PEO installs second consecutive female president

Marisa Sterling launched her term as the 101st president of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) during the regulating body’s first ever virtual annual general meeting last week. That’s perhaps fitting for the assistant dean of University of Toronto’s faculty of applied science and engineering, responsible for diversity, inclusion and professionalism, who also spearheads the Engineering Change Lab.

Sterling holds a degree in chemical engineering from University of Toronto, is a fellow of Engineers Canada and a recipient of the Canada 150 Heritage Pin. She has previously been the manager of enforcement with PEO and served as president of the Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education for eight years.

She’ll lead the 24-member PEO council for the 2020-21 term. As the eighth female president in PEO’s history, she immediately succeeds the seventh, Nancy Hill, who has just completed the 2019-20 term.

Equinix stretches its Canadian digital reach

Equinix is stretching its Canadian digital reach with the acquisition of 13 data centres from BCE Inc. The $1.04 billion (USD $750 million) deal, which is expected to close later this year, will give the U.S. REIT and digital platform operator access to markets in Vancouver, Kamloops, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Saint John, New Brunswick, and expand its holdings in Toronto, where it currently has two co-location facilities in the downtown core.

Under the terms of the all-cash deal, more than 600 Bell customers within the data centres will become Equinix customers. The two entities will also forge a strategic partnership to offer a combined package of Bell’s telecommunications services and access to the Equinix platform.

Equinix now owns and operates 210 data centres in 55 regions of 26 countries. The new Canadian acquisitions will add 1.2 million square feet of data centre space and 400,000 square feet of co-location space. In outlining the rationale for the new deal, Equinix touts Canada’s “a high-growth market with a business focus on accelerating cloud adoption” and opportunities for future expansion.

“The acquisition of these 13 strategic assets further extends the depth and breadth of Equinix’s global platform,” says Jon Lin, Equinix president in the Americas. “Additionally, it opens key gateways for North America to Asia through Vancouver and North America to Europe through the submarine cable systems in the Millidgeville (Saint John) area.”

“Our partnership with Equinix will further accelerate digital transformation opportunities for Canadian enterprise customers,” adds Tom Little, president, Bell Business Markets.

USGBC develops COVID-focused LEED credit

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced a new pilot credit in the LEED green building rating system intended to support operators as they respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Safety First: Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Space provides direction to effectively clean and disinfect buildings using green cleaning best practices in line with COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Essentially USGBC is providing a ‘roadmap’ to guide building owners and managers in ways to meet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cleaning and hygiene requirements to address the pandemic, while still using green cleaning products,” said Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group, which helped develop the credit.

Facilities can earn the credit by creating a policy and implementing healthy indoor environment and worker safety practices. A team must also be in place to implement the program.

Owners and operators must carry out the following actions to receive the credit:

Describe the approach, including a timeline outlining when new cleaning practices were put in place for COVID-19, along with a copy of the green cleaning policy or program.
Prepare a list of cleaning products and materials used or purchased to clean the facility, noting which are and are not compliant with green cleaning criteria.
Utilize cleaning equipment that has ergonomic design features to reduce worker injuries due to vibration, noise, and user fatigue.
Identify “high-touch points” along with frequencies for cleaning and disinfecting them.
Give a description of the cleaning staff training programs developed specifically to address COVID-19.
Include training details for the proper application of disinfectants and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Implement quantitative testing and verification of the cleanliness of surfaces.
Educate occupants to ensure they understand the steps taken to disinfect and clean the facility and protect human health.

“One benefit of this program is to show that the professional cleaning industry can stop the spread of COVID-19 without resorting to conventional cleaning products that can harm the environment,” Ashkin explained in a statement. “Fighting this pandemic, protecting human health, and protecting the environment are all still possible.”

“We don’t have to choose between public health and a healthy economy,” added Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of the USGBC. “The future will require both to thrive. Our priority now is to build people’s trust that their spaces are healthy and have a positive impact not only on them but the economy at large.”

For more information on LEED and how green building practices can support COVID-19 recovery efforts, visit the USGBC’s website.

Canadian students win innovation competition

Two Canadian students are among the winners of the North American FORM 2020 Student Innovation Competition. Alexandra Clément, interior design student at Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, is the first Canadian to win the first prize of the competition.

