From Cheques to Clicks

WRITTEN BY: Corey Krakower, SparcPay

Across Alberta, condo corporations are realizing that outdated paper processes are more than just inconvenient — they’re a liability. In today’s environment, boards are expected to deliver transparency, speed, and security while balancing volunteer time and complex financial oversight.

At this year’s CCI North Alberta webinar, “From Cheques to Clicks,” SparcPay’s Director of Business Development, Corey Krakower, outlined the growing risks of paying vendors with cheques — and how digital transformation is helping boards take back control.

Here’s a recap of the six key insights shared.

Condo boards today face rising expectations from owners, auditors, and regulators. There is an emphasis on accountability and segregation of duties, while owners want visibility into how funds are managed. At the same time, volunteer directors are busier than ever — approvals can’t wait for monthly meetings or physical signatures.

The challenge: balancing governance and efficiency.
The opportunity: adopting digital tools that make financial oversight easier, faster, and fully transparent.

Many corporations still rely on paper invoices, and hand-signing cheques. But these old habits come with hidden costs — printing, postage, courier fees, storage, and hours of administrative time. Delays pile up when invoices sit on someone’s desk or when signers are unavailable.

Paper-based workflows also make audits harder. Records are scattered across offices and filing cabinets instead of accessible online in seconds.

The result: wasted time, higher costs, and less transparency — for everyone involved.

Cheque fraud isn’t rare — it’s rising across Canada – and every cheque mailed is a potential target. Digital signatures printed on cheques may seem convenient but they are not secure — once intercepted, they can easily be copied or altered.

And because cheques display the corporation’s bank account and transit numbers, a single stolen cheque can expose your corporation to significant financial loss.

The reality: mailing cheques puts corporation funds at risk.
The solution: move to secure electronic payments where no sensitive banking information ever leaves the platform.

Modern digital approval and payment platforms replace stacks of paper with secure workflows. Invoices are routed online to the right approvers, who can review and approve from any device. Once approved, payments are made electronically — no cheques, no bank details shared, no risk of fraud.

Digital payments deliver:

Speed – faster approvals and no mailing delays
Security – bank-level encryption and multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Visibility – real-time tracking of every invoice and payment
Compliance – complete audit trails for every transaction

Boards and managers maintain full oversight while eliminating manual work.

For volunteer directors, digital transformation isn’t about adding technology — it’s about reclaiming time and peace of mind.

Convenience: Approve invoices from anywhere, on any device.
Control: Define multi-level approval workflows that match your bylaws.
Transparency: See exactly what’s pending, approved, and paid — in real time.
Fraud Protection: Payments are fully protected — no printed signatures, no exposed bank info, no risk of cheque alteration.

Boards can focus on governance, not paperwork — with confidence that every dollar is secure.

Case Study: Hallmark’s Board Gains Back Control

Hallmark Management’s condominium corporations transitioned to SparcPay earlier this year, and the results have been transformative. Within three months, Hallmark reported fewer bottlenecks, faster approvals, and a complete end to cheque payments.
Board members can now review, approve, and track payments from anywhere, while maintaining dual-approval compliance for every transaction. Most importantly, their property managers are now more available to them instead of being bogged down with paperwork and cheque runs.

Their verdict: “The Board members love it, the Managers love it, and Accounts Payable can’t get enough of it.” – Darcie Rea

If your board is still paying vendors with cheques, it’s time to modernize. Moving from paper processes to a digital solution safeguards your corporation from fraud, and gives directors the control and transparency today’s environment demands.

Download our free Resource Guide for a step-by-step roadmap to modernization — including a five-step action plan, a due diligence checklist, sample policy language, budgeting and implementation tips, and a real-world case study to help your board make a confident transition.

Disclaimer: This resource was created and provided by Corey Krakower from SparcPay, who recently presented a CCI educational session. The views, information, and opinions expressed in this guide are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CCI North Alberta.

CCI does not endorse or promote any individual business, product, or service mentioned. This resource is being shared for educational and informational purposes only.

Suggested reading: article by Corey Krakower “Cheque Fraud Is on the Rise—Is Your Condo at Risk? Safeguarding Your Condo Corporation from Cheque Fraud“