Nominations open for IICRC’s 2020 hall of fame

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is accepting nominations for its 2020 hall of fame until June 30.

Nominations are open to past and present IICRC constituents with a minimum 25 consecutive years in the inspection, cleaning, and restoration industries. Verifiable proof of previous or current IICRC certification must be available, as well as information on how the nominee has made a positive impact on the IICRC. Posthumous, product innovator, and technique creator nominations are welcome.

“The Hall of Fame Awards honour up to five individuals a year in the inspection, cleaning, and restoration industries that have made a lasting impact on the IICRC and its registrants,” said IICRC chairman Kevin Pearson in a statement from the organization. “We want to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond with years of service to the IICRC. Without them the Institute would not be what it is today.”

Inductees will receive free travel and accommodation to the awards ceremony which will occur on October 3 at the organization’s annual instructors meeting in Las Vegas. At the awards dinner, inductees will be presented with a special take-home plaque, in addition to a separate plaque that will be displayed in the IICRC Hall of Fame at the Global Resource Center in Las Vegas.

For more information about the IICRC and its Hall of Fame, please contact Jessie Koerner at [email protected]. To submit a nomination, visit iicrc.org/IICRCHallofFame.

About IICRC
The IICRC is a global, ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization (SDO) that credentials individuals in 20+ categories within the inspection, cleaning, and restoration industries. Representing more than 60,000 certified technicians and 6,000 certified firms in 22 countries, the IICRC, in partnership with regional and international trade associations, represents the entire industry. For more information, visit www.iicrc.org.

Construction of Edmonton senior centre progressing

Just over a year after construction started, the Gene Zwozdesky Centre at Norwood in Edmonton is taking shape.

About 160 construction workers are currently on site, working extended hours to keep this important and critical project on schedule and on budget.

With work progressing quickly and completion slated for early 2024, the project is expected to create 1,600 construction-related jobs.

“It is exciting to see the Gene Zwozdesky Centre take shape. Seniors and complex care residents in and around Edmonton are one step closer to increased access to the quality continuing care they need,” said Alberta Minister of Health Tyler Shandro.

Key markers of project progress to date include the relocation of underground 72kV transmission line, completion of excavation, and buildout of the foundation and concrete structure.

“I am constantly amazed and impressed by the expertise and commitment of our construction industry workers. Despite dealing with challenges such as the weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, they reflect the determination of Albertans to get the job done and they are an integral part in fuelling the restart of our economy,” said Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure.

BOMA BC celebrates excellence with virtual awards

BOMA BC celebrated top companies in the commercial real estate industry with its first virtual awards event.

The three-course meal and elaborate stage and lighting was replaced by an online Zoom “Awards Happy Hour”, streamed live from the BOMA office. Staff were strategically placed in different areas of the office to abide by physical distancing.

“Now more than ever, we needed to recognize our members for their outstanding service and professionalism. Once we knew a traditional event was no longer an option, we started to think about how we could bring some lightness to a difficult time,” said Damian Stathonikos, president of BOMA BC. And in that vein, a comedian was hired to provide comedic relief for a 15-minute live set.

Networking, a huge component of BOMA’s awards gala, was provided in the virtual event by having 15 breakout rooms so people could catch up with each other and meet new people.

“We hope to have multiple local winners recognized at the national level. Whether at the virtual BOMEX conference this fall, or in-person in Vancouver next year, we are excited to see them compete nationally. Some may even move on to the international level. There are always things to look forward to, even in times of disruption,” said Stathonikos.

