In fact, says Simon, his job keeps him very busy. He rattles off a few of Austeville’s many recent significant upgrades, including “shiny new roofs, replacement boilers, new elevators, parkade repair and maintenance, and EV chargers.”
Simon recently had a chance to work at Brentlawn Towers, where he saw first-hand how “tenants really reap the benefits and appreciate how our buildings are cared for.” He also learned that a well-maintained facility is a big selling point for prospective tenants. “When people approach, they see straight away how we invest in our buildings. It shows that this is a well-run company that cares for its staff and its tenants.”
Simon’s unmistakeable and charming Glaswegian lilt immediately gives away his Scottish roots. What’s not so apparent is that caring for tenants and properties runs in his blood. But Simon gets animated and smiles affectionately as he recounts his “Gran.” Anne Stuart was a trailblazer in Scotland’s social housing scene where she founded a 1,000-unit social housing enterprise in Glasgow. At 85, she remains the chair of the board and has been widely recognized for her social housing initiatives, including being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
Following in his gran’s footsteps, Simon began working in property management a decade ago. At 17, he undertook a year of business administration, training under Scotland’s modern apprenticeship program. He worked at one of the country’s largest property managers, the Wheatley Group, and cycled through a variety of roles and departments, learning the basics. After his apprenticeship, he was promoted to the role of housing enforcement officer. It’s hard to envision an 18-year-old version of the friendly and gregarious Simon getting stern about noise complaints or other compliance issues, but Simon explains, “We were a two-person team.” Then he deadpans, “I was the good cop. Obviously.”
In all seriousness, Simon feels his job is a privilege. He was hired by Austeville soon after he immigrated to Canada and says, “There’s something special about being involved with someone’s home. It’s such a personal thing and you get to be somewhat involved in it and their life. I feel proud that I get to help them and make their life a little easier and a little better. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve worked for companies that care for their tenants and want to help them.” Austeville, he says, is one of those companies.
Being a family business, “It sometimes feels like you’re not working for a property management company, but that you’re working for somebody’s personal home. I feel like these buildings are also mine and I want to look after them too.” He adds that Austeville empowers him to make decisions and encourages him to speak up if he sees potential improvements.
“They listen to what you have to say and don’t micromanage. They appreciate efficiency and they are transparent and trust you to manage your day and your work. They let you do what you know how to do and help you learn new skills,” he says.
He’s also made friends at Austeville—a nice perk for someone new to the city. This year he participated in the company’s Sun Run training group, and was proud to finish the 2025 the 10-km course in just over an hour.
When he’s not running, Simon loves to paddle board on Sasamat Lake or the Alouette River with his partner. He’s also a regular on his trivia team, where he suspects he’s “the personality hire.” That seems about right because, if you haven’t guessed by now, Simon is pretty hilarious. His specialty is the not-so-well-known category of “Dad jokes” where a question might be: What is a Property Manager’s favourite music? A: House. Ba-dum-bump.
But while Simon does love to make people laugh, at Austeville, he is anything but a personality hire. He’s more like the happiness ambassador. As the middle child of six boys it’s a role he comes by honestly—and Simon does his best to make his colleagues, tenants and Austeville’s suppliers happy.
“That’s the Austeville way. To care,” he says, “About the tenants, the buildings and your teammates.”