The Origami desk designed by Alexandra Clément encompasses modular art in its simplest form, epitomizing creativity without sacrificing functionality. Inspired by the ancestral art of Japan, the desk plays with various shapes and volumes to maximize its possible uses, including multiple built-in storage compartments. She received a $2,000 US cash award and will see her design built and showcased at NeoCon 2021.

Jacob Ethier, master’s student in environmental design at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), won second place. Matthew Lam and Benjamin Ma, students at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, received an honourable mention for their joint project.

This year, the FORM 2020 Student Innovation Competition received a record number of 150 submissions from more than 40 universities, cégeps and colleges in Canada and the United States. To participate, students in interior design and architecture programs were invited to submit the design of a piece of furniture under the theme “Blurred Lines”, examining the intersection of nature and technology. Participants could win one of the cash prizes and have their creation built and exhibited as part of the NeoCon 2021 event.

“We are very pleased with the enthusiasm that many students and teachers from Canada had for the FORM 2020 Student Innovation Competition. We are particularly delighted that students from our country distinguished themselves this year to obtain the two first places and an honourable mention,” said Johanne Levesque, marketing director at Formica Canada. “This North American competition was created to stimulate creativity and promote the talent of the next generation of architects and designers. The participation of each student is a great learning experience and I am convinced that the winners of this 2020 edition will be strongly stimulated by their performance.”

EPA issues advisory on disinfectant claims

An EPA advisory warns some disinfectant products on the market claiming to combat coronavirus have not been reviewed or approved by the agency.

In a May 2020 compliance advisory, the EPA notes that some products being used to disinfect surfaces include unapproved claims of effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19. As the claims have not been reviewed by the EPA, these products may present a risk, especially to healthcare providers.

The agency notes that cleaning products claiming to kill and/or be effective against viruses are pesticides and must be accepted and registered with the EPA prior to distribution or sale.

The EPA’s “List N” includes the names of disinfectants that meet its criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2. Surface disinfectant products on this list have not been tested specifically against coronavirus; however, the EPA notes that it “expects them to kill the virus because they demonstrate efficacy against a harder-to-kill virus or another human coronavirus similar to the one causing COVID-19.”

The advisory also addresses pesticidal devices, which are instruments used to destroy, repel, trap, or mitigate any pests, including viruses (i.e. ozone generators, UV lights, etc). The EPA does not routinely review their safety or efficacy.

For more information on EPA’s enforcement actions, refer to the agency’s COVID-19 enforcement and compliance resources.

Slate Office REIT advances new CEO from within

Steve Hodgson has been named chief executive officer of Slate Office REIT. He assumes the role after serving as the REIT’s chief operating officer and as a vice president with Slate Asset Management.

He has fulfilled key responsibilities for asset management, business development and oversight of operations, leasing and capital investment since joining the company, from Oxford Properties, in 2014. The REIT currently holds a portfolio of 36 properties, primarily located in Canada, while Slate Asset Management has approximately $6.5 billion in assets under management.

“Steve’s deep knowledge of our investment portfolio and rich experience across the North American commercial real estate industry will continue to benefit Slate Office REIT as we pursue our strategy and growth initiatives,” observes John O’Bryan, chairman of the board of trustees.

“I thank the board for the confidence they have placed in me as we remain committed to delivering significant value for our unitholders,” Hodgson says.

Outgoing CEO Scott Antoniak will now switch focus to private market opportunities. “I am excited to embrace a new challenge within private markets and to remain a part of the broader Slate Asset Management family. Slate Office REIT is in excellent hands under Steve,” he affirms.

B.C. invokes terms for CECRA-eligible landlords

Small business and non-profit tenants in British Columbia that would theoretically qualify for Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) cannot be evicted before the end of June, even if their landlords have not enrolled in the relief program. The B.C. government has issued an order under the provincial Emergency Program Act to prohibit CECRA-eligible landlords from terminating lease agreements or taking possession of tenants’ goods and properties related to non-payment during the period the program has been designed to cover.

“Preventing landlords who are eligible for CECRA from evicting tenants can encourage landlords to apply for the program and give some temporary relief to businesses who have been hardest hit by the pandemic,” Carole James, B.C.’s Minister of Finance said as she announced the order.

The move is in step with one of three recommendations the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is promoting to support businesses dealing with COVID-19-triggered financial stress. In addition to a temporary moratorium on evictions, the organization urges governments to provide tenants with direct access to their share of the funds in cases where their landlord has not applied, and calls for a simplified application process.

