quieter. It’s not about the big moments; it’s about the little ones.

The first morning you step outside and realize the weather is warm enough to leave your jacket behind. A cool breeze on a long afternoon drive. That stretch of golden light that lingers just before the sun sets a few minutes later than it did last week.

Humans tend to overlook these things and rush past them while waiting for something bigger. But sometimes, the little things are what keep us moving forward and remind us that not every step has to be planned or that every season has to be about change. Some things are meant to be lived — one small, beautiful moment at a time.

So, this month, I’m being attentive to the little things. I hope you are, too.

With gratitude,

Gino Pezzani

Personal Real Estate Corporation

RE/MAX Heights Realty

Mobile: (604) 418-9366

Email: gino@vanhomesales.com

https://vanhomesales.com/blog.html

The influence of mothers shapes us in subtle and profound ways. Although every mother doesn’t achieve heroic recognition, their daily choices, their persistent faith in our potential and their quiet wisdom help build the foundation of who we become. Through their example and encouragement, we often find strength we didn't know we had.

During the 1950s, when Eustacia Cutler took her 4-year-old daughter Temple to the doctor, she heard words no mother wants to hear. The doctors diagnosed Temple with autism and then recommended institutionalization — the standard medical advice of that era. They said Temple would never speak, never connect, never thrive.

But Eustacia saw something different in her daughter's eyes. Where others saw only limitations, she noticed how Temple could think in pictures, how she related to animals in unique ways and how she processed the world differently — not wrongly.

Against the prevailing wisdom of the time, Eustacia made a bold decision. Instead of institutionalizing Temple, she created an enriched environment at home. She hired a speech therapist, encouraged Temple's natural interests and, most importantly, presumed competence when others assumed limitation.

Her insight proved transformative. Temple Grandin went on to earn a Ph.D., revolutionize animal science, design more-humane livestock-handling equipment used worldwide and become one of the world's most-influential voices in understanding autism.

Today, Dr. Temple Grandin often credits her success to her mother's early insight. "My mother never gave up on me,” she said. “She recognized that different didn't mean less." Sometimes a mother's wisdom isn't just about raising a child; it's about changing the world's perspective, one person at a time.

Happy Mother's Day!

Gino Pezzani
RE/MAX Heights Realty
www.vanhomesales.com
604-418-9366

May has that in-between energy — halfway between spring and summer, caught in a stretch of grey mornings and slow starts. The month reminds us to slow down and that great things can happen when we pause before the next big shift.

May is all about that sweet spot — between action and stillness, luck and timing, doing and not doing. Inside, you'll find a fresh perspective on those overcast May days, whether luck is random and a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do … is nothing.

So, grab your coffee, settle in and embrace the pause before summer kicks into high gear. And if you’re in the middle of a big decision — to buy or sell your home — then now might be the perfect time to take stock, weigh your options and ensure you’re moving at the right pace.

As always, I’m here to help whenever you're ready.