Yang Fei of Strata Engineering joined Katharine Olson of Groundbreaking and Thomas Beattie of OctoAI for a discussion of recent events.Strata Gal Training Series: Engaging, Experiential LearningThe panel kicks off with reflections on the innovative Strata Gal training series. This hands-on, roleplay-driven experience brought real-world strata governance challenges to life, making complex regulatory concepts memorable and accessible. Participants from councils, management, and industry professionals engaged deeply with budget puzzles and tough decision-making scenarios, highlighting the power of experiential education to shift perspectives and build better understanding.​Surrey Board of Trade: Productivity and Development ChallengesAt the Surrey Board of Trade luncheon, a broader conversation about productivity took center stage. Various stakeholders, especially from the development sector, identified productivity as a critical issue impacting the entire housing supply chain. While common complaints focus on development charges, regulations, and red tape, panelists urged a more nuanced view—recognizing that such costs stem from complex factors including labor markets, permitting processes, and baseline building code standards. BCFSA Financial Services Forum: Complexity of Costs and Policy InterplayAt the BCFSA forum, the conversation deepened around the extras adding to development costs, including sustainability mandates, inclusionary zoning, and accessibility. The panel highlighted a tension between trimming costs and maintaining essential urban policies that support diverse and safe communities. It was a reminder that governance and economic competitiveness must be balanced with long-term social goals. There was also candid dialogue about the need to look critically at profit margins alongside cost burdens, advocating a more equitable and informed debate about development economics.​Shared Themes: Education and Forward-Thinking SolutionsAcross all events, the trio agreed education is the cornerstone of improvement—whether in strata governance or broader sector challenges. They encouraged embracing data-driven decisions and proactive long-term planning rather than reacting to crises. Sound strategic education coupled with collaborative vision can help stakeholders be part of practical solutions that improve productivity, governance, and community well-being.​Final TakeawayThis episode isn’t just about problems. It's a call to action to understand complexities, challenge assumptions, and work towards smarter collaboration and innovation. Productivity matters, and with greater insight and shared effort, everyone can contribute to making the housing and strata ecosystems more effective and sustainable.LEARN MORE► Discover Condo Intelligence from OctoAI: https://octoai.com/ ► Guest Partner Website: https://groundbreakingstrata.com/ ► Special Guest Website: https://strataengineering.com/

In this episode of Strata Unscripted, Katharine Olson of Groundbreaking Strata joins Thomas Beattie from OctoAI to unpack some of the biggest conversations in the BC housing world right now, from multiplex zoning reform to the future of strata education.Fresh from the Urban Development Institute (UDI) luncheon featuring Rick Ilich, Bob Rennie, and Premier David Eby, Katharine and Thomas share candid reflections on what really happened in the room, and what it means for policy, planning, and the people living in shared communities.Highlights from the conversation:UDI Luncheon Reactions: The duo discuss Rick Ilich’s bold opening remarks, Premier Eby’s composure under pressure, and the need for genuine dialogue—not division—between developers and policymakers.Multiplex Reality Check: With more than 400 multiplex applications already live in Vancouver, Katharine warns that many builders and buyers have no idea how these small strata communities will actually function. She stresses that education on the Strata Property Act is urgently needed before mistakes compound.Developer “Gotchas”: From missed AGMs to forgotten Contingency Reserve Fund accounts, Katharine outlines common pitfalls that can cost developers thousands and leave owners in chaos.Policy Friction: The pair discuss the tug-of-war in Burnaby over design backlash and densification, calling for balance between housing supply, livability, and local character.Strata Education in BC: They explore how British Columbia can learn from Ontario’s missteps—advocating for multilingual, accessible, and practical education for council members and homeowners alike.Depreciation Reports & EV Planning: Both agree that the new five-year report cycle is a win for transparency, but warn that piling new requirements on underfunded stratas risks burnout and non-compliance.Resources mentioned:So You Want to Build a Multiplex – by Burke by Burke (available on their website)Groundbreaking Strata’s Multiplex Startup Package, offering hands-on guidance for new strata developersOctoAI’s Condo Intelligence platform, helping owners and professionals make data-driven decisionsClosing Thought:Strata governance may not sound glamorous, but as Katharine puts it, “It’s just how we organize ourselves together.” With better tools, transparency, and education, BC’s new era of multiplex living can become both sustainable and community-focused.

