Acadia Park pilots spring break camp for families
This spring break, student families at Acadia Park will have the opportunity to enroll their children in the first-ever day camp at Acadia Park. Thanks to the hard work of Emma Chartrand, Residence Life Manager, UBC Recreation Camps will offer a dedicated, discounted, five-day camp for 7–9 year-old children of Acadia Park residents, which will operate out of the Acadia Park Commonsblock Activity Room. Based on the success of this year’s pilot, the camp may be expanded in future years.
Exclusive SHCS staff sale at UBC Bookstore
From March 1 to 8, the UBC Bookstore is offering SHCS staff an exclusive 15% store-wide* discount on clothing (including lululemon), giftware and trade books. The sale is in-store only at both campuses, and staff will just need to show their staff UBCcard at checkout and mention they’re from SHCS to receive the discount.
*Select items, such as textbooks and graduation frames not included.
Student Housing Experience Survey results
As communicated in the fall, Student Housing (Vancouver) launched its first ever in-house Student Housing Experience Survey in all residence areas in November, with approximately 3,500 respondents. Applicable department-level results have now been provided to Directors, and the Student Housing team is currently analyzing results, but notes that there are already rich insights, particularly related to equity. The survey schedule is now twice per year, with the next survey scheduled for March 2025.
UBCO Residence Life receives CLL funding
UBC Okanagan Residence Life was recently selected to receive over $40,000 in funding through UBC’s Campus as a Living Lab (CLL) program for the project Connected on Campus: Enhancing Social Connection to Improve Student Well-being, a partnership with Campus Wellbeing and Dr. Lauren Human. In March 2025 the team will commence the year-long project to study the effectiveness of interventions into loneliness among UBC Okanagan students. Watch for more details at CLL Okanagan campus projects.
Culinary Apprenticeship Program update
UBC Food Services’ renowned Culinary Apprenticeship Program continues to cultivate top-tier talent. Recently, Ligaya Laron celebrated her graduation, marking a significant achievement in her culinary journey and the eleventh successful graduate of the program.
This year, six new apprentices have joined the program, eager to refine their skills under expert mentorship: Yran Carre, Dennis Dela Cruz, Sanaz Ghashghaei, Tyler Hiker, Francis Inocente and Joshua Juan. We look forward to showcasing their talents at this year’s Apprentice Dinner, which will take place on May 29 at the University Centre.
Welcome to Hoi Ying Yu, Associate Director, Ancillary Procurement
Please join us in welcoming Hoi Ying Yu, our new Associate Director, Ancillary Procurement. Starting in her new role in December 2024, Hoi was previously the Contracts Manager with UBC Facilities, and she brings nearly three decades of experience and expertise in supplier relationship management, contract management and strategic planning. Learn more.
Residence sustainability and climate action initiatives
Since the SHCS CAP 2030 Steering Committee convened in 2024, a number of important initiatives have kicked off. Notably, this fall and winter, we launched the Live Green campaign, with five fun animated videos along with the Residence Sustainability Enhancement Fund, which closed on January 31, 2025 and received a noteworthy 40 project applications for the combined total of $10,000 in funding.
Additionally, we’re currently running a waste sorting pilot project in Marine Drive to help research and improve different waste sorting interventions and, in late February, we’re launching a three-week electricity reduction competition between Place Vanier and Totem Park, where residents will compete for the biggest reduction in energy usage—to help educate residents on living more sustainably and help us reduce our overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Child Care leads virtual workshop series with UBC’s Edith Lando Virtual Learning Centre
On Saturday, February 1, staff and educators from UBC Child Care led Sustainable Pedagogies: When We Walk Together, the first in the three-part workshop series Doing Sustainable Pedagogies in Early Childhood, hosted by UBC’s Edith Lando Virtual Learning Centre in the Faculty of Education. The workshop, for members of the early childhood education community, was led by Melanie Walters, Program Manager, Ena Point, Indigenous Relations and Engagement Pedagogist, and Rachel Lanphear, Senior Educator. They will be presenting part two in late March. Learn more.
You’re invited! Story Time for Kids at UBC Bookstore
Come on out to Story Time for Kids—a free family event at the UBC Bookstore (Vancouver)—on Saturday, March 15 from 1 pm to 2 pm in the kids book area. A perfect event for students, staff or faculty with young children, Bookstore staff will read from a unique selection of beautiful picture books. Come early or stay afterward to enjoy the activity and colouring table! All books featured during the event are perfect for readers under 10. Plus, from March 15 to 29 all kids and YA books are 20% off! No registration required.
Congratulations to Jessica Lagassé
Please join us in congratulating Jessica Lagassé (née Sterman), Compliance and Claims System Associate, SHCS Safety, and her husband Nick on the birth of their son, Maksimiljan “Max” Albert Lagassé. Max was born on December 14, 2024, and weighed 5 lbs, 15 oz. Congratulations Jess and Nick! View a photo.
C&A hotel improvement projects
Conferences and Accommodation Vancouver recently completed a project to significantly improve the hallways at the West Coast Suites. With new lighting, carpet, thresholds and ceilings, the updated hallways will offer a more contemporary look for our hotel guests. Design planning is also underway for updates to the Signature Studios in q̓əlɬaləməcən leləm̓ (Orca House), including furniture improvements in the hotel lobby, wall enhancements in the elevator foyers and in-room artwork.
