Holiday Decorating at Red Haus

Holiday Decorating at Red Haus
Patio Decorating + Indoor Festive Decor

‘Tis the season to add a little sparkle — and we’re excited to see the community light up with holiday cheer! To help everyone enjoy a safe and festive season, here are a few friendly reminders about holiday decorating at Red Haus.

PATIO & BALCONY DECORATING

• Holiday lights on patio railings are welcome from December 1 to January 15, as outlined in the Bylaws.
• Please ensure lights are not attached using nails or screws.
• Lights or decorations cannot be affixed to the building’s brick, siding, or ceilings, to prevent damage.

INDOOR HOLIDAY DECOR

• Only artificial Christmas trees are permitted, as real trees pose a fire hazard.
• Wreaths are welcome from December 1 to January 15 — wreaths may not be hallway-facing, but rather inward

We appreciate your cooperation and can’t wait to see your festive creativity shine throughout the community. Happy decorating, and happy holidays from the Board and management team at Red Haus!

Ugly Sweaters, Comfort & Joy

President’s Letter
Ugly Sweaters, Comfort & Joy

Festive tidings, neighbour!

Donned in my ugly Christmas sweater with hot chocolate in-hand, we enter our second holiday season with both sugar plums and Covid19 realities dancing in our heads.

As we await returned restrictions with the new variant, we ask that you follow provincial and municipal guidelines as they are announced — and continue to mask-up in hallways, stairwells and elevators (anywhere on our property where two-metre distancing in not possible).

We look forward to resuming our Holiday Open Haus when we can once again gather together safely.

2021 AGM. We thank all who prioritized attending the AGM on October 26 either in-person or online. We broke all previous attendance records and will reply even greater participation in next month’s Special Resolution vote. You will have received Simco’s apology note addressing their technology challenges and the resulting impact on the quality of our meeting. We have been assured that this will not happen again.

As presented by the auditor, our property remains in a great financial position. This Board has continued to take an active role in supporting the renegotiating of service contracts to ensure the property’s best interests.

Review Period for New Draft Bylaws ends December 31. New Draft Bylaws have been available on the Governance page on our website and in the Library on Condo Control since October. These will remain here until December 31 for your review and feedback prior to a Special Resolution vote will follow in January 2022. We have also included a summary of the changes for ease. Please email your bylaw related questions to redhausbylaws@gmail.com. Stay tuned for Special Resolution instructions and timelines in the early new year.

Operational Roles & Contact List. Kindly watch your inbox and front door for a directory connecting common tasks with the best contact person. This is intended to better clarify who-does-what and to also improve the efficiency and response time by our management team.

Open Windows = Bah Humbug. This is your seasonal reminder to close windows during cold spells, please. We’re re-sharing our resident plumbing company’s advise on how to avoid making a Scrooge of yourself (and your neighbours) with “5 Ways to Avoid Floods in Cold Weather.” Flood damage from burst radiator pipes is not only costly to you (and the Corporation) but presents a gross inconvenience for those living around you (generally below you).

We wish you a safe and festive holiday season with friends and family, or one of reflective solitude. I humbly raise my mug to you, our community that is Red Haus.

— Don McKenzie | President, Red Haus Board of Directors

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Contact Directory
Your Guide to Faster Response Times & Resolutions

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5 Ways to Avoid Unit Floods in Cold Weather
Reggin Technical Services Ltd.

As we see (and feel) the temperatures plummet, we’re re-sharing some easy tips from our property’s plumber (Reggin Technical Services Ltd.) to avoid untimely emergency calls. In recent years, our property insurance has been significantly impacted by residents who fail to follow these steps and in doing so, put their unit and surrounding units at risk due to costly flood damage.

1. Test & Test Again. Turn your thermostat all the way up, then off (just temporarily while completing test). Check if your radiant heater (along baseboard) comes on when the temperature is increased, and off when decreased (which takes about one minute). If there is no change, there could be an issue with the zone valve or thermostat.

2. Set & Forget at 17C. Always have your thermostat set at 17C or higher. If you travel or leave your condo for any period of time, never turn your heating off.

