Candidates for Regional Executive Board Members and Provincial Equity Committees

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Hi, I’m Loretta Clark. Normally during the day I work in Court Services in Sarnia, with the Ministry of the Attorney General. I was born and raised in the Sarnia area, in a middle-class family. My mother worked in a bank, and my father was an extremely ambitious tradesman. I watched my mother cry after work far too many times, and I learned about my father being on strike for 3 months, way before I was around. In the 90’s, I went off to London after college, and started my real working life. My first career stop was derailed when I, stubbornly, refused to back down from a bad boss. I had a lot to learn, I was young and outspoken, and we butted heads frequently. The natural born leader that I am, I tried to organize my co-workers then, but life had other plans for me.

Several years later I started working with the courts in Sarnia. I became involved with OPSEU/SEFPO pretty quickly, and found a welcoming place that appreciated my hard headedness. I started as a steward, became secretary of Sarnia District Labour Council, accepted the role as Local President, and ran for the Ministry Employee Relations Committee (MERC) for the Ministry of the Attorney General. During Covid, I accepted the challenge of stepping into the MERC Co-Chair role. Here’s where I found my superpowers, and have been steadily increasing them since. I was elected onto the OPS Unified bargaining team and found that sitting with peers, advocating for members, listening to issues and doing something about it and really stirring the pot at rallies was where I excelled.

While on the bargaining team I really learned something though. Region 1 elected me to represent them. I was brought to the table by my region, and that’s where I want to be. I want to listen, I want to act, I want to organize and strategize. I want to make sure that I always make room at my table for Region 1.

From stepping up as President of the local Optimist club when I was 20, to facing a bad boss and not always winning, I’ve come a long way. I’m asking for Region 1 to help me get a seat at the Executive Board table of OPSEU/SEFPO, and let’s see the future together.

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Alex currently works as an Ambulance Communications Officer at the Windsor Ambulance Communications Centre, triaging emergencies and deescalating calls. Since joining OPSEU, Alex has thrown himself into the union and labour movement in Windsor. Alex is a union steward for OPSEU Local 154, a certified JHSC member, past local treasurer and secretary, delegate for OPSEU Area 1 council and the Windsor Labour & District Council.

Being a fixed-term employee for 3 years, Alex is fully aware of the pressure and limitations that come with precarious work. Alex sees the effects of the affordability crisis unfold every day at work and through personal lived experience. He knows that our union members need an executive that uses real solutions to bring meaningful change, not just slogans with empty talking points. Alex is ready to put up a fight to make our union more accessible for its members, empowerment through outreach and education, ensure transparency is non-negotiable and keep everyone accountable.

Alex is also an activist in the political realm in Windsor-Essex. Alex was selected for the 2024 Windsor-Essex Federal Youth Council where he lobbies the federal government representative for Windsor-Essex to seek legislation that would positively influence the quality of opportunities and lives of the youth in Canada. Alex used this experience to run for federal office and was successful in receiving the NDP nomination for Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore during the last federal election. This election experience only increased Alex’s determination in fighting for working class issues and supporting the labour movement.

Alex is also deeply involved in his community through several volunteer roles since 2012 along with local committees/boards. Alex has been an active volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windsor-Essex, sat on the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Event Committee, serves on the board of directors for the Optimist Club of St. Clair Beach and Essex County Youth Diversion.

Alex vows to fight for our union members, being available and accountable as an executive board member and believes in full transparency. Alex vows to amplify the voices of all workers at the board level and will work tirelessly for our union.

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Laurie Nancekivell leads with clarity, fairness, and a deep commitment to member-driven decision-making. Throughout her union journey, first as a Young Worker Representative, then Executive Board Member, and now First Vice-President/Treasurer, she has centered the voices of workers and built systems that make participation accessible, transparent, and meaningful.

As First Vice-President/Treasurer, Laurie has transformed financial leadership into a shared effort. Through her Activist Budget process, she gives locals, equity groups, sectors, and committees real influence over how resources are allocated — and ensures every dollar supports front-line needs.

Her leadership has strengthened OPSEU/SEFPO’s financial health, modernized its operations, and created tools that make it easier for members to engage, organize, and lead.

Laurie’s purpose is clear: build trust, strengthen systems, and prepare the union for the future by growing leadership from within.

