Posted on November 1, 2010 by Chris Jaglowitz

See you at the condo conference!

Don’t miss the 14th Annual CCI-T/ACMO Condominium Conference this Friday and Saturday (November 5-6, 2010) at the Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham.  

In addition to the excellent educational seminars and trade show, this important national event features the annual general meeting of the Canadian Condominium Institute and its national awards banquet dinner.  Condo unit owners, directors, managers and professionals from coast to coast will be on hand.

I am excited to be speaking on how to build responsible digital communities.  Be sure to attend this super session to find out how to make best use of social media tools and avoid pitfalls and traps while enhancing communication at your condo.

Mark Arnold is moderating a panel on condo mediation and arbitration in human rights disputes, which is becoming an increasingly hot topic.

Bob Gardiner will be moderating the ever-popular Ask the Experts panel on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's keynote speaker is Major-General (Ret.) Lewis Mackenzie, one of our country's most notable peacekeepers. Not to be missed.

Gardiner Miller Arnold is proud to be a Silver sponsor of the conference once again, and all of us from GMA will be there. Take a moment to stop any of us and say hello! If you don’t know us by sight, see our mugshots here so that you will recognize us. We look forward to meeting you.

The details for Mark's program and mine are below, but visit www.condoconference.ca to view the full conference program, exhibitors list and registration details.

See you there!

 

Session: 3C - Friday at 2:15 p.m: Building Responsible Digital Communities

Moderator: Dean McCabe, Brookfield Residential Services Ltd.
Speakers:
Darryl Deen, D-Tech Consulting
Chris Jaglowitz, Gardiner Miller Arnold LLP
Denise Lash, Heenan Blaikie LLP

Join us as we explore the benefits and the pitfalls of using technology to increase communications in the condominium community. New technologies including Twitter, Facebook, discussion forums, condominium websites and blogs can make your management more effective, your board aware of owner's concerns and your owners and residents better informed about the environment in which they live. In this session we will discuss how to reap all of these benefits while still protecting the privacy of residents and understanding the legal implications and liabilities of using this technology.

 

Session: 4A - Saturday at 10:45 a.m.: Mediation and Arbitration - Condomunium / Human Rights

Moderator:  Mark Arnold, Gardiner Miller Arnold LLP
Speakers: 
Gary M. Caplan, LLB., Mediator / Arbitrator, McCague Peacock LLP
Steven D. Hill, RCM, Vice-President - Condominium Division, Canlight Hall Management Inc.
Christian Vernon, Lawyer, Pinto Wray James LLP

Many disagreements between unit owners and condominium corporations have a human rights
component often involving handicap or family status issues. Condominium disagreements must be mediated and arbitrated under the Condominium Act, 1998. Human Rights Complaints are subject to procedures provided for in the Human Rights Code which also include mediation and arbitration. These procedures often overlap and there is uncertainty as to the best way to proceed when a corporation is confronted with a disagreement or complaint under both legal regimes.

This session will review mediation and arbitration process and procedure under the Condominium Act 1998 and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

A panel of legal and property management experts will also review, as a case study, the recent settled case, “Tinkerbell The Dog” who moved into a Toronto condominium building designated by its Declaration as “No Animals Permitted”.
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Posted on May 27, 2010 by Chris Jaglowitz

Upcoming CCI-Toronto educational events

CCI-Toronto is offering some interesting and useful seminars at very modest cost in the coming days.   Condo directors and unit owners looking to increase their knowledge should attend!  

Details and registration info is online.

If you're outside Toronto, consult your local CCI chapter for events near you.

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Posted on November 27, 2009 by Chris Jaglowitz

Papers from ACMO Legal Grab Bag Luncheon

Here are the papers from the ACMO Legal Grab Bag luncheon held November 27, 2009.   

Click the bolded names of the authors to view the papers in PDF.   To save the files, right-click on the bolded names and "save as" onto your computer.

