News

VPFO Update Newsletter

Weekly portfolio updates for the VPFO team

Each week, the VPFO shares operational information from its departments in the form of a newsletter to all VPFO staff. This is an archive of past VPFO Update newsletters. Content submissions and/or questions can be sent to communications@vpfo.ubc.ca.

2025 Newsletters

Summer (May – August)

June 23: UBC Security Forum was a success | UBC boosts faculty and staff emergency preparedness
June 16: VPFO websites backend update underway | UBC wins ASHRAE award | Spotlight on accessibility with Julie Sawchuk
June 9: That’s a wrap on VPFO Day 2025 – view video recordings and photos from the events
June 2: Conversations to shape our future | Are you earthquake ready? | Period End Deadlines available for June, July, and August
May 26: President Bacon and Frank Laezza tour the offices of Safety & Risk Services | 2025-26 Universal Schedule now available
May 20: Welcome remarks from Dr. Bacon for VPFO Day | HSBC to RBC transition project now officially concluded
May 13: Thank you for joining the conversation at VPFO Day on May 12 | VPFO teams representing at Sports Day 2025
May 6: Break the ice and get to know your teams with Tic Tac VPFO | Emergency Preparedness Week is May 4-10

Winter Term 2 (January – April)

April 28: Working together to keep campus beautiful for Earth Day 2025 | Learn about the VPFO hierarchy terminology
April 22: USB Lighting Renewal starting in late April | New customer utility portal coming this summer
April 14: Enhancing seismic resilience at UBC | Energizing the future: SHED project wins 2025 SAB award
April 7: VPFO Visual Identity Guidelines are available | Update on UBC and UBCIM Responsible Investing Commitments
March 31: UBC Board of Governors approves balanced budget for 2025/26 | Learn about the latest information Security Standards
March 24: Shaping the future of biosafety | Supporting Canadian suppliers | Changes to cash deposits and supplier cheque distributions
March 17: Message from Frank: Building the Future of Finance at UBC | How the VPFO keeps UBC waters flowing
March 10: Celebrating kindness at VPFO at Pink Shirt Day 2025 | New Facilities service delivery model
March 3: Add to the Kindness Board | Closing the Front counter reception of TEF3 | Shifting our UBC Travel Program services
February 24: Message from Frank: Strengthening UBC’s long-term financial planning
February 18: Building Operations and Energy & Water Services websites have moved | Tax slips for faculty and staff expected by Feb. 28
February 10: Security supporting a safe and successful Invictus Games | Protecting you and UBC through smarter expense management
February 3: Naloxone kits are now on campus | UBC successfully transitioned all bank accounts to RBC | Data Privacy Week
January 27: New Scaffolding Policy I-C-02 | UBC joins national CASPAR initiative for sustainable procurement
January 20: PrISM presents: What does ‘Public Data’ really mean? | HSBC Global Disbursements transitions to RBC International Pay
January 13: New Find a Space tool is live | Transition of Workday Student to the ISC | Indigenous Business series: Cedar Feast House
January 6: UBC Finance website and portal now live | New newsletter look and feel | Indigenous Business series: Chase Office Interiors

2024 Newsletters

Winter Term 1 (September – December)

December 16: Holiday Greetings from Frank: A warm thank you for an impressive 2024
December 9: UBC Finance website and portal launching soon | Tax reminders | Newsletter hiatus Dec 23-Jan 3
December 2: Metro Van water crews planned maintenance | Wesbrook Mall closed Dec 10-13 | Prepare for Tax Season
November 25: Cheque mailing disrupted due to Canada Post strike | Reactivate inactive supplier accounts
November 18: Watch out for snow removal equipment | International Fraud Awareness Week is Nov 17-23
November 12: Finance website and portal launching in January | Save lives with an AED | SRS United Way Bake Sale
November 4: Saving energy and water on campus | Annual Statement of Financial Information now available
October 28: Indigenous Business: West Coast Bannock catering | Don’t feed the clog monster!
October 21: Campus Mail relocating to UBC Bookstore | UBC Investment Management releases annual report | Safety Day 2024
October 15: Help keep rodents out of your work spaces | 2024/25 Q1 Finance Report released | UBC United Way kickoff week
October 7: Construction begins for UBC Sauder Expansion | Recognizing safety across the university | Get ready for ShakeOut
October 1: Strengthening project and data management across the VPFO and UBC | Parking & Access Systems team joins Campus Security
September 23: BDO Canada appointed as UBC’s external auditor for 2024-2025 fiscal year | Preparing for Mass Care exercise
September 16: Regular testing and maintenance of fire systems lead to quick action in an emergency
September 9: Read UBC’s 2024 Annual Financial Statements | Join Campus Security for Safety Awareness week from September 9-13
September 3: Staying safe and keeping campus resilient | Visit Campus Security’s booths at the Welcome Back BBQ

