Half of Canadians expected to shop Black Friday deals

Black Friday is here, and about half of Canadians say they plan to do some online or cross-border shopping for U.S. retail deals, according to a recent UPS Canada survey. This is a big increase from last year when the dollar was lower and about two-thirds of Canadians chose to shop locally.

For consumers shopping through U.S. retailers online, 78 per cent said they expect to find products they can’t find in stores. A large majority of this demographic includes millennials and households with children under 18.

On average, Canadians anticipate saving $173 through cross-border shopping.

“In between 2014 and 2015, we saw a big drop in the Canadian dollar which likely deterred people from shopping in the U.S.,” said Craig Calvert, director of customer solutions, UPS Canada. “Now that the dollar has stabilized, consumers are more inclined to get back to seeking out big deals south of the border.”

There is, however, a group of Canadians who believe retailers in Canada offer similar deals. Of the 51 per cent of those not participating in cross-border shopping this year, 43 per cent say it’s because they prefer to shop Canadian.

“With regards to Canadian retailers, it’s not surprising that more than half of respondents shopping within Canada are shopping online,” said Calvert. “We continue to see an increase in e-commerce, which plays a key role in the growth and success of Canadian small and medium sized businesses. In addition to having user-friendly platforms, local retailers should ensure they are equipped to manage customer shipping expectations, which include using a trusted courier and keeping costs transparent.”

Survey statistics also show that about eight in ten Canadians want to pay for their purchase in Canadian dollars when shopping online, and women are more likely to make purchases that offer free shipping.

True North Commercial REIT acquires new properties

True North Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust (The REIT) has completed the purchase of an industrial property located at 1035 Industrial Road in Waterloo, Ontario, for $8.4 million.

The property is situated on 8.01 acres of land, offering about 156,300 square feet of rentable space, and direct exposure to Highway 401. With an average lease term of 9.8 years remaining, the building is 100 per cent occupied by a single tenant.

The REIT also announced that it will close on a 77,600 square foot office property in Calgary, Alberta around December 6, 2016. A provincial government agency currently occupies the $24.5 million building, located at 4500 & 4520 16th Avenue NW, with an average remaining lease term of 7.7 years.

“We are very pleased to continue to add quality properties to our growing portfolio with long-term leases in urban markets and to continue to deploy the proceeds from our August public unit offering,” said Daniel Drimmer, president and chief executive officer of the REIT.

Michael Hsu new Kimberly-Clark president and COO

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (K-C) has named Michael D. Hsu the new president and chief operating officer, effective January 1, 2017.

Thomas J. Falk will remain chief executive officer and chairman of the board and continue to lead and manage K-C at the enterprise level.

“I’m excited to continue to work with Tom, the senior executive team and employees throughout Kimberly-Clark to deliver long-term shareholder value as we lead the world in providing essentials for a better life,” said Hsu.

Hsu is currently group president North American Consumer Products, joined K-C in 2012 and currently oversees the company’s nearly $8 billion North American personal care and consumer tissue businesses. In his new role, he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of K-C’s business units, along with the company’s global innovation, marketing and supply chain functions. Hsu and the company’s finance, legal and human resources functions will report to Falk.

“Mike is an outstanding leader with a passion for our business,” said Falk. “He has a long track record of building great teams and delivering strong results at K-C and elsewhere in the consumer packaged goods industry.”

K-C is also evolving its organization structure to recognize the scale and importance of its international businesses. As such, K-C’s three regional businesses in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as K-C North America and K-C Professional, will report directly to Hsu.

Elane Stock, group president of K-C International, has announced her intention to pursue opportunities outside of K-C. The company expects to name a new group president of North American Consumer Products in the near future.

Associa’s MRCM to manage One Park Tower

Maple Ridge Community Management (MRCM) began managing Mississauga’s One Park Tower at the beginning of the month. The Associa company is providing administrative, communications, financial and maintenance services to the luxury condominiums.

One Park Tower is Mississauga’s tallest residential tower, rising 38 storeys and renowned for its gargoyles on the exterior of the 8th and 32nd floors. The 404-unit luxury condominiums enjoy close proximity to the Living Arts Centre, Square One Shopping Centre and the YMCA, and are situated next to a three-acre community park.

“We are excited to partner with the One Park Tower condo board to continue the legacy it has built and work with them to make future expectations a reality,” said Michael Le Page, president of MRCM. “We operate from right here in Mississauga and it’s an honour and privilege to serve one of our neighbours, especially one with such a prestigious reputation.”

Rebate for first-time home buyers in Ontario to rise

The Ontario government is proposing to raise the land transfer tax rebate available to eligible first-time home buyers to $4,000 starting in 2017. It’s a move that would double the amount of the current rebate and eliminate land transfer taxes on the first $368,000 paid for starter homes, which cost Ontarians an average of $375,000 in 2015. If the proposal succeeds, less than half of first-time home buyers would pay any land transfer taxes.

