BC Place Stadium becomes the first stadium in Canada to pursue GBAC STAR™ accreditation
August 24th, 2020
VANCOUVER, BC. – (August 24, 2020) BC Place Stadium has strengthened its commitment to the health and safety of its staff, clients, and guests, by becoming the first stadium in Canada to pursue the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation for outbreak prevention, response, and recovery. GBAC STAR™ is the gold standard of prepared facilities and provides third-party validation that facilities have rigorous protocols in place for thorough response to biorisk situations.
GBAC STAR™ is an industry accreditation focused on ensuring a clean, safe, and healthy environment in public and commercial facilities of all sizes. The program outlines best practices, protocols, and procedures to control risk factors associated with infectious disease, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The program is administered by GBAC, a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.
“We are very pleased to be the first stadium in Canada to undertake the GBAC STAR™ accreditation,” said Patricia Jelinski, General Manager of BC Place Stadium. “The wellbeing of the community, our guests and our team members, has always been the highest priority for BC Place, and this unique program allows us to further enhance the stadium’s standards for cleanliness and safety. By seeking GBAC STAR™ accreditation, the team at BC Place is committed to providing the highest levels of environmental health and safety for events and activities that contribute significantly to the quality of life of B.C. residents, while generating significant economic stimulus, job opportunities and community benefit for all British Columbians.”
To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, facilities must follow specific performance and guidance criteria to show compliance with the program’s 20 elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment to personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency preparedness and response measures. The program is ideal for facilities of all sizes including, but not limited to offices, restaurants, hotels, airports, stadiums, and other public venues.
“GBAC STAR™ is the gold standard of safe facilities, providing third-party validation that ensures facilities implement strict protocols for biorisk situations,” said GBAC executive director Patricia Olinger. “Accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers, and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to deliver clean and healthy environments that are safe for business.”
About BC Place Stadium
BC Place is the largest multipurpose venue of its kind in the province of British Columbia, hosting sport, exhibitions, live entertainment and community events, in the heart of Downtown Vancouver. BC Place is the home of the BC Lions Football Club, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the Canada Sevens and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Each year, BC Place welcomes more than one million guests to events ranging from professional football, soccer, and rugby, to amateur and high school sports, consumer shows, cultural gatherings, carnivals, film shoots, special events, and world-class concerts. Events hosted at BC Place generate more than $120 Million per year in economic benefit within the province, while also generating significant cultural and community benefit for the people of British Columbia.
About GBAC, a Division of ISSA
Composed of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery, the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, provides training, guidance, accreditation, certification, crisis management assistance, and leadership to government, commercial and private entities looking to mitigate, quickly address, and/or recover from biological threats and real-time crises. The organization’s services include biorisk management program assessment and training, Forensic Restoration® response and remediation, the GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation program, training and certification of individuals, and consulting for building owners and facility managers. For more information, visit www.gbac.org.
About ISSA
With more than 9,300 members – including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members – ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Mainz, Germany; Whitby, Canada; Parramatta, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call (800) 225-4772 (North America) or (847) 982-0800.
About MediaEdge Communications
For more than 25 years, MediaEdge has been at the forefront of communication solutions for organizations within a variety of business sectors. MediaEdge is a leading provider of non-dues revenues for associations offering exceptional no-cost member benefits through a number of innovative products and services. Find out more by visiting www.mediaedge.ca.
MediaEdge is a proud reseller of the GBAC STAR™ and GBAC fundamentals online course. Please see the program details and links below and remember to use the promo codes when registering as they provide discounts.
1. Commercial facility owners looking for GBAC STAR™ accreditation can follow the link here and use the promo code “MediaEdgeGS”
2. ISSA has also released a new GBAC fundamentals online course specifically designed for cleaning workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight. By using the special promo code “MediaEdgeCourse” registrants can receive a discount off normal prices.
For additional program details and information, please email chuckn@mediaedge.ca or contact him at (416) 803-4653.