(all photographs courtesy of Nicole Njagi, UofT Spaces & Experiences)

On Tuesday, August 12, over 750 members of OREP gathered to celebrate a major milestone — the 10th Annual OREP BBQ & Awards. Marking a full decade of recognition and appreciation, this year’s event was not only the largest yet, but also a reflection of OREP’s unwavering commitment to acknowledging the extraordinary efforts of its staff.

Once again, the BBQ brought together employees from across the portfolio for a lively celebration of service, collaboration, and community. Guests were treated to a feast of OREP BBQ favourites, including marinated steak and portobello mushroom, and classic summer sides, all cooked and served by OREP leadership. The air buzzed with jazz and pop music performed by students from our Faculty of Music.

“This year felt especially meaningful,” said VPOREP Scott Mabury, “as we celebrated ten years of not only hosting this event, but ten years of recognizing the incredible contributions of our colleagues through the OREP Awards.”

A Decade of Recognition

Since the awards program began in 2015, 461 individuals and teams have been honoured with an OREP award, presented to those whose work exemplifies the OREP values of service, excellence, and collaboration:

  • 103 Distinguished Service Awards (2015–2024)

  • 189 Individual Awards

  • 132 Team Awards

  • 37 Service Excellence Awards (introduced in 2023)

747 colleagues have received OREP Awards in the last decade – including 25 from outside OREP who collaborated with OREP team members on projects and initiatives. Far from abating over time, each year sees more and more nominations recognizing OREP staff.

The awards have evolved over the years; the Distinguished Service Award was presented for the final time in 2024, while the newer Service Excellence Award was introduced in 2023 to honour each unit’s “local hero” and continues to elicit the most rousing applause.

You can read more about this year’s winners by clicking on the links below:

Community and Connection

The event also offered an opportunity for connection outside the typical workday. Attendees relaxed in the shade, listening to music and enjoying the delicious food prepared by our very own Food Services team. From first-time attendees to seasoned veterans of the event, the sense of community was palpable.

As OREP looks ahead to the next decade, the success of this year’s BBQ and Awards underscores the importance of gratitude, celebration, and shared purpose.

Here’s to the next 10 years!

(photo by Russell Sutherland)

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