When it comes to leading with accountability and progress, you can Lead With Laurie.

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My name is Burcu Bayraktar and I am proud to announce that I am running for Region One’s Provincial Women’s Committee Representative with Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). As a racialized young worker, and single mom of two, I hold a unique perspective in this ever changing workforce. My experience allows me to meet our members on multiple fronts and try to see their concerns, suggestions, and ideas.

Professionally, I am an Addiction Counsellor with the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. I work every day alongside individuals facing complex mental health and addiction challenges. This work has strengthened my commitment to equity, advocacy, and meeting people where they are at; these are values I’ve brought to my union as a steward for the past two years.

I have also had the privilege of coordinating the Windsor Shoebox Project, supporting marginalized women in our community with dignity and compassion. Through this work, I have seen firsthand the power of collective action and solidarity. Over the last decade I have been involved in our community at different levels, not only as a frontline worker, but volunteer board member of a variety of non-profit organizations, such as Downtown Mission of Windsor and St. Leonard’s House.

Our Women’s Committee must continue to be a strong, unified voice for women across OPSEU. I am committed to amplifying diverse voices, strengthening regional connections, and ensuring our work reflects the real challenges women face in our workplaces and communities.

If elected for Region One’s Provincial Women’s Committee Representative, I am committed to:

• Amplifying diverse women’s voices across all regions
• Strengthening engagement and communication within the committee
• Building meaningful connections between the union and the communities we serve
• Advancing equity, inclusion, and solidarity in all aspects of our work

I believe that every woman’s experience matters and that real change happens when we stand together in solidarity.

Every voice matters. Every action counts. Together, we can continue building a union that empowers, protects, and uplifts women.

I would be honoured to have your support.

In solidarity,

Burcu Bayraktar

Tory George is President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 168, Sarnia-Lambton Children’s Aid Society and is a dedicated advocate for workers’ rights and women’s equity.

With over 20 years of experience in the justice system, she has seen firsthand the systemic barriers many women face, shaping her commitment to fairness, equity, and ensuring women’s voices are represented in leadership and decision making.

Tory has extensive experience working with both the Ontario Public Service (OPS) and the Broader Public Sector (BPS) in Court Services, Corrections, and Children’s Aid Societies. This broad background gives her a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities for women across multiple sectors, from front-line services to management, and strengthens her ability to advocate for fair, inclusive workplaces that support all members.

As Local President, Tory works closely with members to defend collective agreement rights, support workers through workplace challenges, and strengthen union solidarity. She also serves as Chair of the agency’s Cultural Celebrations Committee, creating opportunities within the community to recognize and celebrate diverse cultures and identities, reflecting her commitment to inclusive, respectful spaces.

Deeply connected to her community, Tory has always been actively involved in her children’s school and served for years as a board member of the Sarnia Girls Soccer Club. During her time with Sarnia Girls Soccer she built a grassroots soccer program, called First Kicks, for girls aged 18 months to 3 years, introducing teamwork, confidence, and community from a young age.

Living and raising her daughters in a rural community, Tory understands the unique challenges women face in smaller communities and is committed to fostering environments where girls see women supporting one another and stepping into leadership.

Tory is and entrepreneur – the owner of Wild Roots – Camlachie, a business rooted in women’s wellness and empowerment at every stage of life. Tory is an E-RYT 200hr certified yoga instructor, a RPYT 85hr prenatal yoga teacher, and holds a Children’s Yoga Certification, supporting women through childhood, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause and beyond.

Tory believes in the power of women coming together to create change and is committed to serving on the OPSEU/SEFPO Provincial Women’s Committee to amplify women’s voices, strengthen solidarity, and advance equity, safety, and opportunity for all.

What Tory commits to bringing to the Provincial Women’s Committee:

• A strong voice for women in both rural communities
• Advocacy for equity, inclusion, and safe workplaces
• Leadership rooted in community engagement
• Support for programs that empower girls and women at all stages of life
• A commitment to building solidarity and celebrating women’s achievements

Your support is the key to taking women’s advocacy to the next level!

Yours in solidarity,

Tory George
Connect with Tory:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FoXHeN7aA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Kim-mere Good is a dedicated union activist and advocate for women’s leadership, inclusion, and strong representation. As the current Alternate to the Provincial Women’s Committee, she continues to stand in solidarity with members across all regions.

