A golden celebration: EFMA commemorates 50 years of excellence

50A golden celebration EFMA commemorates 50 years of excellence By Jillian Mitchell

A 50th anniversary is much to celebrate – and rightly so. Celebrating five decades of success in British Columbia's educational sector is the Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. (EFMA).

A collection of guest speakers, workshops, suppliers and other exhibitors will be on-site at the 2014 Conference and Trade Show entitled "50 Years of Excellence – Continuing to Build," which will occur June 2nd to 6th in Penticton. A recognition ceremony of past association presidents is also planned for the prestigious event. "We are in the planning stages, but it's going to be exciting," hints Molly Shipowich, EFMA executive assistant, of the upcoming celebration. "Our main focus is the conference, and we're working closely with the B.C. School Safety Association to bring sessions together."

As Shipowich explains, the annual conference and trade show is an opportunity to gather with other facility managers and to learn about, share, and discuss current issues in the profession. It is a member favourite, she says – and Bob Hardy would agree, wholeheartedly.

The EFMA executive director attended his first conference in 1977 and has attended faithfully ever since. As Hardy shares, the association has a flair for "keeping things fresh," a fact that he cites as one of EFMA's strengths.

At EFMA, the benefits go beyond networking, says Hardy: "It's more like a family. If someone has a problem, they don't reinvent the wheel; they can talk to one another. And that's what it's all about, working together. I can go into every school district in the province and I'll know somebody."

Hardy's passion for the industry carried through long after his retirement from Haida Gwaii in 2001. It was a passion sparked by the unmatched camaraderie offered by the association. "Anybody who's in education should

have a chance to experience what we milestones, says Peter Orjala, School have," he says. District No. 35 (Langley) and current

Approximately twelve members at- EFMA president, the most poignant betended the inaugural meeting back in ing the association's rebranding from 1964. Even in the early gatherings spear- SPOA to EFMA in 2011. headed by Jim Thorpe of Nanaimo, the "Everything has changed so drastically future association showed much en- in schools, as opposed to 50 years ago. thusiasm and purpose. Six years later, We're hoping the name reflects what we the group officially registered as a soci- do – keeping up with the times," says ety, the School Plant Officials Associa- Orjala, who joined the association back tion (SPOA). Today, the association has in 2008. grown to six zones spanning the entire Of his decision to become an EFMA province with 180 members and over 200 member, Orjala offers the following: "I associate members. thought that if I'm going to belong to Over the years, there have been many an association, I'm going to do my bit DGMAd_D.G. MacLachlan Ltd_ad.qxd 12-03-30 9:44 AM Page 1

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as well and take my turn," he says. "It's been a real learning curve for me, and it's been great. It's just a brilliant bunch of people with whom to work. And it's so well-organized and professional."

With 50 successful years under their belt, EFMA looks upon a bright future. Plans for the future include continuing to build membership, says Shipowich, as well as keeping up with ever-changing technology.

To register for the 2014 EFMA conference, please visit the official website: http://www.efmabc.com/events. b

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