It is with great sadness and sense of loss that we inform you of the passing of Heidi Harkness on March 5, 2025. Heidi was a valued member of the Comptroller group for almost 30 years working with Dan Tieu and the other team members supporting Facilities finance.
Heidi began her journey at UBC supporting Facilities (Land & Building Services at the time) in 1996, initially joining on a one-year term contract. That contract quickly evolved into 29 years of dedicated service, during which she has contributed to a variety of roles, including Accounts Payable, Reception, Payroll, and Purchase Orders.
Heidi was deeply loved by everyone she worked with, a great listener and always made time to support and connect with others. From her direct team to colleagues at the University Services Building and across the organization, she was always a friendly, calming presence whose positive attitude has greatly influenced the team. Her willingness to help wherever needed, coupled with her sharp insight into solving workflow challenges made her an invaluable team member.
Outside of work, Heidi loved spending time with friends, exploring nature, reading, and playing games—especially trivia. She was passionate about her cruises to Alaska and always happy to share her experiences with anyone who will listen.
We are incredibly grateful to have had Heidi as part of our UBC family and she will be missed by everyone she’s worked with. Please keep Heidi’s loved ones in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time.
The service will be held on Saturday, April 26 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 4:30 pm
Location: Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2462 South Grandview Highway
If you need any support in processing this news, please reach out to UBC’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider.
| John Metras,
Associate Vice-President, Facilities |
Helen Yung,
Comptroller |