Manulife Investment Management has become the first Canadian real estate landlord to achieve the GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.
Seven Manulife facilities in Montreal have been accredited:
- Centre Manuvie – 2000 Mansfield St.
- 1001 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West
- 2000 Peel St.
- 420 Notre-Dame St. West
- 465 McGill St.
- 485 McGill St.
- 715 Square Victoria St.
Manulife’s accreditation shows the value the accreditation has to real estate providers at a time when enhanced cleaning and infection control measures — and communication of those measures — has never been more important for facility managers and the public.
“Now more than ever, we’re focused on providing safer and healthier spaces for our tenants, employees and visitors. We’ve aligned ourselves with global health authorities and local government regulations to develop our return to office program,” said Stephen Nicoletti, Managing Director, Real Estate Asset Management, Eastern Canada at Manulife Investment Management.
“Our teams are committed to establishing and implementing comprehensive practices to ensure the health and safety at our buildings.”
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.
RELATED: ISSA’s GBAC STAR accreditation success is a sign of a cleaner world
Facility accreditation means that venues’ cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention programs implement best practices to prepare for, respond to, and recover from outbreaks and pandemics like COVID-19.
As of January 15, more than 1,100 facilities worldwide have achieved the certification and another 2,700 have committed to it.
It has mainly been taken up by large facilities with high occupancy or high visitation, such as hotels, stadia, and convention centres.
In Canada, places like Toronto’s Exhibition Place, the Vancouver Convention Centre, and Montreal-Trudeau Airport have already secured accreditation.
The full list of facilities to have been accredited around the world can be found via the GBAC STAR Facility Directory.
“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.”
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.
- Commercial facility owners looking for GBAC STAR accreditation can find more information here.
- ISSA has also released a new GBAC fundamentals online course specifically designed for cleaning workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight. Please click here to register and receive a discount off normal prices.
For additional program details and information, please email chuckn@mediaedge.ca or call (416) 803-4653.