The province announced the proposal Monday in its 2016 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, acknowledging the challenges that first-time home buyers currently face in the housing market.

“We know that rising home values are a good thing for the provincial economy, but also a concern for a growing number of Ontarians,” said Minister of Finance Charles Sousa in a news release. “The government is committed to supporting an affordable and stable housing market while balancing the concerns of homeowners, first-time home buyers and renters.”

The province is also proposing to raise land transfer tax rates for the portion of purchase prices over $2 million for one or two single-family residences including condominiums, detached, semi-detached and town homes. The rate would rise to 2.5 per cent from the current rate of two per cent, which was last updated in 1989, and affect less than one per cent of home buyers.

It, along with an increase in the land transfer tax rate for the portion of purchase prices over $400,000 for other property types, including commercial, industrial and multi-residential, would fund the rise in the rebate for first-time home buyers.

The proposed rebate would only be available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents and first-time home buyers who obtain either status within 18 months of their purchase.

As the province leaves open the door to further measures aimed at making housing more affordable, it’s also seeking to gather more information to shape future policy. Such data could include the citizenship and residency status of buyers, property type and intended use, so the province plans to work with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario to ensure any personal details it collects are adequately protected.

A facility addition with surgical precision

Adding a new wing to the fully developed site would require surgical precision.

The original Chinook Regional Hospital, which was constructed close to 30 years ago, cuts a hard-angled U-shape around a courtyard and faces out onto a mechanical plant and parkade. That left only a sliver of land available for expansion.

The long and narrow footprint of the now completed addition squared off the courtyard. This approach came with challenges as the healthcare facility remained in operation through construction as well as opportunities to draw in natural daylight.

Completed late last year, the five-storey hospital wing formally opened its doors to the growing Lethbridge, Alberta community it serves this summer. The five-year, $127-million project revitalized a traditionally styled healthcare facility with an unconventional modern addition. It is intended to improve access to medical services in the short term and accommodate future demand in the long term.

“The hospital upgrades and new addition were designed specifically to meet the medical service needs of Lethbridge and area families today and far into the future,” Brian Mason, Alberta’s minister of infrastructure, said in a news release celebrating the hospital wing’s grand opening.

The original building has all the hallmarks of its era, said architect Kirsten Reite, principal-in-charge, formerly with Perkins+Will, currently with KRA. The six-storey building’s exterior features a brick façade perforated with punched-out windows and topped with mansard-like roofing.

“Respecting the monolithic nature of the building, we did want to reflect some of that and how we did that was we carried on some of the datum lines of the windows and other doors and other architectural features horizontally, as well as tie into the masonry element,” said Reite.

The slate grey bricks at the base of the addition echo, rather than replicate, the burnt-red bricks of the original building.

The upper storeys of the addition transition into insulated glass panels that give it durability in Lethbridge’s climate, said Julie Verville, project manager, formerly with Perkins+Will, currently with KRA.

Over the span of the project, Perkins+Will worked with Group2 Architecture, who understood the local climate. The southern Alberta city swings from hot summers to cold winters and is situated in the ‘chinook belt,’ which gets blasted with the Rocky Mountain’s warm winds.

“Throughout the building, we had a high-efficiency envelope, lots of insulation and didn’t do a curtain wall all around the building,” said Verville. “[We] went with more punched windows to add more insulated wall than just glazing, but without affecting the amount of daylight that we were bringing inside the space.”

While the addition’s skinny footprint naturally soaked in the sun’s rays, the goal of daylighting was supported by a number of elements. Glass floor cutouts and light scoops located on a rooftop respite area carry those rays into the core of the building to common areas such as waiting rooms.

In a departure from the beige palette common to healthcare facilities, the interiors are finished in warm woods and vibrant colours. These primary and secondary hues — which reflected the culture of the young hospital, noted Reite — are captured in illuminated artwork panels that distinguish between different departments to provide visual wayfinding.

Also aiding in wayfinding is the simple layout, which is planned around a central corridor which acts as a spine. The layout remains fairly uniform from floor to floor to provide the flexibility to make adjustments to the programming of spaces, Reite explained.

Lean design principles placed the nursing stations closer to patients for optimized work flow. The stations are outfitted with modular furniture for ease of reconfiguration and reinforced with solid surface material to withstand impacts from carts and stretchers.

The hospital’s Day Procedures department was renovated alongside the addition. Lean design principles factored into its planning, too. An assessment of actual needs freed up 30 per cent of the space for uses including a rapid assessment waiting room.

“We build these hospitals that are too big, and they don’t need to be this big, because it’s always a reaction to the ‘What if’s,” remarked Reite. “And so in this instance, we said, ‘Okay, let’s go through some scenarios and see how many rooms you actually need, not just guess.”

Complicating construction was the fact that the addition was giving the hospital a new main entrance, Verville observed. While the work was under way, however, staff, visitors and patients had to pass through the active site to enter the building.

