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June 2025, Dartmouth NS – After decades as the broker owner of CENTURY 21 Trident, owner Marg Bowlen has decided to pass on the reins of leadership. Since 1981, Marg has been a fixture of CENTURY 21 Canada, her tenure as a broker stretching back almost to the brand’s infancy.
In her long career, Marg has mentored countless agents through their careers and is considered an invaluable coach and an ever-supportive friend. Lisa Surette has served as Marg’s right hand for years and has seen her dedicate her career to ensuring every agent at C21 Trident was given the chance to thrive. “To so many of us, Marg is far more than a broker or a co-owner,” Lisa explains. “She’s the kind of friend you always want in your corner, she has devoted herself entirely to the agents in this office and to the Century 21 brand. She’s our biggest cheerleader. Her philosophy is simple: when the agents succeed, the company succeeds. And she has lived that truth every single day.”
CENTURY 21 Trident Realty has been in operation since 1980, and Marg has been a part of that journey from the very beginning. She joined the company as a secretary when the doors first opened, and worked her way to office manager in 1986. At this time, she became fully licensed and one year later became an owner alongside fellow REALTOR® Gary Chambers. By 1988, Marg became the broker, and Lisa recalls how her partnership with Gary set the tone for the office for so many years.
“Their partnership was something truly special. There was heart, humor, and the occasional spirited disagreement! It made the office not just the place where we worked, but the place where we belonged, and Marg has always been at the heart of that.”
In addition to her work as a broker owner, Marg was involved with the Provincial Association for many years, lending her voice and experience to help shape the real estate industry in the province. Her charitable work helped a number of causes, including the local small hockey leagues, the breakfast programs at local schools, and the Easter Seals Kids to Camp Program, the national charitable initiative of C21 Canada.
C21 Trident agents and staff will take Marg’s lessons with them, with many citing how much she contributed to their growth. “Marg was the first broker I met with when starting my career,” says Alex Tattrie, an agent with the brokerage. “She was kind and honest about the industry, she always picked up my calls and she is a huge reason for where I am today.”
Fellow agent Nick Harvey adds, “Marg has always been putting us first, and she has always been a broker and friend that you can count on. She truly cared about our family lives and our day-to-day struggles. She is an example on how to lead.”
“Marg has been a stalwart of our industry, and her hands-on approach and open-door policy created an environment where agents felt valued and equipped to succeed,” says Duncan McGregor, also with C21 Trident. “Her leadership not only drove results but also fostered a strong sense of teamwork and trust within the office. Marg will be sorely missed but I’m sure we will see her around the office from time-to-time.”
CENTURY 21 Canada Founder and Executive Chairman U. Gary Charlwood has known Marg since the early years of the legacy Canadian brand. “Marg had shown immense dedication and support of the C21 system these past 44 years,” he notes. “The unwavering commitment through thick and thin made her an invaluable part of our network. A super star to her agents, always reliable, and never afraid to voice her views, we appreciate everything she’s done to steer C21 Trident through the years.”
Under Marg’s leadership, CENTURY 21 Trident has consistently been awarded top accolades in the CENTURY 21 Canada system. In 2017, Marg, alongside Gary Chambers, was awarded the CENTURY 21 Canada Franchise of the Year award, and over the past 25 years, their brokerage has earned CENTURION®, Double CENTURION®, and Grand CENTURION® status in the C21 Canada system. Most recently, it earned the distinction of being the #1 CENTURY 21 Canada Company and Office in Nova Scotia for 2024.
We reached out to the folks who know her best, and we wanted to share their best memories of Marg over the years:
I have known Marg for over 40 years. She was a secretary at C21 when I first met her, and she went out of her way to assist if I needed anything. After she became broker, she never changed. I’d stop by sometimes just to chat with her as I really liked that office and was good friends with most of the agents there. Because of Marg and the agents, C21 was my favorite office and I trusted her completely as I knew she was honest and would go out of her way to be of help to everyone. I’m glad that I decided that for the last part of my career to go back to Marg’s office. I really will miss her as she’s one of my very favorite people.
I remember when C21 Trident first opened. As I recall, I was horrified that these agents were running around in awful yellow jackets! I said to myself I would never work with that company. Marg was there on the front line. While I didn’t work as a C21 agent, I certainly did a lot of business with them and came to know Marg.
In later years when she became the broker owner I had many occasions to work with her. With the passage of time, I eventually joined Century 21 myself with a different brokerage, and I left them for the welcoming arms of Marg at Trident Realty.
Marg has always had my back and been a tremendous support. My wife, Darcy, has come to know her and has the deepest of respect and the highest of regard for her as do I. Not only has Marg been an excellent broker owner to work with, but I know that she also has dedicated herself to Supporting many community causes. She is one of a kind. I think they broke the mold!
PS: Thankfully, I never had put one of those dreadful yellow Jackets on, and Marg never asked me to. That might’ve been the end of a wonderful relationship!
Since 1998 Marg was always there to mentor and guide me through the ups and downs of the market. She always knew when my spouse was deployed because that’s when I was busier than usual. Marg would keep me grounded and on track to meet my goals.
Working with Marg has been an absolute blessing. From the very beginning, she made everything feel easy and comfortable. She has a way of connecting with people that puts you at ease — you feel like you’re not just talking to a broker, but to a trusted friend.
