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Through her leadership with Easter Seals PEI, Della is helping Islanders come together to support children and youth with disabilities.
For Della Parker, Owner and Broker of Coldwell Banker Parker Realty in Charlottetown, PEI, one of the most memorable moments of this year’s Easter Seals PEI school tour came from a student who had spent five years collecting spare change.
The student, who uses a wheelchair, had raised $400. When Della met her, the joy of giving was shared by everyone accepting the donation.
“It doesn’t matter if it is a big donation or a small one, everyone is so pumped to give,” Della shares.
That enthusiasm has been a driving force throughout her year as Easter Seals PEI’s Committee Chair. It also reflects the community spirit Coldwell Banker Canada is celebrating in naming Della the October 2026 recipient of the Extraordinary Impact Award.
Bringing an Island together
A Past President of the Rotary Club of Charlottetown, Della came to the role with a longstanding connection to Easter Seals PEI and an understanding of the people and programs it supports.
With the organization celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026, she saw an opportunity to bring new energy to its fundraising. Alongside the annual campaign, Della set a goal of raising an additional $70,000 to mark the milestone.
According to Della, this year’s efforts have raised $200,000, plus the additional $70,000 anniversary goal, with fundraising continuing through November. By the time of her award nomination, she had devoted more than 100 days to her responsibilities as Chair.
Behind those numbers are relationships with schools, businesses, individual donors and volunteers across the Island, all contributing to a shared effort to expand opportunities for people with disabilities.
Sixty-three schools and a shared sense of possibility
The annual Tim Hortons Ambassador School Tour is a highlight of that work. This year’s tour brought the Easter Seals PEI team to 63 schools across the province, where students welcomed the Ambassador with fundraising cheques, music, dancing and celebrations.
The tour gives young people an opportunity to learn about inclusion and accessibility while contributing to programs that support fellow Islanders. For Della, the students’ excitement is a powerful source of motivation.
“The students are so excited, so genuine in their happiness to see us and they give us the strength to do more for Easter Seals,” she reflects.
The funds raised help support wheelchairs, specialized equipment and community programs, including Joyriders’ therapeutic riding and Camp Gencheff’s programming. Each contribution helps create opportunities for people with disabilities to participate more fully in community life.
Making time to lead
Balancing that commitment with a career in real estate takes effort. Asked how she manages it, Della’s answer is candid.
“It is difficult. But it is worth it.”
She sees real estate professionals as people who can bring leadership, fresh ideas and energy to the organizations around them. Her own contribution has involved setting ambitious goals, building support and showing up throughout a year of fundraising.
As part of the Extraordinary Impact Award, Coldwell Banker Canada will make a $1,000 donation in Della’s name to Easter Seals PEI.
The award celebrates members of the Coldwell Banker Canada network whose generosity and leadership help strengthen the communities they call home. Della’s work reflects what can happen when that commitment brings an entire community into the effort, from corporate supporters to a student collecting spare change.
To learn more about Easter Seals PEI or support its work, visit eastersealspei.org.
