Board member training: A guide for Ontario condo corporations

What is board member training?

Board member training helps condominium directors understand their responsibilities, make informed decisions, and work effectively with the rest of the board. In Ontario, some board member training is legally required, but useful training can go well beyond the mandatory program.
 

What board member training is required in Ontario?

Ontario condominium directors generally must complete the Condominium Authority of Ontario’s (CAO) mandatory Director Training within six months of being elected, appointed, or re-elected, unless they completed the training within the previous seven years.

The CAO training is a free, self-paced online program and takes about seven hours to complete. It covers the responsibilities directors need to understand when helping oversee a condominium corporation.
 

What happens if a director does not complete the required training?

A director who does not complete the required board member training within the six-month deadline is disqualified from the board and can no longer participate in the corporation’s governance until the requirements for serving again are met (Condominium Act, 1998, s. 29(2)(e); O. Reg. 48/01, s. 11.7(4)).
 

Tips for board member training beyond the required CAO program

Completing the mandatory CAO training is an important first step, but effective directors keep learning throughout their time on the board. So what kind of board member training do you need to be as effective and knowledgeable as possible? And how should you go about getting it?

1. Start with some self-education.

   Get to know your condo bylaws, as well as provincial regulations. Since your condo corporation is a legal entity, it is required to comply with both.
   
   In addition, it’s important to have a good understanding of your corporation’s policies.

   "When you become a board member, one of the things you should do within the first 90 days is become familiar with your governing documents and the statutes and local laws that pertain to condo corporations."
   
   Carli Gilchrist, senior training and development manager for FirstService Residential

2. Seek training that provides the basics of governing a condo corporation.

   A good introductory training program — whether it’s provided by your property management company or an outside organization — should teach you some fundamentals about being on a board:
    
   • Board member roles and responsibilities. What are your fiduciary duties? What’s the best way to avoid conflicts of interest? Is your board being as transparent as it should be? Knowing the answers to these and other questions about board member responsibilities — as well as how individual responsibilities vary for the different board member roles — creates the building blocks for subsequent learning.
      
   • Running effective meetings. One of your board’s functions is to run meetings. There’s both a science and an art to executing even the most rudimentary functions of a board, and that begins with holding effective meetings.
     
     Get to know the different types of condo corporation meetings, how to prepare for and conduct condo board meetings, what to include in your agenda, and how to take minutes. In addition, you need to learn how to prevent meetings from getting off track.
      
   • Preparing your budget. The financial health of your condo corporation is closely tied to budgeting. Training should help you understand what you need to consider as you create your budget. You also need to understand how to read your financials and what to look out for.
      
   • Creating a positive board culture. Successful condo corporations begin with successful boards. The fundamentals of crafting a positive working environment for board members (for example, establishing trust and open communication) are elements worth studying.
      
   • Understanding insurance. Insurance is a hot topic in condo corporations lately. Although many board members understand their residential insurance, they don’t really understand their corporation’s commercial insurance. It’s important to know what insurance is necessary for a condo corporation and what coverage you may need in your specific area or to meet your unique needs.
   
   Want more pointers on how to be a great board member? Read our article, Ontario property management 101: Top tips for board members
    

3. Make learning an ongoing part of the job.

   Condo director training is mandated by Ontario law, but training should not be a one-time event for board members. Laws are always changing, and so are trends. You have to continually seek education to stay informed. Also, if you have not had to apply something, a refresher is a good idea.
    

4. Take advantage of alternative training options.

   Training doesn’t have to mean hours of classroom time. There are other options available that work around your schedule or provide opportunities to network with board members from other condos:
    
   • Online classes. Convenient online training is ideal for board members who may not have the time or flexibility to attend classes in person.
      
   • Seminars. Generally lasting no more than a couple of hours, seminars are one-time events that revolve around a specific topic, such as a timely legal matter, current legislative changes, finance and budgeting issues, or recommendations for enforcing condo policies.
      
   • Conferences and expos. Conferences and other large events like expos provide day-long or even multi-day opportunities to gain knowledge about a variety of topics. You’ll get to attend breakout sessions with industry pros and meet vendors who provide products and services to condo corporations. You also get to discuss your corporation’s concerns and issues with other board members 



5. Find out if your property management company offers training.

   The right property management company will have the resources and in-house expertise to provide basic and specialized training classes. As a board member, you deal with a host of issues, from landscaping and engineering matters to legal and insurance concerns, so you can learn a lot from experts in these areas.

How FirstService Residential can help

FirstService Residential hosts regular free board member training sessions on a number of topics that affect board members in Ontario. Sign up to receive alerts on our upcoming events.

As the leading property management company in Ontario, our teams help boards and owners stay organized with financial management, governance support, recordkeeping systems, insurance and risk management, maintenance planning, vendor coordination, 24/7 customer care, and resident communication.

To learn more, contact a member of our team today.

This information is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be relied upon as, legal, regulatory, financial, or operational advice, or as a representation or guarantee of any specific services, capabilities, or outcomes. Property management needs, regulatory requirements, market conditions, and available services vary by jurisdiction, property type, and community. FirstService Residential provides services through locally based affiliates and associates, and services and results may vary by community, region, contractual terms, and applicable law.