Outaouais - A word from the President

Greetings,

I think my profile corresponds to that of a typical co-owner. A decade ago, I was approaching the end my career of more than 30 years in the public sector. My suburban dwelling had grown too big. My interests in renovating my property and my obligations in maintaining the yard had dissolved. There was a growing desire for me to turn the key and travel without concern for my property. In short, I was becoming the ideal co-owner candidate. Like many others, we made the leap without truly knowing what a condominium was.

Over time, I became involved in my co-ownership. As a result of my syndicate's desire to convert to a self-managed property and my availability, I became my building's manager. It was at this time that I understood the complexities of managing a co-ownership. I began a quest for information on a variety of subjects, from the declaration of co-ownership to voting rights, from insurance settlements to the obligations of the syndicate. That's when I discovered the RGCQ.

Their training sessions on a variety of subjects have answered many of my questions. They also allowed me to meet and exchange with other building managers and administrators. Considering the enormous work that was being done by the RGCQ, I decided to get on board. The challenges are great.

In the Outaouais region, the number of condominiums has steadily grown over the past 15 years. A significant number of civil servants have become or will soon become retirees. Moreover, the price of buildings in our region is significantly lower than that of our neighbouring city, Ottawa. Thus, many Ontarians have come to settle on our side of the river. In the majority of cases, those who acquire their first condominium have little prior knowledge about their functioning. In addition, the laws governing condominiums in Ontario differ from the provisions of the Civil Code in Québec. This is why our goal at the RGCQ-Outaouais is for all co-owners to hear know  us in order to benefit as many individuals as possible.

If you are already a member, I invite you to continue to actively participate in our training activities in order to keep you up to date. If you are not a member, come and discover the benefits of being better informed.

In hope of meeting you soon,

Jean-Pierre Bouchard President of the RGCQ - Gatineau