WorkSafeBC covers Facilities and Building Services for trade publications
On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, a team from WorkSafeBC visited Facilities and Building Services to cover our innovative work supporting staff and helping to reduce musculoskeletal injuries at work for WorkSafeBC’s Health and Safety Enews and WorkSafe Magazine.
In particular, they were keen to witness our staff using a specialized, powered moving dolly known as a stair climber and learn more about how staff from several departments, including warehouse and trades staff, ergonomics, safety and purchasing collaborated to invest in this crucial equipment and establish procedures.
Many thanks to Sarah Brown, Celia McGrath, Elias Osorio, Gord Mitchell, Elias Nickel, Ronin D’Souza, Dev Wright, Kate Allan and Gontran Paget from SHCS, along with Abigail Overduin, UBC’s Manager, Ergonomics and Accessibility for participating in the photoshoot. Watch for updates about these stories when they’re published in the coming months!
Child Care staff contribute to early childhood education publication
Congratulations to the UBC Child Care staff and educators who contributed a chapter to Intimately Situated Stories of Place: Activating Place-Centered Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education, a book published in November 2024. Rachel Lanphear, Senior Educator; Ena Point, Indigenous Relations and Engagement Pedagogist; Deborah Thompson, Associate Director, Program Development; Karen Vaughan, Director, Child Care; and Melanie Walters, Program Manager co-wrote and contributed the chapter Provoking Decolonizing Pedagogies of Place.
Recap: Navigating challenging conversations workshop
On December 12, 2024, SHCS HR was pleased to offer the first of two sessions on Navigating Challenging Conversations, delivered by Clare Connoly from the Justice Institute of BC. Seventeen staff attended from Food Services, Student Housing, and Facilities and Building Services. Thanks to the staff who attended and participated in this valuable workshop! And thank you to the supervisors and managers who supported their staff in attending. We look forward to Session two, which takes place on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Introducing Presto!
In early January 2025, our newest UBC Food Services retail location opened in the David Lam Research Centre on Main Mall, in the old Bento Sushi location. Introducing Presto, a quick-service pasta bar where you build your own pasta bowl. Meals start at just $10 and include pasta, focaccia bread and a sprinkle of parmesan and parsley. Since opening, Presto has become a popular campus destination—especially during lunch! Learn more.
Update: Residence Advisor hiring campaign
The 2025/26 Residence Advisor (RA) hiring campaign in Vancouver kicked off in late 2024 and concluded on January 19, 2025. The Strategic Initiatives, Student Residence team is pleased to report that they received over 850 applications for RA roles.
This year, to help streamline the process of reviewing that quantity of applications, they employed a novel approach: a student staff member used generative AI to develop a custom code in the Python programming language, which included a detailed rubric and sentiment analysis, allowing the team to grade the 850 applications in seconds, saving extensive time and resources, while also maintaining accuracy. Selected candidates will be interviewed in March, with job offers going out in May.
UBC Bookstore’s February featured collections
For February 2025, which is Black History Month and Black Futures Month, the UBC Bookstore team put together a fantastic in-store display and online listing of brilliant books by black authors, from classics to contemporary, nonfiction to sci-fi. Plus, in honour of Freedom to Read Week (February 23–March 1), they also put together an in-store display and online listing of challenged and banned books. Visit the store until the end of February to check out these great displays. Throughout March, visit the store to check out the display in celebration of International Women’s Day (March 8).
Parking upgrades EV chargers at North Parkade
In late January, Parking Services in Vancouver upgraded 10 EV chargers located on the second level of the North Parkade, and they are now fully operational and open to the public. These new Linkpower CS300 chargers have smart network capabilities that provide more thorough information on duration of use and the amount of electricity delivered. This upgrade was part of an ongoing plan to replace older chargers that are no longer supported or repairable. View a photo.
Learning and Development: Reminder to complete required training and update certifications
When employees start at UBC and SHCS, there are a number of required training courses. Some departments within SHCS also have a set of required training courses for their staff. And from time to time, new courses are added, which all employees are required to take, such as the new Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct.
Additionally, some jobs require specific certifications—and staff are responsible to keep those certifications up to date as well.
Today, we’re asking managers and staff to make sure all required training is complete and update any required certifications.
- Managers: Run a report in Workday to check training completion and expiry for your employees. Watch for info about additional resources in the VPS Managers’ Hub this month.
- Employees: Visit your UBC Workplace Learning Student Dashboard (CWL login required) and complete any in-progress or incomplete courses. Check the SHCS new hires web page for the full list of courses you need to take. If applicable, view or add training certifications.
If you need any support, including time during your workday or access to a device to check your account and complete any required training, or to double check what you might still need to do, please speak with your manager or supervisor.
Fundraising update: Holiday clothing and virtual food drive
A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the fundraising initiatives for our community and beyond this past November and December. Together we raised $240 for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and donated a full bin of clothes to students and families in need at the Acadia Food Hub, which is operated by Origin Church and provides support for roughly 310 households (1,100 individuals) each week.
Introducing our new SHCS Staff Hub
We’re excited to launch our SHCS Staff Hub—a dedicated, secure space that provides easy access to resources, how-tos and tools that support our business operations. This new hub (which complements the existing SHCS staff website) will grow over time, but we’re starting with key resources from these support departments:
- SHCS Vancouver and Okanagan resources: Purchasing and Communications and Marketing
- SHCS Vancouver resources: Human Resources and Occupational Health and Safety
Please take a moment to check out the content and familiarize yourself with what’s available. You’ll need your CWL to log in.