Vancouver Pest Control Professional Rat Survey

Are you a pest control professional who operates or has operated in the B.C. Lower Mainland? Does your professional practice include rat control? If so, please consider completing this short online survey.

This survey is part of a University of British Columbia (UBC) project the purpose of which is to understand the ecology of rats in Vancouver and the health risks that they may pose to people through the transmission of infectious diseases. We are asking you to complete this survey because we believe that your professional opinions will help us to develop a better understanding of rats and rat infestations in and around Vancouver.

This survey should take about 30 minutes to complete, and by participating you will be entered in a draw to win a $100 gift certificate from Amazon.ca, Wal-Mart, or the Keg. Your responses will be confidential and will be stored in a secure server at UBC. Your company’s name will not be available to anyone except the researchers and will not be disclosed in any report or publication. However, we will acknowledge your company’s participation in publications resulting from this survey if you indicate that that is your wish.

Please note that this project is part of a PhD thesis being conducted by C.G. Himsworth DVM at UBC. If you have any questions, or desire further information about this study, please contact Dr. Himsworth at cgh050@interchange.ubc.ca.

Sincerely,

Dr. D. Patrick (Principal Investigator/Supervisor, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 604-822-3910)

and

Dr. C.G. Himsworth (Co-Investigator/Graduate Student, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 778-886-2677)

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK TO PARTICIPATE (please do not complete the survey if you have not operated in the B.C. Lower Mainland or if your professional practice does not include rat control):

https://survey.edudata.ca/es/czE0Nw/YzIzMQ/

There has recently been a surge of news regarding bed bugs being associated with MRSA and VRE. It is important to clarify that these strains of bacteria can be found on many surfaces and it is not surprising that bed bugs could be one of them. It has long been known that HIV, hepatitis, and many other pathogens can survive in/on bed bugs. What has not been shown is any correlation of transfer of these pathogens from one person to another via bed bugs.

The most recent study that has caused this media frenzy can be found here (CDC Website).

The patients in this study were from the Downtown Eastside (DTES) where roughly 50% of skin and soft tissue infections contain MRSA.  It is then no surprise that bed bugs in close quarters with these people could also carry the bacteria on their bodies.

Sincerely,

Sean Rollo

President of the SPMA of BC

LOWER MAINLAND

The next training session will be held on Wednesday June 22nd, 2011 at 7pm at the following location:

The Executive Plaza Hotel
405 North Road
Coquitlam

Topic(s): WCB – Fall Arrest, Respirator Fit, Equipment Safety
Speaker: Michael Strain – WSBC
Credits: 1.0 in Safety

Topic(s): Posting and Notification Requirements
Speaker: Sean Rollo – Orkin PCO Services
Credits: 1.0 in Legislation

Cost: $10 for members (receiving recertification credits) and $25 for non members

Pre-registration is required. Please email info@spmabc.com with registration details including company name, individuals attending (first and last names), and if they are registered for re-certification credits. Payment will be required at the door.

Please remember to display your business card on the dash of your vehicle.

______________________________________________________________________________

ISLAND

Island Training / Meeting – Wed. May 4th

Wednesday May 4th, 2011 at 7pm at the following location:

Topic(s): TBA
Speaker: TBA
Credits: TBA
Cost: $10 for members (receiving recertification credits) and $25 for non members

The 18th Annual SPMA of BC Conference was a huge success!!!  Thank you to all of our sponsors, member companies, and executive members for all of their support and dedication.  All of our speakers have graciously allowed us to post their presentations online for your to view or download.  These presentations are NOT to be reproduced, distributed, or used in any way without express consent of their author.

The conference will be held on Friday February 4 and Saturday February 5, 2010 at the Executive Plaza Hotel

This year we have a great headline speaker….Dini Miller.

Dini Miller is the Urban Pest Management specialist for the state of Virginia. The urban pest management position is predominantly extension with additional research and teaching responsibilities. She is currently implementing a statewide School IPM training program. Dr. Miller’s current research projects focus on bed bug biology and control of cockroaches, ants and subterranean termites, and the cost/benefit analysis of IPM in Virginia public housing.

One of her projects is looking at the efficacy of bed bug management products and strategies:

Virginia Tech is currently one of two universities in the nation that is rearing bed bugs for research. Bed bugs promise to be a very important area of research because they are blood feeders, prolific, and difficult to control. The liability issues associated with bed bug presence have already resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being awarded to people who have been bitten by bed bugs. My research has focused on evaluating the efficacy products labeled for bed bug control and those that have potential as a bed bug management tools.

CONFERENCE AGENDA AS OF JAN.25 (FINALIZED)

REGISTRATION FORM

AGM & PROXY FORM

The SPMA meeting for tonight on the Island has been canceled due to weather. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Sean (President)

LOWER MAINLAND

The next training session will be held on Wednesday November 17th, 2010 at 7pm at the following location:

The Executive Plaza Hotel
405 North Road
Coquitlam

Topic(s): Fleas – They’re Back!!! Are you ready?
Topic(s): Introduction to Entomology – ID Techniques
Speaker: Miro Gajovic
Speaker: Sean Rollo
Credits: 2 credits proposed for Pest Management (not yet approved)
Cost: $10 for members (receiving recertification credits) and $25 for non members

Pre-registration is required. Please email info@spmabc.com with registration details including company name, individuals attending (first and last names), and if they are registered for re-certification credits. Payment will be required at the door.

Please remember to display your business card on the dash of your vehicle.

ISLAND

Island Training / Meeting – Wed. Nov. 24th

Date: Wednesday Nov. 24th, 2010
Time: 4:00pm
Place: Best Western – Duncan
Topic: Small Flies & Small Ants = Big Problems
Speaker: Sean Rollo
Credits: 1 credit proposed in Pest Management (not yet approved)

The CPMA (NPMA) and SPMA of BC will jointly be hosting bed bug symposiums in Vancouver (Nov.5) and Victoria (Nov.4). These symposiums are geared toward non-pest control people (i.e. landlords, residents, property management, hospitals, hotel staff, etc.).

Info on the VANCOUVER symposium.

Info on the VICTORIA symposium.

REGISTRATION FORM (PDF)

The next training session will be held on Wednesday September 22, 2010 at 7pm at the following location:

The Executive Plaza Hotel
405 North Road
Coquitlam

Topic(s):    Ministry Expectations relating to Pest Control and Wildlife
Speaker:    Sheldon Reddekopp and Brent Gurd from the Ministry of Environment
Credits:      1.5 credits (to be confirmed)
Cost:          $10 for members (receiving recertification credits) and $25 for non members

Pre-registration is required.  Please email info@spmabc.com with registration details including company name, individuals attending (first and last names), and if they are registered for re-certification credits. Payment will be required at the door.

Please remember to display your business card on the dash of your vehicle.

The NPMA will be hosting PestWorld this year (October 20-23) in Hawaii.  If you are attending from BC you will be eligible for recertification credits for nearly all sessions offered.

To get credits you will need to complete an NPMA credit form and submit it to the SPMA when you return.

A full list of credits available will be online in September.