Condo Living

May 6, 2025 Published by Manitoba Chapter - By Alan Forbes

Pathway to Condominium Director Education

From the CCI Manitoba Spring 2025 Condominium News and Views Magazine

An often-asked question is: What does a condo board director have to know? Here is a pathway to enlightenment for both condo directors and unit owners.

1. FREE to condo owners

Read your condominium documents, including

1. Declaration, bylaws and rules
2. Policies and procedures, if your condo corporation has them
3. Disclosure documents from the time of your unit’s purchase
   1. Seller’s disclosure
   2. Condo corporation disclosure
   3. Status certificate.

2. FREE to all 

1. Bookmark and browse the provincial condo act, regulations and forms.
2. Subscribe to the CCI Manitoba website for upcoming events. 
3. Read the CMHC Condominium Buyers Guide.
4. Read the current CCI Manitoba newsletter.

3. FREE to CCI members

1. Read past issues of the CCI Manitoba newsletter.
2. Download and read the CCI Condo Guidebook.
3. Attend the monthly education events and various directors’ forums.
4. Volunteer with CCI. Learning by doing is a great way to go; work with and learn from industry professionals.

4. Pay a bit to enhance your knowledge

1. Non-members can attend CCI education events for a fee.
2. Take the CCI Manitoba online directors’ course (A discount is available to CCI members.)
3. Read a good book: Condo Questions and Answers, by Sally Thompson
4. Non-members can buy a printed copy of the CCI Manitoba Guidebook for $5.

5. Take advantage of other CCI educational resources

1. Browse the CCI National Resource Centre and the various categories of information, including educational videos for self-study, podcasts of earlier education events and condo-industry articles and publications. 
2. Take a look at the offerings at upcoming events CCI across the country. As a CCI Manitoba member, you can participate in nationwide educational webinars from other chapters. Many chapters provide free webinars; some require payment. 

Also, if you or someone you know is considering buying a condo, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has a condo buyers’ guide and CCI Manitoba also offers a condo guidebook. (It’s available for download or you can purchase paper copies, which are free for members and $5 for non-members.)

Alan Forbes owns and lives in a condo and is a director of his condo corporation. He also is a director of CCI Manitoba, its vice-president and a member of its Education Committee.