At Teranet, we believe in the power of community and the difference we can make when we give back. Our Employee Community Spotlight series highlights team members who go the extra mile to create positive change. This month, we’re proud to feature Carrie Manson, Senior Manager of Real Estate at Teranet, who exemplifies compassion, leadership, and a deep commitment to her community via the PKD Foundation of Canada.
What do you do at Teranet?
I’m a full-stack marketing professional with almost five years at Teranet. I lead marketing strategy for our real estate portfolio, which includes REALM and GeoWarehouse. What I enjoy most is working with a great team to drive meaningful results, whether that’s growing market share, improving the customer experience, or finding smarter ways to solve challenges in the real estate space. Collaboration is a big part of what I do (and love), and I’m fortunate to work closely with our business partners to bring new ideas to life and create lasting value for our customers.
PKD Foundation of Canada & Why they matter
The PKD Foundation of Canada is the country’s only organization dedicated to Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a genetic disease that causes cysts to form on the kidneys and other organs. Their mission is to improve the lives of those affected by PKD, while funding research that brings us closer to a cure.
My connection to PKD began in a deeply personal way. When I was sixteen, I started dating my now-husband, John. Not long after, his father became ill. We later learned it was due to PKD, a diagnosis that would change all our lives.
Years later, after his father’s passing in 2009 at 60 years old, both John and his brother were diagnosed with the same disease. Living through those experiences and continuing to live and love someone with a chronic disease has opened my eyes to the urgent need for awareness, research, and community support.
What drove your passion to get involved?
Watching my husband’s family face PKD taught me resilience and the power of advocacy. When John’s father passed, I wanted to do something meaningful in his honour. I began volunteering with the Kidney Foundation of Canada before discovering the PKD Foundation, and in 2010, we launched the Guelph Walk to END PKD.
Over the years, our Guelph Walk community has raised almost $50,000 which is included in the $2,655,000 to-date total for all walks combined to fund research, provide patient education, and support families navigating the same challenges. It’s our way of keeping my father-in-law’s legacy alive while working toward a future where no family faces PKD alone.
How can others get involved and donate to PKD?
- Raise awareness by sharing PKD facts and stories on social media. Every post helps amplify the message and reach new supporters.
- Set up a recurring gift at EndPKD.ca, even small monthly contributions fuel progress year-round.
- Join or donate to any of the 6 locations for the annual Walk to END PKD (held every September), our flagship fundraiser that has raised more than $2.4 million nationwide since 2007.
Each act of kindness, helps move us closer to better treatments and, one day, a cure.
