In regards to releasing me from my agent: I just spoke to him in regards to the form he gave me to sign that 'withdraws' my house from listing. Is this the same as a release form? If I sign it stating that I am released from the contract, is the relationship now ended? Or, is this withdrawal different? Thanks for any and all assistance!

I believe your relationship ended when he signed the listing agreement you had written the note on.

A withdrawal from listing typically only gives the brokerage firm permission to withdraw your listing from the Multiple Listing Service.

In Ontario, "withdrawal" means that the house is no longer on the market, but it will often remain in the MLS system (with an appropriate notation) until the expiry date is reached. With no disrespect aimed in your direction, the thinking is that this effectively prevents you from selling your home privately to someone in the hope/expectation of avoiding payment of a commission to the listing broker.
This is somewhat self-serving on the part of the real estate industry, no doubt, but there have been some bitter experiences in the past that have made its members a little gunshy.
As long as you intend to remain off the market, you have nothing to worry about. At most, you may get an occasional call from your listing agent to see if someone could look at the house (because this can happen), but you then merely need to repeat your wish to no longer get the place sold.

Duncan