Thank you for joining Frank Laezza in USB for coffee break and giving him a warm welcome
Last week, our new VP Frank Laezza joined us for coffee break followed by a tour of our shops in USB. It was great to see so many faces join us to say hello and get acquainted.
The USB tour with Frank started with Waste Management, visiting various shops including the Sign Shop, Electrical and Mechanical Shop, Carpentry Shop, Plumbing Shop, Operations Centre, Sheet Metal Shop, Stores, and the Garage. If you did not get a chance to meet and hear from Frank, join us on May 31 for the ‘We are the VPFO’ event to connect and participate in a teambuilding activity. A calendar hold should have been sent to your inbox.
A huge thank you to everyone involved with the event, including those who led tours, and to everyone who came out to support!
View event photos
German president's visit to UBC highlights clean energy and climate change solutions
UBC welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier yesterday on Tuesday, April 25 at UBC’s Vancouver campus.
During his visit, President Steinmeier toured UBC’s Smart Hydrogen Energy District (SHED) – a soon-to-open hydrogen fuelling station that showcases integrated energy generation for smart cities. Located next to a sub-station at the corner of Wesbrook Mall and Thunderbird Boulevard, the project will transform a city block into a smart-energy district.
Read more about President Steinmeier’s tour yesterday at UBC, and his official visit to Canada.
To learn more, visit the project page and watch the live webcam to follow along with the construction progress.
Building Safety Capacity: National Day of Mourning – April 28
Employees should be able to return home safe at the end of each work day, enjoy their off-work activities, and be with those they cherish.
April 28 is the National Day of Mourning to honour those who have been injured, suffered from an illness, or have lost their lives. It is also a reminder to everyone the importance of health and safety at the workplace and to strive for a strong safety culture to prevent workplace incidents, illnesses, and fatalities.
Follow the links below to learn more about the National Day of Mourning, April 28.
Capital project updates
Last month, Facilities presented an update on current capital projects and capital priorities in planning to the Board of Governors. Presented twice annually, the updates include details on major capital building projects (>$5 million) and a summary of routine capital renewal and renovation projects (<=$5 million). Read the project brief.
Beaty Biodiversity Centre Addition has also received its Board 3 approval in the Board Committee meeting on March 31. Construction will start soon. Read the project brief and learn more about this project.
Upgrades & renovations in Orchard Commons Room 1001
Orchard Commons Room 1001 is currently undergoing renovation work to create an active learning classroom. This work will include the replacement of furniture and AV equipment, patch and repair walls, new finishes (painting and flooring), and installation of a new accessible door operator. During this work, a small construction laydown area may be set-up in the courtyard area outside of Room 1001 for delivery of materials at various stages throughout the project. Learn more about the project.
For questions or concerns, please contact:
Maintaining an ideal exam experience at UBC
On April 12, UBC Facilities’ Custodial Services and Municipal Services worked in tandem to set up exam spaces in Osborne Gym (OSBO) and Student Recreation Centre (SRC) in preparation for 2022/23 Term 2 exams from April 17 to 28.
Setting up an exam space is not an easy task — it requires hours of hard work and strict compliance with UBC’s exam requirements, especially with the setup of approximately 1350 tables and chairs and delivery of exam booklets, to ensure a fair and ideal environment for students to deliver their best.
Congratulations to all teams in Facilities for another excellent setup effort!
Read more and see photos of our teams in action on the VPFO Flickr.
Kudos
- Chad Lamond, Electrician in Building Operations: Several streetlights along West Mall and Crescent Mall failed in March. Chad was able to identify the source of the problem and safely correct it with assistance from his team members. Chad's problem solving and quick action prevented many more lights from being damaged. Great job!
People in motion
- Denise Brown joins Infrastructure Development as Director, Capital Planning on May 15.
- Wendy Lam joins Customer Services & Informatics as Clerk on May 1.
- Farewell to Stuart Gilbert, Assistant Civil Engineer in Energy & Water Services. His last day at UBC will be April 28.
Job openings
All positions at UBC are available on the UBC HR Careers website, or through the career application in your Workday account. Please note that applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to the posting end date. The following VPFO positions are currently open:
- Millwright (JR7181) – 4/26/2023
- Utilities Electrical Engineer (JR11625) – 4/28/2023
- Day - Full-Time Service Worker (2 Positions) (JR12506) – 5/1/2023
- Night Service Worker (JR12545) – 5/1/2023
Don't forget to apply as an internal candidate! Please review Apply for an Internal Job Posting in the Workday Knowledge Base for instructions on how to apply. Reminder to attach a copy of your resume when you apply for a career opportunity in Workday.
Weekly Emergency Tip: Driving through a wildfire
What should I do if I have to drive through a wildfire?
- Keep your vehicle as visible as possible.
- Drive slowly with headlights on.
- Avoid driving through heavy smoke.
- Watch out for other vehicles and pedestrians.
- If you have to stop
- Avoid parking near heavy trees and brush.
- Roll up windows and close air vents.
- Turn the headlights on and the ignition off.
- Get on the floor and cover up with a blanket or coat.
- Stay in the vehicle until the main fire passes.
For more information about what to do during a wildfire, visit: emergency.vt.edu/ready/guides/wildfire/wildfire-during.html
Managing your mental health
HR has collected mental health resources to help you manage your ups and downs.
As a manager or leader, you play an important role in supporting your mental health and that of your teams. Complete the new required training: Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace for Managers and Supervisors.
Representatives are always available for a confidential conversation:
- Monica Haab (monica.haab@ubc.ca): Building Operations, Energy & Water Services, Customer Services & Informatics, and Infrastructure Development
- Gregor MacDonald (gregor.macdonald@ubc.ca): Custodial Services and Municipal Services
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) offers an extensive suite of services to support you – from providing wellness coaching or advising on family issues to offering legal support. Access the EAP confidential services through LifeWorks, by calling 1-866-424-0770.
In case you've missed it
In case you've missed it Here is a quick recap of key events and information that you may have missed. For more details, please click on the links below or refer to our weekly portfolio newsletter, VPFO Update.