“I can’t emphasize strongly enough how important it is to fix CECRA and put in place a decent safety net for tenants whose landlords won’t use it,” CFIB executive vice president Laura Jones asserts. “Rent relief is a mess that needs a major clean-up. Workable rent relief is make-or-break for over half of the small businesses we surveyed, and governments need to make this a top priority.”

WorkSafeBC premiums waived for CEWS employers

WorkSafeBC is waiving premiums for employers who are approved to receive the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for furloughed workers (employees on leave with full or partial pay).

WorkSafeBC recognizes the challenges employers are facing during this extraordinary time, and in light of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, will waive premiums on wages paid to furloughed workers of employers receiving CEWS subsidies. This change will be retroactive to the March 15, 2020 start date and continue for the duration of the CEWS program. Eligible employers will need to maintain documentation to identify workers who were furloughed as a result of this provincial health emergency.

This is the second measure WorkSafeBC has implemented to provide support for B.C.’s employers. Approximately 27,000 employers in the province have already opted to take advantage of the premium deferral measure implemented on March 27, 2020. Employers will not be charged a penalty or interest on first quarter premiums, up to the deferral date of June 30, 2020.

Waiving premiums for employers of furloughed workers will help support the rehiring of employees who may have already been laid off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will help better position employers who are considering reopening in the coming weeks. WorkSafeBC is committed to providing essential services to B.C.’s workers and employers and will continue to review support measures during this time.

The CEWS was announced on April 1, 2020 to help employers protect jobs and rehire employees during the coronavirus crisis. The federal government recently extended the CEWS by an additional 12 weeks from June 6 to August 29, 2020.

Employers can use this worksheet WorkSafeBC Assessable Earnings Reduction Calculation to calculate the amounts to exclude from assessable payroll for furloughed workers who were eligible for a CEWS subsidy.

Working at home full time undesirable for most

The office remains a preferable environment for the majority of workers who oppose the idea of working from home every day after the COVID-19 crisis ends, according to Gensler Research Institute’s new “US Work From Home Survey 2020.”

Tallying responses from more than 2,200 U.S.-based workers, the survey looked at multiple generations, 11 industries and various roles, from professional staff to senior leaders. It found only 12 per cent of respondents desire to work from home full time. Most want to return because their home doesn’t match certain aspects of the office, namely “people,” according to 74 per cent of respondents.

“What people are missing the most is the ability for impromptu face-to-face time, but also scheduled meetings with colleagues in the office, socializing and that feeling of being a part of the community,” says Annie Bergeron, design director at Gensler. “It’s the hustle-bustle of being together and collaborating, and a little less of a structured format that we have now with remote collaboration.”

At least 70 per cent of workers want to return the majority of the week, with 26 per cent preferring one or two days at home. At least 30 per cent desire even more work-from-home days.

“What they’re really looking for is flexibility,” Bergeron says, delving beneath the numbers. “Our research shows time and time again that people are at their peak effectiveness when they have choice and balance. Work from home is going to become one of the choices available to people.”

Those who do want to return expect critical changes: more space, less desk sharing and more support for virtual and mobile work. The majority also feel positively about certain measures their employer would enact to make the workplace safer, such as reduced shared spaces, social distancing and work from home.

Findings also reveal the pandemic was many workers’ first experience working from home. Only one in ten did so prior to the COVID-19 crisis. Most people are now working remotely, and doing it successfully—a revelation Bergeron says. But if it will become a revolution remains to be seen. At the very least it will “allow forced work styles to evolve.”

Generational preferences

Not every generation is enjoying working from home to the same degree, the survey also found. Younger respondents are struggling more with staying up-to-date. Baby boomers and gen-Xers know what’s expected of them and feel they accomplish more at the end of the day, but millennials and Generation Z feel more stressed and report getting less work done. They also feel like they aren’t making a difference working from home.

“It’s a little counterintuitive because you would think that millennials or Generation Z have grown up with technology and are used to it; that this is really natural and easy for them,” Bergeron points out. “At this stage in their career they love to socialize with co-workers and be part of a work culture; the peer group is very important to them. We’re finding they are most lost in this whole thing.”

Another key aspect younger workers are missing is the mentor-mentee relationship, which “thrives in-person,” in the office.