“The challenge was to keep safe, secure access to the hospital during the construction,” said Verville. “But with the team we had in place, and constant communication, it was possible and no incidents happened.”

In a related challenge, the team also needed to map out a permanent path to get patients arriving by air ambulance from the helipad atop the parkade into the healthcare facility, noted Stacy Christensen, project architect, Group2 Architecture.

“It took quite a bit of gymnastics to get that to work, to get a person who had been brought in by ambulance down the parkade elevator, through the basement, back up the elevator in the hospital and into Emergency, in a seamless flow without crossing public paths,” Christensen explained.

The redevelopment of Chinook Regional Hospital has the distinction of being the first project in Canada to have registered for LEED for Healthcare with plans to pursue Silver level certification. Compared to a benchmark building, the design of the facility is aiming to reduce energy use by 26 per cent, lighting power density by 30 per cent and potable water use by 42 per cent, Verville reported.

The daylighting, high efficiency building envelope, mechanical and electrical equipment are expected to help the project achieve its targeted LEED certification. So is the effort to use healthy and locally sourced materials, which included specifying bio-based resin flooring instead of the typical PVC-based flooring.

All told, the addition expanded the hospital’s Cardio-Respiratory, Outpatient Services and Spiritual Care departments along with other support areas. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit saw its number of beds more than double, increasing its count from eight to 20. The addition also introduced a multi-faith Ceremonial Room with the ventilation required to perform the traditional First Nations practice of smudging.

The project, more than five years in the making, delivered two floors of shelled space in the new hospital for future development. The design also accounts for the possibility of adding a tower to the site for uses such as ambulatory care or medical offices that would connect to the facilities.

“The City of Lethbridge is growing,” Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman said in a news release celebrating the hospital wing’s grand opening. “As we inch closer to a population of 100,000, it is vital to have the healthcare facilities that can support this growth.”

Michelle Ervin is the editor of Canadian Facility Management & Design.

New plans for mixed-use project Le Phare de Québec

Groupe Dallaire has unveiled new plans for Le Phare de Québec, a mixed-use development that will be built on Boulevard Laurier and focused around a dynamic public square.

“We have taken the concept a step further to ensure the best project possible,” said Michel Dallaire, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Groupe Dallaire. “Our teams have worked with internationally recognized architects, and together they have refined the product.”

With a private investment of $650 million, the more than two million square feet of mixed-use space will feature four towers, including residential and leased units, a 150-room hotel and commercial and office space. A main tower will reach 250 metres high. Plans call for a restaurant on the top floor and a public observation deck on the top two floors, presenting Quebec City then and now and offering a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view.

New additions to the plan include a public square that is said to “place a greater emphasis on letting in the natural elements, including breeze and sunshine,” and a 750-seat multimedia concert hall featuring world-class acoustics. Steve Barakatt, internationally-renowned artist, will oversee the hall’s development and content as its creative director.

Evolution of Le Phare, photo by Graph Synergi

“Our intention has always been to remain a major player in the development of the downtown business district,” added Dallaire. “Our goal now is to ensure the best possible connection between Le Phare de Québec and the neighbourhood. Our vision goes beyond a simple structure; we view Le Phare de Québec as a living environment. We are building with full regard for the rapid evolution of society and the fact that the Laurier sector will continue to thrive and develop over the coming 30 years.”

Groupe Dallaire is presenting the updated version of Le Phare so citizens to offer informed opinions when the City of Quebec holds its public consultations.

Evolution of Le Phare, photo by Graph Synergi

Global cleaning chemicals market on the upswing

Growth is expected for the global industrial and institutional cleaning chemical market, due to various factors, such as increasing applications, technological advancements and growing demand in developing countries, such as China and India.

The cleaning chemicals market mainly focuses on the chemicals required for producing disinfectants and sanitizers. A new global study by Mordor Intelligence, Industrial and Institutional Cleaning Chemicals Market – Segmented by Type, Application and Geography – Trends and Forecasts (2015 – 2020), predicts that growth will reach US $51.4 billion by 2020, with an annual rate of 4.6 per cent from its current value at $41 billion.

Most development is occurring in healthcare due to increasing hospital stays and concerns about healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, the manufacturing sector is also expected to grow fast, particularly in developing economies, as rising incomes lead to increases in demand for processed food and beverage products. Hygiene awareness is also growing, and these countries are looking to improve their cleaning standards. The food industry segment is growing because quantities of food borne illness is rising and the industry has increased its standard in maintaining the hygiene levels of food.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing market for industrial and institutional cleaning chemical market during the period 2015-2020; whereas North America is the largest market in terms of revenue owing to the large base of healthcare, manufacturing industries.

Key market players include 3M Company and Procter & Gamble Company. The report offers a comprehensive list of players, along with the analysis of their current strategic interests and key financial information. Readers can also acquire analysis of the industrial and institutional cleaning chemical market, with region specific assessments and competition analysis on a global and regional scale, along with how a shift to chemicals free from volatile organic solvents will impact the market.

