JOURNAL OF CANADIAN HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING SOCIETY
CARING FOR KIDS
New pediatric treatment centre in Calgary helps break down accessibility barriers for mental health services
We are pleased to announce that now monitors 50 plus hospitals Ontario region.
We are pleased to announce that now monitors 100 plus hospitals Ontario region.
Labour Canada has fully “acknowledged” the scope of work provided in the semiannual inspection program. In addition, the written documentation contributes greatly to the hospital accreditation programs.
Labour Canada has “acknowledged” the scope work provided in the semiannual inspection program. In addition, the written documentation contributes greatly to the hospital accreditation programs.
Further we are always pooling the knowledge resources of Infection Control and Engineering Groups like CHES, the ventilation inspection program is in a evolution to meet future healthcare needs for patients and staff.
What’s really in your s ?
h l ti and inspection of the hospital building audit this year Some of u have already taken advantage f our new software program which in conjunction with our patented robotics, allows us to minimize ceiling access requirements.
Further we are always pooling the knowledge resources Infection Control and Engineering Groups like CHES, the v inspection program is in evolution to meet future healthcare patients and staff. and inspection of the hospital building audit this year. Some of u have already taken advantage f our new software program which in conjunction with our patented robotics, allows us to minimize ceiling access requirements.
ventilation fire dampers may be part of
SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE
24 Building Resilience Applying climate risk, vulnerability assessments to healthcare facilities
28 Nix the Nitrous Anesthetic gas poses environmental, health hazard
HEALTH & SAFETY
Peak Care at the Summit Un sommet en matière de soins
20 Time to Shine
Preston Kostura reaches pinnacle of career postretirement as Hans Burgers award recipient
22 A Remarkable Feat
Maritime chapter pulls off another award win, its fourth in a matter of years
29 Supporting the Next Generation Ontario college gets a boost with first-of-itskind cleaning course for healthcare settings
EDITOR/RÉDACTRICE Clare Tattersall claret@mediaedge.ca
GROUP PUBLISHER/ Sean Foley ÉDITEUR DU GROUPE seanf@mediaedge.ca
PRESIDENT/PRÉSIDENT Kevin Brown kevinb@mediaedge.ca
SENIOR DESIGNER/ Annette Carlucci CONCEPTEUR annettec@mediaedge.ca GRAPHIQUE SENIOR
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/ Thuy Huynh-Guinane GRAPHISTE roxyh@mediaedge.ca
PRODUCTION Ines Louis COORDINATOR/ inesl@mediaedge.ca COORDINATEUR DE DE PRODUCTION
CIRCULATION MANAGER/ Adrian Holland DIRECTEUR DE LA circulation@mediaedge.ca DIFFUSION
CANADIAN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IS PUBLISHED BY UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE CANADIAN HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING SOCIETY.
SCISS JOURNAL TRIMESTRIEL PUBLIE PAR SOUS LE PATRONAGE DE LA SOCIETE CANADIENNE D'INGENIERIE DES SERVICES DE SANTE.
CHES SCISS
PRESIDENT Jim McArthur
VICE-PRESIDENT Kate Butler
PAST PRESIDENT Craig B. Doerksen
TREASURER Reynold J. Peters
SECRETARY Paul Perschon
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tanya Hutchison
CHAPTER CHAIRS
Newfoundland & Labrador: Colin Marsh
Maritime: Steve Smith
Ontario: John Marshman
Quebec: Mohamed Merheb
Manitoba: Stephen R. Cumpsty
Saskatchewan: Cameron Bantle
Alberta: James Prince British Columbia: Mitch Weimer
FOUNDING MEMBERS
H. Callan, G.S. Corbeil, J. Cyr, S.T. Morawski
CHES
4 Cataraqui St., Suite 310, Kingston, Ont. K7K 1Z7 Telephone: (613) 531-2661 Fax: (866) 303-0626 E-mail: info@ches.org www.ches.org
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Reproduction or adoption of articles appearing in Canadian Healthcare Facilities is authorized subject to acknowledgement of the source. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society. For information or permission to quote, reprint or translate articles contained in this publication, please write or contact the editor.
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A subscription to Canadian Healthcare Facilities is included in yearly CHES membership fees.
La reproduction ou l’adaptation d’articles parus dans le Journal trimestriel de la Société canadienne d’ingénierie des services de santé est autorisée à la condition que la source soit indiquée. Les opinions exprimées dans les articles sont celles des auteurs, qui ne sont pas nécessairement celles de la Société canadienne d’ingénierie des services de santé. Pour information ou permission de citer, réimprimer ou traduire des articles contenus dans la présente publication, veuillez vous adresser à la rédactrice.
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Journal trimestriel (non-membres)
$30 par numéro
Journal trimestriel (non-membres) $80 pour quatre numéros
L’abonnement au Journal trimestriel est inclus dans la cotisation annuelle de la SCISS.
A REWARDING EXPERIENCE
THE FALL ISSUE of Canadian Healthcare Facilities is my most favourite since I get to cover the CHES awards, something I’ve been doing for the past decade. I’ve had the pleasure to write about incredible projects that are shaping the Canadian healthcare landscape, and to speak with so many esteemed members of the organization during Hans Burgers award article interviews. This year, Preston Kostura was recognized at the CHES national conference for his contributions to healthcare engineering and outstanding leadership. Alberta Health Services received the Wayne McLellan award for a pioneering community-based healthcare facility in Calgary, that is tailored to meet the mental health needs of kids and teens. Newer to the awards program is the President’s award, added 10 years after the first Hans Burgers award was presented to its namesake. I feel fortunate to have reported on every chapter that has won in the friendly competition. This year’s recipient has been bestowed the honour five times since 2014, essentially making it the chapter to beat.
Per usual, the annual CHES awards make up the bulk of the fall issue and rightly so. However, two other topics are covered in the ensuing pages. The first is sustainable healthcare. Building Resilience discusses the challenges climate change poses to healthcare facilities and what health authorities in British Columbia are doing to address its impacts and build resilience. Then, Nix the Nitrous delves into a highly potent greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide, the significant environmental and safety concerns it poses, and the role hospital engineers can play in mitigating its use on-site. The second topic covered is health and safety. Supporting the Next Generation explores a new partnership between a post-secondary institution and professional cleaning products provider that has led to a first-of-its-kind cleaning course at an Ontario college.
As always, if you are interested in contributing an article to the publication or there’s a topic you’d like to see covered, please contact me.
Clare Tattersall claret@mediaedge.ca
SAVE THE DATE!
The 2025 CHES National Conference will be held in Calgary, Alberta, at the BMO Centre-Stampede Park, September 14-16, 2025. BMO Centre-Stampede Park is conveniently located in the downtown core and close to local amenities.
The theme of the 2025 conference is “Transforming Healthcare Together: Empowering Teams, Inspiring Creativity, Unleashing Knowledge”
The CHES 2025 Education Program is well underway and will once again feature dual tracks with talks on relevant industry topics from high-profile experts in the field.
We are excited to announce our keynote speaker is Ross Bernstein He's a best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books, a peak-performance business speaker and proud member of the Speaker Hall of Fame who will get us all thinking differently about how we can raise our game to the next level
There are plenty of social activities to network! The Great CHES Golf Tournament is tentatively scheduled to take place at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
Join us for the CHES President’s Reception and Gala Banquet again in 2025 at BMO Stampede Park The banquet will celebrate the accomplishments of our peers with the 2025 Awards presentations, while enjoying great food and entertainment with friends.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Calgary Marriott Downtown and there is a conference rate of $245 single/double, plus applicable taxes.
See you in 2025 in Calgary!
WORDS OF APPRECIATION
I AM NOW a number of weeks into the position of CHES National president. I would like to extend my gratitude to all who encouraged me to become more active in CHES. I would offer the same encouragement to any member thinking about joining a committee, chapter board or running for a position on the national executive. No matter the role, you will always get more out of CHES than you ever put in.
I would also like to thank Roger Holliss and Beth Hall for their time on the national executive, and Craig Doerksen for his leadership as president for the past two years. Craig has since moved into the position of past president. We welcome Paul Perschon as secretary to the executive team, and the return of Reynold Peters as treasurer and Kate Butler, who is now vice-president.
We are fresh off a very successful national conference in Halifax. This was one of the best-attended conferences in the 44-year history of our organization, where we welcomed members from coast-tocoast, as well as seven former presidents of CHES, International Federation of Healthcare Engineering (IFHE) president Steve Rees, American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) president Skand Skandaverl, and members from ASHE and other partner organizations. Hats off to conference planning committee chair Robert Barss and his amazing team of volunteers. I also want to extend a huge thank you to our vendors and sponsors. We simply cannot offer this conference, or those at the chapter level, without their support.
