Prism Construction, a leading design-build construction company in British Columbia with more than 35 years of experience, has developed over 600 projects, totaling $2 billion in construction and 20 million square feet of commercial and industrial space, including state-of-the-art public storage facilities, high-performance office buildings, industrial complexes, and the second-largest movie studio in Canada. Prism has successfully completed more than 50 self-storage projects for mid-sized and large operators, including Public Storage, Maple Leaf Storage, U-Lock Mini Storage, and Pockit Self Storage, as well as over 25 cold storage projects. For instance, Public Storage has partnered with Prism to build approximately 850,000 square feet of storage space in the Lower Mainland area throughout the past 24 years. Prism was also hired by the Great Little Box Company, a manufacturer of corrugated boxes and packaging supplies trusted by the Canadian self-storage industry, to erect its facility. Now, as demand for commercial real estate grows, Prism is expanding into key markets across Ontario, Alberta, and Vancouver Island, introducing its trusted design-build approach while diversifying its vertically integrated business model across development and construction. For more information on Prism Construction’s portfolio and upcoming projects, visit PrismConstruction.ca

Strategic Storage Growth Trust III, Inc. (SSGT), a private real estate investment trust sponsored by an affiliate of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc., has acquired a facility in Edmonton, Alta. Located at 14135 128 Avenue NW, the Class-A property spans approximately 65,200 net rentable square feet. It features a single-story building with approximately 480 climate-controlled units and two additional buildings offering approximately 80 drive-up units, and its prime location enables it to serve the neighborhoods of Hudson, Wellington, Athlone, Kensington, Calder, Rosslyn, Prince Charles, Sherbrooke, Woodcroft, Dovercourt, North Glenora, Glenora, Westmount, Grovenor, and Northwest Edmonton.

MSM has launched a new online Self-Storage Buyer’s Guide, a comprehensive listing of businesses and organizations that operate within the self-storage space. Previously maintained through a third-party website that offered limited flexibility, all listings have been relocated directly to MSM’s website for better security, easier access, and new features, including a more dynamic “search” function that shuffles through listings as users look up companies by name, location, or service. While the guide maintains the basic and premium listing structure, the more exclusive premium listings are now prioritized on the site and have new benefits, such as:

• ● A link to a dedicated MSM webpage featuring company branding/colors;
• ● The ability to add charts, graphics, and documents;
• ● Access to new layouts with video and photo grids; and
• ● The ability to link to all social media accounts.

To add or update a company’s listing and view the new online Self-Storage Buyer’s Guide, visit www.modernstoragemedia.com/buyers-guide.

Three businesses in Montreal recently joined forces to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged Montrealers. Montreal Mini-Storage, Crown Movers, and Café Olimpico initiated two heartfelt initiatives: a furniture drive for the Welcome Collective and a toy drive for The Montreal Children’s Hospital. Throughout the giving season, Montrealers were encouraged to donate lightly used furniture at the Holiday Giving Locker at Montreal Mini-Storage’s Ville Saint-Laurent branch (700 rue Hodge, Ville Saint-Laurent). Crown Movers assisted with the collection and transportation of these donations. On Dec. 24, the donated furniture was delivered to the Welcome Collective, a Montreal-based organization dedicated to supporting refugee claimants as they begin rebuilding their lives in the city. The donations supported their Essential Goods Program to ensure all newcomers have the tools and furnishings they need to make their new homes feel safe and welcoming. In addition, the trio held a toy drive to bring smiles to seriously ill children undergoing treatment at The Montreal Children’s Hospital. New toy donations were accepted at Café Olimpico’s Westmount location and at Montreal Mini-Storage’s Lasalle and Hodge sites until Dec. 18, 2024. To thank the community for their generosity, Montreal Mini-Storage, Crown Movers, and Café Olimpico offered exclusive gift cards to all donors in exchange for their toy and furniture donations. Additionally, each organization made a $1,000 cash donation to the Welcome Collective and The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

