2026 CHES Webinar Series
All webinars are one (1) hour in length.
Webinar Times – WEDNESDAYS
0900 Pacific
1000 Mountain (SK: 1000 during DST, otherwise 1100)
1100 Central
1200 Eastern
1300 Atlantic
1330 Newfoundland & Labrador
January 28, 2026 - Improving the Sustainability of Healthcare Humidification Systems
The 2024 version of CSA Z317.2 allows adiabatic humidification systems for the first time. This session helps attendees understand the important differences between adiabatic and steam systems and provides application guidance. In particular, we will explore how the adiabatic cooling effect can be used as an energy-saving and decarbonization tool to improve the sustainability of healthcare facilities. This presentation includes worked examples to quantify benefits and tradeoffs and help guide stakeholders.
Nicholas Lea, B.Eng., LEED is the Head of Product and Sales Support for North America at Condair Ltd. based in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a graduate of Carleton University, a licensed Professional Engineer and a LEED accredited professional. Nick’s dedication to the HVAC industry is evident through his participation on ASHRAE Technical Committees 5.11 (Humidifiers), where he previously served as Chair, and TC 5.7 (Evaporative Cooling). Additionally, Nick is active within HVAC Industry Associations HRAI and AHRI, where he is Chair of the Humidifiers Educational Working Group.
Nuno Silva, PhD brings several years of experience in humidification, specializing in adiabatic technologies. With a background in Mechanical Engineering, he received his double-PhD from the Technical University of Denmark and National University of Singapore. His studies and research focused on building science. Before joining Condair North America he worked in Switzerland and Singapore, being exposed to different markets and technologies.
February 18, 2026 - Preventive Maintenance vs. Predictive Maintenance - Pros and Cons
Join us for an insightful webinar hosted by Click Maint, tailored for healthcare facility professionals looking to optimize their maintenance operations. In *”Implementing the Best Maintenance Strategy for Your Healthcare Facilities – Preventive Maintenance vs. Predictive Maintenance (PdM)”*, we’ll explore the key differences between preventive and predictive maintenance, and how each approach impacts costs and compliance. We will guide you through the pros and cons of each strategy, providing practical guidance on how to evaluate your current program and select the most suitable path forward, taking into account your facility’s resources, equipment, and regulatory requirements. You’ll also gain insights into emerging technologies that are making predictive maintenance more accessible and cost effective. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your preventive maintenance plan or considering a shift to PdM, this this session will help you build a smarter, more resilient maintenance program.
Daniel Golub is the Head of Go-To-Market and Co-Founder of Click Maint, a modern CMMS built to simplify maintenance for today’s teams. With over a decade of experience in the maintenance software space, Daniel previously led sales and growth at Hippo CMMS, helping
healthcare and facility teams streamline operations across North America. His deep understanding of the challenges faced by maintenance professionals has shaped his mission to deliver intuitive, effective solutions that drive real results. At Click Maint, Daniel continues to
empower organizations to improve maintenance performance through smart, scalable technology.
March 18, 2026 - IPAC in Construction for LTC: Maneuvering the Complex Environment of LTC
Recognized as the gold standard for IPAC in construction, CSA Z317.13 offers comprehensive guidance for infection prevention and control throughout construction, renovation, and maintenance projects. Although it’s widely adopted in Canadian hospitals, outpatient clinics, and long‑term care homes alike, the LTC sector faces unique hurdles, such as resident-specific health challenges, tight budgets, and limited space. In this webinar, the speaker will leverage real‑world case scenarios to reveal practical strategies for overcoming these challenges while adhering to CSA Z317.13’s best practices.
Youhanna Salib, is a microbiologist who is Certified in Infection Control (CIC) by the Certification Board of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology (CBIC). With a post-graduate certification in infection control from the University of British Columbia and as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt holder, Youhanna is a recognized expert. He leads the Consultant Team at IPAC Consulting, bringing extensive experience across healthcare sectors, including acute care, long-term care, and surgical centers.
Specializing in integrating IPAC principles into construction, renovation, and design (CRMD) projects—particularly for long-term care facilities—Youhanna collaborates with architects, engineers, and contractors to minimize infection risks and ensure regulatory compliance. His expertise includes evaluating site conditions, mitigating cross-contamination risks, and aligning design features with infection control guidelines.
Through his leadership, Youhanna helps create safe and compliant healthcare environments that prioritize patient safety and operational efficiency.
April 22, 2026 - Energy and Sustainability
More than 600 people died in the BC heat dome in the summer 2021. This session will explore initial findings and lessons from our national project addressing extreme indoor heat in Canadian health care settings. We will present practical, low-cost, and scalable strategies to assess and mitigate indoor heat impacts in hospitals, long-term care homes, and home care environments. A focus will be placed on tools such as data loggers, building envelope interventions, and scenario planning. The session will offer concrete takeaways on preparing
health facilities for climate-driven temperature extremes even during power outages, in addition to ensuring equity for vulnerable populations and energy efficiency.
