Chapter Reports

L’été a entraîné une diminution des cas de COVID dans la province et la possibilité de passer plus de temps à l’extérieur. C’est un soulagement après un hiver froid et lourd de restrictions en matière de santé publique.

La section a choisi d’offrir un nouveau modèle de conférence qui permet aux participants de prendre le temps de discuter ou de faire des commentaires sur un sujet précis. Le format consiste en une petite présentation sur un sujet précis suivie d’une période de questions préparée par notre panel technique. Grâce aux outils virtuels, nous avons réussi à réduire les frais de participation et à mettre en relation un plus grand nombre de personnes.

Récemment, nous avons tenu une conférence spécifiquement axée sur le thème des échangeurs de chaleur. Les hôpitaux du Québec en sont remplis, mais la détermination du meilleur entretien pour un fonctionnement optimal reste floue.

La Conférence Nationale 2021 de la SCISS se tiendra cette année de façon virtuelle en raison de la pandémie. J’encourage tout le monde à participer à l’événement, qui aura lieu les 28 et 29 septembre, d’autant plus qu’il est axé sur l’enrichissement de l’expérience du patient.

Pour vous tenir au courant, suivez-nous sur les médias sociaux et consultez régulièrement la page de la section québécoise du site web de la SCISS.

—Mohamed Merheb, chef du conseil d'administration du Québec

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Our award-winning marketing team has helped countless companies - for over 25 years successfully fulfill their marketing needs. Contact us today to learn how our 360 Marketing Suite can become your association’s full service marketing agency of choice. Summer has brought with it lower COVID cases in the province with the ability to spend more time outdoors. It is a relief after a cold winter heavy with public health restrictions.

The chapter has opted to offer a new conference model that enables participants to take time to discuss or comment on a specific topic. The format consists of a small presentation on a certain subject followed by a question period prepared by our technical panel. Using virtual tools, we have succeeded in lowering the fees to participate and connect more people.

Recently, we held a conference specifically geared to the topic of heat exchangers. Quebec’s hospitals are full of them but ensuring best maintenance for optimal operation remains unclear.

The 2021 CHES National Conference will be held virtually this year due to the pandemic. I encourage everyone to take part in the event, Sept. 28-29, especially given its focus is enriching the patient experience.

To keep up-to-date, follow us on social media and regularly check the Quebec chapter page of the CHES website.

—Mohamed Merheb, Quebec chapter chair

BRITISH COLUMBIA CHAPTER

We had a successful week of education webinars from May 31-June 4, in place of our annual spring conference. It started off with a keynote address from Dr. Marietta Van Den Berg who provided insight about how to focus on ourselves and put our daily stresses aside, even for just a moment. This was followed with a session each day based around the theme, The Physical Environment: Creating Patient-focused Facilities. I’d like to thank Sarah Thorn and the conference planning committee for the time and work they put into this education event. I encourage everyone to visit the B.C. Chapter section on the CHES website to access the presentations, find out who won our daily draws and see our exhibitors and all they have to offer. With current health restrictions lifting, the chapter executive is looking forward to the possibility of hosting an in-person conference next year in Whistler.

The chapter held its second Zoom annual general meeting on June 7, with 25 members present. With the current executive committee entering its last year of service, we will soon be looking for nominations for the positions of secretary, treasurer and vice-chair. An e-blast will be sent to CHES B.C. members providing nomination information and dates.

CHES has been a stable and supporting organization in a year of challenges and changes to healthcare practices as a result of the pandemic. A huge thank you to all CHES members and leaders across Canada for sharing information and lessons learned. This support will take us forward as we face our future in healthcare service.

With the chapter’s virtual conference now behind us, we are looking forward to next year’s in-person event, May 16-17, at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre in Winnipeg. More information to follow as planning for 2022 proceeds. I’d like to thank everyone who attended this year’s virtual event as we managed to gain a few more members for CHES Manitoba.

The chapter executive has decided to hold off on awarding this year’s Facilities Management Award of Excellence and Project Management Award of Excellence due to COVID. We plan to move forward with these awards in 2022, as we anticipate being able to host an in-person conference.

Past chapter chair Tom Still retired at the end of June. Tom has been instrumental in helping move the chapter forward since becoming a member in 2007, and serving on the executive committee from 2010 until his retirement. In addition to this, Tom was the chapter representative on the CHES National professional development committee, Canadian Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CCHFM) advisory committee and Red River College power engineering advisory committee, as well as the college’s student liaison. Tom’s leadership and attention to detail will be missed greatly.

The chapter executive is still looking to fill the secretary position. I encourage all Manitoba members who have never served on the executive committee to consider joining.

I’m excited to share that the CHES Manitoba-supported Red River College/Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre proposal to develop a building performance evaluation tool for assessing the design and performance of both existing and new long-term care facilities has been approved for funding. The chapter will continue to support the study by working with longterm care facilities to help develop the building performance evaluation. Once the study is complete, it will be made available to all CHES members across the country. The chapter plans to feature this work at the beginning of the study and at its conclusion in the CHES journal, Canadian Healthcare Facilities.

