Former Ontario Premier Bill Davis was an honorary member of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater Toronto. The special membership status, which is exceptionally rare in BOMA Toronto’s 104-year history, was conferred in 1992.

Chuck Stradling, who served as both BOMA Toronto’s top elected official in 1997-98 and its senior staff officer (then carrying the title of executive vice president) from 1999 to 2009, recalls that he was relatively new to the board of directors when it adopted the motion to induct Davis. Today, BOMA Toronto is once again paying tribute to Ontario’s 18th Premier who died at age 92 earlier this week.

“Former Premier Bill Davis led a full life dedicated to public service, making many contributions to the province of Ontario and the commercial real estate industry,” says Susan Allen, president and chief executive officer of BOMA Toronto. “His legacy will live on.”

That’s a sentiment other commercial real estate organizations reiterate.

“FRPO remembers Bill Davis as a great Minister of Education and a great Premier who faced many difficult challenges with wisdom and balance,” concurs Tony Irwin, president and chief executive officer of the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario. “His legacy of achievement transcends any single policy that resulted from his time in office.”

Well-versed students of public policy — even those born after Davis had stepped down from office — point to the continuing evidence of his influence.

“In many ways, this is still Bill Davis’ Ontario,” reflects Brooks Barnett, director of government relations and policy with REALPAC. “He can be credited with building the modern Ontario that exists today, including the architecture of some of the most important institutions and arms of government.”