3. Listen closely. Do you hear excessive noice when your radiant heater is turned on. If yes, this can indicate failing or failed components.

4. Close Windows & Patio Doors. This is tremendously important and is repeatedly the primary reason for flood damage every winter— never, ever open windows below freezing. When left open, cold air can freeze the radiant pipes below and freeze them, causing water pipes to burst.

5. Have Easy Access to Plumber Contact. Provide your tenant(s) with a preferred contractor contact list, include a plumber in the event of emergencies. Please remember, plumbers fees and costs stemming from flood damage is the responsibility or the occupant and owner.
   

Psssst. Be sure to ask Santa for adequate Condo Insurance. If he won’t be bringing it… then be sure to ask your insurance company — both owners and renters require insurance, including flood damage.

REGGIN TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD.
Phone: (403) 287 2540

Disclaimer: Red Haus Corporation is not responsible for any related costs or outcomes resulting from services rendered by an owner or resident for inspection, repair or renovation services including Reggin Technical Services, its employees or its contractors.

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Housekeeping

Real Trees = Naughty List

Due to extreme fire hazard, real Christmas trees are prohibited in your suite. Please know that fines will be enforced.

Masks Still Recommended

Please continue to wear your mask in common areas where two-metre distancing is not possible: hallways, stairwells and elevators. We appreciate your cooperation as danger of the new variant becomes more clear.

Bylaw Review Open Until

December 31

NEW Draft bylaws have been available for review since October on both the Governance page as well as on Condo Control. There is a summary of the changes provided for ease. They will remain posted for your review and comment until December 31. Email your bylaw related questions to redhausbylaws@gmail.com.

Required by law, our existing bylaws must now align with the new Condominium Property Act by Special Resolution vote in January 2022. This has been a lengthly, exhaustive and costly exercise to get us to this point, significantly delayed by COVID-19 restrictions. Now that we’re here, we will require 75% of Red Haus owners to ratify these updates by way of a Special Resolution. A Special Resolution requires approval of at least 75% of people entitled to vote and representing at least 75% of total unit factors. Stay tuned for voting details.

Wreaths May Not Face

Hallways, Ho! Ho! No!

Holiday wreaths may not be hung on the OUTSIDE of front doors. Inward-facing is totally fine.

Holiday Lights

Christmas lights may be strung from patio railings from December 1- January 15.

NOTE: Infraction fines will be issued for non-compliance.

Visitor Parking Passes

Visitor parking passes can be issued through the Onsite Concierge service through Condo Control.

NOTE: There is a 12-Night Per Month Limit for these passes.

Be Merry. Be Kind. Be Safe.

President’s Letter
Be Merry. Be Kind. Be Safe.

Dear friends:

First may I say what a trying and exhaustive time it’s been for everyone. Amplify collective fears, frustrations and anxiety by the realities of communal living — more congestion, more noise, more activity — and its a recipe for disaster. But, miraculously it hasn’t been. Not even close. so I applaud and revere this community for your heightened patience, tolerance, due diligence and kindness. We’ve naturally had to cancel this year’s Holiday Open Haus but look forward to making up for it next year. We continue to thank owners and residents for following government sanctioned COVID-19 measures.

Secondly, the Board of Directors wishes to reiterate that our recent AGM held on September 28 was a "work in progress" with COVID and Simco Management adding to delays in financial reporting. As echoed by the auditor, our property remains in great financial shape. This Board has taken an active role in supporting the renegotiating of service contracts, which (as one example) has saved the Corporation over $12,000 for annual waste removal services. That said, we remain confident that our next AGM will meet the standard that the Board and residents have come to expect.

Lastly, as we transition into modified holiday mode, more time at home is an ideal opportunity to access seasonal housekeeping. We’ve included a laundry list of timely updates and reminders to inform and support the safety and harmony of our community.

Site Office Closure The Site Office is again closed to residents to minimize close-quarter interactions. Any requests for the On-Site Manager should be made by phone or email.

