THE CONDO COLLECTIVE
CCI conference aims to inform and educate about all the issues
The North Alberta chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute will hold its Conference and Trade Show April 30 at the Doubletree West Edmonton, featuring information and advice for condo board members and managers.
Bound by bylaws and budgets, condominium board members and managers have to juggle a number of issues to keep owners happy, regardless of a condo’s size. The North Alberta chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI) can help aid the juggling act, providing information and advice from industry professionals to help tackle both common issues and new trends.
CCI North Alberta will hold its 2016 Conference and Trade Show at the Doubletree West Edmonton Hotel on Saturday, April 30.
Event organizers opted to move the conference from last year’s location — the Chateau Louis Conference Centre — due to increased anticipation for this year’s event.
“It’s already been huge,” said Anand Sharma, president of CCI North Alberta, noting a surge in participation for the conference, which is now in its seventh year.
“We knew we wanted to expand, based on the size of the crowds we were seeing and the increased level of interest. And some of our seminars have already sold out, so it was a good decision for us because we were pretty much filling up the other facility.”
TIPS AND TRENDS
Offering a full lineup of educational seminars, the event offers a mix of education and insight for anyone interested in condo-related topics.
Kicking off with registration and breakfast at 7:30 a.m., the conference will feature four sessions — including a legal panel — and 12 seminars, presenting a variety of topics for attendees to choose from.
“The seminars that we offer deal with a wide range of areas, covering everything from how to open up your building envelope to energy hedging strategies for largescale condo buildings,” Sharma said.
“The seminars are designed to offer valuable information and help people in a variety of areas, from communication to planning to procedures.”
The first session, beginning at 8:30 a.m., offers a choice of four seminars dealing with topics that included privacy and compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), financial management and bookkeeping, and how to prevent smoking-related condo fires.
One seminar will also examine the options condos face when replacing roofs and windows, including maintenance requirements and cost analysis.
“Several condos are moving forward with capital projects because they’re looking to take advantage of lower construction costs due to the economy,” Sharma said.
“I’m not sure if those lower costs are necessarily a reality or not, but you’re seeing condos acting to make improvements.”
LICENSING AND LEGISLATION
The second session, beginning at 10:15 a.m., encompasses seminars on how to go about the reconstruction process, the role of insurance adjusters and appraisers, and a panel discussion on best practices for self-managed condos.
One seminar will also provide an update on condo management licensing and a timeline for future steps, as the CCI works toward establishing a regulatory model for condo managers.
A luncheon is scheduled for noon, featuring the Ministry of Service Alberta as the keynote speaker, providing an update on condo legislation. Discussion will centre on the provincial government’s multi-phase condo legislation modernization project, presenting information on new measures intended to protect new condo buyers.
Time-saving tips for board meetings, a primer for first-time condo owners, and utility options are some of the topics available during the third session, starting at 1:45 p.m. A seminar will also examine one of the condo industry’s most contention issues: responsibility for insurance claims.
“Insurance is one of the most confusing aspects people have to deal with,” Sharma said. “Whether its condo managers, board members or condo corporations, a lot of these people are volunteers, but they’re expected to know the rules and regulations to make informed decisions. We help with that, letting them know all the things they need to avoid problems or disputes.”
LEARNING ABOUT LEGALITIES
The conference will wrap up with a legal panel session at 3:30 p.m., featuring Robert Noce from Miller Thompson LLP, Todd Shipley from Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP, and Hugh Willis from Willis Law. Panel members will provide their perspective on legal issues and concerns facing condo managers and board members.
“The legal panel allows individuals in the condo industry to ask questions on myriad issues to some of the best legal experts in the city,” Sharma said. “If people have never attended a CCI conference they should come down and check it out, because there’s a lot to learn. We’re all volunteers here, and everyone is learning from one another, so the more people who come out the better.”
In addition to the conference seminars, the adjoining trade show will feature goods and professional services available to condominium corporations. Exhibitors include home security systems, kitchen and bathroom renovations, and energy-efficient technologies.
The full conference admission fee is $125 for CCI members, $200 for non-members. Individual sessions (including the legal panel) cost $35 per session for CCI members, $50 for non-members. However, anyone who brings this article to the conference will receive free admission to the trade show and two of the conference sessions. For additional information, visit the CCI North Alberta website at ccinorthalberta.com.