Operations 2022 A Year in Review
What a year it’s been! Despite the challenges that we faced in 2022, our branch always does a fantastic job of working together cross-functionally to find innovative solutions that enable us to continue delivering housing programs and supports to British Columbians who need them. As we do every year, we want to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the successes of our branch that would not have been possible without you. This publication is just a snapshot of those successes from 2022.As we wrap up the year, we wish you a safe, healthy and bright winter season and we can’t wait to see what the new year brings, as we advance forward together, for housing. BC Housing gratefully acknowledges that we live and work on the unceded traditional and ancestral homelands of hundreds of Indigenous Peoples and Nations across British Columbia, each with their own unique traditions, history and culture.
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Message from Dale, VP Operations
Another year is about to come to an end, and it gives me a chance to reflect on the privilege of working with such a talented and dedicated team. I would like to thank all of you across the Operations branch for your ongoing contributions, loyalty, and hard work in 2022. Your talents, commitment and dedication to the people we serve are an inspiration during these changing and pivotal times. Although we have faced a number of challenges this year, you have remained passionate, creative, and resourceful in supporting our tenants and programs, our Non-Profit partners, and equally as important, each other. Abundant are the stories that highlight how staff members have gone the extra mile in making a positive difference in people’s lives and communities through safe, affordable, and quality housing. This publication is a glimpse of your ongoing daily efforts in the work you do each day across the regions. Because of the collaboration with each other and the strong relationships you have established with our external partners and colleagues in other branches across BCH, this year we were better prepared to deal with Extreme Weather Response, the addition of new housing opportunities across the province, our homeless and at risk of homeless populations, and changes within our own organizational structure. We welcomed many new members to the Operations team and look forward to more additions and exciting opportunities in the New Year.
I hope you find some time over the holidays to rest, refresh and spend time with your families and loved ones – may the New Year be a prosperous one for all!
Operations 2022 – a year in review
BCH Operations by the Numbers: 2022
44 promotions
164 new hires
48 net new approved (May)
62 additional net new requested (August)
Retirements in Operations: 2022
Gaye Hartt Customer Services Manager
Roberta Abrams Applications Assistant
Suzanne Jackson Administration Clerk
Nick Barzan Janitor
Cindy Johnson Building Manager – Resident
Stan Bobic Building Manager
Shelley Johnson Applications Assistant
Raymond Cheung Building Manager
Diana Kirady Property Portfolio Manager
Liviu Cornea Building Manager
Richard Lee Building Manager – Resident
Sotera Dominguez Building Manager
Randy Sarju Business Support Manager
Maria Estrada Business Support Manager
Chris Thomas Maintenance Chargehand
Kevin Gordon Building Manager
James Westhead Groundskeeper II
Carmen Zurowski Administration Clerk
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Message from our Operations AVPs
Message from Heidi Hartman, Associated Vice President, Supportive Housing & Homelessness “I have had the privilege of meeting so many of you at road shows around the province and appreciated the opportunity to see firsthand the great work you do each and every day.
Keep up the great work and thank you for your passion and dedication.”
Message from Kelly Miller, Associate Vice President, Regional Operations
I wanted to take this time to thank each and everyone of you for another incredible year. I couldn’t be prouder of the remarkable service excellence that I see in each one of you! As I have travelled around the province this year, there has not been a day where the team’s commitment to customer service ever waivered, especially in this time of COVID 19.
I have seen so many innovative solutions to insure the most vulnerable population is being served from: a complete review of the group home portfolio, turning a cold storage facility in the interior into a winter shelter, the placement of clients into our new opened stack across the province, daily check-ups of our encampments up north, working with Municipal partners to solve homelessness issues, working diligently to move clients from one site to another on Salt Spring Island and our continued commitment to our non-profits making sure they have the correct budgets to provide the services to their clients. These are only a few of the accomplishments that I have seen, however there is so much more. What make BC Housing so great is each and everyone of you team members. So, thank you to each and everyone of you. You have my deepest gratitude. Have a safe and happy holiday season and I am looking forward to seeing you all again in the new year.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Message from Jennifer Breakspear, Associated Vice President, Housing & Service Delivery
Regional roadshows/town halls It was great to get out to the regions and be able to hear directly from Operations staff about issues specific to their region. It is so important to connect with folks who are doing the work on the ground in communities all around the province. You are our greatest ambassadors.
