On September 28th, 2023, the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA Canada) honoured members of the Canadian commercial real estate industry at their annual national awards gala event. Taking place in Edmonton, AB, within the traditional lands of Treaty Six Territory and the Métis homelands, the evening kicked off with a reception, followed by welcoming remarks, dinner, entertainment, and the awards ceremony.
The association honoured nine recipients with the prestigious TOBY Awards for Outstanding Building of the Year, recognizing quality in commercial real estate buildings and excellence in building management.
In the Corporate Facility category, the award went to Toronto’s 56 Wellesley Street West, owned by The Canada Life Assurance Company & The Canada Life Insurance Company of Canada, and managed by GWL Realty Advisors Inc.
Enterprise Square in Edmonton, owned by the University of Alberta and managed by BentallGreenOak was the winner in the Historical Building category.
The Industrial category was won by 6975 Creditview Road in Mississauga, owned by MNBP Single and Flex Holdings Inc., and managed by QuadReal Property Group.
Burlington’s 1111 &1122 International Boulevard, owned by 1111 International Nominee Inc. and 1122 International Nominee Inc., and managed by Fengate Asset Management, took home the award for top Suburban Office Park.
Edmonton’s Commerce South Office Park – Building B, owned by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, and managed by BentallGreenOak won the award for properties under 100,000 square feet.
155 University Avenue in Toronto, owned by The Canada Life Assurance Company and managed by GWL Realty Advisors Inc., won for buildings in the 100,000 to 249,999 square feet category.
Taking the top prize for buildings between 250,000 and 499.999 square feet was Toronto’s 720 King Street West, owned by 2095891 Ontario Inc., and managed by Triovest Realty Advisors Inc.
In the category of buildings from 500,000 to 1,000,000 square feet, One York Street in Toronto, owned by One York Street Inc., and managed by Menkes Property Management Services Ltd. took home the award.
The award for buildings over 1,000,000 square feet went to Toronto’s 483 Bay Street, owned by Northam CCPF Tenco (BTS) Limited, and managed by Northam Realty Advisors Ltd.
PINNACLE AWARDS
The Pinnacle Awards recognize companies that represent a standard of excellence to which all BOMA member should aspire, focusing on innovation, teamwork, and outstanding service and commitment to clients.
In the Above and Beyond category, celebrating those go beyond the call of duty in their commitment to service excellence, was awarded to Edmonton’s Bee-Clean Building Maintenance.
Recognizing those who elevate the customer service experience, the Customer Service category honoured Englobe, in Laval, QC.
In the Innovation category, Precise ParkLink Inc., in North York, ON, took home the prize in recognition of its innovation-driven culture and leadership leveraging technology to deliver efficiency, convenience, and value to the commercial real estate industry.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
In the individual categories, past BOMA Canada Chair Award recipient Cheryl Grey announced that Curtis Dorosh, from the Ministry of SaskBuilds & Procurement in Regina, SK, won the Elaina Tattersdale Sustainability Champion Award for continually striving for sustainability and inspiring others.
The Sunderland Scholarship Award honoured Madeline Krieger, from Fallsview Casino Resort in Stevensville, ON.
Jarrett Young of Edmonton’s ONE Properties received the Emerging Leader of the Year award, while the award for Randal Froebelius Member of the Year went to Deb Beurling from Toronto-based BentallGreenOak.
The event’s most prestigious award, The BOMA Canada Chair’s Award, was awarded to Linda Larsen, in recognition of her exemplary service to the organization and the industry.
BOMA BEST AWARDS
Earlier this year, BOMA Canada introduced its new BOMA BEST awards celebrating high scoring achievement in each of the BOMA BEST certification asset classes. Henry Chamberlain, President & Chief Operating Officer of BOMA International, proudly highlighted the following buildings:
- Vital Centre (AB), managed by BentallGreenOak, in the Enclosed Shopping Centre category.
- Sierra Springs Shopping Centre (AB), managed by BentallGreenOak, in the Open Air Retail category.
- Milton District Hospital (ON), managed by Halton Healthcare Services Corporation, in the Health Care category.
- Hoskins (BC), managed by GWL Realty Advisors Inc., in the Light Industrial category.
- 44 Charles St. (ON), managed by Manulife Investment Management, in the Multi-unit Residential Building category.
- Commerce Place Edmonton, managed by QuadReal Property Group, in the Office Under 1,000,000 Square feet category.
- Southcore Financial Centre (ON), managed by QuadReal Property Group, in the Office Over 1,000,000 Square feet category.
- Forensic Services and Coroners Complex (ON), managed by Dexterra, in the Universal category.
RICK HANSEN FOUNDATION ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGE AWARD
Launched in 2019, BOMA Canada partnered with the Rick Hansen Foundation to recognize members who are working towards creating a world without barriers through meaningful accessibility. Rick Hansen representatives Sarah McCarthy, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, and Marco Pasqua, Accessibility Consultant, presented the award to the Newton Community Branch of Vancity Vancouver City Savings Credit Union.
In addition, a new Buildings Without Barriers accessibility challenge was announced, open to all commercial building and multi-unit residential building owners and managers who commit to having at least three sites rated in the first half of 2024.
ACCREDITED VENDOR CERTIFICATES
Following last year’s creation of the Accredited Vendor Program, reflecting exemplary services from janitorial providers, the event honoured Allen Maintenance/Controlnet of QC/ON in this category.
Members can look forward to next year’s gala, taking place September 23rd to 25th in Vancouver, at the unceded Coast Salish territory of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Announcing the event details, Mike Bishop, President of Asset Management, promised that “Cutting edge ideas will meet breathtaking natural beauty,” as members explore innovative insights and network with industry leaders against the stunning backdrop of the Pacific Northwest.
For the full list of this year’s winners, please visit this link.
