Strata Owners Helping Strata Owners
The Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association (VISOA) is an independent, non-profit organization supported solely by membership fees. Formed in 1973, it is the longest-running society of its kind in Canada providing information, education and support. VISOA membership is open to any resident of B.C., strata corporations (such as condominiums, town homes, bare land and commercial stratas) and businesses that provide goods and services to stratas.
A Message from the President:
All of us at VISOA share your concerns regarding the current COVID-19 crisis. Whether you are a society, strata corporation or an individual, our focus now must be to protect the health and safety of our employees, volunteers, strata owners and loved ones. At the same time, VISOA is doing our best to maintain services to our members.
Consistent with this advice and our goals, we have taken the following steps.
The VISOA office is closed to the public until further notice. Our administrator is working from home and can answer emails and membership inquiries as usual. administrator@visoa.bc.ca
When phoning the office, please leave a message. Staff will be checking messages on weekdays during normal business hours and returning calls as soon as possible.
Most of our services are provided by email or through our website. You may contact the Strata Support Team as usual by completing the web form.
For questions regarding operations at your strata during this time, please visit our resources page. The links on this page are being updated weekly as information is released from the BC Government and other agencies. Our list also includes documents prepared by strata lawyer, Shawn M. Smith of Cleveland Doan Barristers and Solicitors: COVID-19 resources for stratas and individuals
Public health authorities continue to advise that the best ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 are through physical distancing and frequent handwashing. Health authorities recommend against all travel outside of Canada, and any person returning to Canada from abroad is required to self-isolate for 14 days. Visit our resources page to find links to medical information and relief programs.
VISOA Events
As we cannot hold in-person gatherings at this time, our seminars will be presented online as webinars. Our September 20 and November 15 seminars will be held in-person if gatherings over 50 persons are permitted. Join our mailing list to stay informed.
May 14 – Webinar – Strata AGMs – Tips for electronic and limited proxy meetings (see slides and video)
June 4 – Webinar – Strata Insurance Explained in a Rapidly Changing Market (see handout and video)
Our September 20 and November 15 seminars will be held in-person if gatherings are permitted. Join our mailing list to stay informed.
November 14, 2020 Victoria: SPECIAL EVENT – 1st Annual Strata Services Expo Click to learn more or register. Please note that as the Comfort Inn and Conference Centre has recently been purchased by the Provincial Government for housing, we are currently in the process of finding another venue. Details to follow.
Privacy Right Podcast
A newly released podcast from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC), and featuring Sandy Wagner of VISOA, tackles some of the most pressing issues relating to the personal information rights of those who live in strata housing in the province. The podcast is available here.
Condo Qs Video Series:
Condo Q’s is a video series on Facebook Live hosted by Sandy Wagner (Past President, VISOA – Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association) and Ryan Stenquist (Founder, Condo Clear Services Inc.) where they discuss the topics that matter to strata owners and potential buyers.
See all episodes in our Facebook video library.