David Di Lella of Horlick Levitt on what constitutes an “addition, alteration or improvement.”

Marko Djurdjevac of Deacon, Spears, Fedson & Montizambert on altering common elements to accommodate persons with disabilities.

Karen Kisiel on the latest oppression remedy case.

Kevin Inwood of Heenan Blaikie on preventing workplace harassment and violence.

Michael Pascu of Fine & Deo on how to enforce the declaration and rules in tenancy situations.

You can download all of these papers in a single ZIP file here.

Thanks again to all of the speakers for taking the time to make such excellent presentations and to prepare these helpful papers.  

From all of us on the panel, thanks to everyone who came out today!   Contact any of us if we can be of help to you.

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Posted on November 24, 2009 by Chris Jaglowitz

All-star condo law panel this Friday at ACMO luncheon

Condo managers who missed the legal expert panel at the Annual Condo Conference earlier this month can get their annual quota of condo law news at the ACMO "legal grab bag" luncheon this Friday, November 27, 2009 at Richmond Hill Country Club. 

I will have the great pleasure of moderating this all-star panel of up and coming condo lawyers:

  • Marko Djurdjevac of Deacon, Spears, Fedson & Montizambert
  • David Di Lella of Horlick Levitt
  • Kevin Inwood of Heenan Blaikie
  • Karen Kisiel of Kisiel Law Office
  • Michael Pascu of Fine & Deo

We will be covering a wide range of topics, including:  

  • Human Rights
  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Oppression Remedy
  • Alterations to common elements

We're saving time to answer your questions, so come prepared!

Registration details are here.  Act fast -- tickets are limited.

Managers earn 2 continuing education credits by attending.  Resource material will be posted online after the event on the ACMO website and this blog.  Stay tuned.

See you there.

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Posted on November 4, 2009 by Chris Jaglowitz

See you at the condo conference!

Don’t miss the 13th Annual CCI-T/ACMO Condominium Conference this Friday and Saturday (November 6-7, 2009) at the Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham.

Be sure to come to the Aging in Place seminar (session 1C on Friday morning at 10), where lawyer Denise Lash, property manager Janice Pynn, consultant Sharon Snitman and I will focus on accommodating the needs of aging condo residents. Find out what steps property managers and condo boards must take to accommodate the coming boom of aging condo dwellers and learn what you should do to prepare.

Bob Gardiner will be moderating the Condo Law Update SuperSession on Saturday at noon. Don’t miss it!

Gardiner Miller Arnold is proud to be a sponsor of the conference once again, so all of us from GMA will be there.  Take a moment to stop any of us and say hello!  If you don’t know us by sight, visit this page to view our photos so that you will recognize us.   We look forward to meeting you.

Visit www.condoconference.ca for detailed program, exhibitors list and registration details.

See you there!

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Posted on November 2, 2009 by Chris Jaglowitz

Education is often the key to solving condo problems

Most problems facing condominium corporations are either created or made more complicated by the simple fact that owners or directors (sometimes both) lack basic knowledge about the rights and responsibilities of the various stakeholders in the condo community.

This obstacle can be partly overcome in a number of ways. Here are four:

First, your corporation should engage the services of a professional property management firm. One of the main functions of any reputable management firm is to direct their collective skill, knowledge and experience to solving a host of problems or disputes in a condominium setting. In selecting a management firm, start with those that have earned or are working towards the ACMO 2000 certification. This designation is conceptually similar to the well-known ISO-9001 certification and consists of measurable minimum standards of performance and service. The ACMO 2000 certification is administered by the Condominium Management Standards Council at the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario (“ACMO”).

Second, insist that your on-site manager possess or be working towards the Registered Condominium Manager (“RCM”) designation. This designation, administered by ACMO, is granted to individuals who have achieved a minimum two years’ experience in condominium property management and have successfully completed a comprehensive educational program covering administration, condo law, physical building management and financial planning. The condo board is often only as knowledgeable as its front-line manager. Make sure yours is well-qualified.