“More senior workers, who know what their role is in an organization or perhaps have a home office or a backyard, with slightly different amenities and more independence at work, tend to be more satisfied with the work-from-home experience,” says Bergeron. “The paradox is that they are also the people needed back at work—to offer those mentor-mentee relationships.”

Going forward, employers will have to take a close look when making decisions for the future workplace. Major shifts to work routines possibly hold the potential to create new, more balanced ones that empower each worker, no matter what the majority desires.

“There is no one-size-fits all; it will be up to employers to survey their workers—or discover upon a return to work—what works best for which segment and then allow for that flexibility,” says Bergeron.

PEI enters third phase of reopening plan

Prince Edward Island has entered the third phase of its Renew PEI, Together plan for reopening services across the province.

On June 1 public spaces such as art galleries, libraries, and youth and community centres were permitted to reopen. Swimming pools, gyms, and arenas can also welcome back guests.

Some forms of visitation are now permitted at long-term care facilities in the province, though visitors must be screened before entering the premises.

Nail salons, tattoo parlours, and spas can begin booking appointments, with the exception of services in which the client cannot wear a mask for an extended period of time, such as threading, mouth and facial piercings, teeth whitening, and facials.

Dine-in service at restaurants is now permitted for PEI residents only, with a maximum of 50 patrons per dining room and a maximum of six customers per table. Campgrounds, inns, and bed and breakfasts will also be allowed to accept customers who reside in the province.

Other restrictions lifted include those for child care centres, day camps, and elective dental treatments.

Facilities included in Phase 3 must still follow the public health guidance as laid out for all four phases of Renew PEI, Together and must ensure occupants adhere to physical distancing guidelines. All businesses operating during the COVID-19 pandemic are also required to have an operational plan. Though the plan does not need to be submitted to the Chief Public Health Office before reopening, it must be made available during inspections by a government official.

PEI’s fourth phase will begin in three weeks. For full details regarding stipulations set out in phase Phase 3, or for more information on the province’s reopening plan, visit PEI’s department of health and wellness website.

Report advises against antimicrobial products

Perkins and Will and the nonprofit Healthy Building Network (HBN) maintain that building products with antimicrobial treatments are not proven to be a safe or effective means of controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus.

They reaffirm the findings of a March 2017 white paper on antimicrobial building products which concludes antimicrobial additives have not been proven to have the health benefits they promote, and alternatives should be sought wherever possible.

“We’ve been receiving an uptick in questions from clients and colleagues across every sector about how to prevent the spread of pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, in the built environment,” says Mary Dickinson, associate principal and co-director of the Material Performance Lab at Perkins and Will.

“As champions of material health and transparency, we knew a part of our response needed to address the questions surrounding the use of materials with antimicrobials. While we published a robust white paper on the matter in 2017, we needed to ask if the science and governmental feedback was still valid under the current circumstances. It was important to put out research-backed guidance and best practices on this matter as soon as possible.”

The report findings include the following:

Human health impacts

Despite marketing claims suggesting otherwise, no scientific evidence demonstrates additional human health benefits from antimicrobial additives in building products and materials. Such products include textiles, furnishings, flooring, tiles, and other surfaces and interior finishes. In fact, science has shown with repeated human exposure, antimicrobials can inadvertently contribute to the formation of ‘superbugs’—germs that are resistant to medical treatment.

Environmental impacts

Antimicrobial additives have also been shown to leach out of materials during use, entering drains and water treatment facilities. Since wastewater treatment sludge is sometimes spread as crop fertilizer in some jurisdictions, contamination of the surrounding environment becomes a risk. In fact, certain antimicrobials, such as nano silver, are considered toxic to humans and entire aquatic ecosystems.

“It can be challenging to completely avoid antimicrobials if manufacturers provide little or no transparency into their products’ ingredients,” said Max Richter, senior associate of the Perkins and Will Material Performance Lab. “But designers and architects can make more informed decisions through resources such as the Perkins and Will Transparency portal and Precautionary List, as well as HBN’s Pharos website.”

The importance of proper cleaning

Another negative consequence of using building products with antimicrobial additives is the false sense of security they may create when overly relied upon as a part of an infection control plan. In some cases, the use of these products creates the potential for less-diligent facility maintenance.

Marketing claims that antimicrobial building products reduce the transmission of disease are scientifically unfounded. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say human health is best ensured through proper cleaning practices—such as wiping down surfaces with soap and water before treating them with a disinfectant approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—and through proper maintenance of building engineering systems.