Passionate about the labour movement, Kim believes women’s voices are essential to a strong union. She is a committed ally to gender-diverse and equity-seeking women and works to ensure all women feel supported, respected, and empowered to lead.

Having overcome significant personal challenges, Kim understands firsthand the realities faced by women and families experiencing abuse, instability, or housing insecurity. That lived experience shapes her unwavering commitment to advocacy, dignity, and opportunity for those navigating hardship.

Grounded in integrity and care for others, she is dedicated to turning experience into action bringing knowledge, solidarity and meaningful support to the members and communities she serves.

Equipping young workers to not just have a seat at the table, but to lead it.

The Fight for Fairness

I didn’t just join OPSEU/SEFPO; I dove in headfirst. During my first year as an Ultrasound Technologist at Windsor Regional Hospital, I uncovered a major inequity in vacation accrual for part-time staff. I didn’t accept it, I fought it. That personal grievance turned into a successful Local 101 policy grievance, restoring years of lost pay for members across our bargaining unit.

Since then, I have served as 3rd VP, Treasurer, and a member of the Bargaining Committee. My activism is driven by a simple belief: Fairness isn’t optional; it’s owed.

Real Challenges, Real Experience

I know the barriers young workers face because I live them. I have experienced the instability of fluctuating schedules and the strain on mental health in a world of constant crisis. When I contracted COVID-19 while working in the hospital, I was mandated off for 10 days without pay because, as a part-time worker, I had no sick days.

As a current PYC Mentorship Program Mentee, my focus is on bridging the gap between initial membership and active leadership. Drawing on my training in the Dismantling Systemic Racism Program (DSRP) and my role as an Hospital Professionals Division (HPD) Mobilizer, I am committed to modernizing our union to reflect the realities of today’s workforce.

My Commitment to Region 1

If elected, I will move beyond “business as usual” to deliver a streamlined roadmap for the next generation of activists:

• Formalize Regional Mentorship: I will create a Region 1 Mentorship Hub to help young workers—especially those from equity-seeking groups—navigate union structures and step into leadership.
• Modernize Participation: I will advocate for meeting formats and digital resources that reflect the realities of shift work and precarious employment.
• Bridge the Equity Gap: A young worker is never “just” a young worker. We bring our race, gender, and abilities with us. I will work closely with Provincial Equity Committees to ensure intersectional representation is at the heart of the PYC.
• Demystify the Union: I will develop clear, accessible “How-To” guides to help new members understand their rights and their pathways to influence.

Experience & Identity

• Union Leadership: Local 101 3rd VP/Treasurer; HPD DivEx Alternate.
• Advocacy: Bargaining Committee (Past & Present); HPD Mobilizer.
• Roots: Born and raised in Windsor; bilingual (English/French).
• Perspective: Dedicated feline foster volunteer, passionate activist and advocate for all equity groups.

With experience in finance, bargaining, and mobilization, I am ready to be a persistent advocate for Region 1. I am asking for your support to ensure young workers are equipped to lead our union forward.

My name is Sharyu Sudhakar from Sarnia, and I work as a Caseworker at the Sarnia Ontario Disability Office. I am seeking your support and vote for the position of Delegate on the Provincial Women’s Committee.

I have always been a strong advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. I have been an active union member for several years, serving in various roles advocating for equality, inclusion, and equal opportunities for all members.

Currently, I serve as the Equity Officer for Region 1 Area Council and Secretary for the Sarnia District Labour Council. I am also a champion for United Way, Federal Health Charity, and have volunteered with the Canadian Cancer Society. In collaboration with the Indo-Canada Association, I have organized several fundraising events to support local charities such as the Women’s Interval Home and the Red Cross.

I strongly believe that member engagement is essential for effective collective bargaining. I regularly share my union journey to encourage members to become involved and take on leadership roles. Member engagement is not optional—we must gather, engage, and act together.

Today, the landscape of our union has changed. Our membership is more diverse, and many of our newer members are women. However, women are still underrepresented in leadership roles. I encourage members to attend GMMs, participate in educational events, read our collective agreements and constitution, and empower themselves to lead.

I have also organized cultural events that bring together community members, union members, and racialized members to promote inclusion and build stronger community relationships.

