At 16, Chandra Reilly experienced homelessness. Nearly two decades later, she has
built a career centred on valuing homes, ensuring fairness for property owners and
shaping the future of the appraisal and assessment profession across Canada and beyond.
For this Lakeland College alumna, it’s a path rooted in resilience, intention and a profession she now passionately champions.
“It really affected me, obviously, so it’s kind of funny now that I value houses,” says Reilly, who shares her story candidly with others. “It’s a full-circle thing to be where I am now."
In 2006, Reilly graduated from the business administration diploma program, majoring in real estate appraisal and assessment. Today, she is the regional manager for the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency in the North Battleford region, serving as a leader within one of the province’s key public service organizations. She is also involved in professional leadership and mentorship, currently serving her third term as president of the Saskatchewan Assessment Appraisers Association (SAAA).
Her influence extends well beyond provincial borders. Reilly volunteers with the international Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) and has spent the past seven years on its conference committee, helping shape international education programming for assessors around the world. She is also a leader within the Launchpad Network, a professional group focused on recruiting, promoting and mentoring new professionals and emerging leaders in the industry.
A purposeful path
Despite her impressive resumé, Reilly’s path was never accidental.
“I was homeless when I was 16,” says Reilly. “Because of that experience, it was really important to me to find a career that was stable, paid well and had good benefits.”
That lived experience became one of the six core reasons she chose to study real estate appraisal and assessment — a profession she now encourages students to consider intentionally, rather than stumbling into by chance.
- A CAREER YOU CAN TAKE ANYWHERE.
“This education allows you to go anywhere in the world,” she says. “That kind of mobility and security really mattered to me.”
- A PROFESSION ROOTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
Working on the assessment side of the industry, Reilly sees her role as ensuring fairness and transparency for property owners. “It’s about treating people equitably and making sure they have the information they need.”
- STABILITY IN A CHANGING WORLD.
In an era of rapid automation, real estate appraisal and assessment remains deeply human. “We can’t be replaced by AI,” she explains. “There will always be a need for subjective decision-making.”
- VARIETY, TRAVEL AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.
Early in her career as a field appraiser, Reilly travelled extensively and saw parts of Saskatchewan most people never do — from rural communities to one-of-a-kind properties, including a former convent heated by a repurposed ship’s boiler. “When else would you ever see that?”
- STRONG DEMAND AND CAREER GROWTH.
With an estimated 80 per cent of assessors nearing retirement within five years, the profession offers significant opportunity.
“There’s no shortage of jobs, and the career trajectory can be steep,” she says. Reilly herself became a manager within 10 years of entering the field.
- LIFELONG LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE.
Licensed and designated like lawyers, assessors are required to pursue continuing education.
“Things are constantly changing,” Reilly says. “It keeps the work stimulating and fresh.”
Finding her place at Lakeland
Reilly came to Lakeland on a volleyball scholarship, a critical support as she worked toward stability. She lived in residence, served as the real estate appraisal and assessment student representative for both years, and worked in conference services, gaining valuable professional and interpersonal skills.
She credits Lakeland’s welcoming environment and supportive instructors for helping her succeed. “From the professors all the way up, it was incredibly supportive,” she says. “Those relationships really mattered.”
Just as important was the structure of the program itself. As someone facing financial and housing challenges, the two-year diploma offered a practical, affordable pathway into a respected profession.
“It was a good education for a good career in a short period of time, at a reasonable cost.”
Leading and giving back
Today, Reilly describes herself as “deeply involved” in the profession — by choice
and by passion. She received the Richard Sweet Memorial Award in 2021 from SAAA for
her dedication to advancing education and the profession, and she has been nominated
for the IAAO Ian McClung Award, an international honour recognizing leadership and
impact.
Reilly regularly returns to Lakeland, attending career fairs, mentoring students and speaking to graduates. She encourages new professionals to embrace lifelong learning, prioritize safety in the field, accept mistakes as part of growth, and get involved with professional associations early.
For Reilly, the profession is more than a job. It’s purpose, service and proof of what’s possible.
“I never thought I would love my career as much as I do,” she says. “But I really picked the right one.”