Since its inception in 1994, TransGlobe grew quickly; so too did the list of complaints. Here are some dates of major acquisitions and corporate changes, as well as some of the tenant complaints that came to public attention in the media.
1994
TransGlobe Property Management begins operating, focused chiefly on a portfolio of properties in southern Ontario.
May 2005
TransGlobe expands into Atlantic Canada with the purchase of 21 apartment buildings in north Dartmouth.
July 2005
TransGlobe expands into BC with the purchase of 18 buildings in Vancouver.
December 2006
According to press reports, the Halifax Coalition Against Poverty and an area MLA demand that TransGlobe make repairs to buildings in Dartmouth. The problems include mould, water damage and infestation. TransGlobe agrees to fix the problems.
February 2007
TransGlobe buys the Heron Gate complex in Ottawa, Ontario.
March 2007
TransGlobe's purchase of nine properties in Lethbridge, Alta., make it the city's largest landlord. The company also purchases 20 more buildings in Victoria, bringing their stable of suites to 22,000, according to press reports.
May 2007
A tenant in a building in Medicine Hat, Alta., tells local reporters that leaks from a damaged roof caused water to seep through walls. After complaining to the company for a month, he goes to the community health unit. TransGlobe makes the repairs.
August 2007
TransGlobe tenants in Halifax complain to reporters about multiple infestations of bedbugs.
November 2007
TransGlobe tenants in Victoria, BC, complain to reporters about weeks living with inadequate heat. After several news reports, TransGlobe fixes the problem.
January 2008
TransGlobe expands into Quebec, acquiring 45 buildings in Longueil, St. Laurent and Montreal.
April 2008
Tenants in Burnaby, BC, complain to press that roof repairs are not being done properly; the ceiling subsequently collapses next to a sleeping tenant.
June 2008
ACORN leads a protest rally against conditions in TransGlobe buildings in New Westminster, BC. Some issues that are raised are leaking roofs, elevator breakdowns, lack of heat, falling bricks and a general lack of response to tenant calls.
September 2008
Tenants in New Brunswick complain to reporters about a flood of sewage in their apartments; they say that TransGlobe has not cleaned up the problem properly. TransGlobe says they are working on the problem.
April 2010
CBC reports that TransGlobe's Heron Gate complex has logged the largest number of complaints with the city bylaw office in 2009, with bylaw officers visiting the property about 150 times.
May 2010
TransGlobe REIT goes public with an initial public offering that raises $244 million. The REIT initially acquires 65 properties from TransGlobe with a total of 8,200 units. Daniel Drimmer retains stock and becomes chairman of the board. TransGlobe Property Management continues to oversee the management of properties in the portfolio. The CEO of the REIT is Kelly Hanczyk, who worked under Daniel Drimmer as CEO, COO and senior vice president of asset management of TransGlobe Investment Management.
November 2010
Tenants in Brockville, Ontario, complain to media about extensive leaks and mould growth, and inaction by TransGlobe Property Management and city officials.
November 2010
Tenants in Brockville, Ontario, complain to media about extensive leaks and mould growth, and inaction by TransGlobe Property Management and city officials.
January 2011
TransGlobe REIT acquires 48 buildings and one townhouse complex from TransGlobe Investment Management, containing approximately 3,100 residential suites for $277 million.
June 2011
Media reports that hundreds of tenants in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, have been unable to use their balconies for more than eight months because they have been told that they are unsafe.
August 2011
ACORN in Ottawa holds a rally against conditions in units in TransGlobe Property Management's Heron Gate complex. Issued raised include general maintenance, problems with vermin and garbage and lack of response from management. The Mayor's office subsequently gets involved to help remedy conditions for tenants. In September, some of the buildings are acquired by the REIT; the rest remain owned by Drimmer.
September 2011
TransGlobe REIT acquires a further 94 buildings and three townhouse complexes totaling 7,500 rental suites for $740.4 million from TransGlobe Investment Management.
Daniel Drimmer retains 20 per cent ownership of the REIT. He also resigns from the board. TransGlobe Property Management ceases managing the REIT's portfolio.
Drimmer starts a new company, Starlight, rebranding the signage of the remaining 65 properties from the original TransGlobe portfolio to reflect the new company. He begins to acquire new properties. Between September, 2011, and January, 2012, the company acquires the 65 buildings from the original TransGlobe portfolio and adds 10 additional residential properties in BC, Alberta and Ontario with 687 additional apartments, bringing the total to more than 6,000 units across Canada.
December 2011
Hanczyk tells Marketplace that the REIT is addressing issues at its buildings. According to Hanczyk, the REIT spent $6,615,000 on building improvements and $3,843,132 on in-suite improvements in 2010; from January 1, 2011 until October 31, 2011, those figures were $22,444,558 and $8,427,330 respectively.
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