King Charlotte condominiums successfully registered by the City of Toronto

Fortress Real Developments and Lamb Development Corporation have announced that the King Charlotte condominium development has been registered by the City of Toronto (the new condo corporation is TSCC 2546). The building has been occupied since the end of 2015 and is currently 99 per cent sold.

King Charlotte is located in Toronto’s King West neighbourhood. The 9,646 square foot site located on Charlotte Street was designed by Peter Clewes of Architect Alliance, while interiors were designed by II by IV Design.

“We purchased the site well and the design was inspired by the tight restrictions of the site,” said Jawad Rathore, president and CEO of Fortress. “The location and design made this project highly desirable, to the point that several Toronto sports personalities have chosen to call King Charlotte home.”

The building closing dates are set for late November and all lenders into the project are expected to be paid out by the first week of December.

King Charlotte is the 13th collaboration between Lamb Development Corporation and Fortress. The Ontario and Alberta projects include four that have been completed, three that are currently under construction and four that are expected to start construction in the next year. Over the past year, nearly 800 residential units in Fortress projects have been occupied in Ontario.

Surrey pool is world’s top engineering project

The Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre in Surrey, B.C. has been recognized as the world’s top structural engineering project. The Institution of Structural Engineers has presented the Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre with one of the highest accolades in world engineering, “The Supreme Award for Structural Engineering Excellence” at a ceremony in London, England on November 11.

Engineered by Fast + Epp, the Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre boasts the world’s most slender, long span timber catenary roof. The undulating roof shape reduces the amount of air to be heated and de-humidified, cutting operational costs, while ingenious steel tube columns in the façade serve a double function, resisting wind loads and acting as ventilator ducts.

The Awards judges said: “We were struck by the undulating roof, which elegantly balances structural form with building use and celebrates the expressed materials. The adoption of timber in catenary permitted a structural depth of just 300mm for a 55m span – a design which defies convention and demanded design excellence.”

The project won in the Community or Residential Structures category and then was ultimately selected for the top overall award by the judges.

Designed in close collaboration with architects from HCMA Architecture + Design, the facility was constructed to meet the diverse needs of one of Canada’s fastest growing cities and features an undulating roof structure with hanging timber ‘cables’ suspended between large concrete buttresses. The adoption of timber in catenary permitted a structural depth of just 300mm for a 55m span. It defies convention and demanded design excellence in the tuning of the geometry and development of bespoke details to ensure that this high quality of construction could be delivered economically for the public client.

It’s believed to be the world’s most slender long span timber catenary roof, highlighting wood’s potential as a cost-effective, structurally-efficient and aesthetically-pleasing building material for aquatic facilities. To date, the aquatic facility remains one of Fast + Epp’s most ambitious projects in its 30-year history.

The Structural Awards recognise the world’s most talented structural designers, showcase the projects that lead industry development, and raise awareness of structural engineers’ role as the guardians of public safety and as creative, innovative design professionals.

The event’s ultimate accolade is the Supreme Award for Structural Engineering Excellence. Previous winners include the Singapore Sports Hub; Glass Lantern, Apple Zorlu in Turkey; Taizhou Bridge in China and the London 2012 velodrome.

Read about the project in more detail at: https://www.reminetwork.com/articles/innovative-pool-design/

Redesigning the dining experience

With time comes change and innovation. For the beloved 35-year-old west coast based restaurant Earls, time brought a one-off prototype concept designed to transform the chain dining experience. Earls.67, the 67th eatery in the powerhouse’s roster of locations, has packaged and delivered its newfound approach in the form of a compellingly curated restaurant.

Spearheaded by renowned designers Glasfurd & Walker and Ste Marie Design in collaboration with Earls, Earls.67 is the first of what will be a collection of independently compelling restaurants. To conceptualize the interiors, the collaborative team underwent a vigorous three-year process, which synthesized global inspirations, past experiences and investigative research. The end result? A design that evokes Earls’ rich North American history while articulating a sense of adventure and exploration.

“The design is lead by a core narrative and sensibility, and an overall spirit of risk paired with comfort,” said Craig Stanghetta, principal of Ste Marie Design. “The way we achieve it is through space programing, shifts in colour and the vernacular of the furniture. For example, we use darker, lusher, softer and more cloistered forms paired with darker colours and lighting.”

Although the interiors are unified to the larger Earls narrative with the use of reoccurring materials, each area of the restaurant is designed to encompass a different sensation for the guest. The dining room boasts clean lines, egalitarian seating and an open concept to encourage sharing and collaboration mirrored in the menu, while the Bankers Bar is specifically designed to manifest a feeling of mischief and anonymity. For guests visiting between the lunch and dinner rushes, Earls.67 even includes a coffee bar that is driven to foster relaxation.

