The Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA Canada) hosted its annual National Awards Gala on September 11, 2019, marking the end of another successful three-day BOMEX Summit.
Held at the St. John’s Convention Centre in Newfoundland & Labrador, the 29th National Awards Gala was well-attended by representatives of Canada’s Commercial Real Estate (CRE) sector, where a total of 27 awards were presented, recognizing outstanding contributions to the industry.
TOBY Awards
Top honours for Outstanding Building of the Year went to 13 properties that best demonstrated overall quality and excellence. Judging criteria included: building standards, community impact, tenant relations, energy conservation, environmental performance, regulatory compliance, sustainability, emergency preparedness, security standards, and personnel training. Only BOMA BEST certified buildings were eligible to enter.
In the Office Category, Colliers International was the recipient of two TOBY awards—the first for Desjardin-owned 95 St. Clair West in Toronto (250,000 – 499, 999 Sq. Ft.) and the second for 175 Hargrave Street in Winnipeg (under 100,000 Sq. Ft.). Other award recipients in the Office Category included: Crombie REIT for Scotia Square in Halifax, NS, (over 1 Million Sq. Ft.); Menkes Property Management Services for 25 York Street, Toronto, ON, (500,000 – 1 Million Sq. Ft.); and East Port Properties Limited for 351 WATER in St. John’s, N.L. (100,000 – 249,999 Sq. Ft.).
Oxford Properties Group also scooped up two awards—one for 9050 Airport Road in Brampton in the Industrial Category, and another for Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto (Retail).
Other winners included: MaRS Real Estate in the Mixed-use Category for MaRS West Tower in Toronto; Desjardin for its Corporate Facility located at 150 rue des commandeurs in Lévis, Quebec; QuadReal Property Group in the Historical Building Category for Commerce Court North in Toronto; Halifax Regional Municipality in the Public Assembly Category for Halifax Central Library, Halifax; Crown Property Management in the Renovated Category for 101 McNabb Street in Markham, Ontario; and Morguard Investments for Mississauga City Centre in the mid-rise Suburban Office Category.
National Earth Awards
BOMA Canada’s three National Earth awards recognized excellence in resource preservation and environmentally sound commercial building management. Innovation Place was presented the award for 2 Research Drive in Regina in the Office Category, while Menkes Property Management Services won for the Kennedy Matheson industrial complex in Mississauga, ON. The top prize in the Universal Category was won by RioCan REIT for RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre in Toronto.
Pinnacle Awards
BOMA Canada’s Pinnacle awards recognized role model companies that demonstrate standards of excellence while acknowledging innovation, teamwork, outstanding customer service and commitment to clients. This year’s Above & Beyond award went to Toronto-based Hallmark Housekeeping Services. Triovest Realty Advisors’ 11025 Jasper Ave. of Edmonton won the award for Innovation. In the Customer Service Category, Oxford Properties Group’s MetroCentre in Toronto was awarded.
Net Zero Challenge Awards
BOMA Canada presented Net Zero Challenge awards in three categories: Most Improved, Innovation and Best in Class. Supported by Natural Resources Canada and sponsored by Bullfrog Power, the awards recognize the leadership of owners, developers, designers, and/or managers of buildings that demonstrate significant progress along the path towards net-zero energy and/or carbon.
In the Most Improved category, Manulife Real Estate was honoured for Toronto’s York Mills Centre. The Innovation award went to the Cadillac Fairview Corporation for 777 Dunsmuir St. in Vancouver. In the Best in Class Category, there was a tie, with one award going to Triovest Realty Advisers for 11 Prologis Boulevard in Mississauga and another to Colliers International for the City of Burnaby’s Deer Lake Centre ll.
BOMA Canada’s newest award was presented in partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation in recognition of the highest-rated Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program building and tenant. Conference keynote speaker Rick Hansen, who spoke the day before the Gala, appeared via video to make the announcement.
Husky Energy’s office at 351 Water Street in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador was recognized in the Tenant Category. In the Building category, 351 WATER, managed by East Port Properties Ltd., tied with Triovest Realty Advisors Inc.’s Marine Gateway, 450 Southwest Marine Dr. in Vancouver, B.C. Husky Energy and 351 WATER were acknowledged for being the first BOMA members rated for accessibility in Newfoundland and Labrador, both having received Gold certifications the day prior from Rick Hansen during a tour of the property.
This year’s BOMI Vyetta Sunderland Scholarship went to Keisha Tanner, Milliken Co-Operative Homes Inc. of Toronto.
Chair’s Award
To round out the evening, BOMA Canada Chair Darren Klassen presented the BOMA Canada Chair’s Award to Stephen Taylor, Vice President Real Estate for the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP). Presented annually, this award recognizes an individual who has made valuable and long-lasting contributions to BOMA while supporting the industry in a meaningful way.
The gala closed with the announcement of next year’s BOMEX, which will take place September 22 to 24, 2020 in Vancouver, B.C.
