We are in a pandemic situation and we all should be concerned about staying healthy and keeping safe. Condominium corporations should keep abreast of the quickly changing status of the Covid-19 pandemic and plan accordingly for their communities.

We are all experiencing a new way of life. One that involves social distancing, social isolation and frequent handwashing. Experiences that once seemed so mundane, like going to the grocery store can now seem fraught with peril. We live in interesting times...

While many of us currently face restrictions to moving around our cities and the buildings in them, there are premises that need to stay operational, even in times of crisis. Hospitals are an obvious example of this: people and supplies must be able to move efficiently within and between floors at all times.

In November, City of Winnipeg departmental budgets were presented to various Council Committees to meet the budget constraint for minimal property tax increases. The proposal to the City's 'Water and Waste, Riverbank Management and Environment Committee' (wow, that is a mouthful) to "Discontinue garbage bin collection for multi-family, charity and commercial customers ... Impacted customers would select service directly through private contractors" caught the attention of CCI-MB Directors and condo owners alike.

In any situation the role of policies and rules is to provide for order set expectations and to ensure that things run more smoothly or perhaps more safely.

The Insurance Industry has seen an increase in the number of break-ins occurring in Residential Condominiums, more specifically to the common areas. As the Corporation has the responsibility to protect the common areas, here are some crime prevention recommendations to help reduce the risk:

• Get to know your neighbors – Introduce yourself. If your neighbors know you, they are more likely to be on the lookout for anything suspicious.
• Lighting – Ensure there is adequate lighting at all entrances, exits, walkways, parking areas and other common areas that may be accessible to intruders. Add motion sensor lighting if possible.
• Entrance Ways – The most common way intruders gain access to buildings is by following a legitimate visitor or resident into the building. Best practices would be to ensure that unit owners or visitors do not allow others to follow them through the door. If someone does not have a key or access card and cannot get buzzed in, they probably do not belong in the building.