Summer (May – August)

August 26: Construction and road closures as we prepare for the fall semester | Navigate UBC’s Indigenous Business Directory
August 19: Renovations begin on the Marra Lab in the Networks of Centres of Excellence | Watch this year’s Battle of the Bats!
August 12: New Senior Director role to support Finance Transformation Project | Building and Spaces Database project is underway
August 6: Construction begins at the Sustainable Timber-Built Environment Laboratory | New VPFO templates now available
July 29: Do you have a buddy at work? Celebrating International Day of Friendship
July 22: Watch Frank’s speech from VPFO Day | Stay safe from phishing attempts related to global tech outage
July 15: Developing Facilities’ 3-year Road Map | Upcoming courses from Financial Services & Strategic Procurement
July 8: UBC Finance receiving a thank you from the Ministry of Post Secondary Education & Future Skills
July 2: Finance Reimagination Project begins | 2024 Endowment Summary Report now available
June 24: Facilities Service Guide | UBC’s first report on fighting against forced labour and child labour in Supply Chains Act
June 17: VPFO Strategic Plan 2024-27 now available to view online | New VPFO Visual Identity
June 10: Safety & Risk Services receives CAUBO Award | Celebrating Lean Six Sigma graduates
June 3: Thank you to our speakers for showcasing VPFO at CAUBO | Ongoing support for Calumo
May 27: Expanding UBC’s Finance Toolset: Introducing new tools and resources for the finance community
May 21: First steps towards a Finance Data & Reporting Strategy for UBC
May 13: Get to know the VPFO senior leadership team: Allen Amyotte, Interim Chief Assurance & Risk Officer, ERA
May 6: VPFO at UBC Faculty & Staff Sports Day 2024 | Macleod Building wins Sustainable Architecture Building award

Winter Term 2 (January – April)

April 29: Thank you messages to our administrative professionals | Facilities collected over 100lbs of waste for Earth Day
April 22: HSBC-RBC transition project website now live | Ant season is here | Metro Vancouver’s water restriction in effect
April 15: Get to know the VPFO senior leadership team: Rob Einarson, Associate Vice-President, Finance & Operations, Okanagan
April 8: Share your feedback to inform a new Finance Data & Reporting Strategy for UBC
April 2: Updates to UBC Facilities’ charge-out rates | Automation coming this year for Internal Control Certification
March 25: Period end deadlines now available | UBC employee rail services discount | Keep your email signature on-brand
March 18: Get to know the VPFO senior leadership team: Helen Yung, Comptroller
March 11: Update on UBC’s budget for 2024/25 | Emergency Preparedness website transitioning | Meet the new ERA team
March 4: Get to know the VPFO senior leadership team: John Metras, Associate Vice-President, Facilities
February 26: T2200S no longer available for the 2023 tax year | New reporting for T4 and T4A
February 20: HSBC Canada transition to Royal Bank of Canada | VPFO Digital Transformation project update
February 12: Jack Bell building renewal | Reminder to set up suppliers for Year End
February 5: Get to know the VPFO senior leadership team: Yale Loh, Treasurer
January 29: Indigenous supplier classification now available in Workday | Hyperion decommissioning now complete
January 22: Get to know the VPFO senior leadership team: Rae Ann Aldridge, Executive Director, Safety & Risk Services
January 15: Collaborating on UBC’s Budget Process | Enterprise Risk & Assurance (ERA) joins the VPFO
January 8: Get to know the VPFO senior leadership team: Frank Laezza, Vice-President Finance & Operations