William Gagnon, BEng. Building Engineering, MSc. Bioresource Engineering
William is an expert in healthcare systems decarbonization and sustainable medicine. As the Director of Implementation at the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, he supports health care leaders in decarbonizing their practices. Formerly with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Centre for Sustainable Medicine (Singapore), William spearheaded initiatives to decarbonize facilities, electrical systems, and vehicles in Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Uganda and Singapore where he learned firsthand the challenges of balancing sustainability with safety, security and critical healthcare needs, both in underdeveloped and hyper developed countries. William is also the part-time Executive Director of the Northwest Territories Medical Association. In August 2023, William was among 25,000 Yellowknife residents evacuated due to catastrophic wildfires. Named a Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leader by Corporate Knights, he often speaks about climate on global stages.
Kristin Anstey is a project coordinator for CCGHC on the Heat-Health project across sites in Nova Scotia and Ontario; she has seven years of experience working on projects relevant to sustainable community planning and environmental topics. Kristin works for Nova Scotia Health as a Research Coordinator (Climate Change). After earning a Bachelor of Planning from the University of Northern British Columbia, Kristin completed a Master of Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University. She has previous experiences relevant to environmental sustainability in roles within academia, local government, and the private sector. Kristin is passionate about climate change adaptation and dedicates her time to projects that enhance climate resiliency for communities in Atlantic Canada. Kristin can be reached at kristin@greenhealthcare.ca
May 20, 2026 - Building Envelope: Maintenance and Upkeep Best Practices
Our presentation will focus on the critical aspects of building envelope maintenance, including inspection tips for facility managers. We will explore different types of building envelopes and their specific maintenance needs. Using real-world examples from recent BC projects we will provide practical insights and strategies to ensure the longevity and performance of building envelopes. This session aims to equip facility managers with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively manage building envelope maintenance, ultimately enhancing the resilience and sustainability of healthcare facilities.
Andrew Epp, B.ASc (Honours); P.Eng (Ontario, Alberta); PMP
The National Practice Leader in Building Science & Sustainability at Pinchin Ltd, Andrew Epp is a seasoned Senior Engineer and Project Manager with extensive experience in the industry. Over his 25-year career, Andrew has personally completed over 100 engineering assessments and led over 80 related projects (retrofit, renewal or new construction) across a broad range of building types in both the private and public sectors. His vast building science experience in Building Performance (including envelope, HVAC); Asset Management, Building Certifications, and Building Resiliency includes a particular focus on sustainability and energy efficiency / conservation.
Andrew is a licensed Engineer (P.Eng) with Professional Engineers Ontario, carries the Project Management Professional (PMP) designation from the Project Management Institute and earned a Bachelor of Science (Applied) in Mechanical Engineering from Queens’ University.
He also lectures in the fields of: Building Science; Sustainability; and Project Management at Lambton College in Sarnia ON.
Alexandru Olaru, DIPLENGT; Applied Science Technician (A.SC.T); Registered Roofing Observer (RRO)
Alexandru has 16 years of experience working in the field of Building Science and has extensive project knowledge of Roof Condition Assessments (RCAs), Building Envelope Condition Assessments (BECAs), Property Condition Assessments (PCAs), warranty reviews, contract administration, specification conformance field reviews, leak investigations and quality assurance services. His specialty is building envelope and roofing and has completed several related projects for Healthcare facilities in British Columbia. The National Practice Leader in Building Science & Sustainability at Pinchin Ltd, Andrew Epp is a seasoned Senior Engineer and Project Manager with extensive experience in the industry. Over his 25-year career, Andrew has personally completed over 100 engineering assessments and led over 80
related projects (retrofit, renewal or new construction) across a broad range of building types in both the private and public sectors.
June 17, 2026 - The Resilient Hospital: Future-Proofing Critical Healthcare Systems
Of all the resources a community relies on to be there round-the-clock, 365 days a year, healthcare tops the list because of the need to deliver totally reliable patient care. In this invaluable workshop you’ll learn strategies and technologies to address aging infrastructure while fostering uninterrupted care. Resulting in improved systems uptime, resilience, and reliability. Let us show you how. KEY LEARNINGS: – How to conduct a resiliency audit of your critical systems, from energy and lighting to water and HVAC. – How to incorporate resilience imperatives into your facility planning. – How to build resiliency into your systems, beyond backup generators.
Jamie Bardsley, Bachelor of Applied Science, Mechanical Engineering
Jamie has dedicated the last 15 years to managing British Columbia’s healthcare cooling systems at Trane. Specializing in asset management, he helps facilities plan equipment replacements to meet future needs, addressing challenges such as COVID-19, climate change, code updates, and changes in building use. Jamie’s hands-on approach ensures that equipment issues are identified and aligned with healthcare needs, assisting managers in budgeting and planning. He is passionate about fostering collaboration, linking teams from project inception to completion for seamless outcomes. Outside of work, Jamie is committed to his family and community, coaching and supporting his kids’ softball and badminton teams. His inclusive and emotionally intelligent approach ensures that all stakeholders feel valued and empowered, making him a trusted leader in his field.
