The true costs of Canada’s elevator
By David Gargaro
In addition to having an affordable housing crisis, Canada has an elevator shortage. This problem is more pronounced for residents of high-rise condos and rental properties, especially when they must wait 15 minutes or more for an elevator… or worse, take the stairs. Across Canada, many multifamily residential buildings have the bare minimum of elevator capacity—just two elevators for 20 or more foors. When one elevator is out of service, the other one bears the full load, which leads to long waits, crowding, and frustration.
Compare this to the standard in many European countries. On average, there are more elevators per building, and they are faster, smaller, and have more responsive systems that support density and ef fciency. In Canadian buildings, elevators are often an afterthought; they’re necessary but an expensive part of construction. In Europe, they’re an essential part of the building’s vertical infrastructure.
Having an elevator is about more than comfort: it affects the accessibility, reliability, and livability of multifamily housing.