Condo Living

August 5, 2025 Published by Manitoba Chapter - By John Popowich

CCI National Leaders’ Forum Offers a Memorable Experience

From the CCI Manitoba Summer 2025 Condominium News and Views Magazine

In May, I had the pleasure of traveling to Waterloo, Ont., along with three other members of the Board of Directors, to attend the CCI National Leaders' Forum, whose theme was Rivers of Opportunity: Steering the Future of the Condo Industry.

Exploring Waterloo

This was my first visit to this vibrant university city and I was struck by its charm and beauty. Waterloo is small — its population is about 67,000 — and incredibly walkable, and I spent my free time strolling around and soaking in the sights. One of the highlights of my trip was visiting the University of Waterloo, a short ride from my hotel on the ION light rail, which I found to be impressively fast and efficient. I also picked up a few souvenirs at the campus store — though, as expected, I managed to get a bit lost on the way back to the train and had to ask for directions!

The forum venue

The National Leaders’ Forum was held at the Delta Waterloo, an excellent venue for both the sessions and the event space. The rooms were comfortable, and the provided lunch was simple but perfect for refuelling between discussions.

Forum highlights

The Leaders’ Forum kicked off on Wednesday evening with a Meet and Greet at the Delta's Proof Kitchen. It was a great opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new members attending for the first time.

Thursday’s program began with a variety of informative sessions covering topics such as Indigenous protocol, progress on the implementation of the national business plan, CCI’s national insurance policy and the relaunch of the CondoStrength program, which is for directors by directors. The highlight of the day was the keynote presentation by Paul Kalbfleisch of PAUL Consulting Inc., who spoke about “Condominiums and Building Community.” Paul’s insights, drawn from his book The JOY Experiments, focused on the importance of community engagement and transforming condo residents from strangers into friends. His quote, “I am a front porch person”, particularly resonated with me.

Awards dinner and celebration

Thursday evening featured the Awards Dinner at Cambridge Mill, a beautifully restored 19th-century property in nearby Galt, complete with a scenic dam and river. The meal was fantastic (I chose the salmon), but what made the night even more special was the announcement that our newsletter, Condominium News and Views, won the H. Penman Smith Award for Best Newsletter of the Year. This was the first award we've won since I joined the board, and we couldn’t be prouder of this achievement!

Closing day and social event

Friday was packed with discussions about advocacy, building the CCI community and exploring strategic sponsorships. The forum concluded with a lively “CCI Rocks” social hosted by the Grand River Chapter, featuring the Flash Johnson Band. I stayed a little longer than planned, but it was such a fun evening!

Looking ahead

The National Leaders’ Forum offers an invaluable opportunity to connect with board members from across the country, whether it’s catching up with old friends or forging new relationships. The exchange of ideas and experiences is always enriching.

Next year, the forum will be held in Edmonton, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the city and the North Alberta Chapter have in store for us!

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