2020 BOMA BC AWARD WINNERS:

The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY): 500,000 – 1 million s.f.
Park Place, QuadReal Property Group

TOBY: 250,000 – 499,999 s.f.
745 Thurlow, QuadReal Property Group

TOBY: Under 100,000 s.f.
1669 East Broadway, Wesgroup Properties LP

TOBY: Medical Office Building
Three Bridges Community Health Centre, Wesgroup Properties LP

TOBY: Retail: Open Air Strip Mall
Millstream Village Shopping Centre, GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

TOBY: Corporate Facility
Translink Building: 287 Nelsons Court, Wesgroup Properties LP

TOBY: Renovated
609 Granville St. – Canaccord Genuity Place, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation

TOBY: Suburban Office Low Rise
Kent Corporate Centre, GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

Earth Award
980 Howe, Manulife Investment Management

Health & Safety Award
Bouygues Energies & Services Canada

Pinnacle Customer Service
Haakon Industries

Tenant Improvement of the Year
Oxford Properties Group for Social 7 Lounge

Building Operations Team of the Year
Bouygues Energies & Services Canada’s RCMP ‘E’ Division team

Young Professional
Garrett Wiseman, FirstOnSite Restoration

Helium could buoy Saskatchewan resource sector

Helium extraction and production could help buoy the Saskatchewan resource sector as western Canada’s oil and gas industry continues to struggle. Calgary-based North American Helium Inc. has announced plans to get a second field into commercial production, with construction of a purification facility set to begin in Battle Creek, Saskatchewan this summer. The company’s first well, located nearby in Cypress Hills, is slated to come on-line around the same time.

Although the general public may be most familiar with helium for its minor sideline use in balloons, it is more practically required in a range of industries, technologies and medical research, including diagnostic testing, semiconductors, fibre optics, nuclear power facilities, rocket systems and welding. Canada theoretically boasts vast reserves of the inert gas, which is a by-product of the multi-million-year breakdown of uranium and thorium, but, historically, it is difficult to find and has almost always been discovered as an incidental offshoot of oil and gas drilling.

Dwindling world supply and corollary rising prices have now prompted entrepreneurial geological explorers to actively search for reserves like the two North American Helium has identified in southwest Saskatchewan. Alternatively, helium can be separated from natural gas — where it shows up in trace amounts — through cumbersome and more emissions-intensive industrial processing.

“Our Battle Creek project demonstrates that reliable long-term production of helium can be created from non-hydrocarbon sources, which means a smaller environmental footprint while still benefiting from the expertise developed in Saskatchewan’s oil service industry,” says Nicholas Snyder, chairman and chief executive officer of North American Helium. “The government has shown a commitment to the development of this industry in Saskatchewan, which will contribute new production needed to replace depleting natural-gas-linked helium sources in North America.”

The company holds exploration rights for approximately 3.7 million acres, primarily in Saskatchewan and Utah, and announced last week that it secured $39 million in equity financing to be invested in what will be Canada’s largest helium purification facility, as well as further exploration. In turn, the Saskatchewan government is providing incentives through a provincial sales tax exemption on exploratory and down-hole drilling and an incentive program for investment in new or expanded oil and gas processing.

“Helium production in Saskatchewan is set to take off,” asserts Saskatchewan Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre. “The building of this purification facility by North American Helium will enable the province to scale helium production and important export capacity.”

“We are fortunate to be operating in a jurisdiction with a supportive regulatory structure, favourable geology for helium production and a skilled workforce,” Snyder concurs.

Tania Haluk new VP of operations for Wilson Blanchard

Tania Haluk has joined Wilson Blanchard Management as the vice-president of operations. In this role, she will focus on branch operations, business development, client growth, employee training and retention, and project service areas.

She has several decades of experience working in condominium communities and has held various executive roles, specializing in areas such as start-ups, operations, transitions, and organizational effectiveness.

“Tania’s extensive experience in the property management industry and her advanced skills in organizational leadership and customer service make her the perfect new addition to the Wilson Blanchard team,” stated Brad Wells, RCM, RPA, CMCA, branch president. “We look forward to seeing how Tania implements her management style and customer focus to further our client growth and retention.”

She currently serves as president of the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI), Toronto and Area Chapter, in addition to contributing as a member of the education committee and chair of the national operations and support committee. She also advises the Condo Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario in manager core competencies, and helps develop the board education for the Condo Authority of Ontario.

She is a graduate of Western University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.

GBAC STAR accreditation to steer reopenings

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the general public, necessitating ongoing service restrictions and strict measures to contain the virus, facility operators across Canada are looking for guidance on how to go about, safely and lawfully, reopening their shuttered doors. For large commercial buildings – including stadiums, retail spaces, office towers and convention centres – the need for a comprehensive set of best practices was not only apparent, but urgently sought by the commercial real estate sector at large.

