Skyline is top winner (four times) at industry awards of excellence gala - 2010
Guelph, ON - In December, the Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) held its annual Marketing Achievement & Construction Awards Dinner & Gala at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto. FRPO is Ontario's leading advocate for quality rental housing and has more than 800 landlord members representing over 250,000 rental suites across Ontario. The M.A.C. Awards Gala is the most important annual event for FRPO members and is well attended by over 700 rental-housing providers. This event provides a unique forum for recognizing excellence in the residential rental- housing industry. Simply put, it is the Oscars of the apartment industry. At this annual event, Marketing, Achievement & Construction Awards are handed out to the industry’s highest achievers and top performers in key categories.
This year’s gala had over 120 unique submissions and Skyline took home four of this year’s awards. With only 16 awards in total, winning is a remarkable achievement for Skyline; especially when up one considers the tough competition we were up against, namely the industry’s large public entities. Skyline was truly honoured to have received such a notable level of recognition by the industry, and attributes its success to the many efforts and ongoing commitment of its dedicated staff, business partners and investor community.
One of the four awards is the “Outstanding Community Service Award” which Skyline has now won two years in a row. This award is presented to a company that goes above and beyond in giving back to its community and with Skyline’s long list of charitable initiatives, community efforts and ongoing tenant support programs, it continues to raise the bar and set an example for industry peers. “Skyline has been an outstanding community supporter. Their generosity and many contributions have allowed us to promote the healthy development of children and youth in our community,” said Rose Silvestro, Executive Director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Guelph. "Through their generous support, over 680 children were served in 2010”.
Skyline also took home the acclaimed “Rental Development of the Year” award for its Place Sainte Marie development in Haileybury, ON. This unique restoration project transformed an 80-year old convent into a fully-functional, assisted-living apartment building that now caters to the needs of the area’s senior population. Skyline was able to make an adaptive reuse of the building while retaining the unique heritage of the site. Skyline combined innovation and high-efficiency “green” mechanical systems to revitalize and breathe new life into this treasured local landmark. Skyline also partnered with the local assisted-living services provider, Temiskaming Home Support, which rents space in the building in order to provide care and health services for residents. “It was a much greater challenge than building from scratch” says Roy Jason Ashdown,Co- Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Skyline, “but it was important for us to preserve the true character and heritage of the building and by bringing the home support provider into the building, we have ensured that our residents will live happier, healthier lives and independently for many years to come”. In fact, Skyline hopes to replicate this integrated model of home support and apartment living in other Skyline buildings across Ontario, to accommodate the growing needs of our aging population.
In addition to the “Outstanding Community Service” and “Rental Development of the Year” awards, Skyline was also awarded “Resident Manager of the Year” for one of its remarkable on-site building staff at one of its London, ON properties. In addition, Skyline took home the “Curb Appeal, Rental Development” award for its renovation project at 55 Yarmouth Street, Guelph.
“Being recognized in one category is an incredible honour and accomplishment, but to win in four categories puts Skyline in a group of their own and makes them one of our industry’s true leaders and achievers” says Vince Brescia President & CEO of Federation of Rental-Housing Providers Ontario.
An independent panel of 10 industry professionals, including representatives from Coldwell Banker, TD Commercial Banking, Deloitte and the Ontario Real Estate Association judged the over 120 nominations for this year’s M.A.C. Awards.
“To win the 'Outstanding Community Service Award' for the second consecutive year is a true testament to the commitment and dedication of our Skyline Team. We are proud to be the example of true social responsibility and are thankful that our staff, investors and business partners support us in our many charitable endeavours and allow us to give back on their behalf. Without the support of our valued investors and business partners, we would not be in a position to do all the good we do in our community” adds Roy Jason Ashdown.
Skyline Winners of Two FRPO M.A.C Awards - 2009
 | It was a night to be remembered and celebrated as Guelph-based Skyline took home not one, but two FRPO M.A.C. Awards, the first for “Property Management Advertising – Corporate Branding” and the other for “Outstanding Community Service”. FRPO, which stands for Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario is the province’s leading advocate for quality for rental housing and has over 800 members.
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On December 3rd , 2009, FRPO held their annual MAC Awards at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, where hundreds of industry professionals where in attendance. These awards are much like winning the academy awards for the Apartment industry and Skyline was both thrilled and honoured to be among the winning companies.
Skyline attributes their community service win to their continued dedication to charitable events in both the cities in which they operate and in their apartment buildings. Some highlights include a $21,000 monetary donation to Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph and Onward Willow, a $150,000 land donation to Habitat for Humanity, a sponsorship of the Guelph Storm OHL team for the 2009/2010 season, food drives and toy drives at their buildings, an office space donation to the Red Cross to bring tenant services into their building, as well as many tenant events and programs.
Skyline was also nominated for four additional categories including, “Curb Appeal”, “Property Management Website Award – Corporate Branding”, “Lobby Renovation of the Year Award” and “Suite Renovation Award – Over $5000.
This year’s MAC Award competition was the largest in its history with over 112 submissions in 15 categories.
Read more at Canadian Apartment Magazine.com.
