Alex Baez

I was born in a tiny town in Cuba, where life was simple but often tough. When my father passed away when I was just 18, everything changed. As the sole provider for our family, his absence left us struggling to put food on the table. I remember standing in the kitchen, looking at my mother, feeling lost, unsure of what to do next.

With little time to grieve, I found work as a Welder’s Assistant in the town’s Sugar Mill and the Ice Factory, earning only $5 to $7 a month. It wasn’t enough, so I started searching for other opportunities. That’s when I heard about new hotels being built in Cayo Coco. Determined to build a better future, I jumped into the hospitality industry, learning everything I could—from washing dishes to waiting tables, bartending, and managing. The job allowed me to support my mother and earn more than the average Cuban, but in a Communist country, nothing truly belongs to you. I knew I had to leave if I wanted real freedom.

Coming to Canada was like stepping into a dream. Here, opportunity wasn’t just a word—it was real and right at my fingertips. With my hospitality experience, I found work in restaurants, climbing my way up. A few years later, my General Manager saw my dedication and asked me to help him open a new restaurant, offering me a partnership. Around the same time, I met my beautiful wife, and together, we built a family.

One evening, while driving home, she suggested I try a career in real estate. She saw something in me—the way I connected with people, my background in customer service—she believed I would make a great Realtor. I took her advice, stepped into the world of real estate, and never looked back. And the rest, as they say, is history.