Facilities News
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Facilities Update
The Facilities Update is distributed by email each week on Tuesday. It contains a summary of the news and events to help team members and colleagues across all the Facilities departments be informed of issues and situations they need to know and/or would help them do their job.
This is an archive of past editions so you can catch up on the latest in Facilities.
For submissions or questions, please email communications@vpfo.ubc.ca.
2025 Newsletters
Summer (May – August)
- July 8: Facilities Ice Cream Social | Updates to the Centre for Occupational Health, Safety & Wellbeing | We’re saying goodbye to @UBCFixMySpace on X | USB Window cleaning | UBC Perception & Cognition Lab renovation | Workshops on accessible washroom design | Thermal units current operating status | Staying safe at work: Preventing MSI | Emergency preparedness: Driving near wildfires
- July 2: Lower Mall and Agronomy Road closed for construction July 7-18 | Get the scoop – It’s Ice Cream Social time | FSC Room 1717 Renovation begins July 7 | USB Lighting Renewal look ahead | Facilities website backend update this week | Do you know how to stay safe during extreme heat | Thermal units current operating status | Staying safe at work: Ergnomics: MSI Risk Factor – Work Posture | Emergency preparedness: Know the risks, make a plan, get a kit
- June 24: Planon app training continues on demand | Raccoon rescue | Beat the heat and stay safe with new items in Stores | Facilities website backend update | Deepen your disability inclusion literacy | Flag lowering for Ben Yoshida | NJSS June 2025 | Thermal units current operating status | Summer sizzles at the Fairview Commons BBQ | Staying safe at work: MSI risk factor – Repetition | Emergency preparedness: UBC Alert
- June 17: Facilities Town Hall: Reflecting on our progress and looking ahead | Our Facilities Roadmap | We’re live: 22 crews are using the new planon app | Custom hearing protection update | UBC projects featured in Innovation magazine | Thermal units current operating status | Philippine Independence Day celebrations | Staying safe at work: Dealing with heat stress | Emergency preparedness: Drop, cover, and hold on
- June 10: UBC wins ASHRAE award | Thank you for coming to VPFO Day 2025! | New Planon app launches this week | Requests for UBC Facilities branded clothing | Stores new HEPA vacuums | Upcoming road closures | June 2025 exam schedule | Get the scoop – it’s Ice Cream Social time
- June 3: Save the Date: Facilities Ice Cream Social | VPFO Day evening and night shift events | Update from the Centre | Update your devices for new Planon launch next week | Are you earthquake ready? | NJSS May 2025 | Thermal units current operating status | Prepare for an emergency: Bolt and brace everything in your house
- May 27: Facilities June Town Halls | Get prepared for the Planon app to go live! | Construction around campus | Upcoming road closures | Thermal units current operating status | Fourth Annual Building Operations Mechanical Team BBQ | Building Operations Trades Baseball Game | Staying safe at work: Ergonomics: MSI Risk Factor – Force | Emergency preparedness: Disaster Response Routes
- May 21: Reminder: June Town Halls for all Facilities staff | Planon app – Training dates | Recently updated: UBC International Travel Guidance | Navigate risk and drive success with support from ERA | NJSS: May 2025 | Thermal units current operating status | UBC Facilities Golf Tournament | Staying safe at work: Ergonomics – Recognizing the signs and symptoms of MSIs | Emergency preparedness: Keep cash on hand
- May 13: Save the date: June Town Halls | Thanks for joining the conversation at VPFO Day | Updated Stores tool rental process | Confined Space Rescue Team annual exercises | Improved communication in Planon App | Ongoing work: USB Lighting Renewal | Learn about the Lower Mall Precinct redevelopment at St. John’s College
- May 6: Shaping UBC Facilities services together: Customer focus groups | 1 week until VPFO Day | New electrical service energization request form | Survey: Interest in custom-molded hearing protection | Metro Vancouver’s Watering Restrictions are now in effect | Planon App update | Safety botos sale May 14 | Thermal units current operating status | Staying safe at work: Know your JOHSC representatives | Emergency preparedness: Set up your emergency medical information on your phone
Winter Term 2 (January – April)
