April 2026

Letter from the Chief People and Culture

Dear BEST Team,

For our company, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Our strength comes from our diverse team, and we are proud to celebrate the many backgrounds, voices, and experiences that make our company stronger.

That is why we have made the BEST Bulletin now online-only, easier to read and available in multiple languages through your phone at any time for you. We want our communication to be more accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for everyone across our team, so you can select how you'd like to read it in the upper corner button.

At the end of this edition, you will find a short survey. Please share your thoughts and help us continue improving the bulletin for everyone.

Thank you for all you do each day to make BEST such a special place to work.

My Best,

Nalini McIntosh

Frontline Team Members, Because of Your Hard Work...

We Celebrate You: BEST Kudos Program

Kudos Wall: Where the magic happens! Pictures from September 10 to March 24. These photos highlight recognitions from a set time.

We Grow

New contracts with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) in Edmonton, AB, and Douglas College campuses in New Westminster and Coquitlam, BC.

We Renew

BEST is proud to renew our partnership with Capilano University in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

We delivered APPA Level 2 with 90%+ scores

Congratulations to our University of Toronto team on achieving outstanding APPA audit results across multiple campus buildings.

We Have New Partners

We are proud to partner with joni, a Canadian women-led company redefining period care through thoughtful products and smart dispensing solutions.

Our Alberta Team Achieved 97% COR Safety Audit

This result reflects the strong safety culture across our sites and the daily commitment our team members show to working safely, supporting each other, and following best practices.

John Sousa - Victoria Airport - BC

In a recent customer experience at the Airport, John Sousa was recognized for his outstanding support and professionalism. “John Sousa was an absolute pleasure. We arrived late at the airport and lost our bag, and John was super helpful in guiding us through the situation and the next steps. Thankfully, we got our bag!”

Stephanie Grayson , Airport Customer

Ron Gallinger and Tracy Blekkenhorst - Lakehead University - ON

Over the past several weeks, we have faced extreme weather conditions across Ontario. Despite these challenges, Ron Gallinger and Tracy Blekkenhorst have shown outstanding dedication and consistency, continuing to give their BEST every day. “They have been out there consistently ensuring that the paths and walkways are shoveled and salted. Their hard work does more than just clear snow; it makes the campus a safe environment for every student and staff member.”

Manoj Sangita , Assistant Site Manager at BEST

Aisetta Congo and Gordon Mccann - University of Alberta - AB

Aisetta and Gordon support and flexibility in helps to cover last-minute shifts. Both stepped in on short notice to ensure coverage was maintained and operations continued smoothly. Their willingness to help when needed and support the team during unexpected situations is greatly appreciated.

Mariah Berube , Site Manager at BEST

BEST Joke

I told my mop a joke… Now it’s in stitches!

Why did the vacuum start singing? It wanted to suck up the spotlight

BEST Internal Celebrations

MyBEST Week

A week dedicated to celebrating our incredible team members, with a special spotlight on our frontline teams who show up every day to keep spaces healthy, clean, and welcoming.

Halloween

On Halloween, we organized a site decorating contest and loved seeing the fun and creative spirit each site brought to life!

Christmas

We also organized a site decorating contest for Christmas, and it was wonderful to see the strong engagement from our sites once again.

"I am truly grateful for the scholarship I got. It is an honour and encouragement. The fund I received helped to reduce my financial burden. I was able to use it for school materials and a laptop. Thank you"

Dingil Hayle , Generalist Custodian at UARAB

"I’m truly grateful for the scholarship we received for my spouse. It made a huge difference by easing the financial burden and opening the door to new opportunities. Support like this doesn’t just help one person; it strengthens families and builds brighter futures. If you’re thinking about applying, don’t hesitate. Opportunities like this can truly change lives."

Esmi Abreu , Light Duty Custodian Night at TMUON

"Being part of a team that has earned this Educational Grant is inspiring. It reminds us that when we support one another and work with integrity, great things happen."

Bernadeth Tan , Generalist Custodian at BC1BC

"Being a mature student, I enrolled in NAIT Technical School's Academic Upgrading program to complete some STEM courses in order to enroll in their Engineering Technology Program. The scholarship helped ease the financial burden of tuition and fees while continuing to work and attend school. Having access to the Scholarship program was both rewarding and beneficial to my studies and helped to improve my overall confidence."