On Nov. 12, 2024, U-Haul filed a complaint against Public Storage in the U.S. District Court of Arizona. The action was intended to protect U-Haul’s right to continue its use of the color orange and the word “orange” when promoting and marketing its storage business. This comes after Public Storage allegedly demanded U-Haul discontinue use of the color, according to the complaint, which states that U-Haul believes Public Storage has “engaged in a multi-faceted and corrupt campaign to wrongfully appropriate rights in the use of the color and word ‘orange’ in connection with self-storage services and to assert such rights against U-Haul, its sister companies, its dealers, and licensees.” It further states that Public Storage has filed false statements with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), claiming exclusive use of the color orange and making baseless demands that others, including U-Haul, stop using the color and/or the term “orange” in connection with their businesses. U-Haul is asking the Court to declare that their use of the color orange and the term “orange” do not violate Public Storage’s alleged rights or constitute trademark infringement, trademark dilution, unfair competition, or a violation of the Anti-cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. The claim also requests that the Court invalidate certain Public Storage trademark registrations on the basis of U.S. Patent Office fraud (filing evidence intentionally fabricated in an effort to maintain trademark registrations). For additional details, read the feature story about U-Haul and the Shoens or visit www.modernstoragemedia.com/news/squeezing-the-orange-u-haul-vs.-public-storage.

Deborah Robinson, ICD.D, has been appointed as a director of StorageVault’s board as Jay Lynne Fleming has stepped down due to personal reasons. As of Dec. 16, 2024, the board of directors of StorageVault includes Benjamin Harris, Iqbal Khan, Steven Scott, Alan Simpson, Mary Vitug, and Robinson, who brings over 25 years of experience in corporate governance, executive compensation, performance measurement, and strategic consulting to CEOs and senior executives of both public and private companies and nonprofit organizations. She will serve as chair of the Governance, Nominating, and Compensation Committee. Robinson is the founder and president of Bay Street HR, an outsourced human resources service provider to small and mid-sized financial and professional service firms. Prior to founding Bay Street HR, she was executive director at CIBC World Markets and held senior HR positions at Fidelity Investments and American Express. Robinson sits on the board and is the chair of the Governance and Compensation Committee of Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. (NEO: JET), serves as a director and chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee of Timbercreek Financial Corp. (TSX: TF), and is a director and co-founder of the Best Buddies Foundation. Previously, she was a director of VIA Rail Canada Inc., and chair of the board of ParkLawn Corp (TSX:PLC). She holds a bachelor’s degree and is also a graduate of the Directors Education Program of the Institute of Corporate Directors and holds the ICD.D designation.

In November, StorageVault Canada Inc. acquired two complementary facilities in the secondary markets of Barrie and North Bay, Ont. They were acquired for an aggregate purchase price of $10.5 million. The total purchase price of the acquisition, subject to customary adjustments, was paid with funds on hand. Information about the seller was not disclosed. With the addition of these two facilities, StorageVault now owns and operates 251 storage locations across Canada.

Throughout the recent holiday season, Mini Mall Storage locations across the U.S. and Canada connected with communities in various ways. Mini Mall Storage sponsored and participated in parades in Bristol, Tenn.; Shelby, N.C.; and Hawkesbury, Ont. Teams in those locations joined their local parades while handing out free toys and candy to children. One team member dressed as the Grinch, while others put inflatable Rudolphs on the hood of their service vans. The company’s Shelby, N.C., team also participated in a tree decorating event. Two other locations (Plano, Texas, and Calgary, Alta.) created care packages for the local unhoused population with necessities like blankets, scarves, socks, hygiene items, hand warmers, and snacks.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, StorageMart, which has a large presence in Canada, especially within the Greater Toronto Area, announced its latest partnership as the “Official Storage Partner” of the Toronto Maple Leafs. As the Official Storage Partner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, StorageMart will benefit from enhanced brand exposure through co-branded marketing, promotional campaigns, and in-arena signage at Scotiabank Arena. This collaboration allows StorageMart to engage with millions of loyal and passionate Maple Leafs fans across Canada, extending its reach and reinforcing a commitment to quality, service, and community—values shared by both the Maple Leafs and StorageMart. This multiyear partnership will bring StorageMart’s innovative and reliable storage solutions to Maple Leafs fans, particularly in Toronto and surrounding areas.

Boxwell has announced the addition of hallway systems to their product lineup, expanding their range of innovative storage solutions. These systems are designed for indoor storage and feature customizable roll-up doors, walkways, and partitions. Perfect for new builds, retrofits, or shared residential spaces, hallway systems optimize interior storage while maximizing space and revenue potential. They arrive flat packed for efficient shipping and easy installation. To learn more, visit www.boxwell.co.