Highlighting RRC Polytech’s hard-working janitorial staff

By: Tiago Resko

I see many different faces around campus. I don’t remember most of them, but there were always a few I’d see regularly, and they always stood out to me. Everyday I’d walk by the janitorial staff on campus, and I couldn’t help but be curious. What are their interests? What do they do for fun? What are their plans for the future? My curiosity kept growing, so I decided to find out.

By spending time with these people, I answered the questions I’d been asking myself for so long. After seeing them work, I’ll think twice about leaving a mess on campus.

These people are no longer just faces to me, I’ve gotten to know them, and I make sure to say hello whenever I see them. 

Luis Botelho & Selam Abhai

Luis Botelho (top) is from Portugal and Selam Abhai (bottom) is from Eritrea, together they clean all 48 bathrooms on campus multiple times a day. 

“When I was young, I used to compete in soccer back in my home country. . .In the summertime I like to take time to play soccer with the [grand] kids,” said Botelho.

“After my job I go to church, I love Jesus….and I love my husband very much,” said Abhai.

Adam Haggart & Mike Coble

Adam Haggart (top) and Mike Coble (bottom) clean and take out the dozens of recycling bins on each of the four floors on campus twice per day.

Haggart started working at the college through Connect Employment Services, a program helping people with intellectual disabilities find jobs. Haggart has been working at the college for 25 years, and was later hired by Polished Cleaning Services when they took over the school’s contract two years ago.

Coble works for Connect Employment Services, and has supported Haggart the majority of his time at the college. Coble says his favourite part of the job is the interactions him and Haggart have with students. 

“Adam likes classic rock, swimming, and taking the Maid of the Mist boat tour when he vacations in Niagara Falls,” said Todd Lettley, Program Coordinator at Connect Employment Services.

“I’ve been going to the gym for about two years now. My stepson started going [to the gym] with his friend but they didn’t last very long, and then my wife said ‘why don’t we try it out?’ So we got into it and we just really enjoyed it. I was just recently able to bench press 200 pounds,” said Mike Coble, Direct Support Professional at Connect Employment.

Bilen Admasu

Bilen Admasu is a mother of two from Ethiopia.

She has worked at the school for five years, and single handedly maintains the Manitou a bi Bii daziigae building during the day. She mops all four floors, takes out garbages, wipes down the elevators, and cleans the four bathrooms in the building. 

“I prefer to work less to spend more time with my kids. . .at home we like to play games—either cards, Jenga, or watch movies,” said Admasu.