Coming from the long-term care (LTC) field, I was pleased to see several attendees from Nova Scotia’s LTC sector at the conference. As much as there are differences between long-term and acute care, there are also many similarities. With increased care requirements, LTC facilities are becoming more like hospitals. CHES is the go-to organization for all healthcare facilities and their facility managers.
I would like to again recognize this year’s CHES award winners: Alberta Health Services for The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience (Wayne McLellan Award of Excellence in Healthcare Facilities Management), Preston Kostura (Hans Burgers Award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare Engineering) and the Maritime chapter (President’s Award). All are well-deserved recipients.
My first tour of duty following the national conference was attending CHES Alberta’s conference in Red Deer, Sept. 15-16. Although presented with issues around travel restrictions within the province, the chapter still managed to pull off a well-attended and educational event. I look forward to next year when the Alberta chapter hosts the 2025 CHES National Conference in Calgary, Sept. 14-16.
In October, I went to CHES Saskatchewan’s conference in Regina, and the IFHE Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. I will be travelling to St. John’s in early November for the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter conference.
Thank you to all CHES members for everything you do to make our healthcare facilities operational, safe and comfortable for patients, staff, families and other visitors.
Jim McArthur CHES National president
EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FROM CHES
Members of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society can earn free continuing education units (CEU) by reading the Fall 2024 issue of Canadian Healthcare Facilities and passing a quiz based on articles in the issue. Once you’ve read the issue from cover to cover, simply go online to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N6JBLGP to take the quiz. CHES members who pass the quiz will be able to claim one contact hour (0.1 CEU) on their CanHCC or CCHFM certificate renewals.
BRITISH COLUMBIA CHAPTER
MARITIME CHAPTER CHAPTER REPORTS
2024 was an election year for the B.C. chapter. We had a full slate of candidates who ran unopposed. The new executive team includes myself (chair), Doug Davis (vicechair), Dawn Chan (treasurer), Steve McEwan (secretary) and Sarah Thorn (past chair).
Our spring conference in Whistler was a great success. Once again, it broke all records for attendance with more than 700 people participating in the event. The trade show featured 123 exhibitor booths and the quality of the education program was excellent. It has received rave reviews all around. Thank you to all who helped bring the conference to fruition.
As we move further into fall, the Canadian Healthcare Construction Course is scheduled for Nov. 14-15, in Surrey.
Looking to next year, the spring conference will be held in Penticton, June 1-3. It will return to Whistler in 2026. The B.C. chapter will host the CHES national conference in 2027, in Vancouver.
The chapter executive is currently working through the process of incorporation. We hope CHES B.C. will be incorporated by early 2025.
The B.C. chapter continues to provide a variety of educational opportunities to assist members with professional development so they can excel in their work life. Members receive complimentary webinar access and we offer an education tuition grant. Each year, we receive some applications for the grant but rarely do we fill up. So, if looking for educational funding, I encourage you to check out the B.C. chapter page on the CHES website for information on the application process.
For those wanting to help the next generation of healthcare professionals, CHES B.C. has a number of perpetual education bursaries at various post-secondary schools in the province.
—Mitch Weimer, British Columbia chapter chair
SASKATCHEWAN CHAPTER
The Saskatchewan chapter held its fall conference Oct. 21-22, at the Delta hotel in Regina. At our annual general meeting, which took place during the two-day event, I handed over the chair position to Cameron Bantle, who previously served as vice-chair. It has been a wonderful experience representing CHES Saskatchewan as chair the past few years. I can’t thank the chapter executive enough for their commitment and dedication. They have been remarkable, creating partnerships throughout the province and promoting the benefits of CHES.
One of our goals this year was to increase the Saskatchewan chapter’s presence at the CHES national conference. I’m happy to report four members of the executive team attended and took part in the various learning and networking experiences. As always, we continue to showcase CHES and hope for new and lasting memberships going forward.
—Melodie Young, Saskatchewan chapter past chair
Through the work of many individuals, the Maritime chapter pulled off another successful CHES national conference Sept. 8-10, in Halifax. It kicked off with our annual golf tournament at Osprey Ridge Golf Club. The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 hosted the opening reception and provided tours of the extraordinary historic site. Pier 21 is Canada’s last remaining ocean immigration shed — the gateway to this country for one in five Canadians. On day two, opening ceremonies included the Canadian national anthem led by cadets and junior rangers, and a welcoming land acknowledgement and blessing by knowledge keeper Charlotte Bernard. Keynote speaker Alan Mallory, who conquered Mount Everest with his family, presented his thoughts on reaching new heights through agile leadership. This was followed by two days of professional development and networking with colleagues and corporate associates from across the country. The sold-out trade show floor had 137 booths that displayed the latest products, technology and services devoted to healthcare facilities and infrastructure. The president’s reception featured the musical talents of the Rostova string quartet, a delicious meal and the awards presentations. The evening closed with the antics of world-renowned hypnotist Ian Stewart. On the final day, the CHES National board and Maritime chapter executive held their annual general meetings. Other highlights of the multi-day event were the Women in CHES lounge and the companion program. This included a trip to Lunenburg, N.S., for a sail on the iconic Bluenose, and an excursion to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic; and a tour of Halifax, both on land and by sea, followed by an outing to Peggy’s Cove and its famous lighthouse.
Planning and organizing a national conference, especially one that has been cancelled and rescheduled twice, takes a tremendous amount of work. I would like to thank all those involved in making this an event that exceeded all expectations — conference planning committee members, Maritime chapter and CHES National executives, associate members and the event management team, among the many others who contributed their time. People’s contributions and support confirm CHES will continue to see future growth and success.
Following the national conference, on Sept. 11-12, the Maritime chapter hosted the Canadian Healthcare Construction Course, held at the Prince George hotel in Halifax. Chapter executives met with various groups, including construction associations from all three Maritime provinces, to promote the first-class session on working in a healthcare environment. In total, there were 32 registrants, signifying a successful outcome.
Next year’s spring conference will be held May 4-6, at the Delta Beausejour hotel in Moncton, N.B.
The Maritime chapter continues to offer several financial incentives to members, such as the Per Paasche bursary, contribution to Canadian Certified Healthcare Facility Manager exam fees, and spring and fall education days, among other benefits.
—Robert Barss, Maritime chapter past
chair
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR CHAPTER
2024 is a little different for the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter. We postponed our spring conference until November, for a simple reason: Infection Prevention and Control Canada’s national conference was being held in St. John’s in June, and many attendees are also CHES members. Moving our conference to fall gives healthcare employees the ability to attend a second event this year. Our goal is that our two-day event, Nov. 3-4, will be the largest in the chapter’s history.
It has been challenging to maintain chapter membership given the province’s healthcare system is in the midst of transitioning from four separate health regions to five health zones under one board, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services. Healthcare professionals are still applying for positions resulting in a lot of movement and instability. The chapter is actively pushing recruitment on vendors/suppliers, consultants and other healthcare dependents to improve membership enrolment. As an attempt to increase membership, we have increased the cost of a vendor booth at the fall conference to include a free one-year membership.
Financially, the chapter is in a solid position. Because of this, we are looking to give back to our members and invest in their betterment, whether that is providing additional education opportunities, sending more members to the national conference, paying for extra webinars and/or supporting members who take on the role of chair of a national committee. This year, we sent four people plus the chapter chair to the CHES national conference in Halifax. Hats off to the Maritime chapter and its planning committee for putting together an incredible conference agenda.
ALBERTA CHAPTER
The Alberta chapter held its Clarence White conference Sept. 16. Despite the financial constraints in healthcare, we were committed to ensuring the show must go on. This year, we reduced entry fees and offered free bussing to Calgary from Edmonton, to make the event more accessible to members and non-members alike. The planning committee worked tirelessly to balance affordability with quality to provide a conference that was both a memorable and valuable experience for all attendees.
Alberta faced an unprecedented number of wildfires this summer. Jasper, one of Canada’s premier national park areas and tourist attractions, was not exempt. Many homes and businesses were lost. However, I am relieved to report essential services for the town, including Jasper Healthcare Centre, were spared. Alberta Health Services staff and partners worked hard to fully reopen the facility after a prolonged shutdown.