“In a space this vast and with the frequency of visits, we wanted guests to be able to dictate their experience to a degree,” says Stanghetta. “The space is like a well designed home. It always has the homeowner’s ethos and personality in it’s bones, even though the mood and intention of each room can be starkly different.”

For both designers, working with a chain restaurant was a new experience. In an industry that thrives on the new, the pair had to ensure the brand remained relevant and exciting, while also being mindful of the company’s existing structure. Autonomous yet a true reflection of the Earls, what resulted is a blend between innovation and the historic narrative of the brand, which has been treasured by consumers since 1982.

Earls.67’s step into the unknown displays the restaurant’s willingness to adapt to the changing urban landscape. The prototype as a whole was based off of micro and macro dining trends that appeal to basic human values: comfort, food, nourishment, fun, community and security. Ste Marie Design, Glasfurd & Walker and Earls credit the 18 months dedicated to understanding human habits to being able to create a space that guests are naturally drawn to.

When the team wasn’t researching, they spent time traveling, dining and brainstorming to allow energies to flow and merge into what is now Earls.67. Stanghetta remarked, “the product is a hypothesis. What we do know we have right is that it helped galvanize a new point of view for this company and the energy and commitment to evolving this brand in way that is compelling, and innovative is very strong now.”

The concept stems from Earls’ president, Mo Jessa, and his understanding of the need for exceptional and innovative dining. Jessa and his team recognize that consumers are looking for unique experiences, which are customized to their location – a new freedom that allowed Earls.67 to source and utilize local and niche products customized to the surrounding market.

As a direct result of Earls.67’s success, the restaurant group has started to apply elements of the Calgary-based prototype to future developments. The company’s latest location, Mall at Millenia in Orlando, Florida, is a rich, multi-use space infused with fresh, localized design. With the demand of unique dining experiences increasing, North Americans can expect Earls to continue to expand their collection of independently compelling restaurants to existing and future visions.

GTA industrial market Q3: report

There continues to be a limited amount of stock for lease in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) industrial market, creating higher rents or causing tenants to seek their own space.

The availability rate sits at 3.4 per cent, and there are now 19 properties with more than 250,000 square feet available across the GTA, according to Avision Young’s Q3 GTA Industrial Market Report

Availability in each of the GTA’s four markets decreased the past quarter, with GTA Central at the lowest. However, GTA West maintains the highest availability at 4.6 per cent, with 7.7 per cent under construction. Much of the new and recently delivered supply is among the largest and tallest product in the GTA, generating interest among e-commerce, retail and logistics tenants looking for distribution centres near growing suburban areas.

As it stands, the average asking net rent is $6.60 per square foot. Only GTA East, where asking rents dropped this quarter to $5.51 per square foot, still offers an average gross rent less than $10 per square foot.

As for construction, there was 5.6 million square feet of industrial space in the pipeline at the end of Q3. Activity was completed at six development sites in the GTA, adding 1.8 million square feet of new space to the market, with 17.8 per cent pre-leased at quarter-end. While Vaughan has attracted most of the recent big-box design-build activity, such as Costco and FedEx, First Gulf announced in September a deal to build a 285,000-square-foot distribution centre for BMW Canada in Mississauga at Ninth Line and Argentia Road, close to Highways 401 and 407.

RioCan and Boardwalk team up on mixed-use tower

RioCan is partnering with Boardwalk to develop a mixed-use tower at RioCan’s Brentwood Village Shopping Centre in Calgary.

The joint venture will consist of an at-grade retail podium of about 10,000 square feet and an 11-storey residential tower, with 165 apartment units totaling about 120,000 square feet. This will be RioCan’s first rental residential development in the Calgary market.

The development will include two levels of underground parking and will provide premium rental housing minutes from downtown Calgary along the Northwest Light Rail Transit line, while offering close proximity to the University of Calgary, McMahon Stadium and Foothills Hospital.

“Boardwalk brings a wealth of management expertise to the rental residential segment, particularly within the Alberta market,” said Edward Sonshine, chief executive officer of RioCan “This rental residential tower will be an excellent addition to this mixed use shopping centre, and a great example of just one of the many urban intensification projects that RioCan has on hand within its portfolio of high quality urban locations in Canada’s six major markets.”

The total construction cost is expected to be between $60 million to $70 million, or $30 million to $35 million per partner. RioCan and Boardwalk are currently working together to finalize the submission of plans for a development permit. Closing and construction is expected to occur around mid-2017.

“We are excited to announce the formation of this joint venture with a like-minded partner who shares similar values and goals as our own, to maximize the potential of well-located, transit oriented mixed use developments that can be constructed to create new communities that residents are proud to call home,” added Boardwalk Chairman and CEO Sam Kolias.

Condo law reforms to roll out as early as summer

Ontario’s condo law reforms, passed late last year, are expected to start to roll out as early as next summer.