Answering this call, the GBAC (Global Biorisk Advisory Council) has launched the cleaning industry’s first and only “outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation” program aimed at large facility operators. Already gaining traction in the U.S., the GBAC STAR program is now taking the complication and uncertainty out of the reopening process here in Canada.

“GBAC STAR is the gold standard of safe facilities, providing third-party validation that ensures facilities implement strict protocols for biorisk situations,” says Patricia Olinger, Executive Director, Global Biorisk Advisory Council. “Accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers, and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to deliver clean and healthy environments that are safe for business.”

Similar to other industry programs like ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 35001, the performance-based program enables facilities to create and maintain an effective cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program. Accreditation is awarded once applicants have successfully demonstrated compliance with the program’s 20 elements, running the gamut from standard operating procedures to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response.

Key benefits

Benefiting facility operators, staff, and occupants equally by safeguarding against future outbreaks, the program is paving the way for successful reopenings, while also giving stakeholders confidence that all the right steps are being taken to protect the asset’s reputation. As several leading organizations accredited by GABC STAR have already discovered, there are significant branding and marketing benefits inherent with the program.

“When our fans, players and staff are able to return to Hard Rock Stadium, we want them to have peace of mind that we’re doing everything we can to create the safest and healthiest environment possible,” says Tom Garfinkel, Vice Chairman and CEO, Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. “We didn’t want to create our own standard, we wanted to be accountable to the most credible third-party standard that exists. Working with GBAC ensures compliance with critical guidelines for the highest standard of cleanliness, and it is our hope that other venues will follow suit as we navigate through these unprecedented times.”

Safety, preparedness and communication

Ideal for facilities, like offices, restaurants, hotels, airports, convention centres, and other public venues, GBAC STAR assesses a facility’s preparedness and provides staff with training for biorisk prevention and containment. The program also establishes a framework for ongoing communication.

“In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the GBAC STAR accreditation program is exactly what facilities need to confidently reopen and keep staff, customers, and communities safe.” says John Barrett, Executive Director, ISSA, who was instrumental in designing the new program. “The way the world views cleaning has changed overnight. To effectively recover from this crisis and prepare for the next, it’s essential that businesses take these necessary steps—and we’re thrilled to have a stable of top organizations that have already committed to the program.”

Program links and details

Commercial facility owners looking for outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation can follow the link here and use the promo code “MediaEdgeGS” for discounts on individual staff registrations.

ISSA has also released a new GBAC fundamentals online course specifically designed for cleaning workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight entitled “GBAC Fundamentals Online Course: Cleaning and Disinfection Principles.” By using the special promo code “MediaEdgeCourse” registrants can receive a discount off normal prices.

For additional program details and information, please email [email protected] or contact him at (416) 803-4653.

Cleaning tax credit proposed for U.S. businesses

A temporary tax credit has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would help businesses offset the increased cost of cleaning and disinfecting due to COVID-19.

Proposed by Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) on May 29, the goal of the bipartisan Clean Start: Back to Work Tax Credit legislation is to support businesses as they work to ensure their facilities are properly cleaned, for the safety of employees and customers.

If passed, the tax credit could be applied towards expenses associated with cleaning procedures introduced to control the spread of COVID-19, including industry-recognized training and certification, contracting a cleaning company, and/or the purchase of necessary cleaning products, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other sanitary-related equipment.

Each business entity, including but not limited to franchisors or franchisees, and commercial property owners and management companies can claim a 50 per cent tax credit of up to $25,000, per location, up to a maximum of $250,000 per business entity. Eligible expenses must be made by March 31, 2021.

“COVID-19 is impacting every American,” said LaHood in a press release. “As stay-at-home orders begin to ease, businesses and workers are prepared to take unprecedented measures to get their livelihoods back on track. Getting folks back to work is essential to reinvigorating our economy, but it’s critical that we ensure the safety of workers and customers to prevent additional outbreaks. This bipartisan legislation will ensure that businesses can take extra precautions during this uncertain time and keep our communities safe.”

