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There were 15 winners at the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario’s annual Marketing, Achievement and Construction (MAC) Awards recent gala in Toronto. And FRPO presented its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Arthur Weisz, Chairman, The Effort Trust Company, Hamilton, ON.

Presenters were Peter Friedmann, General Manager of Ontario, CMHC; Greg Stokes, Residential Sales Manager, Rogers Cable Communications; Gord Alderdice, Vice President, Business Development, Coinamatic Canada Inc.; Brenda Brockbank, Vice President, Commercial Mortgage Group, TD Business Banking; Lynn Topp, Manager, Client Services, Yardi Systems.

For the Property Management Advertising Award – Corporate Branding Nominees were Concert Realty Services Ltd., Skyline and Sterling Karamar Property Management.

Skyline was named winner, and Roy (Jason) Ashdown, Co-Founder and COO said, “To receive a pat on the back from our peers is a welcome compliment and testament to the dedication and efforts of our staff.” One of the team, Marissa Morettin, Director of Investor Relations added, “We are thrilled to be acknowledged as an industry leader when it comes to our creative vision, philosophies and our in-house design and marketing talent. We particularly recognize our graphic designer Carissa Drohan, who helped conceptualize this
campaign and bring the idea to fruition.”

Skyline also won the Outstanding Community Service Award. Other nominees were Boardwalk Rental Communities and Vertica Resident Services.

Ashdown added, “Skyline has long believed that community involvement and charitable work is important. We are always looking for ways to positively impact all our communities.”

Nominees for High Rise Rental Development of the Year were Concert Properties Ltd. – Tapestry Village Gate West, Park Property Management Inc. – Annex Terraces Spadina, and The Tricar Group – The Renaissance.
Concert Properties Ltd. was named the winner. President Brian McCauley said, “This illustrates Concert’s commitment to redefining seniors’ rental retirement communities across Canada to meet the changing needs of today’s seniors. We and our co-owners OMERS and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada are proud to be recognized by FRPO.”

Oxford Properties Group captured the Environmental Award of Excellence – a category in which GWL Realty Advisors – Hazelton Place and CAPREIT were nominees.

Said Oxford’s Director, Global Asset Management, Kevan Gorrie, “This is recognition for progress we’ve made in terms of sustainability, particularly on the energy conservation front. Instead of looking at individual projects, we considered the entire picture to aggressively reduce our carbon footprint by targeting energy consumption which covered lighting, controls, boiler plant retrofits, water tune-ups and more, for nine of our Ontario buildings. It was designed to bring these buildings to the next level in terms of energy efficiency. The results have exceeded our expectations.”

Property Manager of the Year nominees were Marc Monette of McArthur Properties (the winner), Petronela Ionescu of Metcap Living Management and Johann Isopp of Realstar Management Partnership.

Said McArthur’s Senior Vice President/General Manager Bert Steenburgh, “Through his management style, Marc Monnette motivated and engaged his staff beyond our expectations. He embodies professionalism because he says what he means and means what he says, which has also earned respect from tenants. He never forgets that our job is to serve our tenants.”

Nominees for the Property Management Advertisement Award Single Project were Greenwin Property Management Inc. – 88 Erskine Avenue (the winner), Morguard Residential Inc. – the Colonnade and Vertica Resident Services – Vivere.

Greenwin’s marketing consultant Sheryl Erenberg said, “Our ad’s target market is young professional singles 20-35. We presented the many building and neighbourhood features in an eye-catching way without crowding the page with a boring features list. We highlighted the lifestyle of living in this building in this exceptional neighborhood, instead of the building exterior.”

Kelly Brazeau of Greenwin Property Management in Ottawa was named Leasing Professional of the Year, for which Mary Ferlisi of CAPREIT and John Burns of Vertica Resident Services were also nominated.

“Kelly emerged as the most dedicated, profoundly up-beat and enthusiastic team member at 1240 and 1244 Donald Street Apartments in Ottawa,” says Greenwin marketing consultant Sheryl Erenberg. “She relates effortlessly to the many different cultures that come to rent apartments – many of whom are new Canadians and enjoys an impressive referral rate from existing tenants because she genuinely likes learning about them, their families and their lives. Her closing ratio throughout the year was exceptional, considering these challenges: garage drilling and restoration was underway for eight months of the year, and half of all elevators in the buildings were being restored and out of service four months of the year.”

