The VPFA R.I.S.E. Newsletter recognizes employee excellence across the portfolio by highlighting collaborations, showcasing priority projects, and celebrating our community.
Celebrating Excellence and Embracing Change
Dear VPFA Community,
In this edition of the VPFA R.I.S.E. newsletter, I am delighted to celebrate several portfolio members for their award-winning leadership and dedication to our university. I am always amazed by the extraordinary contributions and high caliber of talent within our teams. I am grateful for each person who is part of our vibrant portfolio; thank you for your commitment and your important work.
I am also deeply grateful, personally, for the current and upcoming seasons. Earlier this month I was awarded the 2026 Ken Clements Distinguished Administrator Award by the Canadian Association of University Business Officers (), which is an incredible honour. My amazing leadership team took time out of their busy schedules to submit the nomination without my knowledge, which is even more meaningful to me.
This was followed by the update recently shared with our campus community, that in the new year I will conclude my tenure as Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration). I will remain engaged with the university as a Special Advisor to the Principal for 18 months once my successor is appointed. After more than 30 years at 鶹’s, and almost a decade in this role as VP, I am looking forward to retirement and spending more time with my friends and family, especially my awesome grandchildren.
In times of change, it’s important to connect with and support one another, and to bring us all together we are hosting a . I look forward to seeing you there, recognizing that some of you may be on vacation or otherwise unavailable. Please if you haven’t done so already.
Thank you for your continued commitment to our portfolio, and best wishes for a wonderful summer.
Warm regards,
Donna
Donna Janiec, FCPA, FCA
Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration)
Portfolio News
Congratulations to our Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice Principal (IT Services) Marie-Claude Arguin! Earlier this month, Marie-Claude was recognized with the presented by the (CUCCIO).
Congratulations to our Associate Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration) Heather Woermke! Heather was named the Council of Ontario University’s (COFO) recipient of the .
Congratulations to our Director of Strategic Procurement Services Nicole Fowler! Nicole was recently recognized by the National Cooperative Procurement Partners with the . Nicole is one of only a handful of Canadians to be recognized with this award.
Congratulations to our Director, Campus Planning and Real Estate Tony Gkotsis! Tony received the T. Geoffrey Flynn Advancement Champion Award, which is presented annually to a member of the 鶹's community who has made a significant contribution to linking the University's advancement activities with research and teaching excellence at 鶹's.
Congratulations to our HR colleagues! Data Informed Wellness Solution, a project submitted by 鶹's University, won a national prize in the. This award was presented on June 17 during the CAUBO 2026 Annual Conference.
Congratulations to our portfolio members who are recipients of this year’s Special Recognition for Staff Awards!
- Janet Pollard, Senior Electrical Engineer, Facilities
- Lisa Latour Colby, Director, Human Resources, Faculty of Law
- Shannon Hill, Learning and Development Specialist, Human Resources
Congratulations to our dedicated colleagues who have recently marked significant service milestones with the university!
25 years
- Tammy Aristilde, Campus Security and Emergency Services
- Randy Baxter, Campus Security and Emergency Services
- Margaret Goslin, Human Resources
- Sandra Jeffers, Environmental Health and Safety
- Llynwen Osborne, Facilities
30 years
- Tracy Elliott, Facilities
35 years
- Kenneth Edwards, Facilities
- Steven Young, Strategic Procurement Services
40 years
- Donald Conners, Facilities
Have a highlight to share? Please let us know at vpfa@queensu.ca.
New chatbots launched: Our Human Resources aԻ Strategic Procurement Services websites are now home to AI-powered chatbots, marking an important step forward in enhancing service delivery. Utilization of this self-service technology is aimed at further enhancing service efficiency and the overall employee/client experience.
This initiative reflects strong collaboration across the VPFA portfolio, including Human Resources, IT Services, Strategic Procurement Services, and Risk and Safety Services, with valued support from University Relations. This work would not have been possible without the team’s collective expertise.
New Project Management Community of Practice: The 鶹's Project Management Community of Practice (PM-CoP) launches this summer and aims to enhance skills, build knowledge, and support informal and formal project management across the university. The CoP is open to faculty and staff who are actively in project management roles, and those who are interested in learning more about project management. . The PM-CoP is co-led by Human Resources, IT Services, and Facilities.
Big thanks to our Facilities team for their role in the university's annual Second-Hand Shuffle, a waste-reduction initiative intended to rehouse quality items no longer wanted by students. This year's Shuffle accommodated 7,333 donated items, selected by 2,298 students, staff, charities, and community participants for reuse.
