Taking Chances & Living Without Regrets - Meet Candace Fogolin
- Candace Fogolin
- Jul 27
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 27
By Deborah Everest-Hill | Photos by Karen Mak
Candace Fogolin’s childhood is decorated with memories of playing outside with her little sister Jenn and her neighbourhood friends, going on bike rides, trips to nearby parks, and tennis and road hockey games with her family.
One activity that stands out in Candace’s mind is frequent excursions for ice cream and a walk along Lake Ontario, where she would play on the beach and pick up stones to take home to paint. Her mother, Cindy, and father, John, still live in the same home in Bronte, and this makes Candace’s memories even more special. John works in logistics, and Cindy was a stay-at-home mom when her daughters were young, but now works in a business role for a long-term care home.
Candace says her parents and grandparents taught her to be hard-working, kind, and to pursue her dreams, and she hopes to pass these values on to her boys. “You only have one life to live, and I want them to always feel that they have the support they need to chase their dreams,” she says. “It’s important to work hard and give it your all to make the most of your life.”
When Candace was a little girl, she dreamed of going horseback riding and began pursuing this dream when she was just 4 years old. Growing up, she spent almost every school night at barns throughout Halton. “There is nothing quite like the barn air and the freedom you feel when you are on a horse,” she gushes. Because of her hard work and dedication, she went on to compete in hunter/jumper competitions throughout Ontario.
While Candace would love to take up riding again, that will have to wait until her boys, Brooks, age 5, and Nash, 3, are older.
Today, Candace spends her time working as a realtor with Phinney Real Estate, which she joined one year ago and looking after her boys. Like their mom, they enjoy spending time outdoors and taking part in a variety of activities. They both play soccer and golf, and managed to stay for 7 innings at their first Blue Jays game. Candace says Nash was wondering why he didn’t get to play!
At the moment, Brooks is very engaged at school and has developed a love for math. “He will write equations out when he gets up in the morning and then when he gets home from school,” Candace says. “These equations are so challenging that I usually need to use my calculator to verify the answer.”
Nash, on the other hand, is Candace’s “wild” child. “He loves very hard and plays very hard and is not afraid of anything.” Not unlike other children with older siblings, he loves trying everything his big brother Brooks does and appears to be naturally athletic.
When Candace graduated from high school from Queen Elizabeth Park, which is now a recreation centre, she was drawn to the University of Guelph partially because it’s known as horse country, and a lot of young people who rode horses opted to go there. At the time, she was not sure what she wanted to do, but after studying sociology, she set her sights on a career in sports broadcasting.
After graduating from the University of Guelph, Candace prepared for her dream career by obtaining a post-graduate degree in Journalism, New Media at Sheridan College in Oakville. She went on to work for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and news stations such as CHCH and TSN.
”I loved the whole production process and being on camera,” she says. “The adrenaline rush from being on live TV is thrilling and I loved getting paid to watch, cover and meet some of my favourite athletes.”
After working in broadcasting for nine years, she worked for the Ontario Public Service in a variety of communications roles for the Ministry of Seniors and Health. Because she loves meeting new people and home design, she became interested in a career in real estate and obtained her license in 2019. Then, her boys were born, and she opted to stay home to take care of them.
Candace enjoys real estate because she likes to help people find their dream homes or assist them with getting through difficult times, such as a death in the family or divorce. She also welcomes the fact that each day is different, and she gets to work with talented stagers and photographers.
Candace says she has never wanted to regret the chances she didn’t take in life, and while she sometimes feels like she lives out of her car, she likes that! “Sitting in an office from 9 to 5 doesn’t suit my personality,” she admits. “I love the variety of my job now, and meeting new people every day and getting to look at beautiful homes and decor is a bonus!”
In terms of where the real estate market is right now, Candace says it’s a buyers’ market but those interested in purchasing real estate are being cautious because of the economic uncertainty. This means that sellers must price their homes accurately for the market.
When she thinks about her future, Candace is excited about her career and being a part of one of the most important decisions people make. “Buying or selling a home is a monumental experience, and being able to play a small part in this story is very meaningful and touching.”
She also looks forward to watching her boys grow and seeing the world through their eyes. “The boys are so full of life and love,” she says. “They make me so happy. You truly cannot put into words how special being a mother is.”