Nominated for their efforts to provide new supportive housing programs to the McMaster community during COVID-19, the Housing and Conference Services team (HCS) was announced as a finalist for the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce 2021 Outstanding Business Achievement Awards (OBAA) in the COVID Champion category.
HCS is being recognized for pandemic offerings, including supportive housing for quarantining international students and learners, short-term transitional accommodations, frontline healthcare worker stays and off-campus housing support initiatives such as Clean Start Says and Student First Rentals.
“We are very happy to receive this recognition in a year where so many organizations have stepped up to support the Hamilton community,” says Kevin Beatty, director of the university’s Housing and Conference Services department. “Each offering from HCS is the result of a collaborative effort that represents McMaster’s commitment to its students and the wider community.”
OBAA nominees are judged on criteria including excellence in community relations, COVID resilience, innovation, employee standards, and alignment with their mission statement.
“This year’s awards recognize the outstanding feats and resilience of our local business community,” says Keanin Loomis, President & CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud McMaster University Housing & Conference Services on receiving an OBAA nomination in the COVID Champion category, and for stepping up throughout the pandemic.”
Other OBAA finalists nominated for the COVID Champion category include Good Shepherd Centres and In Fine Feather Yoga. Winners will be announced live at the virtual awards ceremony at 3 p.m. on June 1, 2021.
Register to attend the virtual ceremony here.