Andrew Chabot , Generalist Custodian at UARAB

The Spring intake is open until April 30.

Take a moment to review the criteria and apply today to support your educational journey.

Learn More

Meet our Durham College & Ontario Tech Team

Shari Lain

Site Manager, Durham and Whitby Campus, Ontario Tech North and Downtown Campus

Amanda Carruthers

Site Administrator for Durham College/Ontario Tech

Natalie Lawrence

Night Shift Supervisor - DC/OIT Campus Oshawa

Sevim Redzepovska

Afternoon Supervisor - Durham College Whitby Campus

Leona Adams

Night Supervisor - Durham College DURON/ OITON

Mike Stewart

Afternoon Supervisor - DC/OTU/O120N

BEST Game Competition

Ready to play? Decode the BEST Message!

Download the game, complete the challenge, and send your answer to hello@best.ca.

All correct entries will be entered into a draw to win a $50 gift card. Take a few minutes, have some fun, and show us your BEST skills!

Download The Game

Client Kudos

Mount Royal University - Alberta

Thank you for the incredible effort during this year’s Schachter Conference. We received very positive feedback from both the conference planners and clients, who were impressed by how smoothly everything ran: custodial services staying on top of garbage, restrooms, and spill response, the excellent organization, seamless stage switchover, and the team’s quick responses with last-minute requests. This level of communication, attention to detail, and teamwork continues to elevate the experience.

Rina Carcasole , Lead Events Specialist

Georgian College - Ontario

I wanted to share feedback posted on Staff News after Open House. A prospective student shared that after visiting two schools, they chose Georgian and were impressed by the cleanliness and facilities, along with how engaged the faculty were. It really highlights the hard work the BEST team is doing in Barrie.

Caitlin Wilson , Manager, Buildings and Grounds

University of Toronto - Ontario

A sincere thanks for your excellent work over the holidays, cleaning the Daniels studio spaces. We were extremely pleased with your hard work and the great results. The job was well coordinated, and it was a pleasure to work with you and your team. Sending much gratitude.

Sarah Lucy , Daniels Facilities Coordinator

University of Alberta - Alberta

I had the opportunity to visit HUB Mall today and was very impressed with the level of cleanliness throughout the space. The area was dust- and debris-free, and the waste collection areas were clean and odor-free. Great job to the BEST team!

Kevin Krell , Room Readiness Supervisor

Humber College - Ontario

Thank you for your team’s incredible effort in making this year’s President’s Breakfast such a success. From the early planning and attention to detail to the flawless execution of the event, I was truly impressed by the dedication, professionalism, and teamwork demonstrated throughout. The event was seamless, warm, and inspiring, and with many challenges facing our community, creating such a meaningful experience was truly impactful. Great job, and please extend my thanks to everyone involved.

Ann Marie Vaughan , President and CEO

Tsawwassen Mills – British Columbia

We received positive feedback from Fraser Health regarding the team’s efforts to clean the area beneath the compactor after it was removed. A significant amount of garbage was addressed, and the work did not go unnoticed. Great job to the BEST team!

Andrew Grimley , Assistant General Manager

Coast Mountain Bus Company – British Columbia

I just wanted to share with you, in my opinion, an outstanding employee on your team. I'm speaking of Mui. She has been taking excellent care of the Metrotown bus loop for many years. She runs a tight ship and tirelessly keeps things in order. She's always on the move, keeping things clean and in order. She always gives a wave and a smile whenever she can and I'm always glad to see her around.

Chris Trithardt , Coast Mountain Bus Company Employee

BEST Beyond the Workplace

Community Engagement

BEST serves the community at Union Gospel Mission Day of Meals, Simcoe Hall Community Programs & Food Bank Support

Sustainability

Do you know why BEST uses microfiber cloths instead of paper towels?

Provincial Annual General Meeting

The BEST leadership team meets annually in each province to look back, celebrate achievements, and set strategic priorities for the new year.

Your Opinion Matters!

Take a minute to share your feedback and help us make the Bulletin even better for you.

Go to the Survey!