LANGLEY—CUPE 1851 member Troy Tardiff, a custodian at Shortreed Community School in Langley, has always loved working with people. Tardiff was featured recently in a Langley Advance Times article highlighting the big part he plays at his school.
“Troy is a dedicated person who goes above and beyond, and I am so happy to see him recognized,” said CUPE 1851 President Sheryl Barnum. “I’m also proud of all our members who are all doing so much during this pandemic.”
Previously Tardiff worked at a hospital supervising a cleaning crew and then as a high school custodian in a large school. Coming from a small town, he was drawn to the positive environment and friendly atmosphere of the elementary school. He prefers the personal dynamics of a smaller environment and getting to know everyone.
Tardiff credits the school principal and vice-principal for the excellent job they do to include the kids at Shortreed.
“Kids are amazing. If you say hi to kids a couple times, they look up to you. You can just see it.” says Tardiff, who is pleased that he is on a first name basis with students – it’s Mr. Troy rather than Mr. Tardiff.
Tardiff understands the importance of sanitizing and disinfecting from his hospital days. Now working as a daytime custodian because of the coronavirus pandemic, he works to keep the community school “one of the cleanest in the district.”
Whether it’s dressing up as Spiderman on Hallowe’en (and keeping kids guessing by showing up a few minutes later as himself), reading to kids, connecting with them, or doing his utmost to keep their environment clean and safe, Troy Tardiff gives his all.
Tardiff says that the real hero is his wife, who is a patient care coordinator at a hospital. “She’s the real hero. She’s my hero.”
“Some of us don’t take this pandemic seriously enough,” says Tardiff. “This is not a joke, it’s people’s lives. If one person passes away, it’s too many,” pointing out that one life lost can have an impact on a lot of other people.