Extreme heat response This year we were much better
prepared for the extreme heat and, even in situations where our preparations were delayed (by supply chain issues), BC Housing staff stepped up to get heat response supplies out to tenants and
communities as soon as possible. We are taking what we learned this year to ensure that we are even better prepared for next summer’s inevitable heat. Pride Parade I was thrilled to walk with the BC Housing contingent in the Vancouver Pride Parade. It is affirming to work in an organization where we can all be wholly who we are and know that our employer supports equity seeking initiatives, EDIB education, and celebrations such as Pride.
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Operations Town Halls
In spring, we resumed our in-person Operations town halls across the province and came together for the first time in a few years to connect, catch up and meet some new team members we hadn’t met before! We look forward to gathering at more in-person events in the future, as long as it continues to be safe to do so. Events like the town halls are a great opportunity for Operations Leadership Team (OLT) to connect and hear from you on what’s working and where you could use more support.
Thank you everyone for your time, patience and hospitality as our Operations Town Halls continue into the new year!
Thanks to digital platforms like Microsoft Teams, we were still able to meet virtually to accommodate those who couldn’t make the in-person sessions of the Operations town halls.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Extreme Heat Response 2022
Grants Awarded to Aid Extreme Heat Response and Covid-19 Relief Efforts
In efforts to support non-profit partners in their extreme weather response and equip them with the tools and supplies they need to serve their clients, our Lower Mainland Non-Profit team in partnership with regional offices handed out grants this summer. The money went towards the purchase of cooling items such as air conditioners and air purifiers to support safe cooling spaces for residents, including those with vulnerabilities. The funding also helped our partners plan and prepare for any upcoming needs related to health and safety and Covid-19.
Northern BC Team Helps Improve Health Outcomes During the Summer
Rodger Travale, Housing & Health Nurse and Corrina Hayden, Director of Operational Services were part of a group that delivered an extreme weather presentation at a regional education, networking and tradeshow in Prince George this summer.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
In Case You Missed It…. A Small Team Making Big Impacts in the Community When temperatures began climbing during summer months, Rodger Travale, Housing & Health Nurse and Chris Wetmore, Coordinated Access Manager from the Prince George office knew folks with limited resources needed health and wellness support. To help, they distributed 2,000 bottles of water to individuals with mental health or mobility issues living in Directly Managed housing, as well as unhoused individuals who lived in homeless camps with limited or no access to water. They also worked with a local non-profit partner that visited the homeless camps and helped to complete housing applications, while performing health checks with those who were unhoused. From those health checks, eight people were sent to a walk-in clinic or hospital for various medical reasons. Thank you to Rodger, Chris and the rest of the Prince George team for showing us that even a small team can have a big impact and make a difference among our most vulnerable. In Case You Missed It…. Over 2,000 Cooling Kits Assembled for Directly Managed Tenants
In August, a group of employees from our Housing and Health Services team spent a day at Central Supply at səmiq̓ʷəʔelə to assemble close to 2,100 cooling kits for our Directly Managed tenants. The kits were distributed across the Lower Mainland to help keep our tenants cool during what proved to be a warm summer. Cooling kits included a thermometer, plastic tote box, cooling towel, gel compress, water bottle and spray bottle. Thank you to our Housing and Health Services team for braving the heat and coming together to get this important job done for the health and well- being of our Directly Managed tenants.
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Orange Hall Celebrates 10 Years
This summer, our Orange Hall site in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver marked its 10 th year of operations since opening its doors in July 2012. Plans are still taking shape on what the celebration for the 10 th anniversary will look like, but the team has decided that the event will be held sometime in 2023. For now, we invite you to take a trip down memory lane with a collection of Orange Hall photos from the past 10 years. Thank you to our Orange Hall team for your commitment to serving the Downtown Eastside community. You are doing truly exceptional work and we couldn’t be more grateful.