The Alberta chapter will be meeting with representatives from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology to discuss our ongoing commitment to supporting future engineering students through bursaries. These partnerships are crucial in fostering the next generation of healthcare engineers.
Members of our planning committee are ramping up efforts for the 2025 CHES National Conference in Calgary. We are excited to share events and venues when the time comes.
I am proud of the resilience and dedication of our members and partners during these challenging times. Together, we continue to advance healthcare engineering in Alberta and beyond. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment.
—James Prince, Alberta chapter chair
The 2025 CHES National Conference will be held in Calgary, Sept. 14-16, at BMO Centre in Stampede Park.
—Colin Marsh, Newfoundland & Labrador chapter chair
QUEBEC CHAPTER
I am thrilled to present the progress and future directions of CHES Quebec. Quebec has made significant advancements this year, beginning with the successful launch of our inaugural chapter conference in Montreal this past May. The event attracted more than 90 delegates and seven vendors, underscoring growing interest and engagement within our community. There were four technical sessions, all of which garnered positive feedback from participants, highlighting the value of the knowledge shared. The presence of then-CHES National president Craig Doerksen further emphasized the strong collaboration and unity across CHES chapters. Building on this momentum, we are planning another conference for 2025, with many participants and vendors having already secured spots.
Following the conference, on June 5-6, the Quebec chapter hosted the Canadian Healthcare Construction Course for the very first time. The course, a unique offering focused on healthcare construction, was recently certified by the Quebec Building Authority, under Section 1.3 related to building construction. This certification is a testament to the course’s alignment with industry standards and its crucial role in equipping professionals with the necessary skills for healthcare construction projects.
The Quebec chapter is committed to expanding its reach and influence. We are focused on growing our membership, which will further strengthen the chapter’s impact within the healthcare engineering field. To support this growth, we are actively utilizing social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to foster a robust communication network, ensuring members are informed and engaged with our latest initiatives and events.
Your continued support and active participation are essential as we work together to advance the field of healthcare engineering in Canada. I extend my deepest gratitude for your dedication to the success of CHES and its chapters, and I look forward to our collective achievements in the coming year.
—Mohamed Merheb, Quebec chapter chair
CHAPITRE DU QUEBEC
Notre chapitre a pris des mesures significatives cette année, en commençant par le lancement réussi de notre première conférence du chapitre à Montréal en mai. Cet événement a attiré plus de 90 délégués et sept fournisseurs, soulignant l'intérêt croissant et l'engagement au sein de notre communauté. Nous avons organisé quatre sessions techniquestechniques, mettant en évidence la valeur des connaissances partagées. La présence de notre président national, Craig Doerksen, a en outre souligné la forte collaboration et l'unité entre les chapitres. Tirant parti de cet élan, nous prévoyons déjà la prochaine conférence pour 2025, de nombreux participants et fournisseurs ayant déjà réservé leurs places.
Notre chapitre est fier des avancées réalisées avec le Cours canadien de construction en soins de santé , qui s'est tenu les 5 et 6 juin. Ce cours, une offre unique axée sur la construction en soins de santé, a récemment reçu la certification de la Régie du bâtiment en vertu de l'article 1.3 concernant la construction de bâtiments. Cette certification témoigne de l'alignement du cours avec les normes de l'industrie et de son rôle crucial dans l'équipement des professionnels avec les compétences nécessaires pour les projets de construction en soins de santé.
Notre chapitre s'engage à étendre sa portée et son influence. Nous nous concentrons sur la croissance de notre adhésion, ce qui renforcera davantage l'impact de notre chapitre dans le domaine de l'ingénierie des soins de santé. Pour soutenir cette croissance, nous utilisons activement des plateformes de médias sociaux telles que LinkedIn et Instagram pour favoriser un réseau de communication solide, garantissant que nos membres sont informés et engagés dans nos dernières initiatives et événements.
Votre soutien continu et votre participation active sont essentiels alors que nous travaillons ensemble pour faire progresser le domaine de l'ingénierie des soins de santé au Canada. Je vous exprime ma plus profonde gratitude pour votre dévouement au succès de la SCISS et de ses chapitres.
—Mohamed
Merheb, chef du conseil d’administration du Québec
The Quebec chapter’s inaugural conference in Montreal was a great success, with more than 90 delegates and seven vendors in attendance. Notre conference inaugurale du chapitre à Montréal a été un grande succès, avec plus de 90 délégués et sept fournisseurs presents.
MANITOBA CHAPTER
Planning has commenced for CHES Manitoba’s next education day, to be held April 15, at the Victoria Inn hotel in Winnipeg. The theme and sponsors are yet to be developed.
The Manitoba chapter once again sponsored an education session at the Manitoba Building Conference and Expo. We worked with Shared Health’s infection, prevention and control (IP&C) team to present on IP&C in renovation and construction. This topic garnered interest from delegates looking to get involved in healthcare projects. As part of the presentation, the chapter promoted the Canadian Healthcare Construction Course, which is being offered Nov. 28-29. For 2025, the chapter executive is contemplating conducting a joint training conference with IP&C.
A good delegation from Manitoba travelled to Halifax for the CHES national conference. I attended as chapter chair, accompanied by vice-chair Kevin Shmon. Jeremy Kehler, chair of the CHES National professional development subcommittee, was also there, along with CHES National treasurer Reynold Peters and, of course, now CHES National past president Craig Doerksen. Mike Reader, director of capital and facilities management for the Northern Regional Health Authority, attended as the trip winner from our spring education day.
—Stephen R. Cumpsty, Manitoba chapter chair
ONTARIO CHAPTER
The Ontario chapter executive continues to meet quarterly via virtual means, focused on membership development and member benefits, including bursaries, the Young Professionals Grant and widely acclaimed education events.
From the silver linings playbook of the pandemic, we held a virtual education event this year, bringing vendors and members together around the ever-important theme of decarbonization. The sessions were well-organized and well-attended. We will continue to balance virtual and in-person engagement opportunities going forward to maximize member benefit.
The CHES Ontario family congregated at our chapter conference in Blue Mountain in May. The sense of connection and community was palpable from the opening reception through engaging and educative sessions and a scintillating gala performance. Kudos to the conference planning committee and Ron Durocher’s leadership. Looking forward to seeing everyone next spring in my hometown, Kitchener.
Chapter executives continue to engage in networking and advocacy opportunities. I had the opportunity to present with esteemed colleagues at Greening Health Care’s September workshop at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital to further decarbonization through a discussion of lessons learned.
—John Marshman, Ontario chapter chair
CHES NATIONAL CONFERENCE OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME MORE WELL-ROUNDED IN HEALTHCARE CAREER
HALIFAX IS AMONG the most picturesque cities in this country.
Nova Scotia’s capital boasts beautiful shorelines that are perfect for scenic coastal hikes; a stunning, ship-filled natural harbour that’s considered to be the second largest in the world following Sydney; and not-to-miss historical sites, among them one of the most visited in the country — Citadel Hill. It’s therefore not surprising that it was chosen as the host city for the 2024 CHES National Conference, the third time it has been selected in the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society’s history.
Held for its usual three days, the most highly anticipated event of the year saw nearly 790 attendees pass through the Halifax Convention Centre, Sept. 8-10. Among them was Melina Soifer, the recipient of this year’s Young Professionals Grant (YPG).
The YPG is given annually to a young professional who is or will become an architect, engineer or technician, or work in a similar technical discipline. Eligible candidates must be employed by a healthcare organization, or a company that supplies goods or services to healthcare facilities or organizations, and have worked in the healthcare field for less than five years. The grant includes the opportunity to attend the CHES national conference, with registration fees and travel expenses paid
up to $2,000, and a one-year complimentary CHES membership.
While not the first national conference attended — Soifer went to last year’s in Winnipeg, where she both resides and works — it fulfilled a desire to go again and, at the same time, visit the Maritime region, a bucket list destination.
“I remember being at the 2023 national conference and really wanting to go to the one in Halifax this year,” says Soifer. “It left such an impression that when I heard about the grant, I told myself I was going to get it.”
And that she did, endorsed by CHES Manitoba’s executive team for her unwavering commitment to her chosen profession.
Despite graduating from the University of Manitoba in 2019, with a degree in engineering, Soifer is relatively new to healthcare, having spent the first part of her career in the oil and gas industry.
She changed fields in fall 2022, fuelled by a long-standing passion to do something that directly influences people’s lives.
“The healthcare industry is something that everyone has a personal stake in because everyone, at some point, needs healthcare and someone you care about could be using the facilities we work with right now,” she says.
