Find community in the association: EFMA B.C. member profile on Bruce MacLean of School District #8

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 MacLean answered a call from a friend who was temporarily short-staffed.

In 1984, a manager at (then) School

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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-

tion that someone else hasn’t run into.”

MacLean eventually became a zone representative in 2005, reporting to the provincial executive committee on activities within his zone. He later accepted a position as a director on the executive committee, becoming the EFMA president in 2010. It was during this time that the committee undertook the task of rebranding the association known as SPOA to EFMA.

“We felt it was important to recognize the work and maintain the history of our predecessors,” says MacLean. “But we wanted to come up with a name that better reflected the roles of today’s facilities managers.”

MacLean says having the expertise of the association members so easily accessible is a vital resource.

“You can garner and glean information and support from others, and if you do run across something that is an anomaly, then you’re going to be able to provide support to someone else,” he says. “My activities within the association were very rewarding and interesting. I’m glad I did it.”

Even after he was no longer active on the executive committee, MacLean continued to support the education and bursary committees.

He also likes to take advantage of his summer home on Kootenay Lake, spending time outdoors with his wife, Janice, their two sons and their spouses, and two grandchildren. When his family was young, he coached hockey, baseball, and soccer, and now enjoys watching his grandchildren in their activities.

Although a retirement date is not set, he plans to volunteer and perhaps build a retirement home to share with his wife. “Whether or not that comes to fruition I don’t know. That would be a goal for retirement.”

So far in his career, MacLean recalls six major renovations and rebuilds of various schools, but points to his five years serving on the EFMA executive committee and two years as a zone rep as his most enjoyable learning experience.

“You are involved in all aspects of the association – sourcing and promoting opportunities for membership, continued education, conference duties, contact with the ministry, involvement with provincial committees,” he says. “You work through and change your portfolio each year and get a broad aspect of the organization.”

MacLean recommends that anyone interested in coming into the industry to certainly try to attend the annual conference, participate in your zone, and meet others within your area. He also says that the association is a great place to network and connect with others in the industry.

“If you choose to, and if you have the time to, get involved with the executive committee. By all means, it’s a whole new level and a great experience – it’s a community.” b