Vancouver Convention Centre Earns GBAC STAR™ Accreditation

The Vancouver Convention Centre has further strengthened its commitment to the health and safety of its staff, clients, and guests, through earning the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation for outbreak prevention, response, and recovery. GBAC STAR™ is the gold standard of prepared facilities and provides third-party validation that facilities have rigorous protocols in place for thorough response to biorisk situations.

With this achievement by the Vancouver Convention Centre, all of BC Pavilion Corporation’s (PavCo) facilities have earned GBAC STAR™ accreditation. BC Place Stadium completed its successful application in September 2020.

GBAC STAR™ is an industry accreditation focused on ensuring a clean, safe, and healthy environment in public and commercial facilities of all sizes. The program outlines best practices, protocols, and procedures to control risk factors associated with infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The program is administered by GBAC, a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.

“Taking proactive measures that strengthen health and safety protocols and build confidence in BC’s tourism sector is a priority of our government,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “British Columbia is a world-class destination and I’m pleased that PavCo and the Vancouver Convention Centre have pursued health and safety accreditation at the highest level, as well as preparing to welcome large conferences and events to their facilities, when it is safe to do so.”

“PavCo and the Vancouver Convention Centre are proud to receive the GBAC STAR™ accreditation as part of our ongoing commitment to keeping the health, safety and wellbeing of our guests, clients and employees our highest priority,” said Ken Cretney, President and CEO of BC Pavilion Corporation. “Across each of our facilities, our teams have been hard at work to further enhance our comprehensive safety and cleaning measures, considering every step in our processes and operations. By earning the gold standard of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council®, both the Vancouver Convention Centre and BC Place have committed to providing the highest levels of environmental health and safety for events and activities that contribute to the social fabric and economic restart of our industry in British Columbia and Canada.”

To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, facilities must follow specific performance and guidance criteria to show compliance with the program’s 20 elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment to personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency preparedness and response measures.

“GBAC STAR™ is the gold standard of safe facilities, providing third-party validation that ensures facilities implement strict protocols for biorisk situations,” said GBAC executive director Patricia Olinger. “Accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers, and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to deliver clean and healthy environments that are safe for business.”