Profile on Doug Stewart

Member Profile Ops Talk interview with Doug Stewart

BY AMBER KLATT

Doug Stewart is “proud to be working with the people who are SPOA” (soon to be renamed the EFMA of B.C.).

Bob Hardy says that Stewart is a “reliable and very good resource person”, “a non-political man who wants to help you get the job done right”. And it shows. Here is a man whose commitment to effective leadership has kept him with the British Columbia Ministry of Education since 1994, and as director of capital management since 2000. In a recent interview, Stewart talks about his work.

Describe your role and relationship with the School Plant Officials Association of British Columbia.

As part of the B.C. Ministry of Education, I provide policy, oversight, and funding to the facilities that comprise B.C. school districts and their boards. It is important to me to keep strong relationships with the people who make up SPOA, and this is why I make an effort to attend the AGM, provide seminars on procurement policy, and involve SPOA in our Capital Asset Management System along with VFA Canada.

Why does this job matter to you?

I do it for the benefit of the students, the school children who deserve to have the best learning environment … and physical space has a lot to do with this. For that reason, the people who are at the front-line delivering the services matter to me, and I feel good to be a part of that.

Tell me about some of the prominent projects moving across your desk.

To be honest, the projects themselves are driven by the individual districts and boards, who find their own consultants and designers. But, I can say that with the so-called ‘greening’ of schools today, the Ministry has invoked the Wood First goal. This encourages districts to fund building ventures that integrate B.C.’s renewable resource, and enables the sometimesstruggling local sawmill industry to allow for optimal learning structures that are also economically viable.

As well, with Full-Day Kindergarten beginning this fall, we needed a number of new spaces – from stick-built additions to brand-new schools, and something in-between. For the latter, Shelter Industries has responded with Modular Classrooms [Stewart notes wryly that these are not portables], the bright, largely windowed permanent structures that can also be moved.

And what about aspirations?

As a field [the Ministry and SPOA], we work together very well to get the best results that we can. Aside from unlimited financing, I can say I am thankful for the current efforts being put forth, and hope they continue.

Lastly, what makes you get up and go every morning?

Well, I’m not running the TC10K, and my floor hockey days have become more floor hockey watching days … but B.C. is a great province. I feel fortunate to enjoy it with my wife, our three adult children, and our church community. I enjoy spending time outdoors walking and hiking, and visiting with friends and family.