Our original Operations Manager at Orange Hall, Bruk Melles, unlocking the front door on the first day Orange Hall opened to the public. Photo taken by Michael Piercey
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Supportive Housing Programs (Fraser Region and Vancouver Coastal Region ) Message from Will Valenciano, Acting Regional Director, Vancouver Coastal Region, Supportive Housing and Homelessness
The Vancouver Coastal Regional Supportive Housing and Homelessness team has once again faced another eventful year and have responded with the high level of dedication and compassion they are known for. Big kudos to all the team members from all our specialized groups: Coordinated Access and Assessment, Supportive Housing Advisors, Financial Review Business Analysts, Administration, and P3 Contract Facilities. We are looking forward to 2023 and to the difference the team can make!
Message from Tsitsi Watt, Regional Director, Fraser Region, Supportive Housing and Homelessness
The general population in the Fraser region is growing steadily and so is the need for affordable and supportive housing options. This year, we spent time building our Fraser Supportive Housing and Shelters team by hiring new Supportive Housing Advisors (SHA) and Admin Support staff. This has enabled us to focus on the growing supportive housing needs in our region while strengthening our partnerships with multiple stakeholders and housing providers to improve service provision for the homeless. Despite floods, wildfires, Covid- 19, heat waves and cold snaps, the team remained steadfast in our response to these challenges. I am so grateful to be part of such a wonderful team!
Operations 2022 – a year in review
In Case You Missed It…. Lower Mainland Supportive Housing Helps to Coordinate Distribution of 2,700 Cooling Kits in Downtown Eastside This summer, strong partnerships and well-coordinated efforts between BC Housing teams and our non-profit partners resulted in the distribution of 2,700 cooling kits to tenant residents of the Downtown Eastside’s single room occupancy units (SROs) – especially critical with the multiple heat warnings that were issued during the summer months. Thank you to the Orange Hall team for your work in getting cooling kits out as quickly as possible to those who need them. Here’s some feedback we heard from a couple of tenants who received kits: “I am so appreciative that BC Housing provided me with a cool kit. Thank you for caring for me and checking in. I’m drinking more water because of the water bottle and I love the gel pack. I am so grateful for BC Housing staff.” “[The cooling cloth] was easy to use and it kept me very cool throughout the day. I found it very helpful to keep it around my neck and I really appreciate it when I’m driving so I can put it on my arm which is exposed to the sun. I wish that clothing was made of the same material!”
Women’s Transition Housing and Supports Message from Sairoz Sekhon, Director, WTHSP
With the Women’s Transition Housing and Supports Program portfolio and team continuing to grow over the past few years, it has been yet another busy year. A number of new projects opened under the Women’s Transition Housing Fund including in Invermere – Safe Home, Second Stage and Long-Term Housing. In Prince George, My Sister’s Place including transition house, second stage and long-term housing. And in Surrey, Serenity House, second stage housing. That’s more than 75 new safe spaces! And many more celebrated ground blessings, ground breakings and final project approvals. And the team continued to grow with Brianna Worthington joining the team as the second Program Analyst. With the pandemic settling, we were able to wind down most of the additional spaces secured due to COVID-19 and once again we were able to hold in-person, face to face meetings with Service Providers. And after 2 years, the BC Society of Transition Houses Annual Training Forum was held in-person allowing for not only us to connect with Service Providers but for them to connect with each other again.
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Lower Mainland Non-Profit
Message from Erin Harron, Director, Lower Mainland Non-Profit
While this last year has been challenging, it's been a privilege to work through it with this LMNP team. I continue to be inspired by the depth of knowledge, professionalism, and dedication every single team member brings to their work. No matter what comes our way, these awesome people will 'roll up their sleeves' and come together to support each other and find the path forward.