Murphy echoed LaHood’s comments, saying: “As our economy begins to gradually reopen, responsible business owners will want to do everything possible to safeguard their workers and customers from COVID-19. I am proud to join Congressman LaHood in proposing a temporary tax credit to help businesses afford cleaning services and supplies, which will protect public health and spur economic activity.”

John H. Barrett, the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association’s (ISSA) executive director, also commented: “We thank Representatives LaHood and Murphy and our association partners for joining ISSA in supporting this commonsense proposal to ensure businesses can provide a safe and sanitary environment for their workers and customers. ISSA looks forward to continuing to work with members of the House and Senate to pass a bipartisan stimulus package that includes the Clean Start: Back to Work Tax Credit to give Americans the confidence and peace of mind to safely get back to work and revitalize our economy.”

Full text of the legislation can be read here.

Phase two of Housing Now approved by City Council

Toronto City Council has approved the second phase of Housing Now, an initiative introduced by Mayor Tory in 2018 to leverage City-owned land for the development of affordable housing within mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented communities.

According to the announcement, the six new sites located throughout the GTA will create between 1,455 and 1,710 new residential units including between 1,060 and 1,240 purpose-built rentals, of which half will be classified as affordable. The sites are close to transit, commercial and employment areas and provide opportunities to further develop complete communities, bringing benefits to existing and future residents.

“Housing – and making sure we are building more affordable housing – was a priority before the pandemic and we can’t let our foot off the gas pedal,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory. “That’s why today, I am proud City Council has approved the next phase of [the program]. This is critical for the advancement of our growing and successful city. We know that COVID-19 has had great impacts on Toronto and its economy but we also know that we will recover from this. And when that happens thanks to initiatives such as Housing Now, we will be ready to push ahead on more affordable housing.”

The program is one component of the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, which calls for the creation of 10,000 affordable homes on City-owned lands. Through the first two phases, along with the Modular program, Council has now approved 47 per cent of that 10-year target.

“We know that investments in permanent housing significantly reduces costs to the health care, emergency shelter and justice systems,” said Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão, (Ward 9 Davenport), Planning and Housing Committee Chair. Council’s approval today, means we are well on our way to meeting the ambitious targets set out in the HousingTO plan — a plan that recognizes Toronto as a place where families and individuals deserve to live in safe, well-maintained and affordable housing.”

More details on Phase Two sites can be found at:app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.CC21.3

Property tax relief for Toronto’s live music venues

Commercial property tax relief is available for Toronto’s live music venues though the newly expanded Creative Co-Location Facilities Property Tax Subclasses city council approved yesterday.

The new category will apply to live music venues that meet specific eligibility criteria. It is expected the tax relief measure will extend beyond this year.

Before the pandemic hit, Toronto’s live music scene had already faced ongoing pressures that threatened to close dozens of local venues. These pressures have now been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis.

Shaun Bowring, owner and operator of The Garrison and The Baby G said his venues’ overhead, including rent, utilities, insurance and property tax, has gone up more than 300 per cent.

“The proposed property tax reduction will make a huge difference meeting these increased financial obligations,” he said. “With the prospect of prolonged closure due to the current COVID-19 emergency, the property tax reduction will prove to be a vital financial tool in navigating the road to reopening and recovery.”

The Creative Co-Location Facilities Property Tax Subclasses were established by city council and Ontario to support the affordability and sustainability of cultural and creative spaces in Toronto. This tax relief mechanism was first made available in 2018 for qualifying properties acting as creative hubs with creative tenants. In 2019, the criteria were expanded to include membership-based co-working facilities for creative workers and enterprises.

“Commercial property tax relief for Toronto live music venues won’t just help existing venues survive COVID-19, but has the potential to double the number of our city’s venues – both by spurring commercial landlords to lease to aspiring new venues, as well as providing an economic incentive for existing spaces to create new stages for live music, which in turn greatly benefits all local music artists,” said Jeff Cohen, owner of the Horseshoe Tavern and Lee’s Palace.

The deadline for eligible live music venues to apply is June 19. Applications are available at https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/business-incentives/creative-co-location-facilities-property-tax-subclass-designation/.