I want to encourage all Manitoba chapter members to register for the 2021 CHES National (Virtual) Conference. You can do so online through the CHES website. This is a fantastic opportunity to attend the conference without having to travel.

—Reynold J. Peters, Manitoba chapter chair It’s a different year to say the least. Not only are we still working through a worldwide pandemic but the weather has been all over the place — 30 C one day, 3 C with snow the next during the first week of June — water levels have been extremely low for the time of year and fewer icebergs paint our shorelines.

The pandemic has required organizations to adapt processes and rethink approaches to the way they operate and do business. The chapter has cancelled all in-person conferences but is working toward more strategic electronic communications as a means of staying connected, which has been challenging, and updating members of the latest CHES news.

The chapter exprienced an approximately 30 per cent decrease in membership between March 2020 and March 2021, triggered by COVID and supplemented by tough fiscal constraints placed on health authorities. The province depends significantly on revenues from the oil and gas industry, so the unexpected decline has delivered a major blow. Less revenue means tighter measures. This has made it challenging for members to have their memberships renewed.

The executive team continues to meet virtually on a regular basis. We are sitting in a solid financial position.

The chapter is committed to members’ professional growth. CHES Newfoundland and Labrador will sponsor each of our paid members to attend the 2021 CHES National (Virtual) Conference. This will provide education opportunities and allow members to reconnect with peers from across the country.

—Colin Marsh, Newfoundland & Labrador chapter chair

ONTARIO CHAPTER

With in-person events still on hold, the Ontario chapter held its 2021 annually general meeting virtually on June 9, with 20 members present. All executive members in attendance provided their reports. Thank you to everyone who attended, Donna Dennison and events management for managing and recording this meeting.

Although we had entertained the possibility of a fall chapter conference earlier in the year, we decided to postpone again due to the uncertainty of public gatherings. If things open up as anticipated, we will look at organizing a fall education day. While it’s now consecutive years with no major revenue for the chapter, we are still in reasonably good financial shape to continue weathering this storm.

We continue to plan for the 2022 International Federation of Hospital Engineering (IFHE) Congress in Toronto. The subcommittees are busy with their various tasks and everything is coming together nicely for what should be an excellent conference. Many thanks to all who are volunteering their time on these committees.

The 2021 CHES National (Virtual) Conference will take place Sept. 28-29. I encourage all CHES members to register for this event. I would also like to congratulate the other chapters who have organized virtual conferences for this year.

With the Atlantic bubble reopening, we are now planning for this year’s fall education day, which will be held at the Best Western Glengarry in Truro, N.S., in November. All Maritime CHES members and non-CHES frontline maintenance workers in healthcare and long-term care are welcome to register.

The Maritime chapter offered members a discounted rate on the 2021 CHES National (Virtual) Conference to encourage participation. If registered by July 31, it only cost $62.50. The regular registration fee is $195, so that amounted to a savings of $132.50! The conference features a keynote presentation, two plenary sessions and a variety of educational programs. You can educate yourself on the latest technologies, procedures and services by attending the conference virtually from any location.

The Maritime chapter’s next spring conference is scheduled to be held May 1-3, 2022, at the Delta hotel in Moncton, N.B. Planning is well underway.

CHES Maritime is pleased to offer the Per Paasche bursary again this year. The $1,000 grant is open to all immediate family members (daughters, sons, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, spouse) of Maritime chapter members who are in good standing. The eligible person must be enrolled in a recognized educational program at a post-secondary education institution, such as a trade/vocational school, college or university. Although any career path is acceptable, preference is given to programs that could be supportive of a future career in healthcare facilities management, maintenance, operations and support.

The chapter is able to balance its books while offering several financial incentives to its members in the way of student bursaries, contributions to Canadian Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CCHFM) exam fees, webinars, the fall education day and other rebates.

—Helen Comeau, Maritime chapter chair

ALBERTA CHAPTER

This year, CHES Alberta held its annual general meeting virtually on April 30. I’d like to congratulate and thank the following for accepting roles on the chapter executive: Paul Teterenko (treasurer), David Attwood (secretary), James Prince (vice-chair) and Dan Ballantine (past chair). I’d also like to thank Liana Sousa for all the time and effort she put into helping CHES Alberta. You will be missed but not forgotten.

I hope everyone is able to set some time aside this summer to allow for much needed rest and relaxation. It is well-deserved. The first few weeks were hot for us Albertans, and we spent much time trying to stay cool. (Anything over 25 C tends to slow us down a bit.)

I am looking forward to the 2021 CHES National (Virtual) Conference, which will take place Sept. 28-29, and hope you are, too. It’s always a great opportunity to reconnect, meet new people and take advantage of some exceptional learning opportunities.

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