SHCS Retirements: Spring/Summer 2025

“Mahara joined UBC nearly 44 years ago, starting as a waitress at the Faculty Club. She later transitioned to summer housekeeping—making beds and caring for conference guests. From there, she steadily rose through the ranks in housekeeping, becoming a supervisor and eventually a Building Services Manager (BSM).

“Mahara takes great pride in being one of the first BSMs, a role where her exceptional management skills left an indelible mark. Her legacy lives on in the training programs, procedures and spreadsheets she developed, many of which are still in use today.

“Mahara brought a unique magic to the workplace—whether it was her unforgettable laugh, her well-timed humor or the genuine care she showed to everyone. We wish Mahara all the very best in her well-deserved retirement!”

— Johanna Webber, Associate Director, Building Services

“Janice has been a valued member of UBC Food Services for 24 years, working at nearly every unit on campus, including Manchu Wok, Magma, Niche, IRC, Perugia, Law, Stir It Up and many more. Known for her exceptional customer service, warm smile and endless stories, she has left a lasting impact on everyone she meets.

“One of the most recent compliments came from the Allard School of Law. When Janice’s schedule changed and she was no longer at the Law Cafe, the team reached out to check on her, concerned that they hadn’t seen her in a while. When they learned she had moved to a different location, they even requested to have her back because everyone missed her presence. As a token of their appreciation, the Law team brought her gifts to thank her for her dedication and kindness.

“We wish Janice all the best in her well-deserved retirement and hope she enjoys this next chapter of her life!”

— Jody Ropas, Retail Operations Manager, Food Services

“Gordon’s journey began in the farming community of Kindersley, Saskatchewan, where hard work, reliability and teamwork were part of everyday life. Those prairie values became the foundation of his remarkable 30-year career with UBC Food Services.

“Throughout his career, Gordon brought quiet strength and unwavering dedication to his work. Always focused, always moving, he could be counted on like clockwork—preparing meals for countless residence students with care and consistency. A “head down, get it done” kind of guy, Gordon’s hands were never idle, and his standards never wavered.

“He was a planner through and through—always thinking ahead, prepping for the next shift, and setting his team up for success, even on his days off. While he preferred action over downtime, Gordon still made time for a warm smile or a quick story, often shared while stirring a pot or waving hello.

“Rarely missing a day, Gordon commuted weekly from Chilliwack to Vancouver, balancing work and family with quiet determination. Vacations weren’t his thing—he simply loved to stay busy, even if it meant needing the occasional reminder to take a break.

“With his 92-year-old mother still going strong, it’s clear that longevity—and a healthy dose of prairie grit—runs in the family. As Gordon heads into retirement, we thank him for his years of loyalty, kindness and hard work.

“Wishing you all the best in this next chapter, Gordon—may it be filled with joy, rest and great cooking!”

— Loriann McGowan, Associate Director, Residence Dining, Food Services

“As Frank embarks on his well-earned retirement, we take this opportunity to reflect on his incredible career and the lasting impact he’s had on our team. Frank’s journey with UBC began back in 1987, working hourly before returning to Ireland in 1998 for 15 years. Upon his return to Canada in 2013, it didn’t take long for Frank to get back into the swing of things, landing a position in Housing within just two weeks of returning.

“Throughout his career, Frank has demonstrated unwavering reliability. No matter the job, big or small, he’s always been someone we can count on to get things done, often under tight deadlines. Even in those rush situations, Frank’s calm demeanor and dedication ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and to the highest standard. His proactive nature shines through when he takes initiative in preparing the walls and paint touch-ups in vacant buildings for the next residents.

“Frank’s cheerful personality and ability to connect with everyone on the crew have made him a true team player. Whether it’s his work ethic or his camaraderie, Frank’s presence has been a source of positivity for all who have had the pleasure of working with him. Outside of work, Frank enjoys spending his free time cycling and, on occasion, savouring a pint of well-served Guinness at the pub.

“As we bid farewell to Frank, we express our deepest gratitude for his years of dedication and the countless contributions he’s made. Wishing him a retirement filled with relaxation, adventure and happiness. Cheers to you, Frank!”

— Claudia Popa, Trades Manager, Facilities and Building Services

“Donald is a true Vancouverite: he was born here and has lived here all his life—and he’s thankful for all the opportunities he has had while working at UBC. One of his favourite experiences was working with the warehouse team for a few months, delivering supplies to all the student residences. He truly enjoys coming to work and spending time with his friends. He takes leisurely walks around campus during his free time and appreciates the beauty of his surroundings.

“In addition to his work, Donald is an avid dragon boating volunteer and participant. The highlight of his participation in the sport was in 2014 when his team, Eyes of the Dragon, traveled to an area near Naples, Italy, where they won gold and silver medals in their races. He points out that the difference between gold and silver was between one tenth of one hundredth of a second.

“Donald is one of the friendliest people you will meet, always ready with a little humorous banter and great smile. If you ever get the chance, ask him about his 1,000 shares in the Pepsi company—you might just get a great story!

