PROUD TO SERVE

Dear Members and Colleagues,

This will be my last Word from the President, as my time as president of BOMA Quebec is coming to an end. It is time to hand over the helm of this extraordinary association to a new captain. We will be announcing that person's name shortly, following the annual general meeting in May.

It has indeed been a privilege to contribute to the promotion of our profession, our values and the management practices of the future. I would like to thank all of you for your trust in me and the helping hand you have shown throughout my mandate.

The buildings we manage are real hives of activity that are home to organizations and businesses of all sorts, entities that contribute on a daily basis to our communities and to the economy. Our buildings are full of life, fluid and moving, places where organizations and teams work together, excel, innovate, evolve, grow, develop and flourish. 

We manage living environments that evolve rapidly in line with new technologies and with changes in the nature of work and how business is conducted in 2018. We are in the era of the responsive building, and needs and expectations have changed profoundly.

And this is only the beginning.

We are engineers responsible for the well-being of building users. We work in an industry where the purpose of our planning and our efforts consists of being in service to the expectations, needs and security of others, be they tenants, clients or users. Whether they are full-time residents of our buildings or just passing through, our role is to render their experience of the building as being as positive, satisfying and memorable as possible, and many of us work diligently to reach that goal on a daily basis.

For my part, I have always loved to serve others, to make a useful contribution, to give back to society. That is what led me to accept the presidency of BOMA Quebec and to actively work with this team. I don't think I'm wrong in stating that that is also the case for the many volunteers I have had the pleasure of working with in recent years. 

Like them I am passionate about property management and am always ready to make commitments to my profession and for our industry. That is important, for there will always be lots to do to improve our practices and hone our expertise. Backed by a great team at BOMA, I was committed during my presidency to bringing people together and to initiating relevant activities and projects that contribute not only to the professional development of our members but that also solidify BOMA's position as a leader in the industry. One example is the Real Estate Energy Challenge, which is still in the final planning stages but will be up and running soon. Another is the new Guest Speakers series and presentations that make for interesting get-togethers with real estate industry leaders from here and elsewhere. We are committed to pursuing this work, because BOMA Quebec is thriving and has its eye on the future.

The association is very well managed by the full-time staff and the Board. I was at the helm of a ship that sailed towards its objectives with assurance and conviction. If my presence and my contributions have helped drive this momentum, then I am honoured and gratified.

BOMA Quebec exists for its members. In closing, I actively encourage you to remain close to your Association, close to its business intelligence and its collective synergy. Get involved in activities, attend presentations and conventions, share the material that is available online. 

The more you do, the more BOMA Quebec will continue to be a leading light for those who will follow, and an association made strong by the talents of its members. 

I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event.

All the best,

Mario Poirier, Outgoing President