October 21, 2026 - Time for an Air Change; Advancing Demand-Controlled Displacement Ventilation
This session will summarize current research findings and best practices from the Displacement Ventilation Emergence in Healthcare (DiVE) multi-year research and engagement initiative that seeks to advance the application of DV in Healthcare. The DiVE initiative is intended to advance the application of DV at three distinct levels: expand (more projects similar to what has already been implemented in Canadian Healthcare); extend (to more space types and building types), and lastly evolve (more advanced applications of DV to maximize the full potential benefits including for example DV in conjunction with variable or demand-controlled ventilation). The research is still underway; therefore, some specifics of the findings may evolve between now and the presentation. Examples of anticipated findings are included here. For example, CO2-based ventilation rates correlate with occupancy, cooling demand, and aerosol respiration resulting in optimization of energy efficiency and infectious disease control. Ceiling discharge can be used (with adherence effect or Coanda effect) along with demand controlled ventilation rates to achieve significant capital cost savings through the reduction in size of air handlers, ceiling plenum height, heating and cooling plant and associated back-up generation and mechanical room dimensions.
Greg Allen, P.Eng., LEED® AP
Senior Associate, Rivercourt Engineering Inc
Greg has worked on advancing sustainability for over 50 years as a designer, builder, community planner, inventor, researcher, and consultant. He worked for HOK as their sustainable design strategist for 3 years and is currently a Senior Associate of Rivercourt Engineering Inc., formerly Sustainable EDGE.
Greg has designed dozens of displacement ventilation systems over the past 40 years and he has been on several ventilation and energy related CSA committees. Greg’s goal is to develop a prescriptive path for applying displacement ventilation in healthcare facilities. Greg is the primary author of the Displacement Ventilation Emergence in Healthcare (DiVE) research deliverables.
Alex Hutton, P.Eng., CEM, LEED® AP
Founding Principal, Swordfern Strategic Sustainability
Alex specializes in sustainability and change management with a focus for over ten years on energy and carbon management within the healthcare sector. Alex’s 20+ year career since graduating from Environmental Engineering has evolved from being primarily technical towards focusing increasingly on the non-technical barriers to change. This led Alex to initiate a new learning curve towards developing the ability to apply a Regenerative (or Living Systems) approach. This process continues to foster humility while simultaneously affirming long held principles, such as Alex’s motto: “Innovation through Collaboration”.
Alex has been an advocate of Displacement Ventilation for decades and has participated in the Energy Modeling aspect of two DV projects in the BC Healthcare sector. Alex is the Project Manager for the DiVE project.
Tariq Amlani, P.Eng., LEED® AP
Vice President, Mechanical Engineer, Stantec
Curiosity is Tariq’s strength—an innate ability to tackle a challenge from multiple angles to uncover the best solution. A Mechanical Engineer with two decades of experience, he is a collaborative leader, and has played a pivotal role in the delivery of some of the most complex healthcare projects in North America, including North Island Hospitals Project and the Kelowna Vernon Hospitals Project. He is an active volunteer in the Buildings Engineering Industry, serving as past Governor with the ASHRAE BC Chapter and Chair of the CHES Corporate Committee.
Tariq is global health care engineering lead for Stantec and has a wealth of experience designing healthcare facilities with DV. Tariq is a key partner and contributor to the DiVE project.
November 18, 2026 - Reusables in Healthcare: Cutting Waste, Costs and Carbon Footprints
This session will showcase how healthcare organizations can transition from single-use items to reusables, reducing waste and improving cost-efficiency without compromising patient
safety. You’ll hear case studies from Vancouver Coastal health, success stories, best practices and practical steps for adopting reusables in everyday health care settings. Session objectives:
o Understand the environmental and financial benefits of switching to reusables in healthcare.
o Understanding high-impact procurement opportunities and key intervention points in the procurement cycle where reusables can be considered.
o Discover successful case studies of hospitals and clinics implementing reusables.
Emily Chin, BSc
Emily has a diverse background in sustainability, with experience in both public and private sectors. At Reeve, she has led numerous projects developing sustainability and procurement programs, most recently working with the Asian Development Bank, Vancouver Coastal Health, Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada, and BCNET. Before joining Reeve, Emily worked in the non-profit sector at Food Stash Foundation, where she addressed surplus food in the supply chain and distributed it to food-insecure individuals. Emily has also worked with a waste management facility in Indonesia, where she minimized household waste contamination through education and training. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science in Global Resource Systems from UBC, specializing in Global Health, Nutrition, and Sustainable Development. In her spare time, she enjoys scuba diving, hiking, and snowboarding in the mountains.
CHES is a constituent society of EIC and a Quality Learning Provider
You may claim 1 Professional Development Hour for the webinar