The sustainability-focused event was a true collaboration, staffed by Student Affairs, the AMS, Facilities, and student and staff/faculty/alumni volunteers. Well done!
Upcoming Events
Please join us for a VPFA* Portfolio BBQ on Tuesday, July 21 at 355 King Street West.
Enjoy free parking between 11 am and 2 pm for VPFA employees on site (355 King Street West) for those attending the BBQ.
*Please note: This event was originally planned in partnership with the VPR Portfolio. They have unfortunately had to reschedule their date. That said, we are so looking forward to connecting.
Save the Date: Fall VPFA Town Hall
You're invited to join Donna Janiec, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration) and her senior leadership team for our Fall 2026 VPFA Town Hall, tentatively scheduled for November 3. The VPFA Town Hall will be a virtual event using Teams Webinar. Please watch your email for the registration link.
There will be time for Q&A with Donna and the senior team. You're welcome to send questions or suggested agenda items in advance to vpfa@queensu.ca.
Well at Work: July is Intellectual Wellness Month!
Curiosity, learning, and growth are all part of wellbeing. July’s Thrive 365 programming focuses on Intellectual Wellness, offering opportunities to explore new ideas, strengthen skills, discover campus resources, and stay engaged in lifelong learning.
This month’s sessions align with 鶹’s broader wellbeing priorities by supporting a culture of learning, connection, and personal development. Through the Roadmap to Wellbeing and the Campus Wellbeing Framework, we know that wellbeing is strengthened when employees have opportunities to feel supported, connected to place, and engaged in meaningful growth.
Whether you’re looking to build a growth mindset, explore 鶹’s learning spaces, reflect on professional development, or simply try something new, there’s something here for you.
Opportunities to engage include:
- July 8 | 11:30 am–12:30 pm | Online | Developing a Growth Mindset – Explore how a growth mindset can help support learning, adaptability, and confidence. Register now
- July 9 | 12:00–1:00 pm | In-person @ Cycle Studio | Cycle – Join this energizing indoor cycling session to support movement, focus, and physical wellbeing. Registration opens 48 hours before the session
- July 14 | 12:00–1:00 pm | In-person @ Stauffer Library | Stauffer Library Tour – Discover library spaces, services, and resources that support learning, research, and connection at 鶹’s. Register now
- July 15 | 1:00–3:00 pm | Online | Name it, Claim it, Reframe it Workshop – Build practical skills to notice patterns, reframe challenges, and support healthier thinking. Register now
- July 21 | 11:00 am–12:00 pm | Online | Putting Growth and Development on the Agenda: Creating Awareness – Reflect on how learning, development, and team culture support engagement and wellbeing at work. Register now
- July 29 | 11:30 am–12:30 pm | Online | Career, Community, and Connection – Professional Development at 鶹’s – Learn about professional development opportunities and resources available to 鶹’s employees. Register now
Questions or ideas? Reach out anytime: employee.wellness@queensu.ca
May Mental Wellness Programming Impact
Broad range of programming: mental health, psychological safety, resilience, recognition, leadership well-being, neurodiversity, physical wellness, and creative self-reflection
443 registrations in May 2026 signal strong engagement and continued interest in year-round wellness learning!
HR Wellness Team
Finn Visits the Stauffer Library
Join VP “Finn”ance and Administration adventurer, Finn Cottontail, as he hops through 鶹's campus and its enchanting surroundings, bringing joy and discovery to all he encounters. Finn is an Eastern Cottontail with an insatiable curiosity for the world around him.
Today, Finn has ventured out to the Stauffer Library.
With space for more than 1,200 students and more than 1.5 million volumes, the five-storey Joseph S. Stauffer Library is the largest library on campus. It is home to the university's humanities and social sciences collections and also contains state of the art computing and information services, seminar and training rooms, meeting rooms, maps, air photos, government documents, data collections, and the Union Gallery for art works by students.
鶹’s embarked on its “library of the 21st century” project in 1988 with oversight from economics professor Alan Green, a dynamic advocate of campus planning and aesthetics. Twenty working groups delved into every aspect of what an information age library might need, from ergonomic furniture design to electronic portals to personal safety. A $42-million donation from the Stauffer Foundation pushed the new library from ambition to reality, with doors opening in Fall 1994.
One of project considerations was the relocation of distinctive heritage homes in the vicinity of the Union Street at University Avenue intersection. 鶹’s consequently agreed to relocate a cluster of heritage homes to new, off-campus locations.
Can you spot Finn?
When you find our friend, a Tim Hortons gift card!
Take a Closer Look - Find Finn (PNG, 7.4 MB)