A Swift and Immediate Response to Rehousing Tenants from Silverlynn Fire
A fire that broke out in May at Silverlynn Apartments in North Vancouver tragically killed one senior resident and temporarily displaced 70 others from their homes, requiring many partners and providers to come together to support tenants and provide them with clothing, shelter and housing. The response was swift, immediate and effective, and can be seen as a success story that came from an unfortunate event. The Housing and Health Services team played a vital role in finding and offering units in our Directly Managed stock to the displaced tenants. The Lower Mainland Non-Profit team worked with partners in the area to find vacant units that could be offered.External organizational partners like North Shore Emergency Management also played a key role in this response. Collectively, these widespread efforts helped provide support to community members with diverse physical, social, and economic needs who were impacted by the fire.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
New Affordable Homes Open for Heiltsuk Nation Members
Members from our Lower Mainland Non-Profit (LMNP) team along with Development & Asset Strategies and Communications visited Bella Bella, BC in March for the opening ceremony of 12 new on-reserve affordable rental homes for Heiltsuk Nation members and families. This was the first Indigenous Housing Fund (IHF) project to open in the LMNP region, funded by BC Housing in partnership with Heiltsuk Nation. The 12 new townhome units with 2 and 3 bedrooms provide affordable housing for Heiltsuk members who have been facing a housing crisis for years. Each unit contains a separate upright freezer in recognition of the community's reliance on traditional foods like seafood. In addition to meeting the Heiltsuk Band members, our BC Housing team participated in a ceremony in the beautiful Big House, toured the community and were graciously treated to a special Heiltsuk Indigenous lunch. It was a wonderful experience, and the team was grateful for the very warm welcome.
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Lower Mainland Directly Managed
Message from Janet McAllister, Regional Director, Lower Mainland Directly Managed (LMDM)
Coming out of the recent LMDM holiday and long- service awards celebration, I am grateful that we were able to get together to celebrate in-person for the first time since 2019. Since then, we’ve welcomed so many new team members into the BC Housing team and family, and I really enjoyed putting faces to names and catching up with folks at our team’s holiday celebration. I want to express my thanks to each and every one of you for making 2022 another successful year, despite it being a challenging one. I wish everyone the best of the season and the new year.
LMDM Team Comes Together for Holiday and Long-Service Award Celebration
In December, our Lower Mainland Directly Managed (LMDM) team had the opportunity to get together for a holiday lunch and recognize team members for long-service milestones (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years). Like many other teams this year, it was their first time gathering in-person since the Covid-19 pandemic, which made the occasion that much more special.
New team members were welcomed at the start of the event, many of whom had not attended an in-person event like this since starting at BC Housing!
Long-service awards from 2021 and 2022 were recognized and team members were thanked and celebrated for their hard work and dedication day in and day out. The awards celebration was followed by a delicious meal, raffle draw and a 50/50 draw with proceeds benefiting a charitable partner from our Community Connections program. Congratulations to our long-service award recipients and thank you for your service!
Operations 2022 – a year in review Operations 2022 – a year in review
Leading Tenants in Music, Song and Festive Holiday Crafts
Our People, Plants and Homes team has been organizing holidays events for Lower Mainland Directly Managed (LMDM) and Greater Victoria tenants that are making the season merry and bright. One popular activity they’ve hosted is a workshop to make centrepieces and wreaths out of festive tree trimmings and natural materials – that is accompanied by caroling and sing-a-longs led by a team of BC Housing staff! Tenants have really enjoyed participating in the fun arts and crafts activities that allow them to use their creativity and artistic abilities, and have a chance to bring some nature inside. They’ve enjoyed singing holiday tunes with the BC Housing team too!
In Case You Missed It… People Plants and Homes Offers a Fresh Start with Mint Festival This summer, People Plants and Homes (PPH) restarted regular engagement and reintroduced in-person programming with tenants, which proved to be a big success. This team hosted a “Mint Fest” at Lower Mainland Directly Managed sites to educate tenants on how to utilize mint in a variety of ways. PPH staff designed the festival so attendees of all ages and abilities were able to participate and learn something new. The event featured games, a DIY mint sugar scrub station, and a culinary station which served up a watermelon mint salad and a minty iced tea. The idea to run a mint festival was in response to an issue of many community garden spaces being taken over with mint. But PPH programmer, Jennifer, saw this issue as an opportunity: “While we were dreaming up the first in -person programs since the start of COVID-19, we decided to do something educational; Why not teach about the many benefits and uses of mint as well as educate about how to plant it?” Annette, PPH supervisor, summed it up nicely: “Many of our tenants were excited to be able to meet in person again and expressed how happy they were to see old friends. It was clear to me what a difference it makes to tenants to be able to connect, learn, and have fun.” PPH programmer Aubrey also adds: “Mint Fest was a great way for tenants and staff to re - connect through something familiar and fun! So many recipes and memories were shared.” After years of restrictions and isolation, the Mint Fest represented a fresh start where we can once again create spaces that welcome gathering. The People, Plants, and Homes team extends a sincere thank you to all the volunteers and site staff who have helped make Mint Fest a success. In total, the Mint Fests served over 215 tenants at 19 festivals. If you’re interested in volunteering with the PPH team, stay tuned for more employee supported volunteer opportunities in the new year!
