Crème Condominiums The Flats at Crème, Orleans, ON

• Thank You to Our Volunteers: We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who give their time and energy to help make our community a better place.

From the building captains who keep us informed about issues in their buildings, to the garden committee members who maintain the beautiful landscaping that so many visitors compliment, to the residents who step in to lend a hand when help is needed—your efforts do not go unnoticed, and they are deeply appreciated.

We also want to acknowledge that many residents chose condo living to step away from the responsibilities of home ownership—like mowing lawns, shoveling snow, or garden maintenance. That’s completely understandable, and we want to assure everyone that there is no expectation or pressure to volunteer.

At the same time, for those who enjoy being involved, your contributions continue to enrich our shared spaces and strengthen our community spirit.

Finally, we’d like to remind owners that there is currently a vacant position on the Board. If you're interested in getting more involved or learning more about what the role entails, please reach out—we’d love to hear from you.

Thank you again to all who contribute in big and small ways. Our community is stronger because of you.

• Tree Pruning Update: Tree pruning was recently completed behind the buildings to address concerns about branches encroaching on residents’ balconies.

Many other trees on the property have never been professionally trimmed and are now showing signs of stress. To promote their health and safety, we’ve scheduled pruning for all remaining trees in January or February 2026, weather permitting.

Pruning during late winter is ideal—trees are dormant, which reduces stress and the risk of pests or disease. Without leaves, arborists can more easily assess structure and remove dead or problematic branches. This timing also supports strong spring growth and allows us to secure a discounted rate for the work.

• Eavestrough Cleaning Scheduled: To our knowledge, the eavestroughs have not been professionally cleaned since the condominiums were built. After obtaining quotes, we have now scheduled a full cleaning for this fall.

We’re aware that some residents have experienced issues with heavy water runoff onto their balconies during rainfall. This cleaning is the first step in addressing that concern and improving overall drainage on the property.

A detailed email notice will be sent out closer to the cleaning date.

• Garbage Enclosure Repairs: We are currently reviewing several quotes for repairs to the siding and door pins of the garbage enclosures. As many residents have experienced, the enclosure doors have become difficult to open and close.

Our goal is to resolve these issues and improve ease of use. We will share updates and timelines with residents as the project moves forward.

• Landscaping and Snow Removal Costs: The Board is actively reviewing options to manage ongoing landscaping and snow removal costs, with the goal of avoiding future special assessments.

In recent years, unusually heavy winters have required snow removal beyond what’s included in our contract, leading to unexpected costs. While increasing the coverage in our contract would help, it would also raise regular fees—and we could end up overpaying in a mild winter.

Last winter, we were able to avoid a special assessment by covering the snow removal overage with operating funds. However, this may not always be possible in future years.

To help offset potential overages, we’re also looking at ways to reduce landscaping expenses. If successful, these savings could help cover extra snow removal costs without needing to charge residents additional fees.

This is an active discussion, and we want residents to know that we are thinking ahead and working toward a more sustainable long-term plan.

• Sump Pump Maintenance: For those who may not be aware, each garage is equipped with a sump pump designed to automatically remove excess water in the event of a leak or flooding. These pumps play an important role in protecting the property from water damage.

Initially, we had asked the building captains to test the sump pumps twice a year. However, we’ve since learned that this task is more challenging than expected—the concrete covers can be difficult to remove and replace safely.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Michael and Charles, who recently took the time to inspect the sump pumps and confirm that they are all in good working order. Their effort helps ensure peace of mind for everyone in the community.

• Carpet Cleaning Update: All hallway carpets have now been professionally cleaned. While this has improved the overall appearance, we recognize that some areas still show stains.

We are aware that some of these “stains” are actually glue that has seeped up from underneath the carpet tiles. We have delayed further action as part of ongoing discussions and consultations with Domicile and Tarion but wanted to take steps now to improve the look as much as possible in the meantime.

We understand this is not an ideal situation and appreciate your patience as we work toward a better long-term solution for the affected carpet tiles.

• Mandatory Green Bin Program: The City of Ottawa has given Notice to our Property Manager that our community is set to join the City of Ottawa’s Mandatory Green Bin Program as part of its Tier 2 property roll-out (properties with less than 100 units). Tier 2 properties will onboard to the Organics program. The City will contact our Property Manager with further roll out details specific to our community, but we have heard rumours that we will likely be on the list for July 2026….stay tuned.

• Unauthorized Use of Garage Electrical Outlets: We want to remind all residents that the electrical outlets in the garage are strictly for community maintenance use only and are not to be used for personal devices under any circumstances.

Recently, we have found electric bikes and other personal devices plugged into the outlets. This is not permitted. Unauthorized use not only increases the community's electrical costs but may also create safety hazards.

We appreciate everyone's cooperation in respecting this rule and helping us maintain a safe and fair environment for all residents.

• Rodent Awareness Reminder: We want to make you aware that we’ve recently addressed a rodent issue within the community. Currently, the situation is under control, and we are continuing with preventative measures to ensure it remains that way.

As the weather cools, rodents and other small animals naturally begin searching for warm places to shelter. To help keep our community safe and pest-free, we kindly ask that all residents do their part by following these important guidelines:

• Do not leave food or garbage outside.
• Do not feed wildlife.
• Keep garage doors closed when not in use.
• Do not store food items in your locker.