Today, Soifer is part of the building systems engineering team in the facility management department at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, a Shared Health facility and Manitoba’s provincial tertiary centre for trauma, transplants, burns, neurosciences, complex cancer care and pediatric care. A large part of her job involves helping to coordinate and provide technical reviews from facility maintenance throughout the design, construction, commissioning and occupancy of capital projects on campus.
One of the primary reasons Soifer wanted to take part in the national conference is it provides an opportunity to talk to suppliers face-to-face, which she cites as a notable learning experience.
“At HSC Winnipeg, we use a lot of their products, so it’s nice to chat about our experiences, find out about what other things the products can be used for and even see new products that are offered,” she explains, adding she was delighted to see so many vendor display spaces.
As in years past, the trade show floor was sold-out with 137 booths.
The educational sessions that revolved around the theme, Rejuvenating Healthcare Infrastructure, were also a big draw for
Soifer, who attended as many as possible for a total of eight. Among them was a seminar on how Canada’s largest health authority, Alberta Health Services, implemented CSA Z8002.19 into facilities operations at both provincial and site levels. The standard addresses the operation and maintenance of permanently installed equipment used to support patient care like call systems and human waste disposal units. It also includes requirements for the operation and maintenance of interfaces between equipment and building systems, such as equipment docking and charging stations.
An interesting part of this year’s event was the keynote given by Alan Mallory, says Soifer. An international speaker, author and performance coach, Mallory’s address was built around the two years of planning and two months of climbing that went into realizing his goal of reaching the summit of Mount Everest. Soifer’s takeaway: “I learned I definitely don’t want to do that!”
Another high point was the Women in CHES lounge, where she got to meet female trailblazers in the organization and healthcare industry in general, like Kate Butler, executive director of energy management at Service New Brunswick and the new CHES national vice-president,
Photos courtesy Kent Waddington
and Helen Comeau, past chair of the Maritime chapter and a fire and safety officer at Saint John Regional Hospital in New Brunswick.
“It was inspiring to meet other women in the industry and learn about what they do,” says Soifer.
Reflecting on her time in Halifax, Soifer says she feels invigorated in her career and hopes to attend next year’s conference in Calgary, given all the national conference has to offer.
“It gives you a more well-rounded approach to your job,” she says.
“After hearing from and talking to so many people with fascinating stories and experiences, I came away with a new mindset of how to view and approach projects in healthcare, which is especially important and beneficial to have early on in my career.”
Seriousness aside, the conference was more than an educational event for Soifer. It offered ample networking opportunities and social activities, some of which she partook in like day excursions to Lunenburg, which provided the chance to set sail on the worldrenowned Bluenose, and Peggy’s Cove, as part of the companion program. She had hoped to take part in the facility tour of IWK Health, the women’s and children’s tertiary care teaching and
research hospital for all Maritime provinces and some patients from Newfoundland and Labrador; however, a spot was unavailable — a testament to its popularity.
Per usual, the annual Great CHES Golf Game, held this year at Osprey Ridge Golf Club in Pine Grove, N.S., kicked off the conference. It was followed by the opening night reception at the Canadian Museum of Immigration located in the Pier 21 national historic site at the Halifax seaport, where nearly one million immigrants landed in Canada from 1928-1971. The main event was the gala banquet, with this year’s entertainment provided by master hypnotist Ian Stewart. But the pinnacle of the event was the presentation of awards. Calgary’s first pediatric mental health hospital, called the The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience (Wayne McLellan Award of Excellence in Healthcare Facilities Management) and Preston Kostura (Hans Burgers Award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare Engineering) were honoured, along with CHES Maritime (President’s Award), which held particular significance for the chapter given it was a back-toback win and the first time triumphant on its home turf.
CHES SCISS
Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society
Société canadienne d'ingénierie des services de santé
CALL FOR GRANT SPONSORSHIP & SUBMISSIONS
2025 Young Professionals Grant
DEADLINE: April 30, 2025
CHES is seeking both sponsors and candidates for the 2025 Young Professionals Grant. The application forms for Sponsors and Candidates are available on the CHES Website.
Call for Sponsors:
• The YPG sponsorship application form must be completed by the sponsoring organization/company and submitted to the CHES National Office.
• CHES National Office will invoice sponsoring organization/company for $2,000 once candidate applications have been received and approved.
Call for Candidates:
• Young professionals who are or will become architects, engineers (i.e. mechanical, electrical, power, civil, etc.), technicians or similar technical disciplines are eligible.
• Eligible candidates are those working within a healthcare organization or a company supplying goods or services to healthcare facilities or organizations.
• Eligible candidates must be working in the healthcare field for less than 5 years.
• The YPG application form must be completed by the eligible candidate and submitted to the CHES National Office. In this form, the eligible candidate will be required to provide information on their recent employment and future career aspirations.
• Confirmed candidates will receive complimentary registration for the 2025 CHES National Conference and complimentary membership for the remainder of the 2025-2026 membership year.
For Nomination Forms, Terms of Reference, criteria and past winners www.ches.org / About CHES / Awards
Send nominations to: CHES National Office info@ches.org
PEAK CARE AT THE SUMMIT
Un sommet en matière de soins
It took almost a decade for Calgary’s first dedicated centre for child and adolescent mental health to open its doors, but all the time and effort put forth was well worth it. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. The pioneering community-based healthcare facility, known as The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience, garnered Alberta Health Services (AHS) the 2024 Wayne McLellan Award of Excellence in Healthcare Facilities Management. This is the second year in a row the health authority has received the highly esteemed honour.
“It is exciting given AHS won the same award previously for a building that is worth a whole lot more and is even more grand in scale,” says Beverly Wilson, acting director of project management for the Calgary zone, about the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Completed in March 2023 — after four years of needs assessment, business case, functional planning and design, and another four of
Il a fallu près d’une décennie pour que le premier centre dédié à la santé mentale des enfants et des adolescents de Calgary ouvre ses portes, mais tout le temps et les efforts déployés en valaient la peine. Et cela n’est pas passé inaperçu. L’établissement de santé communautaire pionnier, connu sous le nom de The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience, s’est vu décerner par Alberta Health Services (AHS) le prix Wayne McLellan 2024 d’excellence en gestion d’établissements de santé. C’est la deuxième année consécutive que l’autorité sanitaire reçoit cet honneur hautement estimé.
“C’est passionnant, étant donné que l’AHS a déjà remporté le même prix pour un bâtiment d’une valeur bien supérieure et d’une plus grande envergure,” déclare Beverly Wilson, directrice par intérim de la gestion de projet pour la zone de Calgary, à propos du Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Achevé en mars 2023, après quatre années d’évaluation des
construction — the $39-million mental health facility is just 34,000 square feet. This pales in comparison to the country’s largest cancer treatment and research centre, which boasts 1.5 million square feet and was built on a $1.4 billion budget. But it doesn’t render The Summit any less important. Rather, the facility has filled a significant gap in acute outpatient services.
Prior to opening, distressed young people up to the age of 18 had no choice but to go to hospital if wanting treatment. However, the institution-like setting of these traditional healthcare facilities, oftentraumatic experience associated with going to one, negative social stigma attached, and lack of services targeting this cohort and only recently recognized medical condition prevented many from seeking help.
“It’s an important building because it was specifically designed and built to address the pressing issues facing youth today,” says Wilson.
The Summit offers comprehensive services that are focused on stabilizing and managing mental health issues, preventing hospitalization and alleviating pressures on the broader healthcare system via a walk-in clinic, intensive treatment program and day hospital that feels anything but. Designed by Sahuri + Partners Architecture, in collaboration with AHS and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (ACHF), the three-storey facility is nestled into the hillside, offering incredible views and a strong connection to nature to those within. The interior is warm, welcoming and cheerful, outfitted with structural timber and patterned ceilings, colourful walls and furnishings, an abundance of natural light thanks to the ample number of large windows, and geometric artificial lighting conceived by SMP Engineering. Outside is a park developed through a partnership between Calgary Parks Foundation and ACHF that features wellness-promoting elements like a labyrinth and climbing structures. A rooftop three-point basketball court, therapy garden that provides a horticultural program with therapeutic benefits, and exterior respite pathways with areas for relaxation and reflection are also provided. The exterior massing is broken down by overhangs, screening and metal cladding. Its sculpted appearance aligns with
besoins, d’analyse de rentabilité, de planification fonctionnelle et de conception, et quatre autres années de construction, le centre de santé mentale, d’une valeur de 39 millions de dollars, ne fait que 34,000 pieds carrés. Cela fait pâle figure en comparaison du plus grand centre de traitement et de recherche sur le cancer du pays, qui s’enorgueillit d’une superficie de 1.5 million de pieds carrés et a été construit avec un budget de $1.4 milliard. Le Sommet n’en est pas moins important pour autant. Au contraire, l’établissement a comblé une lacune importante dans les services ambulatoires de soins aigus. Avant l’ouverture, les jeunes en détresse jusqu’à l’âge de 18 ans n’avaient d’autre choix que de se rendre à l’hôpital pour se faire soigner. Cependant, le cadre institutionnel de ces établissements de santé traditionnels, l’expérience souvent traumatisante qui y est associée, la stigmatisation sociale négative qui y est attachée et le manque de services destinés à cette cohorte dont l’état de santé n’a été reconnu que récemment empêchaient beaucoup d’entre eux de chercher de l’aide.
