Finding community in the association
EFMA B.C. member profile on Bruce MacLean of School District #8 (Kootenay Lake) By Tammy Schuster
The next time you help a friend, it could turn into a 30-year career. It’s possible. That’s what happened when Bruce Ma-
cLean answered a call from a friend who was temporarily short-staffed. In 1984, a manager at (then) School
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District #7 was dealing with a number of school closures and needed an extra person. He turned to his friend MacLean for help. MacLean took time away from his small business to take on the afternoon shift position as a relief custodian, which started his career. Today, 31 years later, MacLean is now the manager of operations at School District #8 (Kootenay Lake). About two years later, that afternoon shift turned into a full-time position in maintenance and operations, where he worked in various positions throughout the district. “It worked really well, because I had young children, I still had time to run my business, and the benefit package and pension was appealing,” says MacLean. In the late ‘90s, MacLean became the general operations foreman for School District #7, when his friend and manager – an active member of the B.C. EFMA (then known as SPOA) – encouraged him to start going to zone meetings. Twice a year, zone meetings bring together managers and directors from different districts to discuss similarities, challenges and issues they each face in their line of work. Guest speakers are invited to present on specific topics related to facilities management, such as WCB regulations, roofing, flooring, and energy management. “There is a wealth of knowledge throughout the province among people who work in facilities,” he says. “It’s rare to come across a problem or situa-
