The Condo Community is Something to Embrace
February 20, 2022
Despite being the shortest month of the year, February can seem like the longest, most arduous stretch of winter. It’s the month where the chills reach their pinnacle, Wiarton Willie makes his Spring predictions, and Valentine’s Day romance warms our hearts.
Then comes Family Day—a day off and a brief reprieve from the remaining cold stretch ahead of us. The holiday, which for Ontario was first observed in 2008, is an important time to reconnect with those we cherish.
Although we may not hold our neighbours as close as we do our relatives, living within a condominium community follows many of the same, familiar principles of living within an extended family. There is the same expectation of equal collaboration between family members, a requirement to follow the house rules, and the anticipation that each of us will pull our weight in keeping the household running.
The condominium industry in Ontario has bloomed since 1967, when the province’s first condominium development—a 37-unit townhouse community registered as Peel Condominium #1—was registered. As of 2021, there were almost 12,000 condominium communities across the province. That’s a lot of new condo-families!
So, what is the family dynamic within such a community?
For any condominium property, the Head of Household can be considered as the Board of Directors. When joining the Board, new Directors are required to complete ‘Director Training’ through the Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO). This the Board’s obligation (through quorum decisions) to oversee the financial health and welfare of the home, and to establish which contracts and contractors (including property management) are established to help take care of the property. The Directors also maintain the ‘House Rules,’ and seek to achieve compliance of the residents with the governing documents of the Corporation; the Declaration, By-Laws and Rules.
As with any family, there is sometimes disruption and people have different ideas about how things should be run. That’s why it is especially important to keep communication lines open so that everyone feels involved. Newsletters, community websites, and timely responses to emails and phone calls are all small things that can help keep everyone connected.
The big family gathering each year is, of course, the Annual General Meeting, when all owners are invited to come together to take care of formal Corporation matters and to discuss concerns and ideas for their living environment. Everyone is encouraged to attend these events.
Just as in a biological family, the structure of the community is designed to maintain the well-being of each member and a harmonious society. Within that comes boundary-setting, guidance and information giving.
The Enfield Group Inc. wish to advise that until further notice, all meetings (Board, Owner, Contractor) are to be held virtually without person-to-person contact. There will be no in-person meetings at the sites or at The Enfield Group office. Additionally, since the Government requirements are for all employees to work from home as much as possible, our in-office staff is kept to a minimum number of employees, and on-site hours at our properties have been halted until restrictions are lifted. The Enfield Group Inc. requires all employees to be fully vaccinated. A recently published article from Rod Escayola (Lawyer) on CondoAdviser.ca deals with the new regulations and advises the use of QR code posters at entrances to the buildings as useful screening measures for those arriving onsite. CondoAdviser.ca notes the most prominent changes below: Overview of changes • Social gathering and organized public events must be limited to: • 5 people indoors • 10 people outdoors • Indoor sports and recreational fitness amenities (ie. gyms and pools etc.) must be closed. • Indoor recreational amenities must be closed. • Short-term rentals are now limited to people in need of housing. • Employees must work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on site. • The rest of the measures already in place under Step 3 continue to apply with little changes. These measures will be effective on January 5, 2022 and are expected to be in place for at least 21 days (or January 26, 2022). Read the full article here: http://condoadviser.ca/2022/01/condo-land-returns-to-modified-step-2/condo-law-blog-Ontario .
The Enfield Group has never been stronger under the unprecedented circumstances thrust upon us by COVID. Despite what the year has thrown at us, we took what we learned in Covid’s first year and focused on our use of virtual technologies to allow us to make full use of the expanding industry...
A luncheon was held at the Lord Byron Steak & Seafood House in Waterdown on Wednesday to celebrate Lyn Kendall’s retirement. Lyn has been a dedicated team member of The Enfield Group Inc. for just shy of 25 years, having contributed to the success of the property management team since 1997, when The Enfield Group acquired The Lounsbury Group. During her time with Enfield, she has worked with three generations of the Fraleigh family and knows the business inside and out.
Featured in the November issue of Enfield News: Declaration, Common Fees, Leaky Toilet, Winter Freeze
Things to think about before the Frost is ON the Pumpkin 🎃
Change Your Furnace/ Air Handler Filters
Shut off your Outside Water Line and Open the Outside Tap - to prevent it from freezing and avoid costly spring repairs
Start switching your wardrobes from summer to fall
Start booking your Winter Tire Changeover, find your snow ⛄️ brush and top up your Windshield Washer Fluid
Get your Ice Melting products early before the stores are sold out
Dig out your snow ⛄️ shovels and or tune up your Snowblower if applicable
On September 22, 2021, The Human Rights Commission announced their stance on mandatory vaccination and the Government of Ontario is still maintaining and requiring full mask wearing in public spaces.
The Enfield Group implements both of these policies whole heartedly for the health and safety of our team and their respective families. In addition, we trust that our clients and contractors also adhere to these government policies during the fourth wave of this pandemic. As a result of the Ontario Human Rights Commission declaration regarding mandatory vaccinations and the Government of Ontario masking policy, The Enfield Group and its entire team and affiliates observe the requirements in support of these policies.
We wish you a wonderful, safe
Happy Holiday Season
and prosperous and healthy New Year!
This holiday season we have decided to donate to the CMHA Hamilton Branch Street Team
(cmhahamilton.ca) who are helping to transition the homeless into safe housing.
#justonehourhamont