“C’est un bâtiment important parce qu’il a été spécialement conçu et construit pour répondre aux problèmes urgents auxquels sont confrontés les jeunes d’aujourd’hui,” explique Wilson.
Le Summit offre des services complets axés sur la stabilisation et la gestion des problèmes de santé mentale, la prévention de l’hospitalisation et l’allègement des pressions exercées sur le système de santé dans son ensemble, grâce à une clinique sans rendez-vous, un programme de traitement intensif et une clinique externe qui ne ressemble à rien d’autre. Conçu par Sahuri + Partners Architecture, en collaboration avec l’AHS et l’Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (ACHF), l’établissement de trois étages est niché à flanc de colline, offrant des vues incroyables et un lien fort avec la nature à ceux qui s’y trouvent. L’intérieur est chaleureux, accueillant et joyeux, avec des plafonds en bois et à motifs, des murs et des meubles colorés, une abondance de lumière naturelle grâce à un grand nombre de grandes fenêtres, et un éclairage artificiel géométrique conçu par SMP Engineering. À l’extérieur, un parc a été aménagé dans le cadre d’un partenariat entre la Calgary Parks Foundation et l’ACHF, avec
LEFT TO RIGHT: The walk-in therapy rooms are brightly coloured. The kitchen on the second floor is used for teaching cooking skills.
neighbouring residential buildings to be less intimidating and more inviting.
The project aims to achieve LEED silver certification. It incorporates the highest possible degree of passive systems, a high-performance building envelope, and efficient and integrated active building systems. A four-pipe chilled beam system is used for the main heating and cooling. The heating system employs low-emittance/high-efficiency boilers, operating with 93-96 per cent efficiency during the heating season. The cooling system utilizes a high-efficiency magnetic bearing outdoor air-cooled chiller designed for year-round operation. Other environmentally friendly features include water-efficient fixtures; contemporary LED luminaires controlled by occupancy sensors and programmed to support natural daylighting and energy efficiency; and motorized window shades and lighting control systems that adjust light levels to maintain comfort and maximize energy savings. Targeted energy savings are 9.6 per cent compared to the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 energy modelling standard. Sustainable strategies are made apparent to visitors through on-site stormwater management and the
des éléments favorisant le bien-être, comme un labyrinthe et des structures d’escalade. Un terrain de basket-ball à trois points sur le toit, un jardin thérapeutique proposant un programme horticole aux vertus thérapeutiques, et des allées extérieures de répit avec des zones de relaxation et de réflexion sont également prévus. La masse extérieure est décomposée par des surplombs, des écrans et un bardage métallique. Son apparence sculptée s’harmonise avec les bâtiments résidentiels voisins pour être moins intimidante et plus invitante.
Le projet vise à obtenir la certification LEED argent. Il intègre le plus haut degré possible de systèmes passifs, une enveloppe de bâtiment à haute performance et des systèmes de construction actifs efficaces et intégrés. Un système de poutres froides à quatre tuyaux est utilisé pour le chauffage et le refroidissement. Le système de chauffage utilise des chaudières à faible émissivité et à haut rendement, fonctionnant avec une efficacité de 93 à 96 pour cent pendant la saison de chauffage. Le système de refroidissement utilise un refroidisseur d’air extérieur à palier magnétique à haut rendement,
LEFT TO RIGHT: Mike Pringle of Honeywell (award sponsor) with Beverly Wilson of Alberta Health Services. The Summit features stepped massing, pitched roofs and an origami facade treatment (top). All aspects of the building design are intended to provide a non-institutional appearance (bottom).
“IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE FEELING TO SEE THEIR EYES LIGHT UP WHEN THEY SAW A SPACE THAT INCORPORATED ITEMS THEY BROUGHT UP IN DISCUSSION LIKE THE CEILING TILES, WHICH ARE ATYPICAL, OR CERTAIN WALL GRAPHICS.”
conçu pour fonctionner toute l’année. Parmi les autres caractéristiques respectueuses de l’environnement, citons les appareils sanitaires à faible consommation d’eau, les luminaires LED contemporains contrôlés par des détecteurs de présence et programmés pour favoriser l’éclairage naturel et l’efficacité énergétique, ainsi que les stores motorisés et les systèmes de contrôle de l’éclairage qui ajustent les niveaux de lumière pour maintenir le confort et maximiser les économies d’énergie. Les économies d’énergie visées sont de 9.6 pour cent par rapport à la norme de modélisation énergétique ASHRAE 90.1-2010. Les stratégies durables sont visibles pour les visiteurs grâce à la gestion des eaux de ruissellement sur le site et à l’utilisation de matériaux écologiques et produits localement, y compris la technologie du bois de masse.
use of eco-sensitive and locally produced materials, including mass timber technology.
What’s most remarkable about the project was the level of community involvement throughout all stages of the project’s development. Specifically, it was guided by two advisory councils — one youth, the other family — with lived mental health experience who shaped every aspect of the building’s design and informed operational planning. This inclusive approach ensured the purpose-built facility is tailored to the needs and preferences of its primary users.
“We really listened to them and that’s the reason why the building is what it is,” says Wilson, adding the project is the highlight of her 40-year career in healthcare.
“Our youth advisors toured the facility before it opened and it was a very emotional experience,” she continues. “It was an incredible feeling to see their eyes light up when they saw a space that incorporated items they brought up in discussion like the ceiling tiles, which are atypical, or certain wall graphics.”
The success of The Summit was bolstered by the expertise and dedication of AHS’ capital management team. They leveraged insights from past developments, implementing proven strategies and avoiding previous pitfalls, and engaged in open and thorough discussions when evaluating various mechanical system options, plumbing fixtures, parkade membranes, generators and lighting types. This rigorous vetting process aimed to identify the most suitable solutions, reflecting the team’s commitment to excellence and innovation.
“Their contributions were instrumental in translating the project’s vision into a state-of-the-art healthcare facility,” says Wilson.
Within the first 12 months of service, The Summit saw 3,900 patients. (Some 8,000 children and teens are expected to pass through its doors annually.) This has resulted in a decrease in inpatient capacity/ average occupancy rate, down to 94.7 per cent from 95.3 per cent; a reduction in readmission rates by two to three per cent; and a decrease in the length of stay to 19.8 days from 23.7 days. These achievements have enhanced system capacity and flow, enabling more patients to be seen and treated, and ultimately improved the overall efficiency and effectiveness of mental health services in Calgary and surrounding regions.
Ce qui est le plus remarquable à propos du Summit, c’est le niveau d’implication de la communauté à tous les stades du développement du projet. Plus précisément, il a été guidé par deux conseils consultatifs — l’un composé de jeunes, l’autre de familles — ayant une expérience vécue de la santé mentale, qui ont façonné chaque aspect de la conception du bâtiment et informé la planification opérationnelle. Cette approche inclusive a permis de s’assurer que l’installation construite à cet effet est adaptée aux besoins et aux préférences de ses principaux utilisateurs.
“Nous les avons vraiment écoutés et c’est la raison pour laquelle le bâtiment est ce qu’il est,” déclare Wilson, qui ajoute que ce projet est le point culminant de ses 40 ans de carrière dans le secteur de la santé.
“Nos jeunes conseillers ont visité les installations avant leur ouverture et ce fut une expérience très émouvante,” poursuit-elle. “C’était une sensation incroyable de voir leurs yeux s’illuminer lorsqu’ils découvraient un espace qui intégrait des éléments qu’ils avaient évoqués au cours de la discussion, comme les dalles de plafond, qui sont atypiques, ou certains graphismes muraux.”