ASHRAE points prescriptive way on legionellosis

ASHRAE has produced supplemental guidance to help facilities managers and building operators with the practical steps of implementing legionellosis prevention measures. The new companion to ASHRAE Standard 188, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems, has been released in sync with the reopening of a wide range of buildings with centralized water systems, often following shutdowns of several weeks.

“ASHRAE Standard 188 gives direction regarding what to do to control the spread of legionellosis, such as to follow a risk management process, but does not necessarily explain how to do it in a prescriptive way,” notes Paul Lindahl, chair of the ASHRAE committee responsible for writing the new guideline.

The guideline provides more detailed instructions of how the elements of that risk management process can be developed and applied in venues such as commercial, multifamily and industrial buildings, hotels, hospitals and other health care facilities, assisted living facilities, schools and universities. “This can be a particularly important aspect of plans to reopen buildings following the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lindahl says.

ASHRAE’s upcoming annual conference, occurring in virtual format this year, will include presentations on the new guideline and controlling legionella growth in water systems.

Building permits plummet across Canada in April

Statistics Canada reports that the total value of building permits issued in April by Canadian municipalities plummeted 17.1% to $6.0 billion. The decrease in April was the largest decline since a similar drop in October 2008 during the financial crisis. When combined with the March decline, the value of building permits has fallen by 28.1% from February levels.

Declines were reported in eight provinces, with the largest in Quebec (-34.1%) and Ontario (-20.0%). Although most municipalities were still issuing permits in April, Quebec’s decision to shut down non-essential construction activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to it posting its largest month-over-month percentage decline on record.

Record declines for single family permits

The total value of residential permits was down in nine provinces in April, falling 14.2% to $3.9 billion nationally.

Using comparable data available back to 2002, permits issued for single family dwellings fell 35.9% to $1.4 billion, a record month-over-month decline and almost double the next largest decrease. Prince Edward Island (-84.3%), Newfoundland and Labrador (-52.5%), Ontario (-50.8%), Manitoba (-37.1%) and Quebec (-29.4%) all recorded their largest month-over-month percentage declines in the current series.

Multi-family dwellings was the only component to show an increase at the national level in April, up 4.8% to $2.6 billion. Increased building intentions in the census metropolitan areas of Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa led to gains in British Columbia (+66.8%) and Ontario (+13.9%), which more than offset declines in six provinces.

The gains in British Columbia returned the value of multi-family permits to more normal levels, following large drops in the previous two months. The decreases in February and March were the result of a large number of permits being pulled forward into January as builders looked to avoid a scheduled fee hike in Metro Vancouver.

Non-residential permits decline

The value of commercial permits was down 21.5% to $1.2 billion in April with the largest decline reported in Quebec (-56.6%), setting another record month-over-month percentage decrease for the province.

Industrial permits fell 34.7% to $377 million following gains in March, with declines posted in six provinces.

Major projects in the form of schools and nursing homes helped drive gains for institutional permits in some parts of the country. However, growth reported in six provinces failed to outweigh sharp declines in Ontario (-46.2%) and Quebec (-28.2%), which pulled the national total down 10.5% to $533 million.

Canadian hotel sector assumes survival mode

COVID-19 hit the Canadian hotel sector hard and fast in the late days of the first quarter. CBRE Hotels Canada now forecasts a 50 per cent decline in average revenue per available room (RevPAR) this year — a significant downward adjustment from the modest 2.7 per cent year-over-year growth envisioned as 2020 began. Although plummeting occupancy appears to have bottomed out and crept back up marginally, Canadian hotels, on average, were less than 20 per cent full as May began.

That picture translates to average RevPAR consistently below $20 for seven weeks following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the pandemic and ensuing social distancing orders, business shutdowns and border closures. CBRE’s recently released first quarter overview tallies a 28 per cent drop in occupancy, a 5 per cent decline in the average daily rate (ADR) and a 49 per cent slump in RevPAR over the course of roughly two-and-a-half weeks.