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Applicant Services
Applicant Services Bring Festive Attire and Cheer to Holiday Gathering The Applicant Services team is always working hard to answer calls and process applications for BC Housing’s clients, so it was nice they could find some time in December to get together in-person, share a meal and catch up over good conversations and laughs. They also participated in a Learning and Engagement session, led by the Employee Engagement and Leadership & Learning teams. And to insert a bit of joyful competition to the event, team members wore their festive holiday sweaters and voted on their favourite one! The holiday gathering was just one way to recognize and give thanks to Applicant Services for their excellence in customer service day in and day out.
Like many businesses, BC Housing's Storefront at Home Office closed its doors during the pandemic due to ongoing safety concerns and the need for continued social distancing. BC Housing Storefront Re-Opens in 2022 After Two-Year Closure During Covid-19 For two years, the team had been serving our clients on the phone, mail and email – but were still missing the in- person service and interaction. That’s why it was a big day on March 15 when Storefront re-opened to the public! Since the re-opening, enhanced safety measures have been put into place, such as more frequent deep cleaning and sanitizing, for the safety of our team members and clients. With a gradual re-opening approach, Storefront first open two days a week with limited hours. After awhile, we expanded our hours with a soft launch, before fully opening Monday to Friday from 9am- 4pm. Now we’ve almost returned the pre -pandemic numbers, with Storefront serving 60-80 clients per day. A big kudos to the team who work at Storefront for making the re-opening possible. Despite initial fears and uncertainties of Covid-19, they have been committed to serving our clients and providing them with the information on BC Housing’s programs and services. The ongoing success of BC Housing’s Storefront re -opening is a testament to their hard work and passion for what they do to serve our clients.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Applicant Services 2022 – Fun Facts
• Issued 36,320 T5007 Statement of Benefits in February for the 2021 Tax year to SAFER, Rental Assistance Program and scattered address rent supplements. This was a new process for us, as prior to 2021 tax slips had not be issued.
• Answered over 127,000 calls on the enquiry line.
• Since Storefrontreopened in March, we have had over 600 visitors.
• BC Rebates for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC-RAHA), new computer system launched in October.
• Received and processed over 121,500 documents. Documents were received by mail, fax, uploaded online using the Program Upload form, or dropped off in the storefront office. Our Clerical team in the office ensures that all paper documents are scanned and all documents are then indexed and attached to the appropriate program and client file for processing!
• Completed more than 9,400 hours of housing registry paperwork, processing more than 21,300 items for housing files.
• Processed more than 1,700 NEW RAP applications, and 4330 NEW SAFER applications.
• Onboarded 31 new staff members to the Applicant Services family, celebrated and said goodbye to 22 members of our team as they have grown their careers with BC Housing in other business areas of the commission or left for other endeavors.
• Held a virtual Long Service event on March 3 – catching up on 3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) of
celebrating 25 employees with between 5-30 years of service.
• Kudos to the organizing team that put so much effort into making this a success, including delivering gifts to people’s homes so that they could open their gift during the virtual event.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Operational Services Message from Corrina Hayden, Director, Operational Services The best part of 2022 was that I was lucky enough to be able to be a part of a number of in person events across all of the regions and meet so many new people who I have only talked to through Teams and see people who I have not seen in 3 years. The energy and passion of the Operations Branch is so infectious. Each in person event helped recharge and re-energize this extrovert. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to come to these events, I really appreciated the opportunity to get to know so many more people.
