Building resilience in the face of conflict; it was a pivotal theme throughout this year’s OPSEU/SEFPO Broader Public Sector (BPS) Conference and Divisional meetings. Nearly 500 delegates participated in this year’s conference, which was held virtually from Friday, October 22 to Sunday, October 24.
The conference theme of “Challenges, Actions, Resilience,” resonated with OPSEU/SEFPO leaders and members working across the BPS who have faced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic – especially those on the front-lines of the crisis.
Participants were welcomed by President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, who thanked the sector leaders for their ongoing work and unwavering dedication to the union. Thomas also thanked the candidates who stepped up to run for positions on the Sector Executives, calling it a selfless act to step up in this way, especially during such difficult times.
“With so much going on in the world, and in your personal lives no doubt, it is a truly selfless act to step up in this way,” said Thomas. “Our union is far better off because of folks like you – so thank you.”
President Thomas spoke of the need to address the pandemic within the pandemic – the mental health pandemic and the importance of building up our mental health infrastructure. He also noted that health and safety remains an ongoing priority, as we continue to push for policies to keep workers safe.
“Infrastructure isn’t just roads and buildings,” said Thomas. “It’s workplace resources and policies that make working conditions better – like more staffing, better shifts, more flexibility and full-time employment opportunities, and the space to work in partnership with management, Joint Health and Safety Committees and LECs. “
First Vice-President/Treasurer Almeida added that, while the pandemic hasn’t erased all the other challenges we face, it has proven that strong public services, and public sector workers, are part of the solution; rebuilding Ontario means rebuilding our capacity by investing in our public sector.
“When times get tough, public sector workers are the ones holding all the pieces together,” said Almeida. “Workers are the beating heart of it all and they deserve better. With less than a year until the provincial election, it’s time to flex our muscles; to demand the repeal of Bill 124, permanent provincially funded paid sick days, and permanent – not just pandemic – pay increases.
“If we want to attract and retain the best and brightest, we are going to have to pay up,” Almeida noted. “In long-term care, community health care and mental health, in developmental services, in our shelters and across the board.”
A special video introduction featuring all the BPS Sector Chairs was aired followed by a moment of silence to commemorate those who’ve fallen ill, been injured or passed away this past year, including BPS members Connie Cerdan (Developmental Services) and Roman Skots (LBED).
As part of Friday’s agenda, delegates spoke about the challenges they’ve faced in their workplaces and sectors, and the actions they’ve taken to address those challenges head on to protect themselves and their coworkers and to improve workplace health and safety. It proved to be an excellent opportunity to share and learn from each other’s experiences.
They also discussed the road ahead and what building resilience will look like, as the union works to rebuild a beleaguered public sector, and province – over the next two years, and for many more to come.
Saturday and Sunday saw the Sector Divisional Meetings, and elections for Sector Executives were also held. OPSEU/SEFPO thanks all the candidates who put their names forward, and congratulates everyone who was elected for the 2021-2023 term.