Updates at the ACMO/CCI-T Condo Conference in Toronto last week clarified comments in Premier Kathleen Wynne’s September mandate letter to new Minister of Government and Consumer Services Marie-France Lalonde. The letter set a fall 2017 deadline for implementing “key elements” of the Protecting Condominium Owners Act.

“We have traveled a long way on the condo file and we are nearing the finish line,” said Min. Lalonde in a pre-recorded video message to Condo Conference attendees.

The provincial government launched a public review of Ontario’s outdated condo laws in 2012. Over the span of 18 months, the three-stage review identified key issues, produced proposed solutions and received public input. Following which, the government introduced Bill 106, the Protecting Condominium Owners Act.

“The feedback received during the consultation process formed the foundation of Ontario’s new condo laws, and we continue to engage condo industry experts, condominium communities and the general public as we move forward to implement this important legislation,” said Min. Lalonde.

The Protecting Condominium Owners Act will reform rather than replace the Condominium Act and introduce the Condominium Management Services Act.

The existing Condominium Act will remain in force in its current form until the Protecting Condominium Owners Act, which received royal assent last December, is proclaimed into force. Before that happens, the government needs to finalize the accompanying regulations and establish two administrative authorities.

The Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO) will provide public education, maintain a registry of the province’s 10,000 condominium corporations and administer a tribunal tasked with quickly and cost-effectively settling common disputes, primarily between condominium corporations and owners. The Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario (CMRAO) will be responsible for licensing and regulating both condominium managers and condominium management companies.

“The set-up of both the authorities is well under way and we anticipate that both will be up and running and providing basic services by this summer,” said Lalonde.

Formed on July 1, the not-for-profit administrative authorities have yet to be certified but have their first boards in place. They are working under the stewardship of interim executive leader Robin Dafoe, who previously served as director of corporate policy and tribunal relations at the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Aubrey LeBlanc is chair of the board of the CMRAO. LeBlanc is also the vice-chair of the interim board of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, former CEO and registrar of Tarion, and sat on the expert panel for the Condominium Act review. Also on the CMRAO board are John Oakes, a veteran of condominium management and past president of the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario, as well as senior public servants Joan Andrew and Gail Beggs.

Tom Wright is chair of the board of the CAO. Wright is also chair of the interim board of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, former CEO of the Real Estate Council of Ontario and past Information and Privacy Commissioner for Ontario. Also on the CAO are dispute resolution consultant Genvieve Chornenki, Frank D’Onofrio, distinguished public servant in Ryerson University’s Department of Politics and Public Administration, and condominium lawyer Armand Conant, who sat on the expert panel for the Condominium Act review.

Its work may not be visible to the public right now, but Conant assured Condo Conference attendees that ministry staff is busily drafting regulations. These anxiously awaited provisions will spell out the many “prescribed requirements” referenced in the legislation, which is designed to make future reforms easier.

“We hope — we don’t have any guarantees, but we’re all working very hard — that the regs will be coming out over the next number of months for our review,” he said. “All stakeholders, everybody in the industry, will be invited to participate, and if everything works well, it will be law by hopefully the end of the summer or fall of 2017.”

Conant added that it’s also hoped that there will be a phased transition to some aspects of the legislation and regulations.

In the meantime, participants in the Condo Conference’s Rapid Fire Legal Issues panel shared some insight into what may be coming.

Conant said that the CAO’s dispute resolution services could include a comprehensive online tool, modeled on similar systems in jurisdictions such as B.C. However, much like the anticipated time frames for rolling out the legislation, there are no promises.

Real estate lawyer Stephen Karr noted that Bill 106 will mandate the registering of shared facilities agreements that meet prescribed requirements. He said a likely requirement will be that separate meters be installed where possible.

Condominium lawyer James Davidson said he expected to see the regulations expand the reserve fund study period from its current minimum of 30 years to 45. There is a steep contribution increase when major replacements move from outside to inside the 30-year study period, he explained.

Whether these features and provisions materialize remains to be seen. Conant said to watch for the release of the regulations and the launch of websites for the CAO and CMRAO.

In her closing remarks, Min. Lalonde said: “There’s still important work to be done as we press ahead and we are looking forward to continued collaboration with you as we move forward.”

Michelle Ervin is the editor of CondoBusiness.

Winnipeg tech market growing fast in Canada

Winnipeg, Manitoba is 60 miles north of the Canadian-American border, almost midway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and has a population of about 800,000 people and growing. Considered to almost be the geographical centre of North America, Winnipeg is also one of the fastest growing centres for tech talent in Canada.

“We’re noticing that other jurisdictions are starting to become more aware of us,” notes Kathy Knight, chief executive officer of the Information and Communication Technologies Association of Manitoba (ICTAM). “There is really strong entrepreneurial support for students, not only for tech, but other areas as well.”

A number of factors are contributing to this market growth: affordable real estate, a large millennial population and, possibly, the Winnipeg Jets.