- April 29: Lapu Lapu Day tragedy – supports for Facilities staff | Requesting materials in the new Planon app | Road closures during BMO Marathon on Sunday, May 4 | USB Power shutdown: Saturday June 13, 2026 | Earth Day: Working together to keep campus beautiful | NJSS April 2025 | Thermal units current operating status | 2 weeks until VPFO Day! | Staying safe at work: Step ladder safety | Emergency preparedness: Text, don’t call
- April 22: Launching our new Policy & Procedure Development Framework | New Fleet Management Policy: Driving toward safety & sustainability | Access Desk is only open during UBC Bookstore hours | Safety boots sale on May 14 | Summer is renovation season | Our New Planon App: Improved notes, statuses, and photos | April 28 is the National Day of Mourning | Thermal units current operating statuses | Happy Vaisakhi | Stay safe at work: Extension ladder safety | Prepare for an emergency: Automated External Defibrillators (AED) on campus
- April 15: Energizing the future: SHED project wins 2025 SAB Award | USB Lighting Renewal starting in late April | Coming this May! The Planon app is getting an upgrade | Ant season is here: Help keep pests away | Upcoming road closures: April 26 and May 5 | It’s not too late to join Clean up the Campus | UBC Facilities Golf Tournament | Thermal units current operating status | Staying safe at work: Pre-use inspections | Emergency preparedness: Keep a pair of shoes by your bed in case of a nighttime earthquake
- April 8: UBC opens Gordon B. Shrum Building | Solid Waste Infrastructure Guidelines update | New Scaffolding Safe Work Procedures | No parking in the cut-out in front of the Klinck Building | Shaping resilient campuses webinar recording | Zone list update | NJSS | Thermal units current operating status | Join the Clean up the Campus Event | 2025 UBC Facilities Golf Tournament | Staying safe at work: Workplace inspections | Emergency preparedness: Get to know your neighbours
- April 1: Our roadmap: strengthening service for a growing campus | Report any issues after radio network upgrades | Be the first to try the new Planon app | Reminder: Fill out the survey for the new Facilities website | Keeping the air flowing: Brimacombe VFDs replaced | Fire alarm monitoring transitioned to new company | Custodial Services thinking ahead | Thermal units current operating status | Thermal projects | Staying safe at work: Working safely at heights | Emergency preparedness: Pet preparedness
- March 25: Have your say on the new Facilities website | New Planon app coming in May | Restricting the use of DeepSeek AI apps | Storm the wall impacts | NJSS: March 2025 | Thermal units current operating status | Staying safe at work: WorkSafeBC Requirements SNOPA | Emergency preparedness: Grab-and-go bag
- March 18: Reminder: Apply for the 2025 EOI Program | April 2025 exam schedule now available | No parking in delivery cut-out next to Leonard S. Klinck Building | Shaping resilient campuses: Climate action and adaptation at UBC and Stanford webinar | Stay safe at work: Asbestos Alert | Prepare for an emergency: Make a household emergency plan
- March 11: Expressions of Interest 2025 is accepting applications | Wesbrook Mall Road closed between University Blvd. and Student Union Blvd. | Reviving the legacy: 1950s mural re-installed on purpose-built wall outside Brock Commons South | Check out photos from Pink Shirt day | Great job to our Triathlon Duathlon participants
- March 4: Adopting a new Facilities service delivery model | Let’s grow kindness as a team | Road closures: UBC Triathlon March 8 | NJSS: February 25 | Thermal projects updates | Thermal units current operating status | Make a team and bake a pie | Help with the Point-in-Time Homeless Count | Staying safe at work: Staying sharp as we spring forward during Daylight Savings | Emergency preparedness: How much water should I have for an emergency?
- February 25: Pink Shirt Day is tomorrow | Updated Facilities Service Centre and clerk emails | Car share vehicles cleaning begins this Friday | Follow one-way signage on Main Mall | Help with the Point-in-Time Homelessness Count at UBC | Sign up for Eve of Pie Day | Thermal units current operating status | Workplace strategies for mental health: protecting ourselves against bullying | Emergency preparedness: Earthquake safety
- February 18: Upcoming road closures | Pink Shirt Day is next week | Eve of Pie Day | Thermal units current operating status | Workplace strategies for mental health: Self-awareness for emotional intelligence | Emergency preparedness: Do you know where your gas meter is located?
