Dear Members,
This is my first bulletin to you as President of BOMA Quebec. I am honoured by this appointment, and accept the mandate with great humility and enthusiasm. Like many of my colleagues in the industry, I have been involved in the Association on a volunteer basis for several years now. BOMA Quebec is an exceptional community, and it is a privilege to pursue that commitment further as president.
All the people I am fortunate enough to work with are actively involved in making BOMA a leading resource for property managers across Quebec. It is an honour to contribute, and to promote and strengthen our profession, particularly in these challenging times that call for the best of our expertise and our focus on a strong vision.
Our emphasis will be on three major issues in the months and years to come: (1) strengthening the synergy of our community and building the next generation, (2) integrating ESG criteria into property management, and (3) coping with profound changes in the real estate market in a post-pandemic world.
There is obviously much to be said about these three topics. Let me summarize our vision.
A Community actively engaged with the next Generation
We are the largest association of commercial property owners and managers in Quebec, and our unique synergy is a major strength. The BOMA community shares and augments business knowledge and practices and acts as a vector for networking and new opportunities available to members, especially up-and-coming young professionals. We want to help them take advantage of what we have to offer, to seize business opportunities and to develop their full potential. Why? Because the success of these young pe0ple, their professional development and their engagement with our industry, will have a direct impact on our success, our competitiveness and our prosperity.
A Community that assumes its Responsibilities
I won’t dwell for the moment on the pressing issue of energy transition, apart from noting that much has been done (and much remains to be done!) to help our members make that shift and to continue with their "green building" efforts. We will also be helping property managers to integrate ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria into their approach to building management and their enhancement of real estate assets, the aim being to reduce risk and add value over the long term. That support will take different forms, from working committees to training sessions, presentations and assistance in drafting ESG policies. We will provide more information on these matters at a later date. Stay tuned!
An Innovative Community in Solution Mode
We will continue to be part of the solution by collaborating with major players in the industry to help members redefine how they use their buildings. In a complex and constantly evolving post-pandemic world, the most forward-looking companies are those that shake up the status quo, providing new experiences and new possibilities; those that go the extra mile to find adaptable, innovative responses to the major issues of the day; those whose vision will help reshape our cities and our living environments.
As you can see, BOMA Quebec’s ambition is unwavering and I am proud to be part of it. In the years to come, we will continue to support our members in various ways, helping our real estate community to flourish.
I encourage you to remain close to your Association, which is blessed with know-how and a dynamic collective synergy. Get involved in our activities, attend our presentations, promote BOMA among your younger colleagues and share the online content available on our website.
The more you contribute the more BOMA Quebec will continue to be a leading light for those who follow in our footsteps, an association whose strength lies in the collective talents of its members.
Once again, my sincere thanks to my colleagues for their vote of confidence. I look forward to seeing you at one or more of our upcoming events.
Linda Plante
President