Top Stories
Employee Engagement
ON MARCH 8TH WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY (IWD)
In a business that is often dominated by male workers, it can be challenging to find female voices and perspectives. In my career I have had the privilege to be influenced and supported by women at every level. They have guided me and been a significant part of my leadership journey.
In a business that is often dominated by male workers, it can be challenging to find female voices and perspectives. In my career I have had the privilege to be influenced and supported by women at every level. They have guided me and been a significant part of my leadership journey.
Since last June, when I joined UBC Building Operations, I have been pleased to see how our leadership group has grown and adapted to encompass a range of strong female leadership.
On International Women’s Day, let’s do our part to reflect on how we can continue to educate, promote, and create opportunities for diversity and inclusion across UBC. Let’s continue to support and educate our youth to understand that there are opportunities at Building Operations for women — in the boardroom, on the tools, and all points in between.
I look forward to working together with you to continue to grow and leverage the diversity of Building Operations to create a thoughtful, strong and successful future.
Greg Scott
Managing Director, Building Operations
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN PINK SHIRT DAY AT THE VPFO
Last year, Building Operations came together to host a series of conversations about respect in the workplace, which they capped with a department-wide celebration of Pink Shirt Day — an annual Canada-wide event symbolizing respect for the diversity of people and expression.
The effort to come together and have open conversations is something I strongly support. I believe that our portfolio’s greatest opportunity is to continue to find the common ground between each other; between our roles, between our units, between us and the academy we serve.
Respect can be a bit abstract. As one of the 5 values enshrined in UBC’s strategic plan, we’ve defined respect as the regard felt or shown towards different people, ideas, or actions. But respect is truly as much an action as it is a feeling. Each of us, as individuals taking action, can achieve the kind of workplace we want.
We have the power to make a difference. We have the power to choose our reaction to stressful situations. We have the power to respectfully point out when someone has been disrespectful to us. We have the power to be curious about others instead of frustrated or angry. We have the power to apologize when we say something we wish we hadn’t. We have power to seek amicable resolutions.
So today, I want to thank you for helping us all take our first step forward. Thank you to everyone who is wearing pink to show support. Thank you to the many people who hosted today’s event. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, even if just for a few minutes, and those who kept our operations running so others could attend. And especially thank you to those of who came forward to speak about respect on camera.
While Pink Shirt Day is important for its own reflections, it also is a place where I would like to mark a new beginning. I’ve asked our portfolio’s senior leadership to strike a committee across the VPFO that will create an overarching strategy for a focus on respect, diversity, and inclusion within VPFO for the next several years. They will work to keep us aligned to our vision and our values and to identify our best opportunities to create our best workplace.
Thank you again for your participation today and your ongoing contributions to make our workplace a better and more respectful one.
Peter Smailes
Vice-President, Finance & Operations
VPFO Portfolio
Asset Stewardship
PEDESTRIAN ROUTE CHANGES AND ROAD CLOSURES ON CAMPUS
Road Closures and Projects: March 2019
Pedestrian route changes in the U Boulevard Area: March 2019 to December 2019
MacInnes Field site – Main pedestrian pathway closures: March 2019 to December 2019.
WEST COAST ELEVATORS IS OUR DEDICATED SERVICE PROVIDER FOR ALL ELEVATORS ON CAMPUS.
Leadership Development
CHECK OUT WWW.HR.UBC.CA/CAREERS FOR CURRENT BUILDING OPS JOB POSTINGS
Know anyone interested in working in Building Operations? Let them know about our current job postings
- Job #32957 Custodial Assistant Storekeeper
- Job #32973 Head Trades 3 – Electrician
- Job #32971 Subhead Trades 3 – Electrician
- Job #32995 Service Centre Coordinator
- Job # 32935 Labourer 3 – Labourer Division
- Job #32964 Trades 2 – Metal Worker
For full listings, check out designated job postings boards or visit UBC Careers
Quick Updates
REGISTER YOUR STAFF FOR 2019 CORE SAFETY TRAINING COURSES
WESBROOK MALL & STUDENT UNION BOULEVARD UPGRADES: JAN 14 TO OCT 31
ROAD CLOSURE JANUARY 14 – MAY 31 WESBROOK MALL BETWEEN STUDENT UNION BLVD. & UNIVERSITY BLVD.
REGISTER YOUR STORM THE WALL TEAM
Register your team of a minimum of 5 people by Friday, March 15.
For more information visit https://recreation.ubc.ca/stormthewall/register/