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 Jason Pon, Faculty in Forest and Natural Areas Management program, School of Construction and the Environment, and a BCIT 2026 Employee Excellence recipient in Teaching Excellence category.
What does it mean to you to be a 2026 Employee Excellence Award recipient?
It is an honour! Primarily due to the fact that the nomination for this award is the recognition and effort of my colleagues and students which are truly flattering and heart-warming as I hold these people in very high regard.
Looking back on the past year, what do you think contributed most to you receiving this recognition?
Reflecting on this recognition, I believe that my dedication to our students, my desire to make a positive impact on the people and places I coexist with through education, and the ever inspiring and diverse qualities of my colleagues has lead me to this point.
Is there a particular project, initiative, or achievement from 2025-2026 that you are especially proud of?
In 2025 I became the President of the BCIT Forest Society, a non-profit society that manages woodlot 0007 in Maple Ridge, BC. Although woodlot 0007 is not part of BCIT, it is an important location as it has served as a key, place-based learning environment for BCIT’s Forest and Natural Areas Management and Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation diploma programs.
Woodlot 0007 is an operational forest and has allowed me to implement unique forest management and silviculture practices which serve as an educational tool while also meeting the legal and managerial objectives of the woodlot.
How have your colleagues or team supported your success over the past year?
My colleagues are the best! It’s hard to imagine my role at BCIT without them. They are incredibly supportive, collaborative, kind, emotionally intelligent and share a common but overwhelming desire to provide the best learning experience to our students. We also encourage each other to better ourselves through professional and personal development, even if that means taking on a little extra to make space for that person to do so.
What aspect of BCIT’s workplace culture has helped you thrive in your role or project?
Trust and collegiality. My team has developed an incredible trust with one another, and we all know that everyone is going above and beyond in their roles. This creates an un-spoken confidence in each other, knowing we are always there to support one another when needed but also a reliance in each other that allows us to operate so effectively as a whole. I have not experienced a workplace culture with these qualities at such a high level in past jobs.
What’s next for you – any goals, upcoming projects, or aspirations on the horizon?
The next step for me is deepening BCIT’s relationship with woodlot 0007 and its neighbors (Katzie & Kwantlen, Mission TFL) to provide modern and practice educational opportunities and experiences for our students. I also intend to pursue a Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems to better serve our students in the topics of mapping and spatial data analysis for natural resource management.