by Archie Zariski, BA, LLB, LLM, C Med High Clouds Incorporated (Archie is a condo owner, board member, and condominium mediator) Mediation in the Condominium Context When condo owners have a dispute or difference the optimal result is for them to sit down together and sort out the problem. Perhaps they have read the bestselling…
By Heidi Besuijen and Melissa L. Stappler Overview Alberta case law has recently confirmed that the Alberta Human Rights Act (the “Act”) applies to condominium corporations. This means that condominium corporations are prohibited from discriminating against unit owners or occupants on the basis of any of the protected grounds identified in the Act, which are:…
By Heather Cournoyer It’s been 10 long years for me as a member of the board of directors of Hargate Tower and I have witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly! Fraud, threats, lawsuits, inadequate funds, vandalism, water damage, noise complaints, evictions and more—that’s the bad and ugly. The good is how we, as…
1 Welcome Package / Committee What better way to communicate with owners but when you first receive notification of the change in ownership. Creating a simple FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) sheet along with a document checklist to ensure they have all the required condo documents (and where to get it if they don’t) is invaluable.…
By Hugh Willis As of January 1, 2018 the Condominium Property Act of Alberta was amended (among a number of other changes) to allow a corporation to send notifications to owners electronically provided the owner has provided consent to do so. The Act reads as follows: Service on owner 71.1(1) A document, including any written…
By Excel Sheppard Insurance Service and Risk Management When searching for a new home, prospective condo owners are attracted to communities with active security programs. In order to deter crime and provide homeowners with a sense of safety, many condominium corporations utilize surveillance cameras as part of this security strategy. On the surface, installing security…
By Todd A. Shipley In order to levy a fine or monetary sanction, a board must carefully consider the “how” and “why.” The Condominium Property Act (RSA 2000, c. C-22) (the “Act”) and most modern condominium by-laws allow boards to issue fines or monetary sanctions for noncompliance. However, the case-law provides both cautionary tales and…
By Erna Malcolm The City of Edmonton wants to raise awareness about the Private Agency Parking Enforcement program, which gives private condominiums, management companies, shopping malls, hospitals, and post-secondary institutions the authority to issue City of Edmonton tickets on their property. What is the Private Agency Parking Enforcement program? The Private Agency Parking Enforcement program is…
by Gord Sheppard 1. Smile – Because you volunteer for an effective Board that is knowledgeable easily gets things done? 2. Bite Your Lip – Because you don’t want to say anything bad about someone who said they would get something done after the last meeting and they didn’t? 3. Scream Out Loud – Because…
This List Originally Appeared in the 2017 Winter Issue of Insite to Condos Ask board members, the condo manager and others that are involved in the meeting to submit agenda items before the meeting day. Set a clear deadline for submission, for example one week prior to the meeting. This will ensure everyone will have…