Newsletter January 2026
1/13/2026
ARE WE LUCKY, OR WHAT?
When we watch the news these days, we see folks in eastern Canada bundled up in their earmuffs and nose warmers, gamely snowshoeing to work, and trying to dig their cars out of the snowbank, poor things.
But look at us! No snow (except on the mountains where it totally belongs), no sub-zero temperatures, no frostbitten fingers and toes and noses. We can even see crocuses peeking their little green heads above ground!
Ah, yes…life is good here in Lotusland.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU MESSAGE
from Michael Thorne, President of Strata Council
In addition to their Council specific activities, several members of Council are actively trimming thousands of dollars in labour and materials expenses off the Mountain Terrace maintenance costs by donating their time, physical efforts, skills, and product access at wholesale cost or less.
Adrien B. can be seen regularly around the building trimming plants, shoveling gravel and soil, and overseeing the new gardening crew. Mountain Terrace has beautiful gardens, which require lots of upkeep.
Scott G. has refurbished both gym/sauna washrooms, prepared the garage gate emergency instructions, obtained and installed the new 6th floor fountain, and is testing and re-testing the waterfall area and water re-circulation system, with the hope of a Spring restart of the waterfall.
Doug G. has spent many hours researching and preparing the new Emergency Preparedness manual, to be circulated to owners soon.
Bev W., with Rhonda Cates, repainted the mailroom, replaced the lights and donated the benches to make it easier for all of us to see and retrieve our parcels.
They are all proud to be giving their time and effort to Mountain Terrace. If you can help, they would all appreciate your participation too. Send a note to Kristy to let us know you’d like to help, or have a chat with anyone on Council and let them know.
STRATA COUNCIL UPDATE
Over the past several months, your Strata Council has been hard at work on several important projects. Many have been successfully completed, while others are nearing completion.
Lighting and Electrical Repairs and Maintenance:
• Timers that control the lights on the 6th and 7th floors, and in the elevator lobbies, have been reviewed and adjusted.
• Repair and replacement of faulty wiring in some of the exterior globe lights and wall lights have been completed.
• Repair of the emergency light by the south gate is expected to be completed this month.
Parkade Repairs and Maintenance:
Three owners reported that the ceiling above their parking stalls was leaking. Accordingly, drip pans have been ordered, and installation is expected to be completed this month.
In case of a power failure, it is important that residents be able to open the parkade gate manually and then secure it in place. Council has drafted instructions and will post them at the parkade gate this month.
Building Security Improvements:
• The installation of new spring-loaded hinges to ensure the closure and locking of the Main and North gates has been completed. Our thanks go out to Jeremy Hemmes, who volunteered to do this task.
• The replacement of a hinge in the South Gate is expected to be completed this month.
• The installation of lock guards, designed to minimize unauthorized access via our gates, is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Waterfall Repairs and Improvements:
• The installation of a beautiful water fountain and submersible coloured lights in the 6th floor pond has been completed.
• The inspection and testing of the waterfall pump system have been completed.
• A review of quotations for the replacement of faulty waterfall pump system components is in progress.
• Re-sealing of the leaks in the waterfall pond will occur as soon as weather conditions are suitable.
Multipurpose Room Repairs and Improvements:
• Repair of the radiator has been completed.
• The installation of a weather strip below the door has been completed.
• Our thanks to Sherri and Scott Guernsey, who generously donated a microwave oven to the MP Room kitchen.
• A handsome framed print has been hung above the fireplace.
Gym Repairs and Improvements:
• Our thanks go to Adrien Balazs, who donated an elliptical machine to the gym.
• The removal of building supplies and equipment that had been stored in the men’s washroom has been completed.
• Minor wall repairs and the cleaning of the men’s washroom have been completed.
• The replacement of two toilets, two shower heads, all lights, all door locks and signage, and the installation of a bench in the men’s washroom have been completed.
• The purchase and installation of a new bench, signage and locks, and minor repairs and cleaning of the women’s washroom have been completed.
• Council obtained and reviewed quotations for hot tub repairs, gym renovations and gym equipment upgrades. Results will be shared with owners in the very near future.
• Council expects the men’s washroom to be reopened this month.
Mail Room Improvements:
The Mail Room was given a much-needed makeover by residents Rhonda Cates and Bev Wilson. They repainted the walls, replaced the ceiling lights, and built and installed two benches. It looks gorgeous, and we thank them both!
Hallway Renovation Project:
•Strata Council President Mike Thorne advises that progress is being made on the Hallway Renovation Project.
•Alternative quotes have been requested from potential suppliers, and Council expects to receive these by the end of the month.
•Alternative funding options for a Special Assessment and project scheduling will be determined by Council.
