I attended the recent annual general meeting of the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario (“ACMO”). While those meetings are normally attended exclusively by condominium managers, the board invited me to assist them with any legal or procedural matters that might arise. While nothing exciting developed that required legal intervention, the meeting was very well attended and the election to fill vacancies on the ACMO board was especially noteworthy.

Eight members stood to fill three slots on the 9-member board and each described their vision for the future of ACMO and the condominium management profession. The candidates were diverse in their location and the nature of their practice, but all were united by their exceptional experience and desire to serve their fellow condo managers.

In the end, the members re-elected Allan Rosenberg of Toronto and elected two new directors, Helen Kennerney of Alliston and Debbie Wilson of Ottawa.

Allan’s re-election is welcome news and Helen and Debbie joining the board is seen as particularly positive as they practice their craft outside the Toronto area. This added regional diversity on the board will obviously help ACMO increase its presence in other regions of the province, a goal that is common among GTA-centered industry associations but is not easy to conquer.

Additionally, this election brought the number of women on ACMO’s board to a 5-4 majority. While the significance of such developments might seem to decrease with the increasing frequency of these milestones, they are still cause for celebration.

Before being roundly applauded for his nine years of service on the board, outgoing president Chris Antipas reported on the association’s work over the past year and the remarkable progress that has been made. He also spoke of the future and some of ACMO’s goals, including:

• Continued expansion of the Registered Condominium Manager (RCM) designation;
• A licensed RCM in every condominium;
• Expansion of the ACMO 2000 certification program;
• Increased educational opportunities for managers both in and outside the GTA.

Outgoing director John Belford, who chose not to stand for re-election, was also saluted for his contributions to the ACMO board and for his trademark sincerity and passion which is always evident in his dealings with stakeholders.

Congratulations to ACMO on a successful year and a lively AGM, and thanks for giving me a front row seat.