Condominium Manager Magazine

Condo corporations in Ontario are losing millions of dollars to fraud through outdated procurement processes – often without any awareness or subsequent detection.

In the evolving landscape of AI, cultural shifts, and social changes, condo managers and their colleagues face increasing challenges in managing what are often simple misunderstandings. 

Building decarbonization retrofits takes a significant amount of time and effort to plan, design, finance, and construct. They require input from multi-disciplined engineering teams and collaboration with management and boards.

If it feels like every parking garage in the province is breaking down at the same time, that’s not a coincidence; it’s a consequence.

As climate risks and infrastructure challenges intensify across Canada, the condominium sector faces mounting pressure to evolve. Rising operational costs, energy inefficiency, extreme weather events, and an aging building stock have made it imperative for condo managers and boards to pursue long-term resiliency strategies.

Ontario's rainfall patterns are changing. Across the province, short, intense downpours are becoming more frequent, placing stress on building drainage systems that were never designed to handle such volume. For condominium buildings, the result is all too familiar: flooded basements, sump pump failures, backflow into sewer systems, and costly damage to mechanical, electrical and building infrastructure. The need to adapt is no longer a distant concern; it is a pressing reality.

At the heart of our management philosophy is the belief that condo owners are seeking peace of mind. Our goal is to guide our condos to maturity, where all building systems have been replaced at least once, they have adequate reserve contributions, and a large minimum balance in their reserve fund, minimizing the risk of special assessments. 

Suppose you are a property manager or board member of a condominium corporation. A unit owner refuses to comply with its obligations under the Condominium Act, 1998, S.O. 1998 c. 19 (the “Act”). What are your options? This scenario came before the Ontario Court of Appeal in the recent decision of Halton Condominium Corporation No 61 v. Kolarovaliev, 2024 ONCA 848 (“Halton Condominium”), which involved a dispute between a resident and the condominium corporation over a no smoking rule.

In today's technology-driven lifestyle, enhancing digital automation has become a priority for increasing efficiency and boosting resident engagement. Cutting-edge automation technology now allows the automation of multiple tasks, such as scheduling repairs, monitoring building systems and communications with residents. This timely, automated approach can result in faster response times and improved resident experience while lowering operational costs.

When a cardiac emergency strikes, time is everything. A person can experience sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) without warning signs. Survival rates decrease by 7–10% for every minute that defibrillation is delayed for a person experiencing SCA. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have long been recognized as essential life-saving tools in public places, including residential buildings.

Condominiums today face security challenges such as theft, unauthorized access, property damage, and illegal activities — sometimes by owners, residents, or visitors. To address this, many condominium boards are adopting modern technologies that combine artificial intelligence ("AI"), cybersecurity, and real-time human response to create safer living environments. Three key technologies helping to prevent crime are intelligent smoke alarms, AI-powered CCTV cameras, and integrated video monitoring with a security response team.

With technology and the internet within reach at any given time, the expectations for the immediacy with which you can get information, answers to your questions, or even products delivered to your homes have drastically changed. And how that information is delivered has changed, too. People want an app for everything.

As a condo property manager, your job involves juggling countless tasks — from daily operations to ensuring your building's community thrives. Yet, one of the most crucial responsibilities is helping the condo board make smart, long-term decisions that ensure the property's well-being. One of the most challenging areas often lies in vendor selection.

Condominiums are more than just buildings. They are communities built on trust, security, and stability. Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of site staff, led by a licensed condominium manager, ensures that daily operations run smoothly, emergencies are prevented or managed effectively, and residents feel safe in their homes.

Condominium boards are the backbone of residential communities. They juggle everything from budgets and bylaws to keeping the peace among neighbours, and while the role can be rewarding, it's far from risk-free. Board meetings, in particular, are often pressure cookers where tempers can boil over.