•Once these options are received and considered, a town hall meeting will be held to inform all owners.
(Please note that the taping of seams on frayed carpets are a very temporary fix, designed only to prevent a tripping hazard. They are in no way intended to be a resolution.)
Other projects under consideration and /or in progress:
•Council is investigating the possibility of installing Wi-Fi in the Mail Room to support the operation of a digital communication board for displaying MT news items.
•Council is investigating several water leaks in suites and organizing their repair.
•The installation of “Amazon Key” to support courier services to Mountain Terrace, is in progress.
•The Amazon Key device will provide Amazon couriers (as well as a few other approved courier companies) with unimpeded access, via the main gate, to the Mail Room and to suites opening directly onto the 6th and 7th inside corridors.
•Once the Amazon Key installation is complete and all relevant arrangements are confirmed, residents will receive additional details and a description of how they will benefit from these arrangements.
•A review of all existing (and let’s face it, confusing) Mountain Terrace directional signage is underway. Improved signage will be installed.
Landscaping and Garden Maintenance:
•Three quotations were obtained for Landscaping, Garden and Lawn Maintenance services. After successful negotiations, a new landscaping company was hired. They will start work in mid-February.
•200 kg of gravel was distributed to repair lower garden pathways.
•Several hydrangeas were thinned out and dead-headed in the upper and lower gardens.
•Most of the shrubs and trees along the driveway have been pruned.
Rehoming Department
Do you own, or have access to, one or more office chairs in good condition that you no longer need or want? Please consider donating them to our Strata, to be used at meetings in the MP Room.
Or perhaps you own one or more tall, large ceramic pots that we could use to hold flowering shrubs on the 6th and 7th floors? These should be at least 2’ high.
Please send a photo of the chair(s) or pot(s) to Council member Adrien Balazs, and she will contact you.
Thank you!
MOUNTAIN TERRACE HAS A NEW HANDYMAN
He is Matt Hanes, one of our residents. At the direction of Kristy Kinshela or the Strata Council, Matt will look after various building and property-related tasks. He is taking over from Scott Rivers, who held this position for many years.
Please note that Matt is not available for private handyman tasks; he only works on building-related tasks assigned to him by the Strata Council or Kristy Kinshela.
If you need a handyman, search online for “handyman in my area” to find local providers.
VOLUNTEERING
Mountain Terrace has a long history of residents volunteering to help with the work that makes this such a wonderful place to live.
Volunteers help plan and organize festive events and assist with various projects and tasks to improve our building and its surroundings.
Volunteering can be a fun and rewarding experience. If you are willing and able to apply your painting, gardening, decorating, or other skills to benefit Mountain Terrace, we would be grateful.
Volunteer sign-up sheets for various small projects will be posted in the Mail Room as needed.
Tiny, fuzzy Belle Bailey is adored by all her friends at Mountain Terrace, both human and canine.
Belle adopted MT residents Norma and Herb Bailey on Valentine’s Day, 2016. They have loved her to the moon and back from the moment they first met her.
Belle had a really tough intro to life. When Norma and Herb first met her, she was malnourished, weighing less than a pound. In addition, she required multiple surgeries on both hind legs. But she came through it all, and today she tips the scales at an impressive 8 lbs. and she runs all over the place. Belle looks like an enchanting little puppy, but she is, in fact, a surprisingly feisty 10-year-old!
Norma says that she and Herb feel blessed that this little bundle of furry joy chose them to be her humans.
CELEBRITY RESIDENTS – CANINE DIVISION
Belle Bailey
A HUGE “THANK YOU”
to all of you generous residents who volunteer your time and expertise to help make Mountain Terrace a wonderful place to live!
•Norma Bailey, Adrien Balazs, Inga Clemens, Connie Cunningham, Lena Desmond, Sherri Guernsey, Ilse Link, Jade Munro and Jane Robinson put on a highly successful “Winter Holiday Party” just prior to Christmas 2025.
•Connie Cunningham decorated the front gates, south side gate and all the elevator foyers for Christmas. Ilse Link, Jane Robinson and many others decorated the interior hallways.
•Rhonda Cates and Bev Wilson gave the Mail Room a makeover.
•Irene Hickey donated a carpet shampooer, an ice bucket, an ice cream cone maker, and a popcorn maker to the Multipurpose Room.
•Matt Hanes, Afsaneh Noori, Scott Rivers, and Jane and Paul Robinson and all help Council on a regular basis.
Big thanks to all of you!
HAVE A WONDERFUL SPRING 2026, EVERYONE!
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CONTACT US
email: council@1500ostler.ca
Property Management 778- 770-03803
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