Condominium News and Views To the Members and Friends of The Manitoba Chapter • November 2013 A HiGH-Rise CONDO ComPLEX Goes TotaLLY NoN-smoKING In June 2013, one of the Winnipeg’s earliest high-rise condo complexes voted overwhelmingly to adopt a totally smoke-free environment - not just in the common areas, but in all individual living units and balconies as well. It was a bold step, and one of the first of its kind in Canada. The Board of Directors thought that other Boards and Owners may be interested in knowing how this was done. The following is a brief description of the steps that were taken, some of the bumps in the road, and how the issues were resolved by everyone as matters progressed. A few obstacles were very apparent from the beginning. A 75% endorsement of those attending the next Annual General Meeting was needed to amend the by-laws. The Board was fairly confident that could be achieved. However, an 80% endorsement of all of the Owners, even those not living in Manitoba, was required to amend the Declaration. The Board embarked on a campaign to achieve both of these objectives. Board minutes during the winter outlined the plan, the Board’s unanimous endorsement of it, and outlined three points that were critically important: • The adverse effects of inhaling second-hand smoke are beyond dispute; • Careless smoking poses a fire hazard to all residents and visitors; • Legal advisors across the country are warning Boards and Owners that they may be financially liable for failing to protect non-smokers from the effects of drifting second hand smoke That started the discussion amongst the Owners in the hallways, the elevators and by telephone. The most important thing was to get people talking about the issue. The Board was convinced that if Owners started to think about it, they would be supportive. However, we still had to get them out to the AGM, and we still had to reach out to those who didn’t normally attend meetings or lived elsewhere. ProPertY TAX The devil, of course, is always in the detail. Were we just going to end the right of long-standing CamPaiGN owners to smoke in their homes? Should we agree to some sort of transition period? If so, what would Thank you to all of our volunteers who have that look like? And for how long? Should some been assisting the campaign! Condo owners units be grandfathered, perhaps with a requirement have been distributing flyers, making phone that they use a filtration system? If so, what sort of calls and sending emails in support of the filtration? What about units leased out to tenants? campaign. For an update on the recent And how do you enforce all of this? communications with our Provincial Minister of Local Government, please see page 6 & 7. …Continue reading this article on page 4 & 5 INSURING YOUR CONDOMINIUM PAGE 10 • PREVENTIon of SLIP & Fall AccIDENTS PAGE 12 CONTENTS KEEP US UPDATED PRESIDENT ’S REPORT .................... 3 The CCI Manitoba News and Views newsletter is published and distributed to members on a quarterly basis. It would be a tremendous help if contact persons from member A HIGH -RISE CONDO corporations ensure that the CCI Chapter Administrator is provided with updated COMPLEX GOES TOTALLY information whenever there is a change of Management Company, quantities required NON-SMOKING ........................ 4-5 and distribution address, etc. Please call, mail, or email this information to the Chapter Administrator as listed on the back page of this publication. Thank you in advance for NEWS ON THE your assistance! CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY TAX FAIRNESS CAMPAIGN .......... 6-7 OUR NEW REFERRAL PROGRAM .... 8 WINNIPEG REALTORS 2013 TECHNOLOGY INSURING YOUR CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW CONDOMINIUM ..................... 10-11 PREVENTION OF SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS ............ 12-13 2013-2014 LUNCH & LEARN PROGRAM SCHEDULE ................. 14 PROFESSIONAL & SPONSOR DIRECTORY ................. 15 DIRECTORS & COMMITTEES ..........16 All contributed articles must be original work. It is understood that submissions may be reprinted and; all previously published works must be accompanied by the publishers’ authorization to reprint. Authors are responsible for their expressed opinions and for the authenticity of all presented facts in articles. CCI Manitoba reserves the right: to edit contributed articles for clarity, length, unwarranted attacks and libelous content and; to refuse to publish any contributed article. CCI Manitoba does not necessarily On October 3, 2013 CCI Manitoba set up a booth at the Winnipeg Realtors Technology endorse or approve statements of fact or opinion made in this publication Conference and Tradeshow. The event was very well attended with over 300 Manitoba and assumes no responsibility for Realtors. We wish to thank our Board Member, Catherine Schellenberg