Le succès du Sommet a été renforcé par l’expertise et le dévouement de l’équipe de gestion du capital d’AHS. Elle a tiré parti de l’expérience acquise lors de développements antérieurs, en mettant en œuvre des stratégies éprouvées et en évitant les écueils précédents. Elle s’est engagée dans des discussions ouvertes et approfondies lors de l’évaluation de diverses options de systèmes mécaniques, d’installations de plomberie, de membranes de stationnement, de générateurs et de types d’éclairages. Ce processus d’examen rigoureux a permis d’identifier les solutions les plus appropriées, reflétant l’engagement de l’équipe en faveur de l’excellence et de l’innovation.
“Leurs contributions ont été déterminantes pour traduire la vision du projet en un établissement de soins de santé de pointe,” déclare Wilson.
Au cours des 12 premiers mois de service, The Summit a accueilli 3,900 patients. (Quelque 8,000 enfants et adolescents devraient franchir ses portes chaque année.) Cela s’est traduit par une diminution de la capacité d’hospitalisation/du taux d’occupation moyen, qui est passé de 95.3 pour cent à 94.7 pour cent; une réduction des taux de réadmission de deux à trois pour cent; et une diminution de la durée de séjour, qui est passée de 23.7 jours à 19.8 jours. Ces réalisations ont amélioré la capacité et la fluidité du système, permettant à un plus grand nombre de patients d’être vus et traités, et ont finalement amélioré l’efficacité globale des services de santé mentale à Calgary et dans les régions environnantes.
TIME TO SHINE
Preston Kostura reaches pinnacle of career post-retirement as Hans Burgers award recipient
Retirement is often regarded as an opportunity to develop new interests or nurture existing ones and simply slow down. Preston Kostura has certainly shifted gears since officially leaving the healthcare industry in the throes of the pandemic, but few, if any, would say he is taking it easy. Within a month of retiring, he was elected as a municipal official for the Village of Bittern in Alberta, where he served a two-year term. He is now president of the Camrose Bruins senior double-A hockey club, while simultaneously serving as vice-president of the Camrose Sport Development Society and executive director of the Camrose Kodiaks junior-A hockey team. He also dedicates part-time efforts to a local brewery, Battle River Brewery. Given his busy schedule, he was somewhat surprised albeit delightfully when then-CHES National president Craig Doerksen called him to share he was selected as this year’s recipient of the Hans Burgers
Award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare Engineering.
“It was total elation,” says Kostura about hearing the news. “CHES is so near and dear to my heart. I feel truly honoured and humbled to be recognized in this way.”
Despite no longer being professionally involved in the healthcare industry, Kostura’s presence is still very much felt in CHES. At the local level, he is a member of the Alberta chapter conference planning committee, which recently pulled off a successful event Sept. 16, at the Red Deer Resort and Casino. Originally slated for spring, the Clarence White conference was moved to fall because of provincial expenditure and travel restrictions, and scaled back to a single day. Kostura is also involved in the planning of next year’s CHES national conference in Calgary, to be held Sept. 14-16, at BMO Centre in Stampede Park. Outside of these commitments, he continues to be looked at and called upon as a
mentor, given his wide breadth of knowledge of the healthcare industry and willingness to share lessons learned from his 30-year career.
Like many working in healthcare, Kostura came to the sector from another. He was originally employed for six years as a power engineer in the oil and gas field, first with Westmin Resources and then Norcen Energy. In search of greater stability with the arrival of his first born in 1990 — the oil and gas industry is notorious for its fluctuating employment trends that resulted in four rounds of layoffs for the new father — Kostura applied for a position as a maintenance worker at Wetaskiwin Hospital. Within 12 months, he was promoted to assistant director of building services.
“It was a busy year for me, as I had to learn and do my job while taking a third-class power engineering program by correspondence to obtain my certificate,” he says.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Colin Marley of DuBois (award sponsor) with Preston Kostura and then-CHES National president Craig Doerksen.
With the regionalization of health services in the province in the mid-late ‘90s, Kostura continued his climb on the proverbial ladder to become manager of building services for the no-longer-existing Crossroads Regional Health Authority, and eventually maintenance manager for the David Thompson Regional Health Authority (also now defunct), where he was responsible for two acute care facilities and two community health centres.
In 2006, he moved to East Central Health. There, he served as manager of facility services until the province moved to a single health system and he became director of facilities maintenance and engineering for Alberta Health Services (AHS), a role he remained in from 2009-2021. During this time, he was part of the team that implemented e-facilities, among other facility and provincial-based initiatives. At the conclusion of his career, he had 27 sites in his portfolio, comprised of acute and long-term care facilities, community health centres, mental health facilities and associate partner sites. Three managers assisted him in the supervision and management of more than 110 staff across the various locations.
As for CHES, Kostura has been involved with the organization for the past 14 years, and played an instrumental role in growing the Alberta chapter. Previous to that, he had been a member of the Hospital Engineers Association of Alberta (HEAA) since 1993, serving as co-chair and chair from 2000-2007 and 2007-2012, respectively.
“Steve Rees, who was vice-president of capital management with AHS at the time, came to me as HEAA chair and said the health authority was only going to support one engineering society,” explains Kostura about how the Alberta chapter came to be larger. “This fuelled the decision to fully participate in CHES, and I helped convince HEAA members to join and migrate them over.”
Once HEAA members were brought into the CHES Alberta family, Kostura quickly became an active member of the executive team. He was elected chapter chair in 2012, and served a two-year term, following which he turned his focus to the national board. Positions held included vice-president (20152016), president (2017-2019) and past president (2020-2021). He also chaired the CHES national conference planning committee when the esteemed event was held in Edmonton in 2015.
Looking back on his time on the national board, Kostura says his greatest accomplishments include helping Peter Whiteman work through negotiations with the Health Facility Resource Council in Saskatchewan to merge with CHES, which it did in 2015 to become the Saskatchewan chapter; assisting with the formation of the Quebec chapter in 2017, to make CHES a truly national organization from coast-to-coast; and his involve-
ment in procuring the winning bid to host the 2022 International Federation of Healthcare Engineering Congress. The event, held in Toronto in tandem with the national conference that year, elevated CHES to the world stage.
But of all his successes, Kostura says winning the Hans Burgers award has been the pinnacle of his career.
“To be recognized nationally by my peers, it means everything to me,” he gushes.
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A REMARKABLE FEAT
Maritime chapter pulls off another award win, its fourth in a matter of years
There’s nothing quite like a back-toback award win, something CHES Maritime has now achieved twice since the President’s Award was first introduced a decade ago in 2014. But when bestowed the honour on home soil, it means that much more.
“I’m just so proud of the Maritime team and their commitment to CHES and its success,” says Robert Barss, who accepted the award on behalf of the chapter executive, which, at the time, included Steve Smith, Ken Morriscey, Kate Butler, Gordon Jackson, David Bligh, Jason Turner and Helen Comeau.
Since last year’s win, members of the chapter executive have been diligent in attending and contributing to the work of CHES. Barss cites Morriscey, in particular, who works with the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors and Long-term Care (SLTC) and has been instrumental in developing a relationship between it and CHES. This began with inviting SLTC maintenance and operations staff to Maritime chapter fall education days. Earlier this year, Barss was approached by the department’s project executive of infrastructure, who wanted to develop a plan for SLTC facility managers to become CHES Maritime members. Discussions were successful and the chapter now has more than 100 new members from the sector. This
sizeable addition to membership is good news, especially after numbers dwindled to 101 during the pandemic. The chapter is now 170 strong, which is helping with revenue generation, something else that took a pandemic hit.
Much of the last 12 months was spent readying for the 2024 CHES National Conference in Halifax, Sept. 8-10. While the majority of planning was completed in preceding years (as it was originally supposed to be held in 2020, but was disrupted by, again, the pandemic), it’s still a monumental feat to pull off an event of this size. Participation was high, with nearly 790 people in attendance. As in years past, the trade show floor was sold-out with 137 booths. Among the highlights — and there were many — was the Women in CHES lounge. This was a first for the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society. Barss is particularly proud of that fact and his chapter executive colleagues, Butler and Comeau, who are among the driving forces behind the newly formed group.
“With their and others’ influence, they will continue to grow and succeed,” he says.
Fresh off the conference, there is little downtime for the chapter executive, as their attention must now turn to planning next year’s spring conference, May 4-6, in Moncton, N.B.
