Get to know F&S: Heidy Velasquez

For this work-study student, working with the Caretaking team provided a classroom outside the classroom.

Facilities & Services is proud to support the University of Toronto’s academic mission through the maintenance of its buildings, energy systems, grounds and beyond. It further supports that mission through participation in the work-study program, designed to engage students in experiential learning under the direction of U of T staff. 

Every year F&S welcomes new work-study students into the fold, and in the summer of 2025, Heidy Velasquez joined the Caretaking team as an administrative and operations assistant. Velasquez, who graduates this spring, became an invaluable member of the team over the course of her year-long tenure, eventually transitioning from administration and operations to being a project assistant.  

“Working with professionals who know the ins and outs of the university has been very interesting and different for me, and really valuable,” says Velasquez. “I want to gain as much experience and exposure as I can.”  

Velasquez, a Psychology and BPMH (Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health) student, is a perpetual learner, who has been keen to grow professionally and take on every new challenge available to her.  

“As a student there was so much I didn’t know about how facilities are run on campus. Here at Caretaking, I have learned so much about the operations side of things: the stakeholders, the contracts, the details. You get a different point of view.”  

Velasquez had previously worked with the First Nations House and with the U of T Alumni Association, before joining F&S. After her first work-study period, Velasquez applied to stay on with Caretaking and take on more complex projects and to continue working with the team she’d really connected with. 

Working together with the Caretaking managers, supervisors and staff, Velasquez said: “I really felt like a colleague.”  

Her portfolio of projects with the department was wide-ranging, with a focus on optimization, digitization and communication. Velasquez was a contact for caretakers, assisting with emergency requests and daily task assignments. 

In addition, she was involved with the development and implementation of a renewed quality assurance and compliance program, focused on training. Velasquez helped develop a new digital tracking system for training that incorporated detailed feedback from all levels, and aims to ensure an increase in communication, compliance and actionable problem solving. The training materials themselves were a unique challenge, as they had to be comprehensive and accessible for a diverse workforce. 

No matter what the project, however, Velasquez was excited to take it on. “There was always something to do, always someone to be supporting. And,” says Velasquez, “there’s always more learning to do.”  

Congratulations on your graduation, Heidy! We’ll miss you!  

Learn more about Caretaking and find your caretaking team here.