“The performance in March reduced the first quarter occupancy by 10 points, with ADR generally unchanged, at -1 per cent, but RevPAR declining by 18 per cent,” the report states. “Even with an easing of restrictions, the balance of 2020 will still be a long way off 2019 levels.”

Indeed, CBRE analysts predict that gap won’t close until later in 2022. For now, they speculate Canadian hotel operators are getting up from the initial knockdown and readying for 12 to 18 months in survival mode.

“Recovery will necessitate innovation to address social distancing protocols, enhanced sanitation measures and revised operating procedures,” they advise. “We should anticipate the recovery period will be protracted before we get to a new normal and we still don’t know what that will entail.”

It is expected limited-service hotels will rebound more quickly than the full-service and resort facilities that are more reliant on business travel, conference facilities and vacation/tourism traffic. Thus far in the second quarter, investment deals have been limited to those that were in the works prior to the pandemic.

COVID-19’s impact on asset value and financial stability is expected to vary across regions and property types, and with owners’ relationships with their lenders. Analysts suggest operators with a portfolio of assets in major centres are likely to be more favourably placed than those with single holdings, particularly if they are located in “energy reliant markets and smaller communities”. That dynamic could emerge more clearly over the next couple of months as stressed owners seek “a liquidity event, through a sale, equity injection or debt refinancing.”

“Given the quantum of private and private equity capital sitting on the sidelines, we anticipate there will be high demand of capital to acquire hotels across the country,” CBRE analysts conclude.

Vancouver fire hall earns zero carbon first

Vancouver Fire Hall No. 17 has become the first fire hall in Canada to earn the Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) design certification, and the first project to be certified in B.C.

Designed by HCMA, it’s one of 16 projects to pilot the Canada Green Building Council’s new ZCB Standard, which provides a process, performance targets, and tools to support low carbon buildings in response to the climate crisis. When complete, it will offer a 99.67 per cent reduction in operational carbon emissions compared to the existing Fire Hall 17.

An example of the City of Vancouver’s leadership on climate action, the project is also pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, Passive House certification, and Net Zero Energy as defined by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

To achieve these low carbon and low energy performance targets, design strategies include an optimized orientation to benefit from local climate conditions, an airtight envelope, efficient air and water heat recovery systems, and a low carbon mechanical system that utilizes a geo-exchange field with ground source heat pumps.

“Vancouver Fire Hall 17 is a response to the urgency of the climate crisis,” said Darryl Condon, managing partner at HCMA. “It shows that even large, complex facilities can lead the way in reducing our industry’s carbon footprint, while still improving the public service they provide. It’s testament to the City of Vancouver’s forward-thinking vision, and an example of how effective we can be as an industry when we collaborate from the earliest stages of a project.”

As Vancouver’s second-largest training fire hall, advancing the fire rescue operation is paramount. For resilience, the building is designed with fully electric systems with a backup generator. It has four drive-through apparatus bays, a full-size hose/training tower, a training yard, and accommodation for two full crews. Because it’s designed as a post-disaster facility, it is fitted with City IT, radio, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), and traffic control equipment.

The new low-carbon building will be situated on Knight Street at 55th Avenue and will also serve as a post-disaster citywide emergency hub in the event of an IT network breakdown. It’s designed that so any firefighter in the building can get to a fire truck in 60 seconds.

The project was made possible through a collaborative team effort including HCMA (architects and sustainability consultants), the City of Vancouver, Integral Group (mechanical and electrical), Morrison Hershfield (energy modeling) and RJC Engineers (envelope and structural).

“We’re pleased to earn the ZCB design certification for Fire Hall 17; a project which transformed one of Vancouver’s oldest fire halls to the country’s first zero-emissions station,” says Danica Djurkovic, director of Facilities Planning and Development at the City of Vancouver.

“This community facility is a leading example of the City of Vancouver’s climate commitments, showing that we can make near-zero-emissions buildings the new normal, while enhancing occupant comfort, and reducing energy and water consumption costs. This project is on track to receive Passive House certification and has pushed the envelope in multiple ways, including generating its own renewable energy with solar photovoltaic panels on the building’s roof.”