- February 11: High efficiency, big savings: Replacing aging campus infrastructure | SRC loading bay closed Feb 13-14 for Invictus Games | Building Operations and Energy & Water Services websites will be transitioning | Noise work window Feb 15-Mar 2 | Thermal units current operating status | Staying safe at work: Hazard identification and managing risks | Emergency preparedness: Create a 10-step family emergency plan
- February 4: Join Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 26 | Scarfe Office Block is undergoing electrical renovation starting in May 2025 | The Zero Waste Market is open! | Climate Emergency Week | NJSS January 25, 2025 | Thermal units current operating statuses | Stay safe at work: Working in the cold — avoiding slips, trips, and falls | Prepare for an emergency: Do you have earthquake insurance?
- January 28: What’s going on with the water? Water pressure testing Jan 27-Feb 7 | Important Reminder: Working hours and break times | Naloxone kit installation | Aerial Lifts and Mobile Platform Procedure | Inspect your Safety Harnesses | Zero Waste Market reopening | Thermal units current operating status | NJSS January 21, 2025 | Updated UBC Sexual Misconduct Policy and training | Refine UBC’s strategic plan | Safety: Hearing test reminder | Emergency Preparedness: Beware of Aftershocks
- January 21: Green means go: Review the new Scaffolding Policy | 2025 Styrofoam pickup calendar | Thermal units current operating statuses | New movement screen and kinesiologist at The Centre | Visit the traveling health fair | Join the VPFO Sun Run team | Workplace strategies for mental health | Prepare for an emergency: Earthquakes in BC, explained
- January 14: The new Find a Space tool is live | Frosty weather is coming – follow these tips | Updated I-B-28 Hazard Identification and Assessment Program | UBC Alert testing on Jan 17 | Masks required in healthcare facilities | Reminder: Zero Waste Market closed until Feb 5 | Thermal units current operating statuses | NJSS | Stay safe at work: Hearing testing | Prepare for an emergency: Which non-perishable foods can I put in my emergency kit?
- January 7: New newsletter template – reminder for submissions | Make sure your phones and computers are up to date | New finance website and portal | Upcoming thermal projects | Thermal units current operating status | Join the VPFO Sun Run team | Stay safe at work: Workplace noise hazards | Prepare for an emergency: Keep medications in your emergency preparedness kit
2024 Newsletters
Winter Term 1 (September – December)
- December 17: Celebrating and reflecting on all our achievements this year | 2024 Staff Excellence Award
- December 10: Facilities Holiday Events are here | Be prepared for holiday closures | Working in the cold
- December 3: Fixing campus infrastructure breaks, spills, and leaks | Review the winter exam schedule
- November 26: Don’t forget to RSVP for the Facilities Winter Event | Operating Engineers trained in water softening practices
- November 19: Stay safe as we head from fall into winter | Improving safety in interstitial areas | Staff Excellence Award nominations
- November 13: Clog Monster campaign results | Safety alert: Slow down in the yard | Book your Respirator Fit Test now
- November 5: How are we saving 19 Olympic sized pools worth of water? | Climate Action Plan: Operational emissions going down
- October 29: Stop the Clog Monster outside the UBC Bookstore | Who is making a difference? Nominate them for a Staff Excellence Award
- October 22: Don’t feed the clog monster! | Refreshing our Facilities fleet | Updating Cintas uniforms to UBC Facilities
- October 16: How would you like to stay updated on Facilities’ 3-year road map? | Pedestrian bridge renovations at UBC Botanical Garden
- October 2: Upcoming road closures | Save the date: Kids to Work Day is November 6 | Give back to community and get free coffee!
- September 24: Orange Shirt Day at UBC | Celebrate Circular Economy Month | Building safety capacity: OHS Regulation App
- September 17: Operational Improvement in Municipal Services | Hebb Tower heating system repair | Celebrating staff in the 25 Year Club!
