Our
Story
Mom used to say that my dad had a unique ability to celebrate other people's success.
Over the years, I’ve come to understand this and embrace it as a guiding principle. There is immeasurable fulfillment in wishing well for others and investing energy in their well-being. I hope by sharing our family’s journey, you may find some inspiration for your own. I began working alongside my father Lawrence D’Orsay at the age of 25. He was my best friend and business partner for more than 20 years, until his passing in August 2022. Together, our careers grew from traditional listing work to expertise in logistics, advanced manufacturing, site selection, incentive negotiation and workplace strategy. We evolved from conventional in-office operations to embracing hybrid work models, representing some of Canada’s largest companies in some of the most complex transactions of our era. Commuting to our office in Toronto, I was reminded that sometimes what’s old becomes new again; and these experiences remain deeply influential to me.
My father started his brokerage career at just 19, when Etobicoke was the outskirts of Toronto, forging close friendships and professional bonds with many industry pioneers. He became actively involved in the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (formerly SIR), helping to grow the industry with his unwavering commitment to ethics, professionalism, and integrity. He founded his first brokerage in 1981, mentored many, and worked collaboratively with clients and competitors to advance our profession. My Uncle Alan D’Orsay was a builder, beginning in commercial construction in the 1970s. At an early age I spent my time divided between wheelbarrowing bricks and installing real estate signs.
The D’Orsay family migrated from Ireland to Canada during the Potato Famine of the 1850s. My great-great-great-grandfather Patrick, a fisherman, brought our family to Prince Edward Island, in search of a better life. My great-great-grandfather John Dorsey, founded Dorsey, Goff & Co. in the 1870s, the original company namesake. Together with his brother, they were one of PEI’s largest boot and shoe manufacturers. John married Emma Lucretia LePage, Charlottetown royalty and aunt and uncle to A.E. LePage co-founder of the Toronto Real Estate Board. I believe this connection helped solidify our family’s ongoing journey in real estate, undoubtedly making for interesting dinner table conversations. My great-grandfather, John D’Orsay, was an artist who relocated our family to Toronto and changed the spelling of our name to its present form, though the reason remains unknown. Was it for his love of art or a tribute to his French ancestry? Our family then began working in Toronto real estate in the 1940's when my grandfather, Seldon Edward D'Orsay, worked as a residential realtor.
As we continue to move our industry forward, embracing technology and complex service offerings for our corporate clients, our core values remain unchanged: hard work, collaboration, mentorship, and professionalism are the foundation of what we do and the driving force behind D’Orsay & Company. Our namesake is a tribute to our family history and a remembrance of my father, whose passing we mark in our logo, Est. 2023. To our friends, colleagues, clients, and competitors, D’Orsay & Company is also a tribute to you and a celebration of 175 years of Canadian heritage and friendship.
Sincerely,
Matt D’Orsay