Editor’s Letter

RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION

Slowly but surely, society is healing. With vaccination rates high and infection rates generally remaining low, the lessons learned from the last 20 months of COVID-19 pandemic are being put into practice.

The increasing appreciation for the role that the cleaning and maintenance industry plays has been one of the biggest positives to take from such a difficult time. While the focus was understandably initially on cleaning and infection control and prevention, the importance of the full range of facility maintenance services is better understood than it was before the world entered into a health crisis that will have long-lasting, likely permanent, effects.

As always, within this issue, we try to provide expert insight for the industry. Focusing on our key themes of office and commercial facilities and restoration, we spoke to experts in their field about where cleaning and maintenance is at right now, in late 2021, and where things may go from here.

In our cover story we chat to Gavin Bajin, National Director in Canada of ServiceMaster Clean, about how the company has shifted its focus during the pandemic, the renewed challenges of facilitating a clean office environment, and the importance of communication, education, and innovation moving forward.

Yiannis Boutsalis of Impact Cleaning Services is our Expert Q&A for the issue, with whom we dive into discussion about why restoration services are arguably more important than they’ve ever been, and how their role may be better recognized as we head out the other side of the pandemic. In a world where communication and certification have become key assets, we look at how Manulife Investment Management is leading the way by accrediting its Montreal office buildings, and there are contributions from other industry experts on best practices and infection control.

As ever, we also catch up with ISSA Canada after a year that has included the excellent virtual 2021 ISSA Show Canada in June and the in-person ISSA Show North America in mid-November. We also hope everyone enjoyed the virtual REMI Show in June, and remind you that if you missed any of the excellent sessions on offer, you can still get caught up on the REMI Network website.

In a world that has become more aware and more diligent when it comes to cleaning and maintenance, we look forward to continuing to bring you insight, analysis, and updates from across Canada. The progress being made on all fronts signposts the way to a brighter future, and we thank frontline staff, facility managers, cleaning and maintenance leaders, and the entire industry for their stellar and brave work in the face of adversity.

Stay well.

TOM NIGHTINGALE tomn@mediaedge.ca

Editor Tom Nightingale

tomn@mediaedge.ca

Publisher Chuck Nervick

chuckn@mediaedge.ca

Senior Designer Annette Carlucci

Production Rachel Selbie

Manager rachels@mediaedge.ca

Sales Chuck Nervick

chuckn@mediaedge.ca

Contributing Writers Afshin Cangarlu David L. Smith Stephen Epp Tanja Nowotny

Circulation circulation@mediaedge.ca

Facility Cleaning & Maintenance is published four times a year by:

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President Kevin Brown

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Senior Vice-President Chuck Nervick

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Director and Group Publisher Sean Foley

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ISSA CANADA COMMITTED TO CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD VIEWS CLEANING

by Tanja Nowotny

As the first major, in-person event for ISSA comes to a close in Las Vegas, ISSA Canada is already looking ahead and preparing for some exciting initiatives to be unrolled over next few months.

If there’s anything we’ve learned over the course of this pandemic, it’s the emphasis that has been placed on the importance of proper cleaning and disinfection. As the world’s leading cleaning industry association, ISSA has been pivotal in “changing the way the world views cleaning.” And, although the needle has been moved forward, the momentum that has been generated over the past two years isn’t going to stop now.

Cleaning isn’t a dead-end job for the uneducated, but rather a career focussed on human health. This is witnessed daily in our hospitals, office buildings, retail outlets, schools, transportation hubs, and more, as we continue to battle against the unseen enemy that is COVID-19.

Unfortunately, with such a bright light being placed on the industry right now, there have been multiple companies coming out of the woodwork to benefit from the momentum the cleaning industry has generated. Therefore now, more than ever, it is crucial for the true professionals to set themselves apart and align with professional organizations such as ISSA Canada.

Being affiliated with an association such as ISSA Canada opens the door for companies to obtain industry leading and recognized certifications through programs such as the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS), participate in high-level training through the Cleaning Management Institute (CMI), and become wellversed in the battle against infectious diseases through accreditations offered by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC), a Division of ISSA.

But that’s not all.

Commencing early in 2022, ISSA is planning another major marketing initiative geared towards casting the cleaning industry (and the association’s valued members) even further into the limelight. The goal of this campaign is to build awareness of cleaning and disinfection as a pivotal means of protecting public health and, in turn, drive demand for ISSA members’ products and services as being far superior to those being peddled by the many bad actors trying to benefit during these times. ISSA Canada is planning to champion this initiative across the country to ensure consumers are aware of who the real industry leaders are.

What better way to ensure consumers know who to buy their cleaning products and services from than a membership directory geared specifically towards the Canadian marketplace. ISSA Canada is excited to announce that it will release a new annual membership directory early in 2022. This online directory will not only list all of ISSA Canada’s members from coast-to-coast, but it will also be a major resource to encourage buyers of cleaning products and services to purchase from the true professionals – ISSA Canada members.

In addition to the directory, ISSA Canada is also excited to announce that it has once again partnered with the International Facility Managers Association (IFMA) and MediaEdge Communications to host the in-person REMI Show, IFMA Global, and ISSA Show Canada all under one roof at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on June 8 and 9, 2022. With a theme of “Reset for the New Clean,” this leading industry event will also bring members to the forefront as their product innovations and professional services are celebrated on the trade show floor. ISSA Canada is currently vetting industry professionals across all sectors to ensure that a high-quality educational program will be delivered. More details on this event will be coming soon.

As 2021 draws to a close, let’s look to the new year and continue the momentum that has been generated when it comes to the cleaning industry. Let’s raise the bar even further, because together we can change the way the world views clean.

21_1735_Fac_Clean_n_Maint_SEP_CN Mod: July 28, 2021 2:33 PM Print: 08/19/21 4:09:18 PM page 1 v7

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