Francophone community to get new school in Winnipeg

Learning spaces for Manitoba’s francophone community are lacking, specifically in northeast Winnipeg. In response, the province has recently purchased The King’s School to increase capacity for French-language education—an innovative approach to completing the provincial government’s 20 New Schools Guarantee.

The facility will be expanded and renovated over time to become a school for Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine (DSFM), which will use it for about 350 students from kindergarten to Grade 8.

“With its planned improvements, the school building will fill a high demand for French-language education in northeast Winnipeg,” said Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen.

The purchase of The King’s School and its upcoming expansion and renovations for DSFM will cost the province approximately $13.5 million, which is about $8.7 million less than it would cost to construct a new school, Goertzen noted.

The King’s School was owned by Gateway Christian Community Inc. before the purchase. During the transition period, the province and DSFM have agreed to allow existing classes to continue at The King’s School until construction of a new facility for Gateway Christian Community Inc. in West St. Paul is complete. At the same time, DSFM will establish school programming in northeast Winnipeg.

“The school in northeast Winnipeg marks an important step forward in creating new learning spaces for our francophone communities,” said Bernard Lesage, president, Commission Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine. “The newly acquired school will allow us to better welcome our current and future students so we can continue to provide them with a quality French-language education in their neighbourhood.”

The temporary joint use of The King’s School will require minor renovations to the facility during the summer of 2020 and an installation of four temporary modular classrooms for use by its students until June 30, 2022, when DSFM will fully take over the space.

“This is a great arrangement that will see Gateway Christian Community Inc. and The King’s School continue to offer educational, community and faith-based programming at the site for the duration of the shared-use agreement,” said Goertzen. “DSFM will recruit students to its newly acquired school, initially focusing on kindergarten and Grade 1 this fall.”

The province is working toward the construction of 20 new schools within the next 10 years across Manitoba. This commitment comes with a heightened investment in school construction and will give more students from kindergarten to Grade 12 the opportunity to learn at the best possible facilities, the minister noted.

Mississauga Gateway Centre welcomes two new buildings

Construction is complete on two new buildings at Mississauga Gateway Centre, a class-A office and retail complex in Mississauga, Ontario.

Built on a 9.43-acre site, the five and four-storey buildings are located at 2 and 8 Prologis Boulevard and total 21,048 square meters. The project was designed for Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) and the complex offers leasable build-to-suit space for office tenants.

A two-storey entrance plaza that provides common areas and a coffee kiosk for tenants connects the two LEED CS Gold-certified buildings. The entrance plaza also features a green roof and green wall. Curtain wall and aluminum composite panels were used on the exterior.

Ware Malcomb provided architecture and interior design services and Triovest Realty Advisors was the development manager for the project. The general contractor was Ledcor Construction Limited.

In 2014, Ware Malcomb provided architectural design services for the first buildings at Mississauga Gateway Centre. Since then the complex has grown into a premier business park with seven buildings totaling approximately 59,458 square meters of class-A office space.

“Ware Malcomb has a long history with Mississauga Gateway Centre, and it is exciting to see it continue to grow as a premier destination for office and retail tenants alike,” said Frank Di Roma, principal of Ware Malcomb’s Canada operations, including offices in Vaughan and Toronto. “This latest addition provides a striking new environment for a range of businesses.”

Peters Bros. donates $1.7M to Penticton Hospital

Peters Bros. Construction is donating $1.7 million to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation towards a second CT medical imaging unit at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH). The new scanner will be located near the Emergency Department, now undergoing a major expansion.

The donation from the company, a long-time community supporter, is helping to launch a $3-million fundraising campaign for a new CT scanner at Penticton Regional Hospital.

Along with the CT (computerized tomography) machine itself, extensive building renovations are required which brings the total project cost to $5 million. The Okanagan Similkameen Regional Hospital District will provide $2 million with the SOS Medical Foundation raising the remainder.

The new CT scanner will be operational by the time the Emergency Department renovation is completed in early 2022. The CT was not part of the original plans for the $312-million hospital expansion – now into Phase 2.

Peters Bros. president Joe Cuzzocrea said the CT scanner provides another boost to the community’s healthcare. “It’s needed, the hospital is new. Let’s support it and get this new equipment for the hospital now,” he said.