- September 10: Regular testing and maintenance lead to quick action in an emergency | VPFO booths at UBC’s Welcome Back BBQ
- September 4: Brock Commons South welcomes its first cohort of students | Rigid Equipment Training Session for Plumbers & Stores Teams
Summer (May – August)
- August 27: Share your feedback on the Planon internal communications changes | Driving safely on campus | Great Hall upgrades
- August 20: Construction and road closures for the fall semester | Entering a lab space? Follow these safety procedures
- August 13: Touch a truck: Giving kids a hands-on experience of Waste Management | Mental health training for managers and supervisors
- August 6: Reaching for the sky: New high-head lab under construction for the Sustainable Timber-Built Environment (STBE) cluster
- July 30: Successful PRV-1 upgrade at the Chan Centre | Beaty Expansion – tower crane removal August 15 | Safety footwear
- July 23: Thank you for coming out to our Facilities Townhall! | Understanding roles in the Construction Office | Planon Communications tips
- July 16: Learn about the future of Facilities | Congrats VPFO Day 2024 Survey winners! | Personal protective equipment
- July 9: Developing Facilities’ 3-year Road Map | New internal communications functionality in Planon | Dealing with heat stress
- July 2: Be mindful of work impacts on in-use classrooms | Developing Facilities’ 3-year road map | Engineering Road closure
- June 25: From identifying a maintenance issue to changing the fancoil industry | Building Operations reduces aged work orders by 73%
- June 18: See you at VPFO Day! | Museum of Anthropology reopening featured in the news | The Building Emergency Response Plan for USB
- June 11: A message from John: UBC Facilities recognized as an industry leader | Museum of Anthropology reopens
- June 4: Confined Space Rescue Team on-site exercises | June 2024 exam schedule is now available | Frank’s Hot Lunch recording
- May 28: I-C-07 vehicle inspections | Listen online to Frank Laezza at Hot Lunch | Be vigilant to avoid phishing emails
- May 21: Introducing our Warm-up-to-work program | Keep the South Campus Warehouse clean and organized
- May 14: Explore the stunning new Chung Lind Gallery | Save money and save the planet at the Zero Waste Market
- May 7: Museum of Anthropology to reopen on June 13 | New policy on entering time into Workday | Loud noise from USB roof project
Winter Term 2 (January – April)
- April 30: Macleod Building wins Sustainable Architecture Building award | Help UBC develop a course on disability for staff and faculty
- April 23: This Earth Day, we collected over 100 lbs. of garbage | Send your admin a shoutout for Administrative Professionals’ Day!
- April 16: Working together to create a smooth exam setup process | Metro Vancouver’s Watering Restrictions come into effect on May 1
- April 9: Make a difference this Earth Day at Clean up the Campus | Keeping the clean water flowing to campus
- April 2: Updates to UBC Facilities’ charge-out rates | 50% off furniture at the Zero Waste Market | Asbestos information from Planon
- March 26: Do your part and Sort It Out | Ready for the USB Roof Renewal? | Running large reports in Planon
- March 19: Up in the sky | Last chance to apply for the Expression of Interest (EOI) program | Emergency backup generator servicing
- March 12: What does it look like to step outside of your comfort zone? Reflecting on VPFO team members’ acts of courage
- March 5: Facilities is one of the recipients of the Campus as a Living Lab ‘Grand Challenge’ award | Expression of Interest (EOI) program
- February 27: Pink Shirt Day | Car share vehicle cleaning | Building Operations mechanical code training | Workplace inspections
- February 21: Share your feedback: CUPE116 and IUOE115 staff | Join Pink Shirt Day events | Hazard identification and managing risks
- February 13: Remember to charge electric car share vehicles | Construction on Jack Bell Building Renewal to begin
- February 6: Join these Pink Shirt Day events | Road closures: Construction on Wesbrook Mall | Important email changes coming in February
- January 30: Share your thoughts and join a focus group session | Building safety capacity: Workplace noise hazards
- January 24: Shaping our customer service strategy together | Stores rolls out smart lockers | New I-B-55 Hot Work Safe Work Procedure
- January 16: Message from John: A thank you for your hard work this weekend | Preparing for extreme weather
- January 9: Shaping our customer service strategy together | New safety trainers for 2024 | CHBE- Digital Design Studio construction
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