I am deeply aware of the challenges women face, including unequal pay, lack of childcare, domestic abuse, human trafficking, and poverty. Earlier in my life, I also participated in rallies in India advocating against child marriage and for the education of girls in rural communities.

I am asking for your support and your vote so that I can make a meaningful impact and contribute to positive change. I also hope to bring South Asian representation within our union in Region 1, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and represented.

Thank you for your support.

In Solidarity-Sharyu Sudhakar

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I have served as the Region 1 Francophone Committee representative for the last two years, and I would be grateful to have your continued support.

I am the president of Local 154 and an OPS Unified bargaining team member. Over the past two years, I have been able to successfully advocate not only for our Francophone members, but also for all Equity seeking members, and ALL members in general. One thing I have learned is that our committees do amazing work; but that we have a lot more work to do. I see distinct changes in equity within our union, and division occurring between groups of members. Procedural changes are required to move equity into an era of greater transparency and inclusion. We are all workers; a gain for one worker is a gain for all workers, equity gains are gains for all members. This relationship needs work and I am prepared to do it.

I have been an OPSEU-SEFPO member for 12 years, and like a lot of our members, I couldn’t see the greater picture; until an issue arose that affected my everyday life directly. This is what I work at everyday; what is the issue for each member that connects them to the union and inspires participation and action.

While these provincial equity seats are representative of categories, once elected, we all become OPSEU-SEFPO leaders, and all equally share responsibility in meeting the needs of ALL members. I believe in honesty, integrity and direct conversations; we need leaders who are not afraid to have the hard conversations, but that can work constructively with policy change to meet the union goals, not angry rhetoric.

I am an Ambulance Communications Officer by day, but by nights and weekends, I am committed to making space without pushing others out. I work in a job where I literally have to constantly respond to the most urgent tasks and constantly re-assess what are the overall goals and in what order do we accomplish our tasks to meet that goal. The difference with labour advocacy is that I get to contribute to the goals themselves, not just the tasks required to meet someone else’s goals.

It does not matter where I find myself, my goal for the next three years is to bring transparency, accountability and connection with the equity committees and EBMs to the membership. Too much of our election process and how we make room is still not meeting the greatest needs of the union, and I am ready to have the hard conversations, with our leadership and to connect our members.

If you want to know more about me, connect with me, or just say hi, please visit my Facebook page or Instagram account, and please follow the Region 1 Francophone Facebook page to keep in the know!

En toute solidarité,

Holly Sullivan

Simone Warner is a dedicated labour and community advocate, passionate about advancing equity, inclusion, and justice for all members. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Simone brings a strong sense of community, culture, and resilience to her work. She is a proud wife and mother, and her lived experiences continue to shape her commitment to creating fair and supportive spaces for others.

Simone has been actively involved in human rights and equity work within the labour movement. As a Region 1 Provincial Human Rights Representative (PHRC), she has focused on amplifying the voices of equity-seeking groups and building stronger connections across diverse communities. Her work emphasizes intersectionality, education, and collaboration to ensure that all members feel represented and respected.

Throughout her time in this role, Simone has organized and supported several community-focused initiatives. She helped lead food and clothing donation drives to support families, youth, and local shelters, including organizing a community clothing swap and food collection. She has also collaborated with other equity committees to host meaningful events such as a Ribbon Skirt Making workshop, which celebrated Indigenous culture and strengthened solidarity among members.

Simone has also contributed to organizing regional education sessions that addressed important topics such as mental health, addiction, and youth homelessness, helping bring awareness and resources to members across the region.

Guided by her belief to “lead with love for humanity, not money; love for justice, not publicity,” Simone continues to advocate for equitable and inclusive solutions that support both union members and the broader community.

My name is Peter Figliola, I am re-offering to be one of your Region 2 Executive Board Members (EBM) and Regional Vice-President (RVP). Recognizing the critical importance of transparency within Region 2 and OPSEU SEFPO as a whole. I will continue to ensure that decisions are collectively made by our members and for our members. In my first term I have demonstrated that I am committed to prioritizing you, the members of Region 2.

When I was elected last term I committed to ensuring all members would have access to education and I have delivered on that promise with over 1,500 members participating in education in the Region over the last 23 months. You asked for better communications and the Region 2 Newsletter was created. I promised you would be supported and I have stood side-by-side with you at rallies and on strike lines.