“With his retirement, Donald has reached another milestone in life, which will officially begin in May. We all wish Donald a long and happy retirement!”

— Mahara Silva, Building Services Manager, Facilities and Building Services

“After many years of dedicated service, it is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of one of our most
cherished team members, Prescilla Bautista.

“Prescilla has been an integral part of our FABS family since 2008, and her commitment to maintaining clean,
welcoming environment has played a key role in the success and operations of our daycare centres.

“Prescilla was the very first staff member to clean the Auklet, Salal, Kittiwake and Sandpiper daycares when they first
opened. She often jokes that she was chosen to clean these large, newly built spaces because, at the time, she was
the newest addition to the team. However, what started as a challenge soon turned into a true passion, and she
remained dedicated to these centres for over 10 years. Her consistency and high-quality work earned her the respect
and admiration of the educators, who always praised her efforts, ensuring there were no complaints but only gratitude
for her care and attention to detail.

“Prescilla’s hard work did not go unnoticed, and she was later promoted to Temporary Assistant Housekeeping
Supervisor, a well-deserved recognition of her exceptional work ethic and leadership. Her contributions were
invaluable, and she built strong, lasting relationships with colleagues and educators alike. She truly became a
cornerstone of the team.

“Beyond her role as a Service Worker, Prescilla’s warmth, kindness, and friendly nature have made a lasting
impression on all of us. For many of us, the highlight of our day was a brief moment spent with Prescilla as we were
wrapping up our shifts—her smile and genuine interest in how we were doing always brightened our day.

“As Prescilla embarks on this exciting new chapter in her life, we want to take a moment to thank her for all she has
contributed to our team. Her legacy of hard work, warmth and dedication will continue to be remembered, and we are
all so grateful for the time we’ve had with her.

“Prescilla, we wish you a joyful, restful, and fulfilling retirement. You’ve earned it, and we know you’ll make the most of every moment.”

— Lawron Leung, Building Services Manager, Facilities and Building Services

“Prescilla has been a wonderful, reliable, cheerful, hardworking, flexible and understanding person to work with. She always smiled, even when she wasn’t sure what she was “in for” some days. As a new childcare setting, Kittiwake was always experimenting with ideas and materials. Prescilla would arrive at 5:00pm and enter into the leftovers of a full-blown “mess” with a friendly demeanor.

“Sometimes blue or black painted footprints or chunks of clay or traces of charcoal or… made their way out of the art studio and across the floor. In the beginning, we negotiated with Prescilla about how to clean these types of things or to possibly clean around them. We knew Prescilla needed to do her job and it was also integral to our educational approach at Kittiwake that children experiment fully with materials.

“So what ended up happening was that we found ways (as much as possible) for Prescilla to work around our processes and with Prescilla‘s open mind, she respected and honored the children’s work and “projects in process” (which was how we labeled things we did not want cleaned).

“Thank you Prescilla. Wishing you all the best in your retirement. I hope you can look back at these and other “messy” moments as a testament to the integral role you have had at UBC Child Care (specifically Kittiwake).”

— Melanie Walters, Program Manager, UBC Child Care

 

“It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Helen Mandap, who has been a valued member of our team at UBC since September 9, 2011. After many years of dedicated service, Helen will be retiring from her position at Subway.

“Helen has had an impactful career, contributing greatly to the success of the UBC Custodian and Housekeeping team in the beginning, where she worked with exceptional care and commitment to maintaining a clean and welcoming environment for all.

“She then transitioned to a new role at our Subway location in the Life Building, where she worked with the same level of professionalism and enthusiasm that has helped build such a successful team environment and that has defined her time at UBC.

“Helen’s contributions, work ethic and positive attitude have made a lasting impact on our team and the wider UBC community. She will be greatly missed by all of us, but we are excited for her as she embarks on this new chapter in her life.

“Please join us in congratulating Helen on her well-deserved retirement. We thank her for her years of hard work and dedication and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”

— Connie Lay, Retail Operations Manager, Food Services

“Rose started working for UBC Food Services as a Sales Attendant in 2002, and she worked for 14 years at Pacific Spirit Place until the building was renovated in 2016.

“Following that, Rose began working at other retail units across campus. You could find her cutting pizza at Mercante, slinging burgers at Triple O’s or making hot and cold beverages at Stir It Up for all the guests.

“Rose has a very big heart and has made good connections with the students who she has served over the years. She has received numerous kudos for her friendly service and you can always hear her ask “debit or credit” with each transaction and then tell everyone to “have a nice day.”

“When Rose is not at work she is at home taking care of her two boys and going to church every Sunday. She also likes to get together with her friends to play mahjong or bingo—and she also likes to join her friends shopping.

“Rose will become a snowbird this winter when she returns to her home town Santa Rosa in the Philippines for a few months.

“Thank you for your years of service and congratulations on your well-deserved retirement.”

— Brian McLaughlin, Senior Supervisor, Food Services