Janitorial Cleaning Services At The Okanagan Correctional Centre

Evergreen Building Maintenance was recently awarded the honour of working with the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC), the largest correctional facility in British Columbia, located north of Oliver on the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve. This is an expansive contract, as the facility spans 300,000 square feet across 14.5 hectares (36 acres).

The 378-cell facility is a $200 million project that is part of BC Corrections’ second-phase of their capital expansion plan. When it’s completed, it will hold double its original capacity in B.C.’s interior. It also requires a deep trust of Evergreen’s trained and educated employees, as it’s a high-risk, high-security area that requires enhanced security clearance for all staff on the grounds.

Project Goals

The goal of the project is to enhance public safety for communities, correctional staff and inmates within the province and to stimulate the economy in the area. It will create up to 1000 new permanent and contractual construction jobs along with 240 full-time correctional job positions for both experienced workers and new recruits. Other contracted staff will include on-site nurses, doctors, dentists, counsellors, food service workers and trades personnel.

Environmental accreditation

The OCC developmental project has been applauded for its environmental efforts and has obtained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification. The project is also using wood in accordance with the B.C. Building Code, to adhere to the First Wood Act set out by the Government and to maximize energy efficiency.

Evergreen’s Milestone

As a company, we feel we’ve hit a milestone since we’re working on not only a large project, but also one that directly reflects our environmental values. At Evergreen, we continually strive to use eco-friendly measures in our cleaning from using fragrance and scent-free products that are free of toxic chemicals like VOCs, to implementing products that are GREEN SEAL or ECOLOGO certified.

Other green practices we use include:

  • Zinc-free floor finishing procedures
  • Conducting interior building air quality reports
  • Using paperless billing systems
  • Using non-fuel powered equipment
  • Creating customized disposal and recycling programs
  • Hiring employees trained in green cleaning practices
  • Low impact solutions to remove graffiti
  • Lotus Pro High Capacity Wall Units

Evergreen began in the Okanagan Area over 30 years ago and has expanded to several regions across Canada. Interested in learning more about our work? Get in touch with us if you company or facility is in need of quality commercial cleaning services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Department Store Cleaning

Professional department store cleaning can make a real difference to your business.
When a customer walks into a department store to look for a specific item or just browse, they are inevitably affected by the environment within the store. If your store is neat, tidy and well organized, this will have a positive influence on the customer and their buying ability. However, if your store is the opposite – dirty, cluttered and unorganized, this is considered a ‘retail turn off’ in marketing circles.

What turns off customers the most?

A recent Harris Poll surveyed U.S customers citing that their biggest turn offs were the following:

  • 78% of people said “general bad odour”
  • 66% said dirty restrooms
  • 60% entryway cleanliness (overflowing trash cans, unkempt and filthy)
  • 56% dressing room conditions (lighting issues, dirty floors and mirrors, and broken locks)

In addition to this data, the study found that those who are 65 and older are least likely to return to a store that does not support people with mobility issues.

Why Professional Retail Cleaning is Important

Department stores can range from two or more floors of sectioned off areas that include fitting rooms, washrooms, cash registers, counters and storage rooms. They are designed for a customer to spend time in, sometimes include additional restaurants or cafes and see many people in a day. It’s for these reasons that cleaning initiatives are a crucial aspect of keeping things running smoothly.

A professional department store cleaning service will make a detailed plan of action on what to clean, at what frequency it needs cleaning – as some areas need more attention than others – and will solidify a cleaning method for your business. Once this is established, things will get done like clockwork and become a natural part of a successful store protocol.

First impressions are very important in the retail world and are a huge part of the customer’s loyalty to your store.  Effective retail cleaning is one of a few ways you can show your customers that you care about offering quality products, services and a positive customer experience.