If re-elected I intend to continue bringing your voice to the table at board meetings and ensuring that you are getting the supports you deserve. Education will continue to be a top priority for me as well as ensuring that locals have the supports they need.

I truly appreciate your support over this term and the opportunity you the members provided me in April of 2024 by electing me as one of your Region 2 Executive Board Members and your Regional Vice President.

I am asking you for your support so that I can continue prioritizing you the members when ever and how ever you need to be.

Hello Union Siblings,

My name is Novia Grant-Simon, and I am seeking your support for the position of OPSEU/SEFPO Region 2 Executive Board Member.

With 15 years of union experience, I have served as Steward, Chief Steward, Local 219 Treasurer, Local 219 Vice-President, LERC Member Chair, MERC Member, Regional CORW Treasurer, Mobilizer, MDT member, and Acting Staff Representative. My leadership is grounded in service, accountability, and action.

My commitments are clear:

• Meeting Members Where They Are – Engaging members across sectors and regions through active listening and accessible involvement.
• Visibility & Education for Local Strength – Promoting barrier-free education and ensuring members understand their rights and opportunities.
• Clear, Concise Communication-Providing timely, transparent information that builds trust.
• Collaboration & Ongoing Mobilization – Strengthening unity across our union and staying organized, strategic, and prepared.

If elected, I will continue working to build an engaged, informed, and mobilized membership.

Novia Grant-Simon
Local 219 Vice President
Min. of EDU MERC

I respectfully ask for your support and your vote.

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March 21, 2026

I offer a clear and compelling vision of the future of OPSEU/SEFPO. I have listened to members and hear and understand where you want our union to prioritize, and what you aim to achieve. Together, we will excel with my implementation of strategic planning to reach your goals together.

While transactional business is relevant in this union work, you have time and time again told our union leaders that you want visionary leadership that transform and adopt to the many challenges we as hardworking members face. We demand a transformation of OPSEU/SEFPO’s structure that will keep us engaged, support our work in the locals, inspire our young workers,

As R2 EBM, I will be guided by your voices and engage with each and every one of you in crafting a roadmap to guide us through these terrible times of uncertainties and the employers’ attempts at erosion of unions. We will not stand by and give up gains achieved through blood, sweat, and tears of union activism trailblazers.

Rosemarie’s Union Work

Rosemarie is current Co-Chair Region 2 CoRW’s, Secretary of the Provincial CoRW Committee, Local 212 Shop Steward, a representative at the Local Employee-Management Relations Committee and the Health and Safety Committee. Previously, VP/Acting President and Secretary and recent Chair of OPSEU/SEFPO Niagara Area Council, Current delegate for Local 212 to the Niagara Regional Labour Council.

OPSEU/SEFPO Dismantling Systematic Racism facilitator. Region 2 Educational Co-Facilitator.

In November 2025, Rosemarie was elected as alternate Vice-President of the Ontario Federation of Labours, Black and Racialized Workers Committee where she is committed to working with these dedicated activists to uplift and empower Black and Racialized workers and our community. https://opseu.org/news/congratulations-to-rosemarie-hall-ofl-alternate-equity-vice-president-representing-black-racialized-workers/302897/

I am a proud union activist with over 27 years of experience advocating for workers and defending collective agreements. I am a registered nurse specializing in mental health and currently work at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre Local 248.

It has been an honour to serve Region 2 as an Executive Board Member since being elected in March 2024. In this role, I have worked to improve communication, expand educational opportunities, and increase member engagement across the region. We have made efforts to ensure educationals are offered in different areas of Region 2 to make them more accessible and inclusive, while welcoming first-time registrants to become more involved in the union.

I believe strongly in building capacity within our union and supporting the next generation of activists. As a mentor in the Young Worker Mentorship Program, I have supported emerging leaders as they develop their advocacy and leadership skills.

In addition to my role on the Executive Board, I serve as an OPTrust Trustee and Chair of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee. These responsibilities reinforce my commitment to strong governance, accountability, and responsible decision-making on behalf of members.