Third, your corporation and unit owners can (and should!) take advantage of the excellent educational courses offered by your local chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute. Here in Toronto, the local CCI chapter has a full slate of courses of various lengths on a number of practical topics for condo directors, owners and even prospective purchasers. It would be ideal for every condominium director and owner to take some of these courses.   The small cost of these courses is insignificant when you consider the fact that most condominiums are million-dollar operations that directly and significantly impact the lives of their unit owners.  

Fourth, managers, directors and owners should consider and explore other educational opportunities, such as:

Having professional management and a well-educated board and membership will go a long way towards avoiding or minimizing the most commonly encountered disputes and problems.  
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Posted on July 13, 2009 by Chris Jaglowitz

New resource for owners: Condo Information Centre

Condo unit owners and directors are often uninformed about their rights and responsibilities or about how condos work. This is largely due to a lack of comprehensive information online to address basic condo concepts.

A new website may help fill that void.

The Condo Information Centre (found at www.condoinformation.ca) was launched on June 30, 2009 by Anne-Marie Ambert, a retired university professor and condo director, who offers her knowledge of how condos work. Her site offers an impressive digest of original text and commentary on a number of topics, including:

  • Condos' Financial Structure
  • Owners’ Meetings and Voting
  • Owners' Rights and Responsibilities
  • Understanding Your Building & Your Unit
  • Common Problems of Condo Living
  • Tenants & Landlords
  • Management, Personnel, and Contractors
  • Auditors and Lawyers
  • Insurance
  • Condo Act, Declaration, Rules, and By-Laws
  • What Should be done to help condos?

The articles are organized by theme and arranged for easy navigation. A search feature is provided. The text is well-written and easy to read.

Links to legislation, condo law texts and resources are provided. In order to remain neutral, the site does not accept advertisements or promote condo-related firms or organizations.

While the Condo Information Centre is not intended to replace legal advice, anyone looking to learn more about Ontario condo law should definitely start by visiting the site and giving it a close read.  

Hats off to Dr. Ambert for this impressive initiative to help inform condo residents everywhere.

[Kudos to Darryl Deen at D-Tech Consulting for finding and sharing this site.]
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Posted on March 9, 2009 by Chris Jaglowitz

New OH&S online courses available

Daily Commercial News reports that the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (an agency of the federal government) has launched a new online course to help organizations of any size develop their own OH&S program.

This new course adds to the Centre's lineup of over 40 "e-Courses" that are offered over the Internet and require as little as an hour to complete.   Students achieving 80% or better on the final online exam earn a certificate of completion.   These e-Courses are developed by experts, reviewed by government and cover a variety of occupational health and safety topics.  Some of the available courses that may be of interest to condo property managers and directors include:

  • Accident Investigation
  • Confined Space Management
  • Emergency Response Planning
  • Health & Safety for Office Managers
  • Ladder Safety
  • Pandemic Planning
  • Preventing Falls from Slips and Trips
  • WHMIS

In addition to the e-Courses (a few of which are free), the Centre's website contains valuable resources on all aspects of occupational health and safety.  Check it out.

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Posted on February 26, 2009 by Chris Jaglowitz

Techno-tip of the day: Google Reader

With the avalanche of information available online, we all need to maximize, optimize and organize the flow of essential information while minimizing the time and hassle needed to review it.  

The solution is so simple:  If you're following more than one blog or want to receive updates from one or more websites, all without clogging up your email box and without wasting time visiting multiple websites, you need to use Google Reader, period.

Learning to use Reader is a snap.   Detailed information is readily available from Google's Reader Help Center or see the Google Reader Help Channel on YouTube where you will find helpful step-by-step videos.  Or take the Google Reader Tour!

Expand your brain and stay cutting-edge current with developments while maximizing your efficiency.

Happy Google reading.  

 

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Posted on January 9, 2009 by Chris Jaglowitz

CCI Toronto course offerings for Jan/Feb 2009

Education for condo directors and owners has become increasingly important.    

