The Senate's Outstanding Service Award - Brenda McKay

Known to almost everyone at VIU, Brenda McKay has served the institution for more than 28 years. Her entire tenure has been in Human Resources, which makes it safe to say that few know more about most employees than her. Since 2017, she has been the Director of Human Resources. Her hard work and loyalty were recently recognized at the 2023 President’s and Provost’s Awards with a rarely given award that is bestowed by Senate – the Senate Outstanding Service Award. Below is an excerpt from her nomination, written by Dan VanderSluis, AVP, Human Resources.

Brenda McKay has worked in VIU Human Resources for 28 years, in progressively senior roles. She has been the Director of HR since 2017 and served as Interim Executive Director of the Department from 2016-2017. Throughout her career, Brenda has demonstrated exceptional service to the University and does so with a primary attention to putting the people of VIU first and foremost.

Brenda has fulfilled the role of Director, Human Resources since 2017. In that position, she is accountable for leading Human Resources initiatives, programs, and processes in support of a diverse, respectful and inclusive people-first culture. As a trusted senior advisor across the University she is accountable for leading the organization-wide strategies and operational aspects of Total Compensation, Recruitment, Health and Wellness, and Human Resource Information System as well as developing and maintaining HR-related policy and procedures. Her role supports the HR Leadership team in the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of the strategic initiatives in support VIU’s People Plan.

As an ambassador for VIU over the years, she has personally recruited many current and previous employees, and she lives VIU’s tag line: Matter Here every day. Brenda operates with an open and collaborative style of leadership, effectively balancing institutional context and history while embracing innovation and creativity. Her colleagues appreciate her positive personality, as she continually demonstrates an optimistic, constructive, and encouraging interpersonal approach. Brenda is a “connector” who values relationships first and foremost. Terms and phrases that are used by colleagues to describe Brenda include kind, positive, compassionate, detailed, fair, dedicated, client-centric, transparent, and passionate about VIU in all respects. She is a tireless advocate for the HR Department as well as for employees across the University.

Brenda’s impact on and contributions to VIU are seen deeply and broadly across the institution. Her leadership on benefits, wellness, wellbeing, and employee support through programs like our Employee and Family Assistance (EFAP) offerings have contributed in immeasurable ways to individual employees for almost three decades. In this regard, Brenda emulates the spirit of supporting VIU People and their wellbeing, as articulated in the current VIU Strategic Plan. Her passion for driving HR and VIU on the path to wellness in its multiple dimensions is compelling, unwavering, and infectious. Brenda’s personal and professional commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion cannot be questioned, and she was passionate and activated on EDI actions before the term was coined. An example of her commitment and leadership in this area is the leadership she demonstrated in advocating for and supporting the creation of the Positive Space Alliance. Brenda has been a long-serving member of the President’s Committee on Diversity, Equity and Human Rights, as well as VIU’s Universal Access Committee. Brenda’s ability to drive change and execute important initiatives and projects has led to her involvement in many committees, task groups and project teams over the years. Brenda played a key leadership role on the Operational Continuity Committee during COIVD-19 and several of its subcommittees, and a partial list of the committees she has served on include the University Risk, Threat, and Assessment Team, Project Aurora Steering Committee, Emergency Operations Committee, VIU’s United Way Committee, the CUPE Bumping Committee, the CUPE Joint Adjustment Committee, the CUPE and VIUFA Joint Early Interventions Programs Committees, the VIU Wellbeing Framework Committee, the VIU Return to Work Committee, and the VIU EFAP committee.

In addition to her leadership within VIU, Brenda has contributed significantly to the sector province-wide, bringing positive acclaim and recognition to VIU in the process. She served for five years as Co-Chair of the Colleges, Universities, and Institutes Benefits Consortium, where she held the responsibility of representing the consortium employers in advancing and resolving issues as well as exploring strategic benefit initiatives. The committee’s work included the development and administration of the RFP and Joint RFP of the Consortium Benefit Consultant, the Employee and Family Assistant Program Provider and the Insurance Carrier contracts. Brenda also represents VIU as a member of the PSEA Joint Committee on Benefits and Administration (JCBA) and the Committee on Benefits Administration (CBA). Most recently, Brenda was a member of the BC Campus’ Working Group on Mental Health and Wellness Training Resources for Faculty and Staff.

Brenda McKay’s VIU career is a clear demonstration of outstanding service. Without her compassionate, consistent, and enduring efforts, the fabric that binds the VIU community together would not be as strong and supportive as it is today. It is with full confidence that I put Brenda’s name forward for this award.