October and November were busy months for the Facilities department. Apart from the usual activities and the increased cleaning and disinfection regime necessary to adhere to relaunch guidelines and AHS requirements, Facilities underwent two major audits by independent third parties.

Back on November 19, 2019, Facilities received its second registration to an ISO standard, ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems Requirements. This past October 2020, Facilities successfully completed the one-year surveillance audit to that standard, conducted by independent third party, SAI Global. Facilities Energy Management System (EnMS) helps MacEwan to better manage its energy use and improve the overall energy performance. Examples of some of the activities include monitoring energy consumption by collecting data to better understand and make informed decisions, monitoring utility costs to lock in at fair rates, developing and setting objectives to reduce energy consumption, looking at new technology and purchasing energy efficient equipment.

Facilities has been registered to ISO 9001, a quality management standard, since February 2012, although the standard itself went through a revision in 2015. Re-registration to the new version took place over three days this November. As in previous years, the audit covered all areas of Facilities operations. In the closing meeting, Facilities was rewarded by being told that their registration would continue after the successful correction of two minor non-conformances.

The Facilities department strives for continuous improvement through a business template based on these ISO standards. It is gratifying to see it being acknowledged by SAI Global.

From Facilities