On September 15, members of Concord Parking's staff gathered at the Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club in Richmond, B.C., for the British Columbia Shopping Centre Association's (BCSCA) annual Charity Golf Tournament.
While our team wasn't there to compete for the lowest score of the day, we were proud to volunteer our services at this year's Mark Forward Classic. Concord staff greeted participants and helped transport golf bags onto motorized carts for the day's event.
The tournament brings together shopping centre owners, property managers, retailers, service providers, and industry professionals from across British Columbia.
This was Concord's fifth consecutive year volunteering at the tournament.
Why the Mark Forward Classic Matters to Concord Parking
Beyond networking and friendly competition, the event serves a deeper purpose by supporting Canuck Place Children's Hospice, an organization that provides specialized palliative care and support for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Last year's tournament generated approximately $10,000 in charitable contributions.
In addition to supporting a worthy cause, the Mark Forward Classic holds special meaning for Concord Parking and the entire Paladin Group.
Mark Forward served as Vice President for both Paladin Security and Concord Security. Following his passing in 2025 from cancer, the BCSCA renamed the tournament in his honour.
Mark was widely respected throughout the retail and security industries and was known for his sharp business acumen and generosity. He was an active board member of the BCSCA and played a major role in turning the annual golf tournament into one of the association's signature events. 2026 marks its silver anniversary.
Supporting British Columbia's Retail and Shopping Centre Industry
For decades, the British Columbia Shopping Centre Association has played an important role in uniting professionals from all corners of the retail industry.
Shopping centres continue to serve as important gathering spaces within communities of every size. In addition to providing retail opportunities, malls play host to various events that bring people together in positive ways.
The BCSCA helps support these destinations by creating opportunities for collaboration, education, and professional development among industry stakeholders. Through conferences, networking events, charitable initiatives, and educational programs, the association provides a forum where industry leaders can exchange ideas, discuss emerging challenges, and identify opportunities that strengthen the retail sector in B.C.
Parking's Role in Shaping the Retail Customer Experience
Parking is one of the first features a customer will encounter when arriving at a shopping centre and one of the last locations they will experience before they leave. Mall visitors often consider the following questions:
- Is available parking easy to find?
- Do I have to pay for parking?
- Is the parking area clearly organized and accessible?
- Am I able to park near an entrance?
- Are there EV charging stations?
The answers to these questions all contribute to a visitor's overall perception of a shopping centre and their likelihood of returning.
Concord's clients, including Metropolis at Metrotown, Station Square, Guildford Town Centre, and Coquitlam Centre, all welcome thousands of visitors every day. Many of these guests arrive by vehicle and need a place to park.
Managing parking demand at major sites requires planning, oversight, and a customer-focused approach. When parking operates smoothly, visitors can focus on their shopping journey. However, when parking challenges arise, customer satisfaction drops before the customer even reaches the entrance doors.
This is where experienced shopping centre parking management providers can make a meaningful difference.
How Parking Services Support Retail Properties
Today's parking operators provide a comprehensive range of services. Each solution is designed to help property owners maximize efficiency while improving the customer experience.
Working closely with shopping centre ownership and management teams, parking companies can assist with:
- Establishing a professional and authoritative on-site presence
- Parking enforcement services
- Creating clear, consistent signage that effectively communicates parking regulations
- Developing recommendations for time limits, violation thresholds, enforcement frequency, and parking controls
- Managing employee parking management permit programs
- Tenant parking allocation
- Providing administrative oversight and program management
- Delivering operational analytics and financial reporting
- Managing inquiries, disputes, and violation payment processes
- Supplying specialized parking management software
- Conducting site assessments and operational reviews
- Recommending wayfinding enhancements such as directional arrows, colour-coded parking zones, and navigational signage
- Installing and maintaining pay stations where applicable
- Supporting mobile payment technologies and digital parking platforms
By combining operational expertise with customer service, parking management companies help ensure parking assets are being used efficiently while maintaining a positive experience for visitors.
The Benefits of Professional Parking Management and Parking Enforcement for Malls
When parking management programs are properly designed and consistently administered, retail centres realize substantial operational benefits.
Enhanced Security Support
Parking personnel provide an additional layer of observation on-site. Their regular presence can help identify maintenance concerns, security issues, safety hazards, and suspicious activity before problems escalate.
Improved Parking Compliance
Effective enforcement helps ensure parking spaces remain available for intended users. By discouraging overstays and enforcing established parking policies, shopping centres can improve parking turnover and maximize parking availability and profitability (when paid parking is in effect).
Operational Insights
Parking staff serve as additional eyes on the ground. Their observations often provide valuable information regarding traffic patterns, site congestion, directional flow issues, maintenance requirements, and opportunities for facility improvements.
Reduced Administrative Burden
Managing parking programs internally can place a significant strain on mall administrators. Outsourcing these responsibilities or streamlining the steps allows shopping centre management teams to focus on other pressing matters such as leasing considerations, customer engagement, and tenant support.
Access to Meaningful Data
Modern parking systems generate a wealth of information regarding occupancy levels, usage patterns, permit activity, violation trends, and customer behaviour. These property insights can support informed decision-making and help mall leadership with its future planning initiatives.
Final Thoughts
Whether visiting a golf course or stopping by the local mall, a customer's impression of a property begins the moment they pull onto the lot to park their vehicle.
Creating positive interactions, fostering convenience, and helping people navigate busy environments are all key components of an effective parking management strategy.
By reducing parking-related concerns and helping to create a seamless arrival experience, professional parking management companies allow retailers, property managers, and shopping centre operators to focus their attention on what matters most: creating vibrant destinations where businesses can flourish, and shoppers can enjoy their time.