Mike Browne of Advantage Property Management joins ‘Strata Gal’ Katharine Olson of Groundbreaking and Thomas Beattie of OctoAI for a candid chat about the wild ride that is the BC strata industry. From inheriting—and transforming—his father’s brokerage (“The Wild West days”) to surviving a dramatic staff exodus, Mike pulls back the curtain on managing not just one, but two overwhelming portfolios while juggling a real estate and mortgage business on the side. Through setbacks, burnout, and sleepless nights filled with dreams of an unregulated strata world (don’t ask!), Mike shares why building a community—and investing in people and education—is now his north star.The episode dives into:Dealing with high staff turnover after taking over the family firm, including the emotional and business realities of “factory reset” moments.Learning the hard way about burnout, unsustainable workloads, and the often lonely journey of strata management leadership in BC, where collaboration is scarce and competition runs deep.How empathy, trust, and straight talk have helped Advantage rebuild—and why Mike believes that great service isn’t the cheapest, but it’s the most valuable.Their commitment to industry-leading training, including a 33-week in-house program and ongoing skill deep-dives, aiming to make their team not just the best compensated, but the best equipped in town.Light-hearted stories from the trenches—including seniors smuggling extra dogs past the bylaws, the eternal war on pet poop, and why “corn-fed Chilliwack” leadership means trusting your team to say when your idea is a turkey.Whether you manage strata properties, sit on council, or just love a good tale about surviving in the world of condos, this episode offers honest insight, hard-earned laughs, and a heartfelt look at what it takes to build a resilient, people-first strata management company in BC.Watch now and join the conversation about elevating the industry through education, collaboration, and a little self-deprecating humour.LEARN MORE► Discover Condo Intelligence from OctoAI: https://octoai.com/ ► Guest Partner Website: https://groundbreakingstrata.com/ ► Special Guest Website: https://advantagepm.ca/► See how Eli Report helps Condo Councils: https://elireport.com/ ABOUT OCTOAIOctoAI operates within the real estate sector, providing artificial intelligence-driven insights to owners, buyers, realtors, attorneys and other stakeholders in the multi-family residential space through its Eli Report platform.  As a source of building intelligence, OctoAI is entering the commercial property insurance market in collaboration with strategic partners to provide solutions to these multi-family communities.GET CONDO COMMUNITY INTELLIGENCEWe work with condo communities and stakeholders to provide intelligence, plan for the future, and save money. If you are trying to solve problems affecting multi-family communities, we’re here to help. Contact us and learn more https://octoai.com/ CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIALLinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/octoai-technologies-corp/posts/Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/elireport/Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/elireport/00:00 – Introduction of Guests & Episode Theme00:44 – Family Legacy & Buying the Firm05:36 – Staff Exodus and Rebuilding07:21 – Double Portfolio Workload & Burnout11:46 – Industry Collaboration vs. Silos15:45 – Leading by Example & Empathy19:12 – Investing in Team & Training23:45 – Trust, Culture, and Candid Feedback25:47 – “Race to the Bottom” in Pricing30:29 – Stories from Strata Communities32:05 – The Great Pet & Poop Debate33:27 – Licensing, Education, Volunteers36:59 – Training Programs & Strata School41:11 – Team Communication & Leadership41:58 – Closing Thoughts on Growth42:47 – Playful Farewell & Next Episode Tease

Join Katharine Olson from Groundbreaking Strata for the first episode of Strata Unscripted, diving deep into the education gaps facing multiplex developers and the strata manager shortage crisis. By the end of this segment, you'll understand why thousands of small stratas are non-compliant, learn about the paradox of high demand but low hiring in strata management, and discover how technology and better training could transform the industry for both managers and self-managed communities.