The Victoria Foundation has a new look for 2019, with changes at the board, staff and committee level. Lawyer John van Cuylenborg has joined the board, and Mia Maki will leave the board after her six-year term. Past board chair Rasool Rayani has been named the president of the foundation’s honorary governors. Another past board chair, Patrick Kelly, will be working closely with the foundation in his new appointment as Indigenous cultural adviser. At the staff level, Carol Hall, previously the director of grants, is now director of strategic initiatives. Rudi Wallace steps into the role of grants manager and Melanie Porter takes on the role of communication and project coordinator.
SQL event in March
Victoria will have its first SQL Saturday in March. The day-long professional development event for IT professionals will be held March 16 at the Young Building on Camosun College’s Lansdowne campus. SQL stands for structured query language, which is used to communicate with databases. The free, one-day event is designed for those who work with data, databases, spreadsheets, machine learning, artificial intelligence and data visualization, and will feature 30 presenters.
To register: sqlsaturday.com/826/RegisterNow.aspx
Home care firm wins high honour
Victoria-based Serenity Home Care has received a Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award from Home Care Pulse, recognizing a home-care business that consistently ranks among the highest in 10 or more quality metrics. Serenity president Murray Tough said the firm is ranked among the top 10 per cent of home care providers that are part of the Home Care Pulse Satisfaction Management Program. “Of all the things we measure in our business, employee and client satisfaction are the most important,” said Tough. “Serenity Home Care strives to be an outstanding place to work and to transform the lives of the families we serve. This award shows us that our efforts are making a difference.” The award was determined by interviews, conducted by Home Care Pulse, with Serenity customers over a 12-month period.
Broadmead Village wins green award
Broadmead Village Shopping Centre has been granted silver certification by the Building Owners and Managers Association’s BEST environmental assessment and certification program. The certification recognizes excellence in energy and environmental management and performance in commercial real estate. “We are thrilled our efforts to reduce our environmental footprint at Broadmead Village have earned silver,” said Alison Miles Cork, vice-president of investment for building owner Grosvenor Americas. In 2013, Grosvenor completed $8.2 million in renovations, including sidewalks, covered public seating, a zero-carbon fireplace, an interactive fountain, LED lighting and new landscaping. With the purchase of carbon offsets, the shopping centre’s operations are deemed carbon neutral.