To bring holiday cheer to local families in the community, the Operational Services team volunteered an afternoon in December at the Burnaby Christmas Bureau. The team greeted clients, helped them choose gifts and toys for their little ones for Christmas and helped to restock the shelves with donations and gifts. The Burnaby Christmas Bureau appreciated their efforts and thanked them with a beautiful photo message. Operational Services Team Help Burnaby Christmas Bureau Brighten the Holidays
In Case You Missed It…. 3 rd Floor Operations Teams Celebrate First Long-Service Awards Since Covid-19
In September, employees from four teams in the Operations branch (Group Homes, Lower Mainland Non- Profit, Operational Services and Women’s Transition Housing & Supports Programs) attended a long-service awards celebration at Home Office on the 3rd floor patio – the first one held since 2019! 24 recipients from the past three years (2020, 2021, 2022) were recognized for their contributions and years of service, from 5, 15, 20, 25 and even 30 years (congrats, Shashi!). For many, it was a welcome change to be able to get together in person and reconnect with colleagues and friends from across their team and branch. Congratulations to everyone who celebrated a long-service milestone!
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Interior Region
In Case You Missed It…. New Living Wall Brings Good Vibes and an Organic Touch to Penticton Office
Message from Nanette Drobot, Regional Director, Interior Region I wanted to express my gratitude to the Interior Team. It has been a year full of change, learning and growth. So many people coming into the BC Housing Interior family this year with different skills and abilities, unique stories about where they have come and where they wish to go. In the end, what unites us is a very keen desire to do our collective best and to make a difference. The work on the living wall is an example of that. We have all benefited from that living wall – it is a joy for those who work at it everyday and those who walk by it. It represents life and hope. It is beautiful no matter what the day is like. My granddaughter also represents life and hope, and I couldn’t miss an opportunity to also express gratitude for her.
Earlier this year, the Penticton regional office underwent a refresh of its living wall just in time for the summer season. In May, seven employees volunteered their time to plant and pot close to 200 plants, ranging from spider plants, zebra plants, baby rubber plants, Christmas cactus, ferns, pothos, and a selection of fragrant herbs. The living wall renovation was championed and organized by Baizid Muhammad, Financial Review & Budget Analyst and member of thelivegreen council. If you’re interested in learning more about the livegreen council and how to get involved, visit the livegreen Employee Council page on HomeNet.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Local Indigenous Artist Creates Mural at Genesis Place to Resemble “Home” in Kamloops
Local resident and artist, Autumn Christopher (Secwepemc and Nlaka’pamux) stands beside the mural he painted at Genesis Place. Autumn is currently doing mural paintings for the Canadian Mental Health Association – Kamloops (CMHA-K) and paintings for the Canadian Mountain Holidays Lodge.The mural at Genesis was Autumn’s first and holds a lot of meaning to him and the surrounding area of Kamloops. Autumn’s statement on the mural:
Since Autumn lives where the mural is painted, the art was done so it was recognizable and relatable to him and the people looking at it by showing Mt. Paul, and Mt. Peter near the Thompson River. Animals in the artwork are shown for the same reason as the mountains. Autumn sees deer almost daily when taking his dog for a walk. Stories about bears roaming the city getting ready for hibernation, eagles flying high in the sky, Coyote roaming the out bush, and Canadian Geese relaxing on our grass fields. “The first I did for the (CMHA -K) Genesis held a lot of meaning to me and the surrounding area of Kamloops. I chose to paint the landscape of Kamloops in the background, and the animals in front residing near the area.”
“The mural painting at Genesis Place was created to resemble home by using the local attributes of the city and this is why it was chosen for the space it's in.” Autumn’s father, Morgan Christopher, said a prayer and performed a smudging ceremony for the opening of the program in September.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Peer Program Demonstrates Benefits for Community and Clients of Genesis Place
So far, the program has proven to be a benefit for both the community and the lives of the clients who are part of it. When asked what living at Genesis Place means to him, and how he feels about the program, Mike, a resident, and captain of the Peer Program said this: “I am honoured to take on one of these positions and be a positive role model and give back to the community and neighbourhood for accepting us. We want to make positive change and end the Stigma of affordable housing. Genesis Place is a great place to live and has given me a new lease on life. I now live with confidence, hope and purpose. Kudos to the Management and Staff for making this the new standard in affordable housing.”