Until the CDC issues guidance regarding the efficacy of building products treated with antimicrobials, Perkins and Will and HBN advise design professionals to avoid their use whenever possible.

“As we return to our offices, schools, and public spaces, the CDC and public health authorities are identifying the proper strategies to keep people healthy,” says HBN founder Bill Walsh. “Antimicrobial building products are not one of those strategies.”

Concrete industry calls for federal strategic spending

Canada’s cement and concrete industry are calling on the federal government to prioritize construction and strategic infrastructure spending to help boost Canada’s economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A successful economic recovery will require a commitment to use time-sensitive infrastructure spending,” said Michael McSweeney, president and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada. “We have a very short construction season in Canada and municipalities have lost much of their financial capacity to fund important infrastructure projects this year. We need the federal government to help municipalities get local community infrastructure projects going to boost economic activity and public confidence.”

The industry’s Seven-point Declaration entitled Building a Successful Economic Recovery in Canada was developed to help shape the federal government’s COVID-19 recovery plan. It highlights the weakened financial state of Canada’s municipalities and the need for the federal government to absorb a greater share of the cost of infrastructure projects in communities across Canada.

The Seven-point Declaration calls on the federal government to:

Put the construction sector at the core of the Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
Prioritize large-scale infrastructure projects.
De-risk provincial and municipal projects by ensuring federal dollars are first into projects.
Boost investment in municipal State of Good Repair (SOGR) projects.
Optimize existing infrastructure programs that already have approved projects and funding.
Accelerate the transfer of historic levels of funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan.
Invest in climate action and the continued decarbonization of energy-intensive industries such as cement.

In 2019, the building materials and construction industries contributed $157 billion in economic activity representing 7.9 per cent of Canada’s overall GDP.

“The cement and concrete industry is responsible for the employment of over 158,000 Canadians and annual economic activity in excess of $76 billion,” added McSweeney. “Our products are local and are produced in virtually every community across the country. We are in a great position to give Canada’s economy an economic boost and help carry on the good work of building a more resilient country.”

Guidelines issued to protect homebuyers, sellers

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has issued a new series of guidelines to protect the health and safety of homebuyers, sellers and realtors during the process of transacting a home.

Open houses were shut down in March, prompting realtors to use digital tools to conduct virtual open houses, showings and execute real estate transactions. As the province reopens, many consumers are looking to dive back into the market.

“Realtors are here to help make home buyers and sellers feel comfortable and safe while they work to find their dream home,” says Sean Morrison, president of OREA. “OREA’s guidelines have been informed by up-to-date information from public health, best practices from the industry and experiences in jurisdictions across North America.”

OREA’s guidelines cover general advice and information for realtors selling properties and those working with home buyers. For example:

Realtors should first and foremost continue to use virtual tools, conduct virtual open houses and virtual showings to the greatest extent possible;
Use phone, email or video for client communications;
Process documents, forms and acknowledgments electronically;
Thoroughly disinfect surfaces, leave doors open and keep lights on at all-times during in-person showings; and
When interacting with clients, maintain physical distancing and use personal protective equipment when distancing is not possible.

To read OREA’s phase one guidelines for real estate transactions click here.

Manitoba’s gyms, community centres among businesses reopening

A new batch of Manitoba businesses are reopening under Phase Two of the province’s plan to restore service.

All facilities will continue to adhere to the rules established in the first phase of reopening, unless specifically noted in the Phase Two roadmap.

For instance, restaurants and bars can now serve guests in their dining room as well as on their patio, but operators must cap occupancy at 50 per cent of normal capacity and ensure the recommended two-metre distance is maintained between tables.

Many types of businesses must also adhere to specific cleaning protocols. Gyms and community centres, for example, must allow adequate time to disinfect surfaces and equipment between fitness classes.

Other businesses included in the province’s second phase include:

Schools for staff and specific programs; classroom learning remains suspended until the end of the school year
Personal services businesses, including manicurists and pedicurists, tattoo parlours, estheticians, cosmetologists, electrologists and tanning parlours
Film productions, with the recommendation that virtual pre-production and/or virtual rehearsals be implemented whenever possible

For the full list of businesses included in Manitoba’s Phase Two, as well as specific details regarding stipulations for service, please visit the province of Manitoba’s website.