Newly Elected Division Executive Members Broader Public Sector (BPS) 2021-23
Sector 1: Ambulance
Name, Position Title
Joel Usher L381, Chair
Jamie Ramage L256, Vice Chair
To be elected at next DivEx meeting, Secretary/Treasurer
Tim Szumlanski L277, Director 2 – Hamilton, Brant, Norfolk
Mario Posteraro L256, Director 3 – Peel, Guelph/Wellington, Halton
Cory Schepers L303, Director 4 – Simcoe, West Parry Sound and Grey Bruce
Shauna Dunn L462, Director 5 – Frontenac, Lennox/Addington, Northumberland and Kawartha
Darryl Taylor L679, Director 6 – Manitoulin Sudbury EMS, Temagami
Amanda Usher, 302, Director 7 – Dispatch
Dave Doran L462, Health and Safety Rep
Janel Perron L303, Trustee
Melissa Penner L147, Trustee
Sector 2: Developmental Services
Name, Position Title
Silvana Cacciatore L738, Chair
Kelly Nobert L386, Vice Chair 2a
Cathy Shaw L738, Vice Chair 2b
Angela Bagyan L433, Vice Chair 2c
Scott Collins L667, Secretary/Treasurer
Natasha Joseph Grenier L664, Communications Rep
Tamara Goldie L386, Health and Safety Rep
Karen McKinnon L358, Bargaining Rep at Large
Jac-Lynn Campbell L166, Regional Mobilizer – Region 1
Debbie Powell L235, Regional Mobilizer – Region 2
Vacant, Regional Mobilizer – Region 3
Lisa Gifford L434, Regional Mobilizer – Region 4
Rhea Vickii D’Singh L573, Regional Mobilizer – Region 5
Natasha Joseph-Grenier L664, Regional Mobilizer – Region 6
Kayla Bengtsson, L740, Regional Mobilizer – Region 7
Kenneth MacLam L740, Bargaining Team – Sector 2a
Rhea Vickii D’Singh L573, Bargaining Team – Sector 2b
Angela Bagyan L433, Bargaining Team – Sector 2c
Sheena Parsons L386, Trustee
Debbie L Powell L235, Trustee
Sector 3: Boards of Education
Name, Position Title
Sandra Cadeau L330, Chair
Bonnie Eddy L330, Vice Chair
Susan Richarz L514, Secretary
Donna Caissie L330, Treasurer
Lise Orsini L614, Member at Large
Paul Ayers L535, Trustee
Paulina Demelo-Medeiros L2100, Trustee
Sector 4: Children’s Aid Society
Name, Position Title
Chrisy Tremblay L454, Chair
Jody Carr-Allen L334, Vice Chair
Katherine Cossette L168, Secretary/Treasurer
Christine Steer L458, Member at Large
Christine Charette L116, Bargaining Representative – Region 1
Gavin Sharma L258, Bargaining Representative – Region 2
Jody Carr-Allen L334, Bargaining Representative – Region 3
Christine Steer L458, Bargaining Representative – Region 4
Mandi NcNeil L665, Bargaining Representative – Region 6
Candice Schepanowski L148, Bargaining Representative – Region 7
Justin Petitpas L454, Trustee
Joanne Riley L304, Trustee
Sector 5: Community Agencies
Name, Position Title
Kareen Marshall L540, Chair
Patricia Zonta L148, Vice Chair
Jennifer Maarinoff L525, Secretary/Treasurer
Kala Karunananthan L512, Member at Large
Zarine Dordi L512, Trustee
Carolina G’ala L512, Trustee
Sector 7: BPS Corrections
Name, Position Title
Jonathan Guider L166, Chair
Joseph Davies L166, Vice Chair
Assunta Patsiatzis L702, Secretary
David Farrugia L216, Treasurer
Jeff Tynes L361, Sector Steward
Sam Fischer L166, Trustee
Nicole Stach L143, Trustee
Sector 8: Long Term Care
Name, Position Title
Joan Corradetti L261, Chair
Shannon Nolan L214, Vice Chair
Julie Graham L305, Secretary
Terri-Lyn Long L305, Treasurer
William Stanton L166, Communications Coordinator
Allison Shand L261, Health and Safety Coordinator
Nancy Cortese L265, Trustee
Vacant, Trustee
Sector 9: Universities
Name, Position Title
Kella Loschiavo L596, Chair
Rob Boulet L608, Vice Chair
Patricia Tavares L519, Secretary
Jennifer Herrington L404, Treasurer
Lindsey Voison L608, Community Organizer
Anthony Fabiano L685, Communications Rep
