BGRS Is Now SIRVA: What Every CAF Family Needs to Know for Their Ottawa Posting in 2026

If your posting message landed recently, you've probably already noticed the name change. BGRS — Brookfield Global Relocation Services — officially transitioned to SIRVA on January 6, 2026. Files authorized before that date are still administered under BGRS. Files authorized on or after January 6, 2026 are now administered through SIRVA.

That cutoff date matters. I'll explain why in a moment.

I'm Dwayne Desveaux — a 25-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran who served ten years as an infantry paratrooper and fifteen years as an intelligence officer. I'm now an Ottawa REALTOR® on the BGRS/SIRVA approved Third Party Service Provider (TPSP) list, helping CAF, RCMP, and federal families through their Ottawa postings. My wife Mallory is a 14-year U.S. Navy veteran and a licensed Ottawa REALTOR® on the same list.

When people ask me what changed with the BGRS to SIRVA transition — my honest answer is: less than you'd think, and more than the paperwork makes obvious.

What Changed — and What Didn't

What stayed exactly the same:

Your entitlements under the Canadian Armed Forces Relocation Directive (CAFRD) are unchanged. The IRP — the Integrated Relocation Program — still operates the same way. Your House Hunting Trip (HHT) is still funded. Your real estate commissions are still covered. Your legal fees are still covered. The process of choosing a REALTOR® and lawyer from the TPSP list is unchanged. The relocation is still designed to be cost-neutral for you.

What actually changed:

• The name. BGRS is now SIRVA.
• The portal. If your file was opened after January 6, 2026, you're logging into the SIRVA Member Secure Website, not the legacy BGRS portal.
• The app. Download the new SIRVA Forces app — don't rely on the old BGRS app for new files.
• Some service provider cost allowances were adjusted during the transition. The impact for most CAF families is minimal, but confirm specifics with your SIRVA relocation advisor.

The First 5 Things to Do When Your Ottawa Posting Message Lands

I've guided enough CAF families through this process to know that the first 72 hours after a posting message arrives are the most important — and the most wasted. Here's exactly what to do in sequence.

1. Register immediately — your 5-day priority window starts the clock. Whether your file is BGRS or SIRVA, register in the system immediately. Your 5-day scheduling priority status begins the moment you register. Miss that window and you lose priority status. This is not a soft deadline.
2. Book your planning session. Book the 30-minute planning session as soon as registration is complete. This is where you learn your specific funding picture — what's in your Core envelope, what's in your Custom envelope, and what your total relocation budget actually looks like. Do not skip this. The session is available 24/7.
3. Get your REALTOR® and lawyer lined up before you book your HHT. Your REALTOR® and your lawyer must both be on the TPSP list. Book your HHT after your team is in place — not before.
4. Do your Ottawa neighbourhood research before you land. A House Hunting Trip is a sprint, not a sightseeing tour. Come in with a shortlist of two or three neighbourhoods that make sense for your base, your commute, and your family's needs.
5. Request your advance early. You can request a funding advance from SIRVA/BGRS before your HHT. Do this approximately two weeks before you travel. Advances typically take 5 to 7 business days to process.

Choosing a REALTOR® for Your Ottawa Posting — The Question Nobody Tells You to Ask

SIRVA/BGRS does not assign a REALTOR® to you. You choose your own — which means you can choose someone who actually understands the IRP instead of someone who happens to be on a list.

Here's the question most CAF families never think to ask their REALTOR®: "What is a substantiating document?"

If they hesitate or look confused, find someone else. A substantiating document is the comparable sales evidence your REALTOR® has to prepare and upload to the portal to justify your purchase price under the IRP. Getting this wrong can delay your file and complicate your claim.

Your REALTOR® should also be able to:

• Clear their schedule for your entire HHT window
• Coordinate home inspections and upload documents directly to the SIRVA/BGRS portal
• Work with IRP-approved inspectors and lawyers who understand the timeline
• Help you prepare for the Preliminary Relocation Assessment (PRA)
• Understand the difference between Core and Custom benefit envelopes

Ottawa in 2026 — What the Market Looks Like for CAF Families

The Ottawa market in 2026 is more favourable for buyers than it's been in several years. According to the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB), the average home price in Ottawa as of May 2026 is $721,270, with the market in balanced conditions and months of supply at approximately 3.0 months.

For CAF families landing on an HHT, this matters for a specific reason: you have more room to negotiate than you would have had in 2022 or 2023. Sellers are more willing to work with buyers, and you're less likely to find yourself in a bidding war that complicates your IRP file.

The neighbourhoods closest to DND Carling — Kanata, Bridlewood, Morgan's Grant, Stittsville — have good availability across the $600,000 to $850,000 range depending on property type. For CFS Leitrim postings, Riverside South, Findley Creek, and Barrhaven are strong options. I cover the full neighbourhood-by-base breakdown in the Neighbourhoods section of this site.