At Genesis Place in Kamloops, BC, non-profit partner and service operator Canadian Mental Health Association – Kamloops (CMHA- K) developed a peer program that offers training for clients on how to safely pick up garbage and perform needle sweeps in the neighbourhood,with a focus around a local elementary school.
In Case You Missed It…. BC Housing staff bring a sense of comfort to displaced tenants in Penticton In August, Melissa Milnes, Property Portfolio Manager, Interior and Shawna Fletcher, Tenant Support Worker, Interior suited up from head to toe in hazmat protective gear and rescued personal belongings from fire- damaged units at the Meadowlark Motel in Penticton, BC, directly managed by BC Housing. Tenants who were displaced due to the fire, expressed their deepest gratitude to Melissa and Shawna for going out of their way to bring them some sense of comfort through their personal belongings which in some cases were held near and dear to their hearts.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
Vancouver Island Region
Big thank you to the Victoria team for your gracious support and energy as you’ve helped me settle into this new role. It has been a big year for our team with many projects on the go and many conflicting challenges face together every day. I am proud to work with each and every one of you and look forward to many more successes in 2023! Message from Jennifer Fox, Regional Director, Vancouver Island
Holiday Greetings from our Grounds and Maintenance Teams Near and Far! “Holiday greetings from our dedicated Grounds and Maintenance team on Vancouver Island, who have been working very hard this season – and throughout the year – to keep our Directly Managed sites tidy and operating smoothly.” - Martin Smyth, Regional Maintenance Manager, Vancouver Island
Great job and thank you to our Vancouver Island team, as well as all of our Grounds and Maintenance teams across BC Housing!
In Case You Missed It…. Celebrating Heidi Hartman, BC Housing’s Supportive Housing & Homelessness AVP, during Homelessness Action Week
During Homelessness Action Week in October, we took the opportunity to recognize and celebrate our very own Heidi Hartman, Associate Vice President (AVP), Supportive Housing and Homelessness, for all that she has done. Around the same time, our Vancouver Island team held a celebration to thank Heidi and welcome Jennifer Fox as the new Regional Director for Vancouver Island. The celebration for Heidi reinforces the importance of her work on the homelessness portfolio, and why it’s more important now than ever to raise awareness of this topic which impacts British Columbians in communities across the province. Thank you, Heidi, for all that you do!
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Northern Region
Message from Malachy Tohill, Regional Director, Northern Region We would like to thank the Northern Region’s staff for all their hard work and dedication to our team over the last year. It has been very busy with lots of emerging and on-going pressures. We recognize the challenges and shifting priorities that arise, but the staff in the PG office make it
enjoyable to come to work with their positive outlook and sense of humor . We are extremely proud and grateful for the team we have. Happy Holidays.
In Case You Missed It…. Keeping Northern BC Communities Safe and Warm during Extreme Cold As temperatures in Northern BC plunged to -25 degrees Celsius, our BC Housing Northern team in Prince George have been working hard to keep their communities safe and warm from the freezing temperatures outside. The team prepared cold weather support kits for outreach workers across the region to disperse to those without a shelter or are at risk of frostbite and other hazards from the extreme cold. Over the winter months, they plan to distribute 300 cold weather support kits.
Going Great Heights for the Prince George Fire Department Ask anyone who was there: it was quite the sight to see a Prince George fire truck parked in front of the Victoria Towers building (directly managed by BC Housing) with its ladder fully extended. Thankfully, it wasn’t for an emergency; the fire department was there to train new hires on the ladder truck. Specifically, they were checking to see if the ladder would reach a certain height and floor of the building, depending on which side of the building they were on. For many of our team at the Victoria Towers building, it was the first time seeing something like this and they agreed it was pretty cool to watch the fire department’s training in action.
Operations 2022 – a year in review
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
We love hearing and sharing your stories – not just at year-end but all throughout the year! This Year in Review is only as good as the stories you share with us – there are no stories too big or small! If you've got something to share, contact Karla Gomez (kgomez@bchousing.org) so we can help to share it for you, in publications like this and across BC Housing.
Operations 2022 A Year in Review December 2022 BC Housing
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online