Flowers and a photograph of Kulbir Kaila decorate the chemistry wing of SFU’s science center, where the 61-year-old janitor took her last breaths after 20 years of service at the university. On July 28, 2025, towards the end of her shift, she was found unconscious and later pronounced dead despite paramedics’ efforts.
Kaila’s family attributes her passing to a heart attack, possibly exacerbated by job-related stress and workload challenges. Her niece, Gurpreet Samra, shared Kaila’s struggles with the job, highlighting the immense workload and demands of covering multiple areas across different buildings.
The custodial staff memorialized Kaila, advocating for better working conditions for those in similar roles on campus. Concerns were raised about the physical toll and increased workload faced by custodial workers, particularly after budget cuts at SFU. The university contracts custodial services through a third-party company, BEST, which has been criticized for its treatment of workers.
Calls for transparency and accountability in the regulatory system have been made by advocates and experts like Enda Brophy and Sean Tucker, emphasizing the need to prioritize the well-being of vulnerable workers.
SFU and BEST have pledged to address concerns raised by Kaila’s unfortunate incident, with promises to review and adjust workloads and schedules to prevent overworking staff members.