Newsletter + Website Refresh. We’ve made some tweaks to our website to improve usability and navigation. You’ll have also noticed that our bi-monthly newsletter, My Red Roof Resident Insider, is now formatted as a blog (and no longer as a PDF). Past issues are available from the sidebar on this page.

NEW Community Manager Email. For ease and consistancy, we requested a general email address be created for the Community Manager (that won’t change with the assigned Community Manager). This new general email is redhaus@simcomgt.com.

Tree Trimming We had the arborist onsite in November to trim back our trees to keep them strong and manicured. They’re ready to be adorned by our seasonal display of holiday lights, which will light up on December 1st.

NEW Carpet Cleaning In response to your requests, we have introduced more frequent cleaning to keep common areas looking pristine and crisp as possible. These are in addition to bi-annual full carpet cleanings during the winter and spring. Please take particular care with coffee, chewing gum, pet waste and garbage on common property.

Complaint Process With more daily eyes around the property to spot and track bylaw infractions or operational gaps, we graciously ask TWO THINGS of owners and residents: that you contact the Community Manager (and NOT inundate Board members); and that you be part of a solution, rather than part of the a problem. Reframing problems with solutions is not only more productive but is collaborative. And there’s always more joy in collaboration!

We hear your concerns, we share them and know you will be proud of changes to come. Stay safe, stay home and my warmest holiday wishes to you all.

— Don McKenzie | President, Red Haus Board of Directors

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5 Preventative Flooding Tips for Winter Temperatures
Reggin Technical Services Ltd.

It’s getting colder by the day, so Reggin Technical Services Ltd. (our property plumber) has provided us with easy steps to avoid untimely emergency calls. Our property insurance has been significantly impacted in recent years by residents who fail to follow these steps and in doing so, put their unit and surrounding units at risk of costly flood damage.

1. Test & Test Again. Turn your thermostat all the way up, then off (just temporarily while completing test). Check if your radiant heater (along baseboard) comes on when the temperature is increased, and off when decreased (which takes about one minute). If there is no change, there could be an issue with the zone valve or thermostat.

2. Set & Forget at 17C. Always have your thermostat set at 17C or higher. If you travel or leave your condo for any period of time, never turn your heating off.

3. Listen closely. Do you hear excessive noice when your radiant heater is turned on. If yes, this can indicate failing or failed components.

4. Close Windows & Patio Doors. This is tremendously important and is repeatedly the primary reason for flood damage every winter— never, ever open windows below freezing. When left open, cold air can freeze the radiant pipes below and freeze them, causing water pipes to burst.

5. Have Easy Access to Plumber Contact. Provide your tenant(s) with a preferred contractor contact list, include a plumber in the event of emergencies. Please remember, plumbers fees and costs stemming from flood damage is the responsibility or the occupant and owner.
   

Psssst. Be sure to ask Santa for adequate Condo Insurance. If he won’t be bringing it… then be sure to ask your insurance company — both owners and renters require insurance, including flood damage.

REGGIN TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD.
Phone: (403) 287 2540

Disclaimer: Red Haus Corporation is not responsible for any related costs or outcomes resulting from services rendered by an owner or resident for inspection, repair or renovation services including Reggin Technical Services, its employees or its contractors.

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Housekeeping

Holiday Decor

1. Real Christmas trees are NOT PERMITTED due to extreme fire hazard.

2. Wreaths may not be hung on the OUTSIDE of front doors and patio doors. Inward-facing is totally fine.

3. Christmas lights may be strung from patio railings from December 1- January 15.

NOTE: Infraction fines will be issued for non-compliance.

Bylaw Committee Volunteers Needed

Want to learn more about your community? Like to be a change-maker? The task of updating our bylaws is upon us and the Board is forming a volunteer committee to champion this process.

Interested owners and residents are asked to email office@redhauscondos.com with subject line, Bylaw Committee, to inquire or volunteer.

Moves

All moves (in and out) are required to be registered. Failure to do so will result in a $500 fine to the unit owner.

Forms are available for download from CCC (Simco’s communications portal) or here.