Nominees for the Property Management Website Award – Specific Property were GWL Realty Advisors – Cloisters of the Don, Park Property Management – The Maples, and Vertica Resident Services – 10 Lisa.

Vertica was named the winner and Director of Marketing Amin Rahim said, “Vertica  and our clients, were honoured to be nominated. We feel that the 10 Lisa website truly reflects the calibre of this distinguished Brampton property and the type of discerning resident to whom it appeals.  With a focus on detail, great thought was put into the placement of key words, images, colour schemes and creating the logo and branding for the website (www.10lisa.ca) and  marketing materials.”

Curb Appeal (over 30 Units Award) went to Greenrock Property Management Limited for 45 & 57-93 Balliol St. Other nominees, Minto Apartments Ltd. – Parkwood Hills Townhomes, and Skyline – Tuscany Village.

Ivan Murgic, Greenrock’s Vice President, Operations said, “At that property, we had to waterproof the parking garage, which meant the landscaping had to be removed. We have always taken pride in our buildings’ exteriors, but we decided to take this opportunity to take our curb appeal further. We hired Janet Rosenberg + Associates for the design, Halsall Associates as consulting engineers and Macdero Construction to do the work, and we are very proud of the winning result.”

Customer Service Award of Excellence nominees were Concert Realty Services Ltd., Metcap Living Management and Realstar Management Partnership.

“We are delighted to win this Award for the third year in a row,” said Scott Bigford, Senior Vice President of Operations, Realstar Management. “In today’s competitive rental market, it’s crucial for property managers to provide superior, leading-edge, quality customer service. We have been managing residential properties across Canada for 36 years and our professional staff are committed to customer service excellence and maintaining the highest quality rental properties. Our staff is trained comprehensively through on-line and classroom sessions, on-site and field support programs. Our standards are so highly-recognized and appreciated that nearly 1,000 residents have lived in a Realstar property for over 20 years. Today, we manage over 25,000 units across Canada. Our team creates communities, and we work diligently to exceed the expectations of our residents every single day!”

GWL Realty Advisors captured the Lobby Renovation of the Year Award for Bretton Place. Nominees included Realstar Management Partnership – Lorenville Apartments, and Skyline – Tuscany Village.

“GWL Realty Advisors and our client are honoured to receive the 2009 Lobby Renovation of the Year award,” said Anthony Perlingieri, Multi-Residential Asset Manager. “This lobby complements the overall character of its upscale urban address. The design incorporated existing elements and increased plus aesthetic appeal and environmental impact.”

Morguard Residential was awarded the winner of Suite Renovation under $5,000 for 1477 Mississauga Valley. Nominees included Briarlane Rental Management Inc. for both 10 Walmer Road and 3400 Keele Street.

Says District Manager Pat Arnett, “This Award represents recognition for the hard work and dedication the Morguard team has shown to help achieve a marketing vision we have for renting suites in the future. This suite renovation is more than just installing new kitchen cabinetry and ceramic floors. It offers a selection of choices to help tenants pick the right finishes for their new home. By furnishing a model suite, we provide different options for how they may utilize their space. We believe this approach will be worthwhile to create future growth for our multi-residential operations.”

CAPREIT captured three awards: Property Management Website – Corporate Branding (also nominated were Park Property Management and Skyline); Suite Renovation over $5,000 (other nominees were GWL Realty Advisors for 57 Charles at Bay and Morguard Residential for 1477 Mississauga Valley); and Resident Manager of the Year for Rhodora Dorado (other nominees were Lucy Norocea for O`Shanter Development Company Ltd. and Wayne Gilpin for Park Property Management.)

Mark Kenny, CAPREIT Chief Operations Officer said, “FRPO’s MAC Awards is of an extremely high caliber and improves each year. To be recognized is something that gives us great pride. The acknowledgement of our dedicated staff and their work, and our quality accommodations, is a great accomplishment. Recognition of the hard work and staff dedication is well deserved by everyone involved.”