Western Canadian Chapter of the Building Commissioning Association - 2024 President’s Message

As I reflect on 2024 and my time as President of the WCC BCxA, I’m thrilled by the progress we have made in delivering tangible value to our members. Starting with focused development of our goals for the year in January, we refined our mission to support and elevate the commissioning industry across Western Canada.

This year, we strengthened our focus on enhancing communication and advocacy for our members. We’ve also established new partnerships with BC Hydro, Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC), the Alberta Building Envelope Council (ABEC), both the local and national Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), as well as with the CSA Group. We further developed our relationship with National Resources Canada (NRCan), the Eastern Canadian BCxA Chapter. We proudly sponsored BOMEX in Vancouver, specifically sponsoring the coveted Grandville Island tour and attending to two invite-only networking meals, where we were able to connect with industry professionals and expand our chapter’s reach. Additionally, we sponsored two Alberta Building Envelope Council (ABEC) sessions where I presented about Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx), aligning with our goal to educate and engage on best practices.

Our chapter also made a strong showing at international gatherings this year for commissioning professionals in Nashville, TN, and Las Vegas, NV, to discuss industry trends and strengthen ties with our colleagues across North America. Our Board Directors presented individually three times in Nashville and four times in Las Vegas. We reached out locally as well, presenting to the Mechanical Contractors Association in Kelowna, an opportunity that allowed us to share insights on the value of commissioning within mechanical and HVAC-focused contractors.

In addition to our time spend volunteering on the Board itself, in line with our commitment to sustainability and low-carbon initiatives, two of our board members have been actively involved in updating the CSA Z5000 and Z5001 standards, which will play a crucial role in shaping low-carbon building commissioning in the years to come. NRCan has also engaged two of our Board Directors in working groups for Existing Building Commissioning and Monitoring Based Commissioning, further developing our advocacy across Canada. The two BECx specialists on our Board (myself included) have also been working with peers across North America to develop a BECx best practice for the BCxA, which we hope to be rolled out early in 2025.

Internally, we rolled out new systems and processes to facilitate the actual time spent on board management, so as to free up our time for volunteering on initiatives. We also implemented a new communication tool called Constant Contact, which has allowed us to increase the quantity and quality of our communication to our membership.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce the upcoming National Conference on Building Facility and Operation (NCBFO) for 2025, hosted at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus in Kelowna on June 19 and 20. The conference will feature two dedicated tracks—a Technical Track focused on Commissioning Providers and a Business Track tailored for our clients—ensuring there’s something for everyone. For more information, please visit NCBFO 2025.

Finally, I’d like to extend my gratitude to our current and future board members who work tirelessly to support our mission and build the future of our chapter. This year, we thank our outgoing board members for their service, while welcoming new voices and perspectives as we continue this journey together. Our Board for next year is as follows:

Luke Buis                                      2024 President
Ryan Jamieson                           2024 President Elect
Saphron Skinner-Willson          2024 Immediate Past President (Non-Board Member)
Brett Thurston                             2024 Treasurer
Daniel Dromey                            2024 Communications Director
Timothy Wong                            2024 Director at Large
Andrew Ramoutar                     2024 Director at Large
Ali Siblani                                     2024 Director at Large
Tom Bedford                              2024 Director at Large
Open Position

Here’s to a successful 2025, filled with more growth, collaboration, and impactful initiatives. Thank you all so much for your dedication and engagement. I look forward to the opportunities ahead and to seeing many of you in Kelowna next June!

Cheers,
 
Saphron Skinner-Willson, P.Eng, QCxP
2024 President, Western Canadian Chapter
Building Commissioning Association