“There’s been a palpable excitement in the community and more of a can-do attitude since we’re able to get the national hockey team back,” says Knight, adding that the 2014 opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the development of the historic SHED District, home to major entertainment venues and cultural landmarks, have also upped the vibe.

While Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa remain the top three tech-talent markets for job growth and a strong labour pool, according to CBRE’s first 2016 Scoring Canadian Tech Talent report, Winnipeg is one of three smaller markets seeing the fastest growth, besides Halifax and Waterloo. Over the past five years, tech employment in Winnipeg has grown 58.5 per cent, while the millennial population increased 15 per cent between 2009 and 2014, faster than any tech market in Canada.

“Winnipeg has not been known as a tech hub, but we think it’s now a market that is poised for growth based on the number of millennials there now, as well as the growth of tech talent within that market,” says Raymond Wong, national director of research at CBRE Canada, adding that firms are clearly targeting cities with cheaper access to labour and high levels of educational attainment.

Winnipeg is also the least expensive city to operate a tech company and a more affordable place for potential employees to call home. Based on a company with 500 employees and a 75,000-square foot office, the cost is $30.7 million per year, $9 million cheaper than Calgary and $6 million cheaper than Toronto. Office rent, which is the second highest cost for tech companies besides employee salaries, is one of the lowest in the country. The average asking rent per square foot in Winnipeg is $23.54, compared to almost $40.00 in Vancouver. Meanwhile, the average rent there for a purpose built apartment is $925 per month, and roughly $1,200 in Vancouver and Toronto.

Affordability is just one reason companies choose Winnipeg as a base. Skip the Dishes, an online food delivery network, says being situated in the city has helped it evolve from a small team in 2013 to more than 200 employees in 17 markets across North America.

“There are a lot of great universities in Winnipeg and Manitoba, so being able to tap into that talent poll has been really helpful for us as well,” says Skip the Dishes co-founder Andrew Chau. “It’s amazing the type of talent we’re able to attract. Especially now, being a large tech company, it’s really interesting to see other companies starting to grow here.”

Last year, Skip the Dishes received $5 million in support from the provincial government. With a need to expand, it moved into a new office of about 16,000 square feet. The company is now located in a heritage building that was constructed in 1906 as a manufacturing plant and redeveloped into 151,882 square feet of first class office space.

“We started with one desk in a shared office and, fast forward, we have an entire floor in 136 Market Avenue,” Chau says of the Winnipeg headquarters. “We were looking for location, which was really important because many of our employees take public transit and bike to work. Secondly, being in the Exchange District with a lot of restaurants and amenities around helps attract the right talent, and third, the space itself.”

Skip the Dishes moved into the building along with The Manitoba Technology Accelerator (MTA), one of 15 nationally recognized high performing incubators and accelerators in Canada. The not-for-profit business accelerator acquired about 10,000 square feet of space on another floor. Now, both MTA and Skip the Dishes are at physical capacity and looking to add additional space.

CBRE’s Wong says companies like this are causing demand for space in the market, and “just by their nature,” are also improving the existing office stock, hopefully resulting in higher values for owners. Last year, CBRE opened the first corporately owned and operated commercial real estate services office in the city, which had been previously serviced by affiliate branches of real estate firms.

Marshall Ring, chief executive officer of MTA, says MTA requests a Right of First Refusal on any space before it gets leased, which enables room to accommodate growth. He says Winnipeg is attracting start-ups from different cities. Sightline Innovation recently relocated there from Toronto due to cost of space and talent. Ring is also noticing more interest from abroad.

“We are proving through companies, like Skip the Dishes, that we can grow high-end talented tech companies here and are able to attract international Venture Capital,” he says. “I’m getting a lot more requests for tours of our facility from international visitors like China and the Gulf Islands. We now do about one formal tour a week.”

136 Market Avenue in 1987 and today. Photos courtesy of the City of Winnipeg.

Once a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post in 1870, with a population of 215, Winnipeg expects to see more than one million citizens by 2033. Part if this will be the burgeoning tech industry, which has been accelerating for about 30 years. One of the city’s most successful firms, Online Business Systems, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2013, employs 350 people and has offices across North America. As it stands, Manitoba has about 1500 tech companies, with 80 per cent located in Winnipeg. Not only is office space growing, but so is retail and restaurants.

“The city and the province are becoming more aware of how important it is to invest in that, recognizing that the tech industry is really producing a lot of opportunities for economic growth in the province,” says Knight.

To further improve the city’s competitive position, Ring suggests short-term rent free spaces for start-ups and the support of a Series A Venture Capital fund that is able to invest $1 to $3 million into pre-revenue, Manitoba-based companies. Other approaches, he notes, are continued confidence and “a little bit of a Winnipeg swagger.”

“In the last three years, we stopped apologizing for our environment. We are embracing that we are a city in the North. We tell people to buck up and buy a Canada Goose jacket if they’re cold.”

Even though the province has a fast-growing population of young people, it needs to build out its own pipeline.

