Newly elected Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Canada chair Don Fairgrieve-Park brings a long relationship with the organization and more than 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry to the role.
“I have had the good fortune of working in a number of markets in Western Canada, which has exposed me to many different issues,” said Fairgrieve-Park. “It reinforces the important work the local BOMA associations do, especially as advocates for the industry, at the local levels.”
Experience at Bentall Kennedy and Oxford Properties
The University of Calgary graduate worked in a variety of roles at Oxford Properties for more than a dozen years in Calgary and Vancouver before joining Bentall Kennedy in 1998 as regional director for British Columbia.
He moved to Calgary in 2002 and, as senior vice-president of real estate services, he’s responsible for the company’s overall property management, leasing and development in Calgary and Winnipeg.
“My first involvement with BOMA Calgary was in the late ’80s,” said Fairgrieve-Park. “I was appointed to the codes and regulations committee.
“It was a real eye-opener for me, but a great place to cut your teeth on the complex nature of our industry. To me, it was really about tapping into the knowledge base and networking.”
Fairgrieve-Park was a BOMA Calgary director for six years and was its chair in 2012. He’s been a BOMA Canada director since 2013 and was elected chair for 2015-16 at last month’s BOMEX national conference and exhibition in Quebec City. He also chairs the BOMEX renewal committee.
Fairgrieve-Park, who has volunteered on several industry boards, was director of NAIOP Calgary and is a past chair and director of Green Calgary.
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BOMA Canada strategic plan
Fairgrieve-Park is in charge of leading BOMA’s board of directors and working with its staff to set the direction for the organization. Outgoing chair Randal Froebelius oversaw the completion of a three-to-five-year strategic plan, which Fairgrieve-Park aims to implement and his successors to complete.
Among the most important items in the plan are: advancing, improving and growing BOMA BEST, Canada’s leading sustainability certification for commercial real estate; building the success of BOMEX; ensuring BOMA’s awards program continues to flourish and be relevant; and continuing to work on a building operator certification program.
“Other issues we can focus on include asserting ourselves as the leader in research and advocacy and establishing a mechanism to communicate our message to BOMA members and stakeholders across the country,” said Fairgrieve-Park. “We do so many great things for our industry locally and nationally, but we don’t really do a great job of telling our story.
“We also need to examine where and how we can partner to ensure we have the best educated and talented group of employees. The industry relies on a broad spectrum of talent to keep our buildings operating every day.”
There are 11 regional BOMA associations across Canada and Fairgrieve-Park is encouraging members to engage at the local level, which he believes will also help them come together on national issues.
“It is pretty powerful when a program created by the industry for the industry empowers building owners and operators to continually learn about best management practices and encourages them to continually progress towards achieving higher performance buildings that contribute to healthy, sustainable communities throughout Canada.”
2016 BOMA Canada board of directors
Fairgrieve-Park is joined on this year’s BOMA Canada board of directors by:
Officers:
* Kim Saunders, East Port Properties Ltd., St. John’s – vice-chair;
* Anne Marie Guèvremont, GWL Realty Advisors, Montreal – secretary-treasurer;
* Randal Froebelius, Equity ICI Real Estate Services Inc., Toronto – past chair;
* Benjamin L. Shinewald, BOMA Canada, Toronto.
Directors:
* Ken Dixon, Strategic Group, Calgary;
* Tim Doherty, McCor Management, Moncton;
* Michael Ewald, CREIT Atlantic, Halifax;
* Dominic Gilbert, BTB Real Estate Investment Trust, Montreal;
* Rob Kavanagh, GWL Realty Advisors, Vancouver;
* Dean Karakasis, BOMA Canada, Ottawa;
* Darren Klassen, Colliers International, Winnipeg;
* Neil S. Lacheur, Bentall Kennedy, Etobicoke;
* Dawn LeRoye, Bentall Kennedy, Winnipeg;
* Stephen Nicoletti, Manulife Financial, Ottawa;
* Lisa Pegg, Bentall Kennedy, Regina;
* Jim Preece, BOMI Canada, Toronto;
* Anthony Prsa, Harvard Property Management Inc., Edmonton;
* Wayne Purchase, Martek Morgan Finch Incorporated, St. John’s.
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