The Maritime chapter supports professional development in other ways, too, providing free access to CHES webinars and covering the cost of the Canadian Certified Healthcare Facility Manager program, including both the sample exam and certification exam, if passed. The chapter also offers monetary assistance to the next generation of healthcare professionals through the Per Paasche grant. The $1,000 bursary is awarded annually to a family member of a CHES Maritime member to assist with their post-secondary education. This year’s recipient is Katherine Boyle, a graduate of Citadel High School in Halifax. Boyle is the daughter of Laura Steele, a project executive with the Nova Scotia Department of SLTC. Boyle was accepted to Yorkville University in Toronto, where she is studying interior design. She plans to use her skills in the field to aid the healthcare industry by creating comfortable, welcoming healthcare environments.
“The Maritime chapter can stand proud for the work done and what we continue to accomplish,” says Barss. “We look forward to competing with the other chapters for this award again next year.”
If the chapter executive stays the course, they just might three-peat.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Helen Comeau, Kate Butler, Robert Barss, Guy Bourbonniere of Trane (award sponsor), David Bligh, Gordon Jackson, Jason Turner, Nathaniel Schrader, Ken Morriscey and Steve Smith.
BUILDING RESILIENCE
Applying climate risk, vulnerability assessments to healthcare facilities
By Robin Hawker, Craig Dedels & Maddy Laberge
Climate change is already having significant impacts on health across Canada, placing unprecedented pressure on healthcare facilities as climaterelated hazards like wildfires, flooding, storms and heat waves can stall services when they are needed most. It is crucial the country’s health systems are resilient to future conditions, ensuring reliable, quality healthcare in the face of increasing demand and uncertainty.
CALL TO ACTION
The World Health Organization has labelled climate change as the most significant health threat to humans, with the potential to unravel decades of progress in global health. In Canada, the cost from damages is increasing year-over-year, with annual insurable losses reaching more than $3 billion in 2023, up 20 per cent from $2.5 billion just a decade earlier.
The interconnectedness of healthcare means strain on one sector affects others, often
with profound consequences that extend far beyond capital costs from damage. From late June to early July 2021, an unprecedented heat dome settled over Western Canada, resulting in 815 recorded sudden deaths in British Columbia, 570 of which were heat-related. The significant health impacts from these events overwhelmed emergency departments, longterm care facilities, morgues and staffing resources across the health system.
As this event and others have shown,
climate change worsens existing health inequities, posing greater impacts to vulnerable groups, including those with pre-existing health conditions, that increase sensitivity to extreme heat, mental health challenges, and medical dependency on power and home support services.
While health systems across Canada have long been aware of the impact of climate change on human health, service delivery and demand, the rising frequency and severity of
climate-related hazards has heightened the focus on climate resilience in the health system. The 2021 heat dome marked a critical turning point in the B.C. health system’s approach to the climate emergency, catalyzing extensive efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation aimed at reducing health effects and improving building resilience within healthcare delivery systems. The approach involves not only fortifying facilities to protect patients and staff, but also ensuring they can accommodate sudden
surges in demand and recover swiftly from damage. The financial rationale is clear: strategic investment in resilient design and emergency management within the health sector today can avoid higher costs for extensive repairs, service disruption and emergency response tomorrow.
WORKING TOGETHER
Health authorities in B.C. are leading the way in embedding climate resilience into new facility design and service expansion, leveraging the opportunity presented by the need to expand hospital and long-term care capacity to meet the requirements of an aging population. The province’s health authorities started this journey in 2018, by conducting studies on future climate to inform new facility design. This then grew into the development of the first Climate Resilience Guidelines for B.C. Health Facility Planning and Design in 2020. Since then, the guidelines have informed province-wide resilient design standards and have been included in more than 20 acute and long-term care capital projects across the province, embedding climate resilience as a core operational principle rather than just an aspirational goal. As these climate-ready health centres begin to open their doors, they will provide a critical opportunity to document the tangible value resilient design can have on reducing damage costs, amplifying emergency response and preventing healthcare service disruptions.
The B.C. health system’s success in climate resilience is due to buy-in at all levels of the organization, from senior leadership through to project managers and program staff. This holistic commitment has established a policy foundation mandating climate resilience as part of all major health facility projects, paired with investments to train staff and recruit industry experts to support climate resilient facility and program design. The investment in people and expertise has made it possible to continue to improve on the climate resilient design process with each new project, developing tools that clarify uncertainties, ensure data consistency, improve process efficiency and streamline oversight to advance resilience outcomes.
The new St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver,
survey, which is still under development, aims to help building managers efficiently identify priority resilient design strategies to incorporate into capital planning and management of their facilities. The survey provides a user-friendly platform to document the knowledge that facility managers hold about how climate hazards have impacted their facilities in the past and what resilience strategies are already in place. Inputs into the tool translate into a summary of key vulnerabilities and targeted areas for resilience system improvement. Proactively identifying climate vulnerabilities and resilience opportunities will make it easier to integrate more climate-ready design into planned system renewals, further reducing the cost of bringing healthcare facilities to resilience standards.
When the new St. Paul's Hospital opens in 2027, it will be a game-changer in British Columbia, enhancing the way healthcare is delivered while also addressing the challenges posed by climate change. Rendering courtesy Providence Health Care.
t being led by Providence Health Care, will be B.C.’s first acute care facility that has considered climate resilience at each stage of design. Set to open in 2027, it serves as an example of how considering climate resilience early, and providing leadership and oversight throughout design, can help best intentions for resilience make it through to construction. The risk assessment carried out at the beginning of the business planning phase identified coastal flooding, extreme heat and wildfire smoke as top hazards. This provided a foundation for both the owner and design team to focus dedicated attention on resilient design strategies to mitigate these risks.
The hospital includes major resiliencefocused strategies, such as floodgates at lowlying entrances and stormwater reuse for cooling system water circulation. It is also designed to a post-disaster standard with ample back-up power capacity to support clinical services without interruption during an emergency event. But perhaps the true success story lies in how climate resilience was embedded in the design of all major building systems, including upsizing cooling and ventilation systems for future weather files, increasing air filter capacity for wildfire smoke and prioritizing climate-adapted landscape species. This deep integration of resilience into the design process meant smaller, incremental design enhancements that will, hopefully, help avoid costly system damage or failure from future climate disasters.
MAINSTREAMING RESILIENCE
With resilient design well in hand for new health facility design, B.C. health authorities are now turning their attention to integrating climate resilience into program planning and asset renewal of existing health facilities. Numerous tools are being developed to help facility managers, capital project managers, emergency managers and clinical teams better incorporate climate change into planning and design.
The portfolio-level climate hazard exposure screen was released in 2022, as a comprehensive database of climate projection data for all health facility sites in the Lower Mainland. Though initially created to inform facility upgrades, the database has also been used for emergency management planning and staff training, serving as an easily accessible and consistent set of data to guide emergency response. The tool has since been employed to aid in other mitigation and risk prioritization efforts within health emergency management. For instance, it has been used to prioritize wildfire preparedness by guiding facility teams in high wildfire interface zones to implement FireSmart practices.
Additionally, the new climate vulnerability
THE PATH FORWARD
Enhancing climate resilience in healthcare is not just about keeping up with industry standards; for health systems, it’s a moral imperative. Healthcare facilities serve as the cornerstones of communities and their preparedness directly impacts public health. The increasing frequency and severity of climate-related hazards is placing unprecedented demands on healthcare services, underscoring the critical need for robust mitigation and preparedness strategies. In this context, collaboration among healthcare professionals, emergency managers, planetary health experts and climate change specialists is essential. The exchange of knowledge, experiences and resources across organizations not only strengthens existing solutions but also fosters a more cohesive and effective response to climate-related emergencies. It is essential to ensure no facility, patient or community remains critically vulnerable to the growing threats posed by climate change. The journey toward climate resilience in healthcare is ongoing. As B.C. sets the standard, the call to action is clear: there must be unity, innovation and commitment to safeguarding health systems against the escalating threats of climate change. The stakes are high but the rewards — enhanced health outcomes, sustainable practices and stronger communities — are worth the investment.
Robin Hawker leads the climate risk and resilience team at Introba Canada. Craig Dedels is the regional manager of climate risk and resilience with the energy and environmental sustainability team that serves the four Lower Mainland health organizations: Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, Providence Health Care and Provincial Health Services Authority. Maddy Laberge is manager of health emergency response for the Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care region with Health Emergency Management British Columbia. Robin, Craig and Maddy can be reached at robin.hawker@introba.com, craig.dedels@vch.ca and maddy.laberge@phsa.ca, respectively.
