The host city exemplifies the theme — History Forms. Technology Transforms — of this year’s 25th annual BOMEX, bringing together Canada’s 11 local chapters of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). Three days of learning, networking and joie de vivre are set for Québec City, September 15-17, at the Québec City Convention Centre and other notable landmarks of the 400+-year-old city.
“It is an honour for us to welcome representatives of Canada’s commercial real estate industry to our province’s charming capital for the first time,” says Bruno Turcotte, president of the BOMEX 2015 Organizing Committee. “We are particularly flattered that Québec City was selected to host the BOMEX Conference and Exhibition on its 25th anniversary.”
An impressive and diverse lineup of motivators and dynamos will share market analysis, sustainability guidance, entrepreneurial insight and inspirational life experiences during the conference’s two morning and afternoon plenary sessions, September 16 and 17. Speakers include: two-time Olympic gold medallist, Alexandre Bilodeau; Mike Harcourt, a former Premier of British Columbia and Mayor of Vancouver; business innovators, Éric Fournier and Dominique Brown; and senior real estate professionals addressing timely economic and industry issues in an engaging panel discussion.
The “Technology Transforms” theme comes through in four slates of concurrent workshops, providing delegates with a choice of learning opportunities about operational, design, management and human resources strategies. Delegates also have the opportunity for one-on-one dialogue with suppliers of innovative technology, products and services in the 80-exhibit on-site tradeshow, September 16.
Among the exhibitors will be the three winners of BOMA Québec’s inaugural Real Estate’s Cleverest contest, devised in cooperation with L’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Ivanhoé Cambridge Real Estate Chair, as a showcase for young real estate entrepreneurs. The clever winners, who will also make 15-minute presentations to BOMEX delegates, emerged from a competitive field of nine finalists judged by a jury of senior managers from leading real estate companies.
Looking off-site, social activities will give attendees a view to both historic architecture and streetscapes and spectacular natural features. The popular BOMEX Golf Classic tees off September 15 at Golf Royal Québec — a classic course lined with 100-year-old evergreens and located near stunning Montmorency Falls, the 83-metre cascade measuring 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls. Non-golfers can alternatively spend this traditional pre-conference leisure time on an afternoon guided bus tour to the city’s historical sites. Both groups then meet up for the evening’s welcome reception at Chappelle du Musée de l’Amérique francophone.
After a first day of studiousness, Wednesday night ushers in the annual BOMEX Fun Night. The Painchaud Family — four multi-instrumentalist siblings who have gained an international following for their talented musicianship and spirited interpretation of popular songs — will animate the gathering at Terminal Dalhousie overlooking the St. Lawrence river.
Closing out the proceedings on a celebratory note, the annual BOMA Awards Gala unfolds at the venerable Fairmont Château Frontenac on Thursday night. Like BOMEX itself, 2015 marks the 25th year for the national awards recognizing excellence in building management and operations, and outstanding service to the industry.
“BOMA Québec has done an astonishing job putting together an amazing conference, and hosting it in beautiful Québec City is icing on the cake,” says Benjamin Shinewald, president and chief executive officer of BOMA Canada. “We are very excited to use BOMEX 2015 to launch the new brand for BOMA BESt, our flagship environmental certification program for existing buildings. There are tons of new and exciting things happening with BOMA BESt, and BOMEX is a great place to begin to unveil them. We are also thrilled that our colleagues from BOMA International, Rob Brierley and Henry Chamberlain, are making the journey to Canada to join us.”
“Be it to strike new profitable relationships, to learn and recharge, or to have fun while doing a little bit of both, I assure you the three days will be worth the trip,” concurs BOMA Québec president Dominic Gilbert.
