The Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA Canada) presented its national awards on September 25, 2024, during its annual BOMEX conference. It was a spectacular event. Before announcing the winners, it is important to acknowledge that the land on which they gathered for the conference, in Vancouver, British Columbia, was on the unceded Coast Salish territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
Hosted by award-winning emcee and radio/TV personality Kevin Lim, the evening’s top honours—TOBY Awards for Outstanding Building of the Year—were issued to twelve recipients. Judging criteria for the prestigious award includes building standards, tenant relations, energy conservation, personnel training, emergency preparedness, and more.
In the corporate facility category, 180 Queen Street West in Toronto, managed by GWL Realty Advisors Inc., took home the TOBY, while 650 West Georgia Street in Vancouver, B.C., also managed by GWL Realty Advisors Inc., won the award in the renovated building category.
Winning the TOBY for best historical building was 143-145 King Street East in Toronto, managed by Northam Realty Advisors and owned by 133 King Street East, while Northwoods Business Park; 2155 Dollarton Highway in North Vancouver, managed by QuadReal Property Group and owned by by bcIMC Realty Corporation & Northwoods BP Holdings, won the TOBY in the industrial category.
On the retail front, 1015 Lakeshore Boulevard East in Toronto, managed by CT REIT, received a TOBY in the open air/strip mall category. Northgate Village Shopping Centre at 3433 North Road in Burnaby, B.C., managed by GWL Realty Advisors Inc., won the award for enclosed mall under 1 million square feet.
Turning to the office category, a TOBY award in the suburban office park (low rise) category went to Broadway Tech Centre, located at 2955 Virtual Way in Vancouver, B.C., managed by QuadReal Property Group. 2630 – 2680 Skymark Avenue in Mississauga, Ont, managed by Crown Property Management Inc., won for top suburban office park (mid-rise).
For properties under 100,000 square feet, the TOBY was presented to 245 Yorkland Boulevard in Toronto, managed by Northam Realty Advisors Ltd. In the 100,000 to 249,999 square feet category, the winner was Renfrew Business Centre in Vancouver, managed by Epic Investment Services (BC) Inc.
Taking the top prize for buildings between 250,000 and 499.999 square feet was 151 Yonge Street in Toronto, managed by GWL Realty Advisors Inc.
Lastly, for buildings over one million square feet, the TOBY winner was Southcore Financial Centre in Toronto, managed by QuadReal Property Group.
PINNACLE AWARDS
The Pinnacle Awards recognize role model CRE companies that demonstrate standards of excellence in innovation, teamwork, and outstanding service and commitment to clients.
This year’s above and beyond category went to Transcona Roofing in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
QuadReal Property Group’s Commerce Court in Toronto was recognized in the customer service category, while the award for innovation went to Hallmark Housekeeping Services in Toronto
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
For the individual recognition awards, past BOMA Canada Chair Award recipient Cheryl Gray announced that Lynn Heaston of Colonnade BridgePort in Ottawa, won the Elaina Tattersdale Sustainability Champion Award for her commitment to pursuing sustainability within the commercial real estate industry.
Earning the title of 2024 Emerging Leader of the Year was Brandon Cosman of PMC Energy Ltd. in Fredericton, New Brunswick., while the Randal Froebelius Member of the Year award went to Erin White of BentallGreenOak in Edmonton.
Linda Carbone was the proud recipient of this year’s prestigious Chair’s Award, for her exemplary service to the commercial real estate industry and BOMA Canada.
RICK HANSEN FOUNDATION ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGE AWARD
In 2019, BOMA Canada launched the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Challenge Award as part of its commitment to creating a world without barriers through meaningful accessibility in the built environment. This year’s award was presented to Pacific Blue Cross in Burnaby, managed by GWL Realty Advisors Inc.
Winners of the Rick Hansen Foundation’s Buildings Without Barriers accessibility challenge were also announced. The commitment award was bestowed as a three-way tie between GWL Realty Advisors Inc, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Ltd. and Choice Properties, each having had the most sites rated in the past year as part of the challenge.
First West Credit Union’s Penticton Regional Office in Penticton, B.C., won for most improved, while the innovation prize went to MacOdrum Library – Carleton University in Ottawa, managed by Carleton University.
BOMA BEST AWARDS
The BOMA BEST Prestige Awards celebrate high scoring achievement in each of the BOMA BEST certification asset classes from across the country. The winners are:
- Oshawa Centre in Oshawa, Ont, managed by JLL Canada in the enclosed shopping centre category;
- Uptown in Victoria, B.C., managed by Shape Property Corporation, for open air retail;
Cochrane Community Health Centre in Calgary, managed by BGO, in the health care category; - Amazon YEG1, Nisku, Alberta, managed by Hopewell Real Estate Services, in the light industrial category;
- FORTE, Vancouver, B.C., managed by BGO, in the multi-unit residential category;
- BP Centre, Calgary, managed by QuadReal Property Group, for office under 1 million square feet;
- 483 Bay Street, Toronto, managed by Northam Realty Advisors Ltd, for an office over 1 million square feet; and
- NSCC Pictou Campus, Stellarton, Nova Scotia, managed by Nova Scotia Community College, in the universal category;
This year, BOMA Canada introduced a new BOMA BEST Spotlight award to celebrate a team’s commitment and the building’s sustainability journey. By highlighting the winner’s best practices and innovative approaches BOMA Canada’s aim is to inspire others to adopt similar strategies. This year’s winner was Park Place Shopping Centre in Lethbridge, Alb., managed by Primaris REIT.
An incredible milestone was also celebrated for BOMA Canada’s iconic BOMA BEST program. Royal Bank Plaza at 200 Bay Street in Toronto, managed by Colliers, is BOMA BEST’s 1 billionth square foot of BOMA BEST certified space.
ACCREDITED VENDORS
For the third year in a row, BOMA Canada recognized BOMA Plus Accredited Vendors at the gala. Both Jani-King of Ottawa and 10201090 Canada Ltd DBA Authorized Jani-King Franchisee were celebrated for reflecting the standards that owners and managers expect from their janitorial service providers.
LAUNCH OF BOMA CANADA ENSPIRE PROGRAM
The launch of BOMA Canada’s new $25-million BOMA Canada Enspire program was celebrated by Benjamin Shinewald, President and CEO of BOMA Canada, who thanked Natural Resources Canada and the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative for its amazing support of BOMA and the industry.
A NEW CHAIR
The evening ended with the announcement that Avison Young’s Neil Lacheur, Executive Vice President of real estate management services for Canada, will take the helm as the new BOMA Canada Chair.
Members can look forward to next year’s gala, taking place in Halifax. Announcing the event details, John McKenzie, President of BOMA Nova Scotia, said a dedicated team has been working on the planning and is excited to bring BOMEX back to the east coast on September 15-17, 2025.
For the complete list of 2024 winners, click here.
