Building Management in Central Canada

About the Book

Have you ever searched for a book about a topic only to discover, one, must take a course or courses in order to obtain the information pertaining to this subject? I have been to many bookstores seeking information regarding building management without much success.

Often, fellow tradesmen have asked me what does a working building manager do through out his/her day? What is involved in the daily operations of a building? How much does it cost to operate, how is it heated, what type of lighting do you use? What is the square footage how does one heat, air-condition and humidify a large building complex? The questions are endless, but the one question they always ask, is building management for me? Only the individual can answer that question.

Many tradespeople have the knowledge and back ground to address many concerns regarding building maintenance, but they must also be willing and able to work with continuous requests and complaints from the tenants and or occupants on a daily bases. For the majority of one's day, managers are putting out minor fires, although there are times especially during emergencies when one must be able to keep it all together when everyone else is in panic mode. Knowing what to do is crucial to oneÕs ability to manage effectively.

The average person does not know what goes on behind the scenes, therefore they are not aware of what it takes to maintain a building competently. This book will assist those who want to know.

About the Author

At 17, I worked in the underground mines of Werner Lake Ontario. Although I worked there for six years it did not take long for me to realize that mining was not my life-long ambition. In 1971, I left the mines and moved to Winnipeg to seeking employment that would help support my family. My brother Donald thought I would make a good oil burner service technician.

I accompanied Don on many service calls on gas and oil furnaces in the early 70s. Many a night, I cursed the HVAC business — the long cold winter nights (-30°C, tired, cold and hungry at 3 or 4 a.m.) driving the streets of Winnipeg to provide a service for $2.00 an hour to customers without heat. The pay was all at straight timeÑno overtime. I know it put food on the table and a roof over our heads, but it was not easy, what an experience! Under DonÕs direction, guidance, Love and patience I entered the HVAC trades as a natural gas/oil burner mechanic.

Working as an oil burner mechanic (two years as required by law), I passed the exams in 1973 and received the Manitoba Department of Labour Oil Burner Trade Licence. Within the next two years, I received my Manitoba Gas Fitters Licence "B" Ticket. These two licences allowed me to be steadily employed throughout the winter heating season, but I needed to find year-round work.

It was then I applied to Red River Community College (RRCC) for the pre-employment course in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, I apprenticed for the next four years, graduating in 1984 with an Interprovincial Journeyman Certificate. The following year, I passed the exam for the Manitoba Department of Labour's Trade Specific Limited Electrical Licence.

Based on my somewhat limited knowledge on hot water and steam boilers, I enrolled in the 4th and 5th class power engineering evening courses at RRCC. I was employed at Accurate Heating and Air Conditioning Co. Ltd. at this time, working indirectly at the Royal Bank of Canada central processing centre as a Building Systems Technician (BST).

It was during this period that I decided to take the Building Owners Managers Association of Manitoba (BOMA) educational courses, and completed the Systems Maintenance Technician (SMT) and Systems Maintenance Administrators (SMA) exams over a five-year period. I highly recommend these courses to anyone considering or already employed in the area of building management.

In July 1987, I commenced work with the Department of National Defence as a Journeyman Refrigeration Air Conditioning Technician, (RM Tech). Within two years I transferred to Air Command Headquarters (now known as 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters) as a building systems technician.

In 1994, I was selected as the Internal Coordinator for the 17 Wing Construction Engineering Social Technical Systems project (four years). During this period, I enrolled in the Human Resource Management program at the University of Manitoba (U of M). I received my certification June 2000. Currently I am enrolled in the Certificate in Adult Continuing Education Course (CACE) at the U of M (excellent courses). I returned to 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarter (1 CAD HQ) as the Building Systems Manager in 1998. Since that time, I have trained several individuals to manage this complex.