OREP BBQ and Awards ceremony celebrates 10 years
The much loved tradition organized by the Operations and Real Estate Partnerships (OREP) division celebrates the work of our hardworking U of T staff with a BBQ, music, awards and more
This year’s celebration, which takes place in the King’s College quad, saw over 700 staff members mixing, mingling and enjoying the delicious cooking provided by the Food Services Team.
“This year felt especially meaningful,” said VPOREP Scott Mabury, “as we celebrated ten years of not only hosting this event, but 10 years of recognizing the incredible contributions of our colleagues through the OREP Awards.”
One new feature, representative of OREP’s deep commitment to sustainability, was the use of reusable cups, cutlery and dishware. Little to no garbage was produced, with Student Sustainable Ambassadors placed at waste disposal stations to assist with waste sorting, including compost. Additionally, the awards statuettes are made from recycled Landmark wood (for the second year in a row!) and all name tags were displayed using reusable lanyards, via the Lanyard Lending Program. These initiatives combined meant that the event scored 100% on its Sustainable Event certification rating.
Impact Award, Team Winners
F&S Communications & the St. George Sustainability Office for operational sustainability communications and education
The team was recognized for their outstanding collaboration on a suite of high-impact sustainability initiatives including driving geoexchange education, co-developing high profile sustainability displays, launching the Free Store and engaging the community through extensive social and traditional media coverage. Together, these initiatives have enhanced service delivery, increased campus engagement and significantly advanced the university’s climate and sustainability goals.
Team members:
Kaitlyn Myles, Project Manager, Sustainability Office
Chelsea Dalton, Project Manager, Sustainability Office
Natalie Vasilivetsky, Project Manager, Sustainability Office
Kevin Leong, Project Manager, Sustainability Office
Elliott Stambler, Project Manager, Sustainability Office
Scott Hendershot, Senior Manager, Sustainability Office
Zoe Kelsey, Digital Communications Officer, F&S
Jessica Tucker, Senior Communications Officer, F&S
Amy Noise, Manager Communications, F&S
Impact Award, Individual Winners
Nissar Ahamed, Senior Property Manager
Nissar was recognized for his adaptability, taking on multiple roles, as well as his spirit of improvement, creating new procedures for performance evaluation for contractors, introducing internal SharePoint changes, enhancing work flows and much more. His leadership style and communication skills were universally praised by his nominators. Nissar’s commitment to his team, consistently demonstrated by taking extra time and care to address issues, has fostered an environment of collaboration and excellence.
Darrel A. Fernandopulle, Director, Financial Services
A key leader and mentor to many at F&S since 2005, Darrel was recognized for consistently improving service delivery, strengthening systems and supporting financial transparency across the division and beyond. He led the digitization of timekeeping and invoice processing systems, improving efficiency and positioning the team for a smooth remote transition years before the COVID-19 pandemic. He also played a pivotal role in establishing the university’s current occupancy budget model and, over the past year, Darrel has been actively assisting in launching the OREP Finance Hub, helping to design its structure, processes and staffing model.
F&S Service Excellence
Chris Kennelly, Special Constable, Campus Safety
Chris is a dedicated member of Campus Safety, known for his initiative, mentorship and collaborative approach. Chris plays a key role in training and supporting new recruits and works closely with colleagues on safety initiatives, including emergency phone checks and fleet management. Dedicated to serving the community, he takes professional development courses on his own initiative and contributes to charitable efforts, helping organize annual fundraising activities. His colleagues respect his calm leadership, problem-solving skills and strong commitment to the university community. His professionalism and support make him a valued member of the Campus Safety team.
John Crump, Trades Foreperson (Sheetmetal), Trade Services
For more than 35 years, John has brought skill, dedication and good humour to his work in the sheet metal shop with F&S. As shop foreperson, he leads with a service-oriented approach — coordinating requests, supporting capital projects and ensuring high-quality repairs. John is known for his steady supervisory support and hands-on problem-solving, including a custom filtration system he and his team designed at the Aerospace Building. He values teamwork and takes pride in mentoring his crew. With a calm presence and strong work ethic, John is a respected and trusted member of the F&S team.
Royce Kim, Engineer A, Central Steam Plant, Utilities and Building Operations
Royce is recognized for his outstanding contributions and dedication to F&S. Known for his steady work ethic and calm leadership, Royce showed exceptional initiative during recent transitions at the Central Steam Plant, helping to maintain stability and support for his team. He consistently demonstrates excellence in job performance, supporting essential operations with a calm, solutions-focused approach. A natural mentor, Royce shares his knowledge generously and helps foster a collaborative, supportive work environment. Through his initiative, teamwork and commitment to service, Royce continues to be a trusted and highly valued member of the F&S team.
Sonia Pimentel, Service Worker, Caretaking
For nearly 16 years, Sonia has been a steady presence across multiple buildings with the F&S Caretaking team. At Anthropology, clients speak highly of her reliability, professionalism and the pride she brings to her work. Sonia consistently goes above and beyond — taking initiative, resolving issues quickly and maintaining safe, spotless spaces with a strong sense of responsibility. She works well with colleagues and supervisors and is quick to report safety concerns or building deficiencies. Known for her quiet dedication and consistent performance, Sonia is one of the department’s most dependable and respected team members.
Zoran Djurevski, EMRS specialist, IT Services
Zoran is a proactive and self-sufficient team member who brings a calm, friendly sense of humour to every task. Known for his strong commitment to user support, he consistently delivers reliable service with minimal supervision. Over the past year, he has completed multiple projects involving graphic enhancements to the Enterprise Management and Reporting System (EMRS) and the Enterprise Business Integrator (EBI) system, while also resolving performance issues across both platforms. In more complex cases, he works closely with internal control technicians and external consultants to identify effective solutions. Zoran also recently applied key security patches, fixes, and enhancements to more than 20 servers, demonstrating his technical skill and dedication to system stability and performance.
Click here for the full award write-ups and list of winners.