of RE/MAX those statements. Readers should professionals, who volunteered her time to work the CCI booth in the Exhibitor’s Hall always obtain expert advice on alongside Millanne Baxter, our Chapter Administrator. As this was our first time attending specific situations. the annual tradeshow, we did not know what to expect and were pleasantly surprised All advertisements are paid advertising by the number of Realtors that showed interest in obtaining a CCI Membership. We and should not be perceived as being welcome and look forward to building relationships with our new real estate members! endorsed by CCI Manitoba Chapter. MANITOBA CHAPTER NOTICES MANITOBA CHAPTER P.O. Box 2517 • Our NEW Referral Program will allow us to Winnipeg, MB R3C 4A7 give back to our members 204-794-1134 [email protected] • Our Newsletter and Website have a new www.cci.ca/Manitoba look, let us know what you think • Facebook and Twitter coming soon PAGE 2 CCI MANITOBA CHAPTER President’s rePort s this will be my last President’s Report, I would like to November 21st, 2013 and will be on Insurance which is always a take this opportunity to thank all of our members for their very controversial issue in condominiums. Please be sure to register A support over the past few years. I would also like to thank early as we expect a large attendance for this session. the property management firms that help with the distribution of the Condominium News and Views on our behalf. Please see page 6 & 7 for an update from Paul Hesse on the Property Tax Fairness Campaign, or visit our website In our August issue we mentioned that we had taken a look at www.cci.ca/Manitoba for more information. our administrative requirements and had hired Millanne Baxter as our Chapter Administrator. Millanne has been extremely busy CCI National has formed a new National Education Committee these past three months with setting up her office and working with and as the National Representative from Manitoba, I will be the different committees as well as participating in this Committee. CCI National. This position has The first meeting of this new gone from a part time to almost a committee was held on October full time position. 1st, 2013 via conference call. Over the past month CCI Manitoba I am pleased to announce that As we go to print we are has implemented a number of we will be launching our new preparing for the Annual General new procedures and guidelines website this month so make Meeting which by the time you to ensure that all documentation read this newsletter will have produced by our Chapter meets sure to check it out! already been held. the standards expected by our constituents. We are also working I am pleased to advise you that on establishing document templates Carla Steidl has agreed to be the and marketing guidelines. Our new new Chairperson of the Newsletter Administrator has a background in marketing which will greatly assist Committee and I have agreed to work with her on this committee. As us in implementing these procedures and guidelines. you may have noticed our newsletter is now printing in full colour, and I am pleased to announce that we will be launching our new website Our committees are all back hard at work after a summer break. this month so make sure to check it out! Our first Lunch & Learn session Board Orientation/Development: “How to Train Your Board” was held on September 19th, 2013 and JANE LECOURS, PRESIDENT was very successful. Our next Lunch & Learn session is scheduled for Stevenson Management Services Ltd. BUILDING A PLACE FOR EVERY PERSON BUILDINGS Reserve Fund Studies / Building Envelope Assessment and Remediation / Structural & Balcony Assessment and Remediation / Mechanical and Electrical Systems / Parking Lots / Building and Renovation Design ENVIRONMENT ARCHITECTURE ENERGY MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRIAL Canadian Museum TRANSPORTATION for Human Rights LEED® T 204-477-6650 [email protected] www.genivar.com CCI MANITOBA CHAPTER PAGE 3 A HiGH-Rise CONDO ComPLEX Goes TotaLLY NoN-smoKING n June 2013, one of the Winnipeg’s earliest high-rise condo That started the discussion amongst the Owners in the hallways, complexes voted overwhelmingly to adopt a totally smoke-free the elevators and by telephone. The most important thing was I environment - not just in the common areas, but in all individual to get people talking about the issue. The Board was convinced living units and balconies as well. It was a bold step, and one of that if Owners started to think about it, they would be supportive. the first of its kind in Canada. The Board of Directors thought that However, we still had to get them out to the AGM, and we still other Boards and Owners may be interested in knowing how this had to reach out to those who didn’t normally attend meetings or was done. The following is a brief description of the steps that lived elsewhere.