President's Report - Spring 2025 - CCI Manitoba Chapter

Article from Volume 13, Issue Number 2, 2025

President's Report - Spring 2025

By John Popowich | Other articles by John Popowich | Regular Column

We’re finishing the year strong and excited about the opportunities ahead

As winter finally gives way to the promise of a vibrant spring and summer in Winnipeg, we at CCI Manitoba are excited to finish the year strong and look forward to the many opportunities ahead.

Lunch & learns

Our lunch & learns are now available both in-person and online, allowing more of our members to participate. We've also moved the venue for them to Canad Inn on Pembina Highway, which offers significantly more capacity. For the rest of the year, our Education Committee has curated a diverse lineup of lunch & learns, featuring both familiar and new topics.

Presidents' and Treasurers' Forums

We’ll be hosting more of our highly successful Presidents’ and Treasurers’ Forums this spring and summer. I’m always eager to hear directly from participants, as that offers invaluable insights into the concerns and needs of condominium corporations across the province.

Engaging with property managers

We’re gathering feedback from property managers to explore ways to improve communication with both them and condominium corporations. The Management Advisory Committee, whose property manager members provide input to the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI), is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and effective relationship with property managers.

Government Relations Committee

A special thank you goes to our Government Relations Committee for its ongoing efforts to improve the Condominium Act and strengthen communications with the provincial government. The committee’s hard work is crucial to advancing the interests of our members.

National Leaders' Forum

The National Leaders' Forum will take place in Waterloo, Ont., in May. This will be my first visit to Waterloo and I’m excited to attend. The theme this year is "Rivers of Opportunity: Steering the Future of the Condo Industry." As always, I look forward to learning from condominium representatives and bringing back new ideas and strategies.

CCI Manitoba events

I look forward to all of the events we organize, but two stand out every year.

Condos and Cold Ones

We've been hosting Condos and Cold Ones for many years. It’s a relaxed social evening at which condominium members can mingle with professionals, business members and CCI Manitoba board members. There are no formal speeches — just good food, drinks (with a couple of complimentary drinks included) and plenty of time to socialize. Best of all, it’s free to attend!

Last year, the event was held on Sept. 11 at Confusion Corner Drinks + Food and we had a fantastic turnout. While I didn’t manage to speak with everyone, I made a real effort to connect with as many members as possible. Condos and Cold Ones offers a great opportunity for longer conversations outside of the usual short interactions during lunch & learns. We’ll announce the date for this year’s event soon; mark your calendars when we do. I look forward to seeing you there!

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Our AGM, held every September, is another key event. While the AGM has a more formal agenda, there’s still plenty of time to network and socialize. Last year, we returned to the Norwood Hotel, where we had ample space to move around, chat and connect with sponsors. During the formal portion of the AGM, I present my annual report, and we hear updates from our committees. We also fill any vacant board positions. In addition, we introduced some fun games at last year’s AGM, along with swag, food and drinks. It was a great way to spend the evening.

Final thoughts

Both Condos and Cold Ones and the AGM are always highlights of my year with CCI Manitoba. These events allow me to connect with many of you and I truly value those interactions. I encourage you to attend our upcoming events — whether it's a lunch & learn, Condos and Cold Ones or the AGM. Please don’t hesitate to come up and talk to me at any of these events. I’m always happy to hear your thoughts on the condo industry in Manitoba or on CCI Manitoba itself. Or we can chat about something entirely different!

I look forward to seeing you at our events and wish you all a safe and enjoyable year ahead!

John Popowich is the president of CCI Manitoba and a director of the condo corporation where he lives.

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