Ontario nudges up electricity price threshold

Time-of-use electricity rates remain suspended in Ontario until the end of October. However, as of today, residential, small business and farm customers will pay at a rate of 12.8 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in place of 10.1 cents/kWh. The latter was the lowest electricity price threshold of the three-tiered time-of-use rate structure, which was shelved earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Since March 24, 2020, we have invested just over $175 million to deliver emergency rate relief. This investment was made to protect the people of Ontario from a marked increase in electricity rates as they did their part by staying home to prevent the further spread of the virus,” Greg Rickford, Ontario’s Minister of Energy, observed last weekend as he announced the new price, to be known as the COVID-19 recovery rate. “This fixed rate will continue to suspend time-of-use prices in a fiscally responsible manner.”

The new rate aligns with the Financial Accountability Office (FAO) of Ontario’s recent calculation of the average that residential households were paying under the time-of-use pricing regime before COVID-19 forced a vast number of them to spend the entire day in their homes. The FAO also estimated it would cost the Ontario government a further $316 million to keep the rate at 10.1 cents/kWh until August 31.

Along with the five-month assurance of the new rate, the provincial government has earmarked $17 million to subsidize utility bills for account holders experiencing COVID-19-related financial stress. Residential customers can apply for a one-time grant through the $9-million COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), while $8 million will be available for struggling small business operators. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has also extended its order prohibiting electricity and gas utilities from disconnecting customers until July 31.

Beginning in November, customers will be offered flexibility to opt back into a time-of-use pricing scheme or to choose tiered pricing, which will tie rates to certain levels of consumption. The Ontario Energy Board will devise and announce the prices for both options in the coming months.

“We recognize that businesses and families are living with a great deal of uncertainty, and they need to know what they can expect when they open their electricity bills every month,” Rickford said. “The new COVID-19 Recovery Rate will provide stability for Ontario electricity consumers, while we work to re-open our province and restart our economy.”

IDS Vancouver announces new 2020 event format

The Interior Design Show (IDS) is returning to Vancouver this fall in a new format and with the extended dates of October 1 to 8. IDS Vancouver was set to take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre, but due to COVID-19 and the B.C. government’s ban on all major events, festivals, and public gatherings of more than 50 people until further notice, IDS Vancouver 2020 will feature online and offline events hosted in more intimate venues around Vancouver.

“IDS Vancouver’s mission is to support the design industry up and down the West Coast,” says IDS Vancouver director, Jody Phillips. “After consulting with key stakeholders in the industry, we have made the decision to not cancel or postpone the event, but to reimagine it as a completely new hybrid experience.”

With the 2020 theme of Natural Wonder, highlighting the idea of nature as creative director and notions of biomimicry, animism, and optimism, IDS Vancouver will be hosting 20 plus accredited virtual seminars with timely topics on designing for a post-pandemic world, the future of city planning, and more. All events are open to design professionals, post-secondary students, and design lovers alike.

IDS Vancouver will also be introducing a brand new digital platform that includes a virtual show floor, 1-on-1 appointment booking tools for vendors, networking for attendees, and live content streaming.

“We are in a creative industry and as such it’s our responsibility to re-envision a platform to support individual designers, architects and brands of all sizes in these unprecedented times. We want to create a place for them to share their visions, challenges, triumphs, and potential for a more thoughtful, more beautiful design practice, post-pandemic,” says Phillips.

ACI appoints Nathan Sell to new regulatory position

Nathan Sell, ACI’s new director, regulatory science

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) announced the appointment of Nathan Sell as director, regulatory science.

In this newly created position, Sell will be responsible for development and management of research strategies related to the safety of cleaning product ingredients, serve as a point of contact for ACI’s chemical management and regulatory programs, and help expand scientific understanding of ACI chemistry tools and technologies.

Sell was previously a chemical review manager in the Office of Pesticide Programs at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a technical writer and editor for the Office of Science Coordination and Policy, and an ORISE research participant in the Office of Water.

“Nathan comes on board with extensive knowledge in risk-based decision making and technical writing, having worked at the EPA in the Offices of Pesticide Programs and Science Coordination and Policy,” said Dr. James Kim, ACI vice president, science and regulatory affairs, in a statement. “His experience leading a team of scientists, economists, and technical staff for pesticide reviews will translate well to working with ACI Task Forces and Work Groups.”

Generational preferences

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