Ontario’s condominium landscape is expanding rapidly with more than 1.6 million residents living in over 10,000 condominiums province wide.
However, the sector continues to face a critical shortage of licensed, highly skilled condominium managers, according to the Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario (CMRAO) and major industry associations.
Since 2021, Humber Polytechnic has been a key partner in closing this gap by delivering the province’s mandatory condominium management education through flexible, online courses and certificates that prepare learners for CMRAO licensing and long-term success in the field. Humber also offers a series of stackable e-Learning micro-credentials which are CMRAO approved and eligible for credit toward licensed Condominium Managers continuing professional education requirements.
Employers are now stepping up in meaningful ways to attract and develop talent, including Apollo Property Management. Apollo, an Ottawa-based firm managing residential, commercial, retail, and hospitality properties across Ontario, has implemented an education sponsorship program that fully covers the cost of Humber’s Condominium Management program for its employees and new hires.
By removing financial barriers and investing directly in professional development, Apollo ensures its team members earn the credentials needed for CMRAO licensing while gaining practical, up-to-date knowledge in condominium law, financial planning, building operations and resident relations.
Sean Cornish, vice-president, Apollo Property Management, said the company values the education created by Humber to deliver training needs both for its employees and the industry.
“Working with Humber has been an overall positive experience for our team,” said Cornish. “The flexibility of the program has been helpful for our property managers as they look to grow their careers.”
This approach not only strengthens Apollo’s own roster of Ontario Licensed Condominium Managers but also demonstrates to the broader industry how strategic investment in education creates a win-win scenario: more engaged, better-trained employees and higher-quality service for condominium communities.
Cornish added that the training Humber provides ensures consistency across the board for the sector with graduates entering the workforce with the same knowledge base.
Tanya Mason is a graduate of Humber’s program who is working as a condominium manager with Apollo Property Management. After working in the property management field for more than a decade in administrative and assistant property manager roles, Mason wanted to make a career switch to become a condominium manager.
As she was working full-time, she appreciated the flexibility of Humber’s program. It allowed her to learn on her schedule without the pressure of trying to balance a busy work week with a full roster of classes. Mason also appreciated the polytechnic model of Humber’s hands-on approach to education.
“I found what I was learning could be implemented immediately in my day-to-day job,” said Mason. “I had a good experience with Humber.”
Honouring a legacy
Wanda Buote, former dean of Education and Training Services, retired in November this year. To honour her legacy and the mark she had made on the lives of Humber students through her work, volunteering and personal generosity, Humber has launched the Wanda Buote Scholarship for Growth and Resilience.
It's the inaugural scholarship to support students in Humber’s Condominium Management program and provides direct financial awards to students facing barriers to entry.
A call to action
Nelia Louro, program manager, Associations and Professional Programs, Education & Training Solutions, said Apollo’s commitment sets a powerful precedent. Louro added that when leading firms fully sponsor education, create dedicated training pathways, establish internships, or fund scholarships, they send a clear message that condominium management is a valued, rewarding career worth investing in.
Louro said, with the industry needing more licensed managers each year, the hope is that other property management companies across Ontario will follow Apollo’s lead and partner with Humber to sponsor employee education, launch named scholarships, or build formal recruitment pipelines for program graduates.
Find out more by visiting the Condominium Management program webpage.