NAFA Clean Air Award Program
Facilities received eight NAFA Clean Air Awards for UBC buildings this year. Congratulations to all our teams for making this happen, and thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to UBC.
The following buildings received the NAFA Clean Air awards:
In addition, Facilities also received four renewal awards, demonstrating our continued dedication to providing the highest level of clean air within UBC buildings:
Created by the National Air Filtration Association, the purpose of this award program is to promote and recognize the use of high efficiency filtration products and good maintenance practices. The NAFA Clean Air Award validates the leadership and excellence of UBC’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Program, specifically in air filtration.
Read the full announcement
Facilities presenting at the Pacific Coast Region of APPA (PCAPPA) Conference
Facilities will be presenting UBC's Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Program to industry leaders at the Pacific Coast Region of APPA (PCAPPA) conference this year.
The presentation will highlight UBC’s established operations and maintenance practices before, during and beyond COVID-19.
Learn more about our current building ventilation and safety-measures
New job strategy session (NJSS): September 27
Request cancelled by the user
- Forest Sciences Centre – Request to place additional partition in Staff lounge 4003 to accommodate meeting events providing food & refreshments
- Option 1: To locate a partition/accordion attached to the west wall side of the closet 4003A that closes towards the windows or meets in the middle.
- Option 2: To locate a partition/accordion attached to the east wall side of the closet 4003A that closes towards the windows or meets in the middle.
Completing the annual Confined Space Rescue Team exercises
Energy & Water Services and Building Operations recently completed their annual Confined Space Rescue Team on-site exercises. In the facilitated sessions, rescuers were presented with different scenarios that required them to take the necessary steps to recognize, evaluate and develop a rescue plan to successfully rescue an individual from a confined space.
Conducted annually, these rescue exercises allow rescuers to practice with the rescue equipment while effecting safe and timely rescues. Well done to the teams for their demonstrating teamwork and commitment to safety!
Learn more
Nominations for the 2022 Facilities Staff Excellence Award are now open!
Nominate one (or more!) of your colleagues for the 2022 Facilities Staff Excellence Award!
UBC Facilities provides recognition and rewards through the Staff Excellence Award (SEA) Program, to staff who have consistently demonstrated excellence in the performance of their work and service to the university.
The winners will be chosen by the Staff Excellence Awards selection committee and winners will be announced at the Facilities holiday events in December 2022.
Eligibility
Staff with a minimum of one year of service who are actively working in UBC Facilities at the time of the award presentation. For the Kim Nulty Award, a minimum of five years of continuous employment with UBC Facilities is required.
Award Categories
- Leadership Development
- Asset Stewardship
- Creativity and Innovation
- Customer Service Excellence
- Safety and Wellbeing
- Inspiration: The Kim Nulty Award
Submission
Submit a nomination online or complete the attached nomination form. Please send the completed paper nomination form to facilities.vpfo@ubc.ca on or before Friday, November 18, 2022.
Learn more: facilities.ubc.ca/SEA
Launching a Benefits Realization Management Program for UBC Planon
As part of an effort to efficiently manage results and drive continuous improvement following the implementation of the Planon, UBC’s Enterprise Maintenance Management System (EMMS), Operational Excellence recently launched the EMMS Benefits Realization Management (BRM) program in UBC Facilities, Chemistry Stores, and Safety & Risk Services.
Launched in September 2022, the EMMS BRM program measures key functional areas (Work Management, Inventory Management, Planon Sustainment, and Overall User Experience) and provides easily accessible dashboards for users to identify improvement opportunities, make informed decisions, and understand how a project delivers benefits.
Learn more on Operational Excellence's website
2022 Pumpkin Carving for the Kids
Show off your pumpkin carving talent and participate in the annual Facilities pumpkin carving for the kids! Do you have what it takes to be the favourite carved pumpkin this year?
Our local Cariboo daycare in the University Services Building will be Trick-or-treating in their best costumes and voting for their favourite pumpkin.
Trick-or treating for the kids starts at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 31, 2022. Join the fun, enjoy pumpkin pie and coffee while you vote for your favourite carved pumpkin too!
Halloween Day!
- Monday, October 31, 2022
- Vote for your favourite pumpkin and enjoy pumpkin pie and coffee
Sign up
- Sign up at the University Services Building Atrium by October 18, 2022
Pumpkin pick up
- Wednesday, October 25, 2022
To register your team, contact Caroline MacLeod (caroline.macleod@ubc.ca),
Shout outs
- Custodial Services and Buiding Operations' moving crew, carpenters and steamfitters – In August, users of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre reported leak stains on the acoustic ceiling tiles, which are made from polyester fiber and are at least 20 feet high from the ground. The teams worked together to investigate and fix the leak and clean up the stains from the tiles at the busy building. Thanks to all the crews for their flexibility and coordinated effort!
Welcome to the team
- Melissa Vincent joins Infrastructure Development’s Facilities Information and Inventory Systems (FIIS) team as the CAD Technician, effective October 11. She'll be taking on the drafting of building keyplans and campus maps found on OSIS and the Records Retrieval Site. Welcome to the team, Melissa!
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.
EDI: Vote in your Municipal Election on October 15
The right to vote in Canada has evolved over time and for many marginalized groups voting was not a right until the nineteenth century. Watch Historica Canada's YouTube video to learn more about our voting history and the democratic election process in Canada.
Helpful resources
Listen to Vancouver City Council candidates from the major parties for Vancouver City Council discuss how they are centering equity in their policy platforms, and what commitments they will make to ensure Vancouver is a city where everyone belongs. Watch a recording of the forum, available on SFU Public Square.
Refer to BC Voters' Guide for everything you need to know before voting. Voting places are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on October 15, 2022.
Emergency tip: Text, Don’t call
During a disaster such as an earthquake, cellular networks will be overwhelmed. Use text messaging, social media or email to communicate with family and friends instead of calling.
Learn more about how to stay connected in a disaster
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health: Protecting ourselves against bullying
Our mental and emotional wellbeing is likely to be affected when we become targets of behaviour we perceive to be bullying. These situations can also have a significant impact on our productivity and interactions with others. Yet sometimes it can be very difficult to prove that the behaviour is causing harm because there may be insufficient conclusive, objective evidence.
Even if we are successful in reporting what we perceive to be bullying and harassment, we may not be able to stop the behaviours. Addressing bullying may be a long and uncomfortable process. And when our complaint is dismissed or ignored, it can increase feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness and isolation.
No matter what processes or supports are available in the workplace, taking steps to protect our own health and productivity can also help us cope. At a time when it may feel that we are being subjected to behaviours outside of your control, there are still things we CAN do that are within your control. This includes describing our perceptions clearly, de-stressing outside of work, and increasing our self-care. When we are better able to cope, we are better equipped to make decisions about whether to address, avoid, or walk away from bullying behaviour.
Learn more about what we CAN do to protect ourselves against bullying.
Managing your mental health
Human Resources has collected mental health resources to help you manage your ups and downs. To view workshops, webinars and events, visit the HR event listing.
Our HR representatives are always available for a confidential conversation:
- Monica Haab (monica.haab@ubc.ca): Building Operations, Energy & Water Services, Customer Services & Informatics, and Municipal Services
- Gregor MacDonald (gregor.macdonald@ubc.ca): Custodial Services and Infrastructure Development
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