Marg is incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and thorough in her work, but what truly sets her apart is her warm and approachable nature. She listens without judgment, explains everything clearly, and never makes you feel rushed or pressured. It’s rare to find someone who combines such genuine kindness with expertise and dedication.
If you’re looking for someone who will guide you with care, honesty, and heart, Marg is the one. I’m so grateful to have had her by my side.
In my experience, Marg was an exceptional broker and leader. She consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the real estate market and always provided sound guidance and support to her team. Her leadership style was characterized by fairness, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the success of each individual. She fostered a collaborative and positive environment, where everyone felt valued and motivated to excel.
Personally, I have learned a great deal from working with Marg over the years. Her dedication to professionalism and her unwavering ethical standards have been particularly influential. She taught me the importance of meticulous attention to detail and the value of building strong, lasting relationships with clients and colleagues alike. Her insightful advice and encouragement have been instrumental in my professional growth.
Marg has been a stalwart of our industry for many decades and an exemplary real estate broker/owner and an inspiring leader who was always willing and able to support her agents. Her hands-on approach, open-door policy, and unwavering dedication created a positive and empowering environment where agents felt valued and equipped to succeed.
Whether offering strategic guidance, troubleshooting challenges, or celebrating wins, she consistently showed up with professionalism, empathy, and a genuine desire to see others grow. Her leadership not only drove results but also fostered a strong sense of teamwork and trust within the office. Marg will be sorely missed but I’m sure we will see her around the office from time-to-time and I wish her all the very best in her much-deserved retirement.
Changing brokerages is not something to take lightly. We need to know that the leader of the brokerage we choose will have our back, listen to our challenges and support us as we grow our business. When it was time for me to move to a new brokerage, there was no question of where that would be – Marg’s leadership and kindness was well known in the industry so it was a quick decision. She didn’t let me down. Working with her since early January of 2019, all through the pandemic and the changes that brought to our industry, Marg was never farther than a phone call away. She would respond within minutes to any call or email and was always supportive and helpful. I will miss her at the helm of C21 Trident moving forward but I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to work with her for these past 6 years.
Marg was the first broker I met with when starting my career in real estate, she was very kind and honest about the industry and what it takes. She believed in me and has always picked up my calls – sometimes well past when I should be calling! – and answered my annoying questions that I probably asked 100 times before just to verify I’m not messing something up. She is a huge reason for where I am at in my career today and I’m going to miss her immensely. I’ve learned plenty from her but the qualities that I’d say stand out are how she always treats everyone the same and is composed and patient even when it seems impossible.
Marg was someone who made you feel like she cared about you. The brokerage, staff and agents have always meant so much to her.
Marg was more than a broker to me. We traveled to many conferences together. She was always up for a chat or the sounding board to blow off stream. Neither one of us with much patience for nonsense. She enjoys a good chuckle.
I feel blessed to have such an amazing broker.
Marg has been one of the best leaders I’ve known and I count her as a friend today. I will always have the highest respect for her and what she has done for me and my career. She has been present, knowledgeable, kind, generous, patient and loving; she has always put us first and has been someone we could count on.
Marg doesn’t just care about work, she cares about our family life and day-to-day struggles. She loves like she would want to be loved, and she is an example on how to lead. She was always able to understand how I felt, was always nurturing me to be a better person and always had advice for my personal and love life. She has wisdom and true character, and she is a fighter. Truly special, an angel on earth.
If you’ve ever had the privilege of working at Century 21 Trident Realty, then you already know that Marg Bowlen is more than just a boss. Sure, she “bosses” like a pro, but to so many of us, she’s far more than a broker or co-owner. Marg is a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a cousin — and the kind of friend you always want in your corner. The kind who tells you the truth when it’s hard to hear and stands by you even when you might not deserve it.
Marg is kind. She’s fiercely loyal. She’s brave. As a full-time, non-selling owner and broker, she has devoted herself entirely to the REALTORS® in this office and to the Century 21 brand. She’s not just a supporter — she’s our biggest cheerleader. Her philosophy is simple: when the agents succeed, the company succeeds. And she has lived that truth every single day.
Century 21 Trident Realty Ltd. has proudly called Cole Harbour home since 1980. Marg has been part of that journey from the very beginning, building this business alongside her partner, Gary Chambers. Their partnership — full of heart, humour, and the occasional spirited disagreement (cue: “Mom and Dad are fighting again!”) — has been the foundation of something truly special. For many of us, this office isn’t just where we work. It’s where we belong. And Marg has always been at the heart of that.
But Marg’s influence goes far beyond the office walls. She’s been deeply involved with the Provincial Association for years, lending her voice, her experience, and her perspective to help shape and improve the industry she cares so deeply about. She gives back generously — supporting small hockey leagues, backing nearly every cause brought to her desk, helping local schools with breakfast programs (so much French toast!), 34 years of golf tournaments, and of course, the Easter Seals Kids to Camp Program.
Marg, I speak for so many when I say thank you. Thank you for being the glue that holds us together, the fire that keeps us moving forward, and the heart that has made this place feel like home. You’ve led with grace, strength, and so much love. You leave behind a legacy that we will carry forward with pride.
Congratulations on your retirement — you’ve more than earned it.
We’ll miss you dearly.
With so much love and admiration,
Lisa
Congratulations on your retirement Marg, from all of us here at C21 Canada!
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