If you’ve driving eastbound down Canada Way, you may have noticed a bright yellow sign hanging outside the architectural walls of BCIT’s NE1 building on the Burnaby Campus. In partnership with the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and the BCIT Faculty & Staff Association (FSA), the BCIT community sends its heartfelt thanks to the dedicated frontline heroes of Fraser Health’s Testing and Immunization Centre at the Burnaby campus.
The idea for the banner came from a BCIT instructor who drove past the site each day on his way to work and wanted to show his appreciation for all the vaccination site workers. And as we start 2022, it now proudly hangs as a united expression of our support for frontline workers everywhere.
“To the Fraser Health team, as well as BCIT staff, faculty, and students working across frontline sectors, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your continued work towards BC’s COVID-19 recovery efforts,” says BCIT President Kathy Kinloch. “My thanks to all of you for your ongoing resilience in helping keep our community safe.”
From those reporting the news to ensuring our supply chains stay open and connected, the banner recognizes all frontline workers for their commitment and innovation in these challenging times.
“BCGEU Support staff recognize all frontline workers and all that they do,” says Richard Schaeffer, BCGEU Local 703 First Vice-Chairperson.
The banner is also a nod to those individuals, closer to home, who ensure BCIT remains safe and operational, including the campus Safety, Security and Emergency Management team and the Facilities and Campus Development team – our community is better because of your tireless efforts.
“Our 1800+ FSA members work on the frontlines of educating the next generation of workers while many also continue to be active in their fields. Each and every one of them is a hero in our minds,” says BCITFSA President Colin Jones. “It is our honour to recognize and appreciate the ongoing efforts of educators, healthcare workers and all frontline workers during this global pandemic.”
If you have not received your first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, we encourage you to book an appointment at The Burnaby Campus COVID-19 Testing and Immunization Centre located in Lot B (entrance off Carey Avenue at Canada Way). The site is open every day from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm and has both drive-through and walk-through services available. Drops-ins are not accepted at this time.
If you have questions about the BCIT Burnaby Vaccination site, COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, or scheduling please call 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or visit fraserhealth.ca/vax.
I just wanted to say thank you to Kathy Kinloch, Glen Magel and his team as well as the people at both BCGEU and FSA.
I work in the SE 1 building and over the course of the pandemic, we were only teaching in person during the hands on shop portion of the Electrical Foundations program. Our shop faces the parking lot where the testing facility is. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter of 2020, those front line workers were out there. Rinse, repeat and throughout 2021, heat dome, torrential rains, snow, there they were. Smiling, wishing people a good day no matter what.
Last year I reached out directly to Ms Kinloch who passed it on to the appropriate team. Just in case, I also reached out to both of my unions, (I am both a F/T and PTS instructor).
I am very proud of these teams for getting this done. So grateful to work in an organization that values all of the peoples on the campuses.
Thank you