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Sun, Snow & Statutes: Comparing Condo Obligations from Florida to Ontario

December 9, 2025

WEBINAR — 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET

Sun, Snow & Statutes: Comparing Condo Obligations from Florida to Ontario

Why don’t all expenses over $10,000 require an owner vote?
Why can boards approve budgets without owner approval?
And what is the real purpose of a Reserve Fund Study, anyway?

The tragic 2021 condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida raised urgent questions around the world about building safety, maintenance standards, and who is responsible for making critical repair decisions.

For Canadian condominium owners and boards, it’s important to understand that Ontario’s condo system is built with safeguards specifically designed to prevent this type of tragedy — particularly through mandatory Reserve Fund Studies and board obligations to maintain buildings properly.

However, those protections only work when boards act on them.
Delaying repairs, avoiding difficult funding decisions, or postponing necessary work can allow buildings to deteriorate over time — often leading to far higher repair costs and deeper risks down the road.

In this webinar, you will learn:

Why Ontario boards can proceed with necessary maintenance and spending without always requiring owner votes

How Reserve Fund Studies function as a safety mechanism — and what happens when they’re ignored

The key differences between Florida and Ontario condo legislation

The balance between board authority and owner oversight — and who ensures compliance

Attend this session to gain peace of mind, understand your legal protections, and learn how proactive decisions today protect both safety and long-term property values.

Join CondoTalk for this timely and informative discussion exploring whether we’ve struck the right balance — and how the system works when everyone plays their part.

 

Moderator

Patricia Elia, B.Comm., B. Comm. LL.B., A.T. Coach
Elia Associates

Patricia has been a member of CCI Golden Horseshoe for over ten years and she has been a unit owner and Condominium Director for the last 19 years in both a multistorey and townhouse condominiums. As an active industry participant, she knows that the sharing of knowledge has the potential to empower everyone. Patricia has volunteered with CCI in a variety of roles, including being the Co-Chair of CCI’s National Council, Vice Chair of the National Government Relations Committee and currently sitting as a member of CCI National Executive. Patricia is pleased to have been a recipient of the CCI National Volunteer Award and to have received CCI National’s LCCI designation as a leader of the Canadian Condominium Institute. Patricia is passionate about the condominium industry because of the important role condominiums play in the lives of real people and is pleased to work with CCI in its role as an advocate and educator in the condominium industry.

 

Speakers 

Jordan Vandervelde
Project Principal, Edison Engineers

Jordan is a Project Principal at Edison Engineers that is responsible for building assessments, development of repair strategies, and management of their implementation. Jordan leverages his years of hands-on contracting experience with his structural design and restoration expertise to effectively blend theory with practicality to produce exceptional results.

He supports the Edison team across the GTA to help deliver Structural Restoration and Building Envelope repair projects. He also provides invaluable support to Reserve Fund Study development, Capital Plans and Performance Audit Resolutions.

 

 

 

Tom Gallinger, FCIP
Atrens-Counsel Insurance Brokers

Tom Gallinger is the Vice President of Atrens-Counsel Insurance Brokers, a brokerage that specializes in managing insurance programs for condominiums, unit owners and property management professionals.  Tom has been in the insurance industry for 14 years in various underwriting, brokering and management roles.   As a specialist in Commercial and Condominium insurance, Tom strives to deliver a high level of service by managing the long-term insurance needs of his clients.  In his career with Atrens-Counsel, Tom has done a number of educational presentations for various industry associations and groups aimed at unit owners, boards, and property managers. Tom holds an honours bachelor’s degree in business, his Fellowship Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP), as well as his Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designations.

 

 

Kristi Gundzik,
Wilson Blanchard Management

Kristie Gundzik has been part of the condominium world since 2013 and is now a General Licensed Portfolio Manager with Wilson Blanchard Management. Her condo career began under the Florida sun as an onsite Community Association Manager for a private club—where she somehow managed fourteen condominium associations and a master association without losing her sense of humour (or her sunscreen).  After deciding she wanted to be a “real manager,” Kristie graduated to portfolio management, overseeing a mix of high-rises, low-rises, townhomes, commercial properties, HOAs, and country clubs—basically, if it had owners and bylaws, she managed it. 

Born in Florida with Alabama roots, Kristie grew up moving along the eastern U.S. before marrying a proud Hamiltonian in 2011. In 2021, she made the move north with her spouse and son, trading palm trees for parkas—and she’s been thriving in Ontario’s condo scene ever since. 

 

 

Thank you to Our Sponsors

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