“We really need to improve diversity; that’s one thing we can do locally—we have a high immigrant population, adds Knight. “There are a number of folks in the community that we need to connect to jobs that have a lot of experience from their home country.”

Increasing the number of women and aboriginals in tech positions, two key populations in Manitoba, is a key goal among several.

“Like most jurisdictions across Canada, access to capital is still an issue, but we’re working on it,” says Knight. “The fact we have a government, both civic and provincial, that is really taking notice and looking for ways to invest is going to bode well with our province and the city.”

Local educational institutions are placing more emphasis on entrepreneurship, and they’re graduates are interested in staying put. Ring says this isn’t just a “Winnipeg phenomenon.”

“Minneapolis has a long anecdotal history where it is hard to attract workers [there], but once they arrive, it is also the hardest city to convince people to leave,” he says. “Winnipeg shares this same experience. We are sticky. Once people get here, they don’t want to leave.”

Rebecca Melnyk is the online editor of Canadian Property Management @rebeccachirp

Brampton’s Peel Memorial Centre reaches substantial completion

Brampton’s Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness has reached substantial completion, making the building ready for occupation. Services will start moving into the new, state-of-the-art hospital over the next few months before it officially opens its doors in April 2017.

Ontario is investing up to $451 million in the new hospital, which will span about 350,000 square feet to serve Brampton and the surrounding communities. The facility will feature tradition and alternative health care services, including an urgent care centre for non-life threatening injuries or illnesses; a day surgery facility; outpatient clinics for children, youth, expectant and new mothers, and newborns; clinics on chronic disease prevention and management; mental health and addictions programs; seniors’ wellness programs; and diagnostic imaging services.

This facility’s services are meant to complement those at the other two hospital sites of the William Osler Health System, Brampton Civic and Etobicoke General. Following the opening of Peel Memorial, its focus will be on outpatient care, surgeries that do not require an overnight stay and the Urgent Care Centre.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the construction of this important health centre for the Brampton community. Once completed, Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness will provide patients with specialized care in a modern facility,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, in a press release. “We are committed to ensuring all Ontarians have access to high quality, innovative health care services close to home.”

New study looks at IoT in multi-unit dwellings

The Continental Automated Buildings Association, through its Connected Home Council, has launched a collaborative research study entitled “Connected Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs) and Internet of Things (IoT)”.

MDUs are a category of residential housing that include large high-rise apartment buildings, row houses, low-rise condominiums and small duplexes.

The goal of CABA’s new research project is to provide a comprehensive examination of all the major aspects of IoT related to MDUs, including: state of the market, MDU IoT trends, business opportunities, technical barriers and opportunities, future market direction, issues, case studies and industry recommendations.

“CABA aims to produce and provide actionable research results to its membership and the home and building sector at large,” notes Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA President & CEO. “Consequently, we are extremely excited to launch a new study focused on potential of the Internet of Things in connected, multi-dwellings.”

The study will undertake 60 in-depth interviews and survey over 1,500 individuals within the MDU ecosystem, including OEMs, service providers, tenants and property owners and managers. The research project will also incorporate an extensive secondary research literature review.

The final report will provide actionable data relevant to all segments of the MDU value chain, including, but not limited to: building owners, technology manufacturers, builders and developers, integrators and installers, service providers, insurance companies, industry associations and utility companies.

According to Tom Semler, Manager, Conservation & Demand Management at Hydro One: “The multi-dwelling and multifamily market has one of the strongest growth rates in North America. The growth of IoT in the connected home sector is going to dramatically change the size and types of products in this market. Therefore, Hydro One Networks Inc. has joined the steering committee of this important CABA landmark research project to ensure that our future products services can be developed based on consumer needs.”

Don Stevens, National R&D Manager at Panasonic Eco Solutions North America also noted: “A growing preference among consumers for technically advanced broadband-driven products is fueling the demand for connected home devices significantly. The growing interest in these devices, along with the rising trend of smart homes generally, will boost the global demand for Internet of Things (IoT) devices in multi-dwelling and multi-tenant units dramatically. This study will assist us make key decisions in this market concerning our product and service offerings.”

The following CABA members are confirmed sponsors of the study: Alarm.com, Inc., American Family Insurance, BC Hydro, BELIMO, Enercare Connections Inc., Hydro One Networks Inc., Hydro-Québec, Intermatic Inc., Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc., Panasonic, Pella Corporation, Schneider Electric, Siemens Industry, Inc., Southern California Edison Company (SCE), Southwire Company, LLC and TELUS.

CABA has contracted Harbor Research to undertake the research and expects the study to be completed by the first quarter of 2017. Harbor Research, a CABA member, is a strategy and technology research firm that works with leading technology innovators, product OEMs and service providers.

This study is a major initiative of the CABA Research Program, which offers a range of opt-in technical and advisory research services designed to provide industry stakeholders with collaborative research and R&D opportunities.

More information is available at http://www.caba.org/.

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