All sorts of projects for BOMA Quebec this fall!
Autumn is always a very busy season, and this year is no exception. After an exceptional summer during which we had the pleasure of getting together at the golf tournaments in Montreal on August 17 and in Quebec City on September 13, BOMA Quebec is energetically plunging into the fall season to pursue several different projects .
A second planning meeting will follow up on the meeting held in June 2016, one where numerous projects were discussed with the various committees. It is now time to make decisions and to give the green light to implementing some of them and thus setting the agenda for 2017. A certain priority is the Race to Reduce project, which I'll discuss below.
BOMEX 2016 - Collaboration the Keynote
Exciting Encounters and Important Changes for BOMA Quebec
The 2016 edition of BOMEX® took place from September 20 to 22 in Regina. Note that BOMEX® is the biggest Canadian convention for commercial building management professionals. More than 530 participants from diverse sectors such as energy, construction and security attended this year. As always, we were very well received and the event was an occasion for multiple encounters and discussions.
A highlight was the 1st edition of BOMA’s Canadian Real Estate Summit. Aimed at directors of BOMA Canada and all our local associations, this is a new forum for exchanging ideas and expertise. Henry H. Chamberlain, president and chief operating officer of BOMA International, along with representatives of BOMI Canada, were in attendance.
BOMA International called on members to cooperate so as to combine their strengths and work together on current concerns and major issues such as the phenomenon of increased office densification. Its research committee has made available for BOMA members several studies on a variety of topics. We encourage you to consult them for more detailed information.
The issue of preparing the next generation of commercial property managers was also discussed at length, in particular the matter of providing the necessary training in many sectors of the industry in order to ensure long-term competitiveness. Another concern is the importance of exploring new avenues of communication such as social networks, a way of reaching out to young property management professionals.
BOMA BEST® 3.0
The event also saw BOMA Canada's launch of the 3rd version of BOMA BEST®, which extends beyond certification. It is now a dynamic tool for conducting an audit and creating an interactive structure to help owners and professionals constantly improve sustainable management practices. BOMA Canada is particularly proud that there is manifest international interest in this new Canadian certification, a sure sign of its relevance and effectiveness.
I must also mention that BOMA Quebec is extremely proud that two of its members, Carré Queen Mary - FCR Capital Realty Management Services LP and Rockland Centre - FPI Cominar, received an Environment Award respectively in the multi-unit residential category and the retail buildings category at the national BOMA Canada TOBY AWARDS. Our sincere congratulations to both organizations!
Race to Reduce, A stimulating and inspirational project!
A number of initiatives have recently attracted our attention, in particular the installation in Montreal of the Race to Reduce competition, the challenge being to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in commercial buildings. Developed by BOMA Toronto and its partners, the project is now in its third year and has proved to be a big hit in the Queen City. A lot of work has been done locally to promote the project and to validate its feasibility here, including a very interesting meeting with Bala Gnanam, head of the BOMA Toronto version. We were able to obtain lots of pertinent information that will be useful in our ongoing discussions and analysis. We are cognizant of the extensive work required to implement this initiative, but are also aware of its incredible potential for involving the entire commercial real estate community in Quebec.
We are quite excited by this project as it truly reflects the values, principles and criteria for energy and environmental performance that are promoted by BOMA Quebec. It is also a great tool for inspiring and informing the property management community, and will no doubt be a topic of great interest and discussion in the months to come. In the meantime, we invite you to consult the website of the Toronto initiative at racetoreduce.ca.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to consult the calendar of activities for the upcoming season. As always, BOMA Quebec is constantly working to offer you the best in terms of activities, training and member services. We strive to remain up to date and helpful by creating opportunities and contexts that encourage reflection, learning and the exchange of ideas. We hope that a majority of members will respond to our initiatives during the course of the year.
May the upcoming season prove to be excellent for one and all, and may we all experience many enjoyable and fruitful encounters!