Regardless of their experience, any condominium director, prospective director or interested unit owner should seriously consider taking one or more of the excellent courses offered by the various chapters of the Canadian Condominium Institute.  

The following message from the Toronto and Area Chapter of CCI describes their course offerings for January and February.     

Sign up today.   This small investment will pay for itself in spades.

 


CCI Toronto and Area Director Courses
There is still time to register for......
Condo 101 Course - Saturday January 17th, 2009

CCI-Toronto's Condo 101 Course will be offered on Saturday January 17th, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Novotel North York Hotel - 3 Park Home Ave. This intensive 3 hour session provides participants with an overview of the Condominium Act and is an excellent means to find out what you need to know to be an effective condominium owner or director. The course is presented by a panel of Condominium Experts, including a Lawyer, Property Manager, Accountant and Engineer.

For full course details or to register online, click here.

Level 200 Course - Starts on Wednesday February 11th, 2009

The Winter session of the Level 200 Condominium Course starts on Wednesday February 11th and will run on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. until Wednesday March 11th, 2009.   

This five night follow up course expands upon the information provided in the Condo 101 session and is a 'must attend' for all new Directors or Condominium Residents who want a better understanding of the way Condominiums function and should operate. Topics covered include: What is a Condo, Property Management,   Insurance, Finance and Status Certificates , Reserve Funds and Physical Building Management.

For full details or to register online, click here.  

Register Today... Don't Delay!

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Posted on December 1, 2008 by Chris Jaglowitz

Educate owners about insurance today

Where a unit owner, tenant or a guest causes damage to an owner’s unit, section 105 of the Condominium Act, 1998 permits condo corporations to charge back certain repair costs by adding those costs as common expenses to that owner’s unit and collecting them by way of lien. Corporations can pass by-laws extending the circumstances under which they can charge back repair costs. The underlying concept is that an owner who is responsible for damage should pay any repair costs not covered by the corporation’s insurance.

This type of charge back is typically limited to the deductible amount under the corporation’s insurance policy, which can range from $500 to $10,000 for most water escape or fire claims. In larger condominiums or those with a poor claims history, the deductible can reach $50,000.

No matter what the amount, few owners can easily afford these charge backs. Thankfully, they can obtain insurance to significantly lessen the impact of such charge backs and protect their personal property and improvements to their unit, none of which are covered by the corporation's insurance.

The problem is that a surprisingly large number of owners do not secure proper insurance because they do not understand the limitations of the corporation’s insurance and mistakenly assume that they don't need to obtain their own coverage.  The truth emerges very quickly in the aftermath of a water escape or fire, but too late.   

Failure to obtain proper insurance can result in a crippling financial burden that can rob owners and their families of their financial security and their home. There are few things as heartbreaking or as avoidable.

Condo boards and managers should take concrete steps to help educate their unit owners about insurance on an ongoing basis and especially when new standard unit by-laws or insurance deductible by-laws are proposed.  Here are some ideas:

  1. Make sure that your welcome booklet for new residents contains detailed information about the owners’ obligation to obtain their own insurance and how to get it;
  2. Insert information about owners’ insurance on the backside of the condo’s insurance certificate that is circulated to the owners each year – some insurers provide this service;
  3. Discuss insurance at the annual general meeting every year – there are always people who want to learn more;
  4. Circulate brochures from your broker or insurer, and keep some literature handy in the office to pass out on request;
  5. Place a link to your broker or insurer’s website on the condo’s website or blog;
  6. Ask your broker or insurer to submit an advertisement or helpful article for publication in the condo’s newsletter or website;
  7. Hold periodic information meetings to discuss insurance issues and consider inviting a representative from your broker/insurer;
  8. Ensure that information is available in other languages and formats to serve the specific demographics of your complex.

These very simple and inexpensive steps can help prevent disasters for members of your condo community.   Implement these steps today.
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