I’m here with James Corkery, the vice president of CCC Number One. CCC Number One is celebrating their 50th anniversary. How cool is that?

Here is what we talked about.

1. The 50th Anniversary of CCC #1
2. How He Got Involved with the Board
3. The Importance of a “Working Board”
4. Pride in Serving and Thinking Beyond Yourself
5. The Pool Renovation: Accessibility for All
6. Advice for Owners Considering Volunteering
7. The Anniversary Celebration: Guests, Original Owners & Community Spirit
8. Why Horizon House works

Listen to the podcast or read the transcript.

James: It’s pretty interesting. You don’t get buildings anymore that last—or that you think about lasting—that long. So it’s very interesting, very exciting, I guess. And it’s very cool to connect with the first high-rise condominium in Canada, because back in the day, that must have been a rather odd concept, to build shared space like we have today.

Pat: So tell me about your journey with CCC Number One. Obviously you weren’t here at the beginning.

James: Yeah, so I’ve only got a short stint—six or seven years here. It’s been an interesting experience. I came from a rural community, so living in a shared community was not something I was too familiar with. But being in a small community like this is very similar. Everybody’s a neighbor, and everybody still kind of knows your business. That’s the fun and the joys of small living.

Then I joined the board. I started to see the building for itself, what it really became over the years, and how it established its own function within the city.

Pat: So how did you get convinced—or persuaded, or coerced, or arm-twisted—to actually serve on the board of directors?

James: I have some construction background, so I asked some questions about structural issues during an AGM. It seemed like no one else was asking those kinds of questions. Afterwards, they had an opening and asked me if I’d like to sit in and see if I wanted to be part of it until I was elected. Slowly, everybody seemed to accept me.

Pat: So it’s a working board?

James: Yes, everybody seems to work together, not as one person.

Pat: Well, that’s the way boards are intended to work, isn’t it? They don’t always, but that’s great to hear—that the first condo in Canada has a great board like yours.

James: Yes, absolutely. That’s what keeps us alive for 50 years—boards that work as one. We give each other titles because it’s mandatory, but if we only had Director 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, it wouldn’t make a difference.

Pat: What advice would you give to one of your fellow owners—or to someone else living in a condo—about why they should volunteer for their board?

James: It’s a good sense of pride. Sure, you own your condo, but to really understand the whole building and how it all functions, you need to get involved. You also need to understand the community aspect—that you’re not just doing something for yourself, you have to think about everybody involved.

Our pool is a perfect example. It was built in the sixties, before building codes and accessibility standards. When we redid it, we had to think of everybody—making sure all residents could get in and enjoy it. That’s how we approach every decision: not just “I like it,” but “how can everybody enjoy it?”

Pat: Well, you have a great property here. I’m super envious. Say a little about the celebration today. It looks like it’s just getting started.

James: Yeah, we have a councilman and a representative from Mayor Jim Watson’s office who will speak. Some original owners are here too—in their mid-90s. They’ve seen a lot and can share knowledge about what worked and what didn’t. We also have food, drinks, and lots of people coming out. Hopefully the weather holds.

Pat: Yes, we’ve already had one major rainstorm and another little sprinkle, so fingers crossed it doesn’t rain anymore. Thank you, James. I know it’s a busy day.

James: Thank you for having me.

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