Cuzzocrea hopes the company’s gift will encourage other businesses and individuals in the community to donate as well. The company’s late owner David Kampe was also a major supporter of PRH.

Peters Bros. has about 150 employees involved in paving and road construction projects throughout BC and operates a number of asphalt plants in the province. Cuzzocrea has been with the Penticton-based firm since 1982.

“Penticton is home and most everything we support is in this community,” he said. “We do help other communities, but not like this one. This is home.”

Carey Bornn, executive director of the SOS Medical Foundation, applauds Peters Bros. generous support for the CT campaign and encourages the community to mirror their efforts.

“If nothing else, the Covid-19 outbreak has shown how important good health is to all of us,” he said. “Now as elective surgeries begin again, the addition of another CT scanner at PRH will prove even more valuable.”

Simple ways to improve washroom cleanliness

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a heightened awareness of cleanliness, specifically the importance of hand washing in preventing infection. Still, as commercial washrooms welcome numerous guests over the course of a single day, they can become a juggernaut of health and safety hazards, if not handled correctly.

According to Jon Dommisse, director of strategy and corporate development for Bradley Corp., a global manufacturer of washroom equipment: “Today’s commercial washroom will be of paramount importance in providing hand washing systems and supplies, and mitigating sickness-causing germs.”

Dommisse recommends that the following simple steps be implemented to keep washrooms clean, maintained, well-equipped, and prepared for a healthy hand washing experience:

Post signage. Reinforce cleanliness with friendly reminders about washing hands for 20 seconds per Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Public Health Agency of Canada guidelines, maintaining safe distances between users, throwing away paper towels, etc. The Healthy Hand Washing Survey by Bradley Corp. shows that 40 per cent of Americans increase hand washing when signs are posted.

“Posting updated cleaning schedules in restrooms also goes a long way in helping to reassure customers the facility is taking steps to ensure a clean environment and cares about keeping them safe,” Dommisse said.

Offer touchless fixtures. Cross contamination of germs in washrooms can be reduced by using touch-free fixtures for everything from soap, faucets, hand dryers/towels, doors, and flushers. Public health experts agree. According medical microbiologist Michael P. McCann, Ph.D., professor of biology, Saint Joseph’s University: “Under any circumstance, using touchless fixtures helps to inhibit the spread of germs in restrooms and buildings. The more we avoid restroom touchpoints, the healthier and easier our operations will be. Hands-free washrooms are a win-win for consumers and businesses.”

Research shows that consumers are highly in favour of using touch-free fixtures. “Ninety-one per cent of Americans believe it’s extremely or somewhat important that public restrooms are equipped with touchless fixtures,” Dommisse said.

Increase cleaning, sanitization, and restocking. Proper and frequent cleaning and disinfection is key for washrooms, especially for high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, faucets, sinks, toilets, stall door openers, and paper towel dispensers. According to the CDC, daily cleaning with soap and water reduces germs, dirt, and impurities on the surface, and should be done frequently, especially in high-traffic areas.

“It’s also important to disinfect surfaces to kill germs at least once daily, and more often if the restroom is busy,” Dr. McCann said. Finally, be sure to check and restock supplies regularly, as low-stocked washrooms can be a pet peeve for users.

Provide trash cans and hand sanitizer near exits. “Our research shows that 65 per cent of Americans use paper towel to avoid contact with restroom doors and faucets,” Dommisse said. “Keeping paper towels and waste containers near doorways can be helpful so people can throw them away upon exiting.”

Installing hand sanitizers outside washrooms is another way people can sanitize their hands upon entering and leaving the washroom.

Prop open doors to increase visibility and minimize contact. To limit the number of people in washrooms and encourage social distancing, a propped open door can give people a small window into seeing how many others are already inside. In addition, a slightly opened door allows people to maneuver the door with their elbow, as opposed to their hands.

About Bradley:

Bradley is a leading manufacturer of commercial plumbing fixtures, washroom accessories, restroom partitions, emergency fixtures and solid plastic lockers. For more information on hand washing best practices, visit their website.

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