CHES SCISS
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR AWARDS
2025
Hans Burgers Award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare Engineering DEADLINE: April 30, 2025
To nominate: Please use the nomination form posted on the CHES website and refer to the Terms of Reference.
Purpose: The award shall be presented to a resident of Canada as a mark of recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of healthcare engineering.
Award sponsored by
2025
Wayne McLellan Award of Excellence in Healthcare Facilities Management DEADLINE: April 30, 2025
To nominate: Please use the nomination form posted on the CHES website and refer to the Terms of Reference.
Purpose: To recognize hospitals or long-term care facilities that have demonstrated outstanding success in completion of a major capital project, energy efficiency program, environmental stewardship program or team building exercise.
Award sponsored by
For Nomination Forms, Terms of Reference, criteria and past winners www.ches.org / About CHES / Awards Send nominations to: CHES National Office info@ches.org
Considered
NIX THE NITROUS
Anesthetic gas poses environmental, health hazard
By Mike Apostol, Asim Iqbal, Anita Rao & Stephan Williams
Nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as laughing gas, is an important contributor to climate change. It is the third most significant greenhouse gas (GHG) in the atmosphere after carbon dioxide and methane, and is the largest remaining threat from ozone-depleting substances in the stratosphere.
N2O is a medical gas used as an inhaled drug in a select few areas in a hospital for its anesthetic and anti-anxiety effects. In Canadian hospitals, N2O is often administered through a centralized system. It is typically stored in a bulk tank or large central cylinders and is delivered through gas distribution piping. Studies in Canada, the United States and Europe have shown these tanks and distribution piping can leak significantly even with regular preventive maintenance, venting N2O directly to the surrounding environment.
Engineers and facility experts across Canada are evaluating existing systems and have found N2O leakage can be very high,
accounting for as much as 85 to 99 per cent of its total use. In 2023, one health system in Ontario emitted the equivalent of 1,050 total carbon dioxide content, or tCO2, from N2O. Approximately 90 per cent of these emissions were the result of leaked N2O from distribution piping. Fixing these leaks is labour intensive and costly. And the areas from which a leak can develop are unpredictable, raising significant concerns for exceeding occupational health and safety limits of the gas in patient and staff areas.
N2O has limited clinical use in current medical practice. Routine use in patients having surgery and requiring general anesthesia has decreased considerably with the awareness of its environmental impact. As well, many studies have confirmed N2O, as an adjunct to other anesthesia drugs, confers no clinical advantage. For that reason, the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society suggests N2O use in anesthesia be eliminated. However, it continues to be used for women in the birthing suite who are in
active labour. Inhalation of N2O somewhat lessens the pain, though most parturients eventually transition to a more effective form of labour analgesia. N2O can easily and more efficiently be delivered to labouring patients using portable cylinders without the disadvantages of leakage.
With many existing health systems working toward N2O mitigation by decommissioning central N2O infrastructure and changing to small point-of-use portable cylinders, new hospital developments should refrain from installing centralized N2O delivery systems altogether. Policy papers from the U.S. and United Kingdom support the omission of centralized delivery systems in new hospitals. The Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, a new-build completed in 2017, serves as an example of why N2O use should be discontinued. In 2022, maintenance and leakage led to N2O release more than 10 times greater than estimated clinical use. After discussion with clinicians, the central N2O tank and piping was decommissioned to prevent future leaks. N2O delivery was replaced with portable cylinders, reducing GHG emissions, maintenance requirements and costs.
Healthcare engineers are in a unique position to work with architects, designers and clinical teams in order to educate about the drawbacks of centralized N2O delivery systems and that N2O delivery from portable systems or e-cylinders is more environmentally and economically efficient for all areas of delivery. Existing systems should be evaluated and new hospital builds should avoid installation of centralized N2O infrastructure, which will save money, reduce direct GHG emissions and protect the ozone layer.
Mike Aposto is an energy management specialist at London Health Sciences Centre. Asim Iqbal and Anita Rao are anesthesiologists at Vancouver Coastal Health and Trillium Health Partners, respectively. Stephan Williams is an anesthesiologist and carbon neutrality medical co-manager at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal.
NEXT GENERATION SUPPORTING THE
Ontario
college gets a boost with first-of-its-kind cleaning course
for healthcare settings
By Rebecca Melnyk
Centennial College is now home to a ground-breaking course that is preparing up-and-coming environmental services professionals to better manage and mentor frontline staff working in healthcare settings.
The Toronto-area post-secondary school is the first globally to offer CloroxPro Canada’s HealthyClean trained specialist course to its students in healthcare environmental services management (HESM). The course was developed two years ago post-pandemic and is designed to enhance lessons in cleaning and infection prevention.
Karen Barnes, program coordinator and a professor in the school’s HESM department, says the specialized training course aligns with the program’s mission — to keep people safe — and further equips students to become leaders and “empower frontline staff,” from housekeeping to maintenance.
“This gives students the opportunity to learn from an industry giant,” she adds. “They have a chance to reinforce the lessons we provide in
cleaning and infection control, and build on industry’s best practices.”
By the end, students earn a certificate of mastery, boost their resumes, and receive a digital badge they can add to their online signatures and social media profiles like LinkedIn.
HealthyClean is the only industry-wide certificate program designed for frontline cleaners and managers that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute national accreditation board and recognized by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Bilal Demachkie, business unit director at CloroxPro Canada, says the interactive sevenmodule course educates people on cleaning for healthy settings by using the right products at the right time, with the best process and techniques. It also complements existing protocols and guidelines.
“If you provide the tools and training to environmental services professionals, they will have more time to focus on frontline workers
and improve the workspace,” he says. “How we can help alleviate the stress they face every day is by providing those tools for them.”
Training is more challenging today as organizations face budget constraints and labour shortages. Burnout is causing high turnover, which, in turn, creates issues for facilities that must properly train cleaning professionals on using cleaning and disinfection products.
“The industry is constantly evolving just like microorganisms,” says Barnes. “We have to be in the forefront of these superbugs that are creating chaos in our healthcare settings.”
Collaborating with CloroxPro is another step in that direction. The new course, which launched at Centennial last year, advances an already unique educational opportunity. The two-year diploma program is the only one of its kind in Canada, and recognized and recommended by the Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee on Infection Prevention and Control.
The school places a strong emphasis on
providing students with hands-on experience within the program. As part of their training, they learn industry best practices and participate in life-like hospital laboratories that use the latest job-specific technology.
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They also take part in two healthcare field placements. The first might include shadowing frontline staff and conclude with a second placement working alongside leadership teams with various roles and responsibilities. Students ultimately graduate with healthcare jobs on their resumes, but can also apply their learning to other industries, such as hospitality.
More applicants have been drawn to the program in recent years as COVID spread awareness of the field on a global level. Barnes says recruitment within the program doubled post-pandemic. Many students have transferable skills as internationally trained nurses or from other areas of the medical sector, she says. But they are also thinking of environmental services as a more exciting opportunity.
“There is a need for specialists within these areas; you can’t just throw somebody in them,” says Barnes. “We’re really proud our students get jobs upon graduation by having experiences but also because it’s unique.”
Raising public awareness of this specific industry has taken a long time to blossom — even within other healthcare fields. Barnes generates more understanding of what the role entails by giving the HESM students a chance to collaborate on interprofessional activities with students in areas like occupational therapy or physiotherapy.
“Our students teach them how to clean and maintain and do a safety checklist on mobility devices, and they show us how to use them,” she says.
Critical thinking is another key aspect of the program, which is pivotal for on-the-job problemsolving. Managers must be ready for any possible risk and form contingency plans and auditing systems. They must constantly observe, train and research proper equipment, such as ergonomicfriendly tools, as productivity has assumed greater importance.
The specialized course is further shaping leadership skills. Since launching at Centennial, Demachki has received plenty of interest from other post-secondary institutions with similar programs — to foster future environmental service managers who have always been integral to any healthcare setting.
“They are an invisible hand that protects people every day,” he says. “The pandemic really highlighted that and put them at the forefront.”
DESIGNING FOR OPTIMAL PATIENT CARE AND OUTCOMES
No matter how simple or complex your goals are for your perioperative environment, the STERIS Healthcare Design Services team can help:
Design Development: Create the ideal layout for your facility, from equipment placement and single-room layouts, to department designs that ensure optimal performance and efficiencies.
Capacity Assessment: Analyze current capacity and understand future growth opportunities for your facility, including equipment, staff, and procedure types.
Construction Documentation: Provide detailed technical information to the architect, engineer, and construction team to facilitate a successful project and facility development.
