BOMA year in review

2021 A Repeat Performance

In the last Commercial Space Directory, we talked about a year like no other. Who knew that 2021 would bring us a repeat performance, with most in-person events cancelled and perfecting our use of Zoom.

Yet, despite this repeat performance, our industry marched on, providing the important foundation for business operating in the National Capital Region. BOMA also resolved to march on and we continued to host webinars, socials and even an Annual General Meeting to elect our Board of Directors and meet its Governance obligations.

Our committee work continued, as all the BOMA volunteers helped identify important topics that would become part of regular updates relevant to industry, best practices and government responses in dealing with COVID-19. More than ever, the association continued its important role as advocate on behalf of the industry at all levels of government. We provided input to government programs that would help us get through this period and communicated to the industry how government was responding. We learned to do this not just through the written word, but through video meetings that became second nature to us all.

Using this new medium to reach our members, and the industry at large, we marketed BOMA Webinars, locally and nationally produced, on a variety of topics.

• State of the Market. Several local Ottawa Commercial Real Estate professionals discussing how the Commercial Real Estate market is doing in the various asset classes in Ottawa. • For the Love of Coffee - Time for Business Change a Women@BOMA event, discussing career change with three industry women who have made significant changes over the years with their careers in commercial real estate. • What Are Our Tenants Thinking – a BOMA webinar on what we can learn from everything we’ve been through that defines a better work experience for people. • Better Buildings Ottawa – a discussion to gather input and learn more about the proposed strategy. • HVAC Operation and Omicron – What landlords need to know • Introducing BOMA BEST 4.0 • The Circular Economy’s potential impact on climate change • New Rules and Tools for Returning to the Office

Despite restrictions, we were able to host our annual Fred Speer Golf Classic and returned to an in-person BOMA Ottawa Holiday Lunch.

Publishing was also important to our 2021 activities, with articles and guides from both BOMA Ottawa and BOMA Canada on:

• PSPC Policies Regarding Accessing Leased Premises • Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles • Pandemic Guide • Circular Economy Guide • Cyber Wellness Guide — Supplier Relationship Management • Accessibility Guide • Pathway Back To Work Guide

As always, we were front-and-centre in representing the industry when it comes to government. BOMA volunteers answered the call and kept us active, providing industry input to the new Official Plan, Building Guidelines, Sustainability Strategies and many more.

As we all grow weary of making Covid allowances, let 2022 become the year we move toward a new way of doing business and turning from the 2021 repeat performance, bringing down the curtain and returning to normal.

Creating smarter buildings

WILL TECH GUIDE THE WAY BACK TO THE OFFICE?

PUBLISHED BY

February 2022

Publisher

Michael Curran

EDITOR

Anne Howland

Advertising

Wendy Baily Eric Dupuis Victoria Stewart

Creative Director

Tanya Connolly-Holmes

SENIOR Graphic Designer

Celine Paquette

DIRECTORY PRODUCTION

Patti Moran

BOMA Ottawa Staff

Dean Karakasis, Executive Director Peg Gallison, Senior Manager Events and Member Programs and Listings Coordinator

BOMA Ottawa Office

141 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1005 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J3 Tel: (613) 232-1875 bomaottawa.org

Ottawa Business Journal is a publication of

©2022 Ottawa Business Journal The BOMA Ottawa Commercial Space Directory is published by Ottawa Business Journal on behalf of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Ottawa. This publication contains information considered accurate at the time of printing. However, the publisher and/or BOMA Ottawa are not responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher.