The Canadian commercial real estate (CRE) industry celebrated yet another successful year at the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada National Awards Gala, which took place at the Hyatt Regency Calgary on October 3, 2018. The Awards Gala topped off the 28th anniversary of BOMEX, Canada’s Building Excellence Summit, which ran from Oct. 1 to 3.
This year’s gala presented recipients with a total of 22 awards, recognizing achievements in the CRE industry from across the country.
The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) awards were presented to 10 recipients that demonstrated quality in commercial real estate buildings and rewarded excellence in building management. Judges selected recipients based on a number of factors, including building standards, community impact, tenant relations, energy conservation, environmental performance, regulatory compliance, sustainability, emergency preparedness, security standards, and the training of building personnel. All entrants must be BOMA BEST certified to apply.
Bentall Kennedy was honoured with two TOBY awards this year: one in the Under 100,000 Square Feet category for 161 Portage Ave. E. in Winnipeg, Man., and the second in the Medical Office Building category for Cochrane Community Health Centre in Calgary, Alta.
QuadReal Property Group also won two TOBY awards: one in the 500,000 to 1 Million Square Feet category for Livingston Place in Calgary, Alta., and the second in the Over 1 Million Square Feet category for Southcore Financial Centre in Toronto, Ont.
Other TOBY awards went to Colliers International for Winnipeg’s 330 St. Mary Ave. in the 100,000 to 249,999 Square Feet category; Morguard for Ottawa’s Performance Court in the 250,000 to 499,999 Square Feet category; in the category of Corporate Facility, BGIS took home the award for the Preservation Centre in Gatineau, Que.; FCR Management Services won in the Mixed-Use Building category this year, for Edmonton’s Meadowlark Health and Shopping Centre; Primaris Management Inc. took home the award in the Retail Building category for Calgary’s Park Place Shopping Centre; and Menkes Property Management Services took home the award for Suburban Office Park – Mid Rise for Mississauga’s AeroCentre.
BOMA Canada’s National Earth awards recognizing excellence in resource preservation and environmentally sound commercial building management. Awards are handed out to buildings that have made significant efforts to address environmental issues.
This year, three Earth awards were presented; all went to Calgary-based recipients. Honourees include Hines Canada Management in the category of Office Building for Eighth Avenue Place; FCR Management Services’ Seton Gateway, which was honoured in the category of Retail Building; and Calgary Courts Centre, which was presented to SNC Lavalin O&M in the Universal Facility category.
BOMA Canada also presented its Pinnacle awards, which recognize role model companies that demonstrate standards of excellence and acknowledge innovation, teamwork, outstanding customer service and commitment to clients. This year’s Above & Beyond award was presented to B.G.E. Service & Supply Ltd. (The Filter Shop) in Edmonton, while KRP Properties of Ottawa won a Pinnacle award in the category of Innovation. The Customer Service award went to Toronto‘s Oxford Properties Group for Waterpark Place.
Before presenting this year’s BOMI Vyetta Sunderland Scholarship, Peter MacHardy, BOMI Canada Chair, acknowledged the passing of Georges Corbeil, a dear friend of the BOMA and BOMI family. Georges was a dedicated instructor, mentor and leader in the commercial real estate industry.
This year’s BOMI Vyetta Sunderland Scholarship went to Omar Jesus Montes Casanas of Toronto.
BOMA Canada presented its inaugural Net Zero Challenge awards this year in three categories: Most Improved, Innovation and Best in Class. The Natural Resources Canada-supported awards recognize the leadership of owners, developers, designers, and/or managers of buildings which demonstrate significant progress along the path towards net zero energy and/or carbon neutral. On hand to make the presentations was Jay Khosla, Assistant Deputy Minister, Energy Sector, National Resources.
The first-ever Most Improved award went to Menkes Property Management Services for 4711 Yonge Street in Toronto. Two awards were presented in the Innovation category – Choice Properties REIT won for Montreal’s Le 100 Alexis Nihon office building, while Earth Rangers Foundation was honoured for Woodbridge, Ont.’s Earth Rangers Centre for Sustainable Technology. The Best in Class award went to Manulife Real Estate for Vancouver’s 980 Howe.
To round out the evening, BOMA Canada’s President, Anne Marie Guèvremont, presented the prestigious BOMA Canada Chair’s Award, which is presented to an individual that makes valuable and long-lasting contributions to BOMA and supports the organization in a meaningful way.
This year’s Chair’s Award was presented to Randal Froebelius, President and Founder of Equity ICI Real Estate Services in Toronto, Ont.
The gala drew to a close with the announcement of next year’s BOMEX, which will take place September 9 to 11, 2019, in St. John’s, N.L.