Grace He L596, Trustee
Roy Teniuk L716, Trustee
Sector 10: Hospital Professionals
Name, Position Title
Sara Labelle L348, Chair
Sandi Blancher, L106, Vice Chair
Betty Palmieri L206, Secretary
Brenda Allan L215, Treasurer
Jessica Timothy L106, Education and Communications
Teresa Chafe L464, Health and Safety
Adrian-Alexandru Balojin L206, Job Security
Melissa Coenraad L475, Public Policy
Christa Walker, L383, WSIB
Seven Thomas McCaw L106, Benefits
Ben Arbeau L4106, Trustee
Herve Cavanaugh L466, Trustee
Sector 11: Hospital Support
Name, Position Title
Jill McIllrwraith L260, Chair
Jonathan Hopkins L275, Vice Chair
Rose Ann Faubert L132, Secretary
Debbie Black-Smith L260, Treasurer
Lee Ann Hofland L159, Education and Communications
Vacant, Newsletter / Communications
Christine Marshall L320, Health and Safety
Harry Sangha L374, Collective Bargaining
Jessica Evitts L132, Trustee
Lorian Beatz L159, Trustee
Sector 13: Municipalities
Name, Position Title
Tara Langford L435, Chair
Kerri McDonald L266, Vice Chair
Nicole Wilson L496, Secretary
Pamela Schmidt L496, Treasurer
Cheryl Silver L496, Communications Representative
Sector 15: Children’s Treatment Centres
Name, Position Title
Rachelle Lacoste L666, Chair
Tannis McGinn L460, Vice Chair
Deborah Gordon L145, Secretary
Michael Quinn L441, Treasurer
Laura O’Brien-Fargnoli L144, Member at Large
Shauna De Feyter L684, Trustee
Sally Haydock L567, Trustee
Sector 16: Property Assessment
Name, Position Title
Mark Hotte, L409, Chair
David Lynch, L409, Vice Chair
Robert Fong, L312, Treasurer
Paul Leslie, L312, Secretary
Michelle Faber L312, Member at Large
Russell Enns L254, Member at Large
Robert Fong L312, Pay Equity Committee
Richard Mauntah L552, Pay Equity Committee
Nicole Pyykonen L606, Pay Equity Committee
Brian Lopes L312, Pay Equity Committee
Melissa Matsos L202, Pay Equity Committee
Aaron Hornick L266, Trustee
Vacant, Trustee
Sector 17: Community Health Care Professionals
Name, Position Title
Lucy Morton L269, Chair
Anne- Marie Roy L675, Vice Chair
Kate Anderson L4101, Secretary
Mimi Ngassum L4101, Treasurer
Morgen Veres L487, Membership Representative
Karen Gventer L276, Newsletter / Communications
Jennifer Daguerre L675, Bargaining Representative
Vacant, Education Representative
Elaine Giles L4101, Trustee
Jessica Dionne L4101, Trustee
Sector 18: Mental Health and Addictions
Name, Position Title
Ed Arvelin L720, Chair
Tischa Forster L133, Vice Chair
Dustin Bayley L631, Secretary
Cindy Ladouceur L439, Treasurer
Kurt Hehl L329, Public Policy and Campaigns Coordinator
Maggie Wakeford L631, Membership Coordinator
Carol Mundley L500, Health and Safety Coordinator
Julie Chambo L291, Bargaining Coordinator
Mark Halabecki L720, Communications/Social Media
Maureen Harkin L631, Trustee
Yvonne Hinds L500, Trustee
Sector 19: CBS and Diagnostics
Name, Position Title
Geoffrey Cain L160, Chair
Shah Nawaz L545, Vice Chair
Renee Aiken Kearsley L389, Secretary
Jennifer Johnson L5103, Treasurer
Sarah Dupuis L619, Member at Large (CBS)
Hanan Battah L545, Member at Large (PHO)
Deirdre Dunn L716, Trustee
Audrey Smith L5103, Trustee
Sector 26: Liquor Board Employees
Name, Position Title
Colleen McLeod L5107, Chair
Jeremy Trainor L378, Vice Chair
Adam Ly L499, Secretary-Treasurer
Jamie Kensley L681, Chair, Anti-Privatization Committee
Shelly Robitaille L162, Chair, Benefits and Pensions Committee
Craig Hadley L5109, Chair, Educations and Communications Committee
Deborah McGuiness L5110, Chair, Health and Safety Committee
Kendrick Paterson L5110, Trustee
Kim Nasello L379, Trustee