L-R: Victor Pham, senior process engineer, continuous improvement; Alyssa Gul, manager, caretaking; Mike Nosko, executive director, ISSA Canada; Mike Medeiros, area manager, caretaking; and Audrey Wang, business officer, caretaking (photo by Zoe Kelsey)
U of T Caretaking Services team receives ISSA Canada Environmental Stewardship Award
Published: August 20, 2026
The University of Toronto’s Caretaking Services team has been recognized with the 2026 ISSA Canada Environmental Stewardship Award.
Presented by ISSA, the leading global cleaning industry association, the award honours organizations for demonstrating leadership in sustainable cleaning, environmental responsibility, workplace safety and continuous improvement.
U of T Caretaking Services comprises more than 300 caretakers, supervisors and contractors responsible for maintaining nearly 100 buildings on the St. George campus, totalling 8 million square feet. The team is recognized for its eco-friendly cleaning program, with environmental responsibility embedded in every aspect of operations from product use to waste reduction.
“We focus on sustainable procurement, carbon reduction, waste diversion, employee safety and data-driven decision-making," said Alyssa Gul, caretaking manager. “Receiving the ISSA Canada Environmental Stewardship Award is a tremendous honour for our entire team. It reflects the dedication of our caretaking staff and reinforces our commitment to creating healthier, safer and more sustainable learning environments for our campus community.”
“Sustainability can’t just live in one office or one policy – it has to show up at all levels in how we build, operate and maintain our campus,” said Ron Saporta, U of T's interim vice-president, facilities and real estate. “It is wonderful to see our Caretaking Services team recognized in this way and encourages us to continue exploring sustainability from many angles, across every part of our campus.”
