Putting people at the core of everything we do is paramount at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). We’re proud to be a people-first organization, where employees are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive, both personally and professionally.
Through the Our People series on BCIT News, we celebrate the passion, expertise, and impact of individuals who help shape a better future at BCIT and beyond.
Meet Britta Schmidt, External Relations Advisor, Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships, and a BCIT 2025 Employee Excellence recipient in the Sustainability category – an award that recognizes an individual who has enhanced BCIT’s position as a leader in environmentally sustainable practices.
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What does it mean to you to be a 2025 Employee Excellence Award recipient?
I feel honoured that my Green Team colleagues nominated me. Sustainability is something that I care about a lot in my personal life, and I was happy to find that there is a whole group of people at BCIT that want to make a difference.
I think seeing how climate change affects us more and more is scary, and a lot of people struggle with climate anxiety and feel paralyzed at the magnitude of the task before us. You need to find community and do the small things you can do even if you feel like they don’t matter – if you put all the small things we do together, it does make a difference.
Looking back on the past year, what do you think contributed most to you receiving this recognition?
If I had to pick any aspect of sustainability that I felt the strongest about, it would probably be active transportation. I have always biked everywhere, ever since I was a kid, and I think there is a lot of work to be done to change the culture in our city.
I was happy to take on the leadership of the Bike Committee with Sarah Cohen as my co-lead, and we have a ton of ideas of what we want to do to increase participation and be visible on campus.
Is there a particular project, initiative, or achievement from 2024–2025 that you are especially proud of?
For this year’s PD Day, we had two activities on the schedule as the Bike Team – one was a session on what staying active in your personal life can do for your mental and physical health, and the other was a collaboration with the HUB Cycling engagement team who brought eBikes on campus for our colleagues to test ride.
Both sessions were well attended and fun. I am hoping that, especially the eBike session, has inspired some to get into cycling. There are a lot of barriers to getting active and eBikes can help if you are worried about your physical abilities or the distance you have to travel.
How have your colleagues or team supported your success over the past year?
Sustainability is definitely a team effort, and while I feel honoured to be nominated, it really is more to do with the whole Green Team than just me.
I also want to shoutout the Institute Sustainability team who are deeply passionate about their work and are active contributors on the Green Team as well.
What aspect of BCIT’s workplace culture has helped you thrive in your role or project?
This might sound repetitive, but I think the most inspiring thing is everyone’s passion – not just at the Green Team but this is something I have noticed across BCIT – people are very passionate about what they do and I think that passion leads to so much creativity to tap into.
What’s next for you – any goals, upcoming projects, or aspirations on the horizon?
We are currently in the planning stages for a whole bunch of engagement activities over the next year. It’s an ambitious plan but we are committed. If you follow the Green Team Intranet, we’ll keep you updated on our fun projects and activities.