Over the past two years, i have had the opportunity to meet many members at educationals, picket lines, meetings, and union events across Region 2. Listening to members’ concerns and supporting locals has been an important part of my work.
I live in Guelph with my husband and our two children. I am committed to protecting public services and supporting the workers who deliver them.

I am proud to represent Region 2 members and remain committed to strengthening our union through education, engagement, and accountability. I humbly ask for your continued trust and support.

Vote for Aisha Jahangir for Executive Board Member, Region 2.

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• 647 627 7771

I’m running for Executive Board Member because I believe our union must be stronger, more transparent, and truly inclusive.

My story is one of resilience, perseverance and representation.

As a first-generation immigrant, a racialized South Asian woman, and a member living with a disability, I know what it means to fight for space – and I will fight for every member. I understand what inclusion must look like because it has been an exhausting and long battle but I am here to voice my opinion, needs and wants. I am here to be the voice for all members.

I’m a frontline worker who understands the pressures we face every day. I know that members don’t just want representation – they want to be heard, respected, and supported.

If elected, I will focus on three things:

1. Accountability – clear communication and responsible leadership.
2. Inclusion – real accessibility and meaningful equity, not just words- for members from all backgrounds and communities
3. Engagement – reconnecting members so everyone has a voice in shaping our union’s direction. No more gatekeeping!

Leadership is about service. I’m not running for a title – I’m running to work for you and to be your voice. I want to be your safe space. I ask for your support and your vote.

• Fred Upshaw Award Recipient – 2026
• Board Member of Local Community Services of Peel-2026
• President L228 – 2025
• Vice P L228 – 2024
• JHSC Member 2020-2025
• Steward L228 -2020-2026

I lead with honesty, fairness, and strong ethical judgment

I bring courage to challenge barriers and empathy to build trust – because strong leadership is rooted in fairness, transparency, and action

“Every Member. Every Voice. Every Time.”

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My name is Vikki Poirier (she/they), and I am seeking re-election as your Region 2 Executive Board Member with OPSEU/SEFPO.

I am running because I believe in our union and in the power of solidarity. Every member in Region 2 deserves strong, transparent, and accountable leadership.

Since 2016, I have served as President of OPSEU/SEFPO Conestoga College Support Staff Local 238, after previously serving as Chief Steward. As well, I sit on the Waterloo Regional Labour Council as the current Vice President.

I have stood on picket lines, advocated in boardrooms, and worked to turn members’ concerns into action. As a current Region 2 Executive Board Member, I support locals across our region and remain committed to education, engagement, and responsive leadership.

Leadership is about showing up, doing the work, and ensuring every voice is heard.

I respectfully ask for your support and your vote. Together, we will keep Region 2 strong.

My Platform

• Strong, Transparent Leadership — Clear communication, accountability, and visible leadership that shows up.
• Support for Locals — Practical tools, timely responses, and hands-on regional support.
• Member Engagement — Empowering members through information, outreach, and active participation.
• Education & Activism — Expanding training and leadership development to strengthen our region.

Together, we will continue building a strong, engaged, and forward-focused Region 2.

Katelyn Page is a dedicated social worker and mental health advocate holding a Master of Social Work with seven years of experience in the field of mental health and addictions. She currently works for Niagara Health where she supports individuals and families navigating complex mental health challenges which she does with compassion, professionalism, and a strong commitment to equity in care.

A proud member of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 215, Katelyn serves on the executive and plays an active role in union advocacy. As the union representative during Niagara Health’s orientation for new hires, she highlights the importance of joining the union, understanding the collective agreement, and actively engaging with OPSEU/SEFPO from day one to help build strong worker solidarity.

Katelyn recently was voted onto the Hospital Professionals Division Executive as a Mobilizer, where she works to engage members, strengthen collective action, and amplify the voices of hospital professionals across the province. In this role, she is particularly focused on engaging and mobilizing young workers within her local and is committed to expanding this work regionally to build stronger, more connected networks of emerging leaders. In recognition of her leadership and commitment to worker advocacy, she was awarded the Karen Millar Memorial Scholarship through OPSEU/SEFPO in 2020.

Katelyn strongly acknowledges the importance of health and safety in the workplace and has completed WSIB Training Levels one thru three to better support and protect workers. She has also attended many OPSEU/SEFPO educational programs, most recently completing Mental Health: Challenging Stigma in the Workplace, further strengthening her commitment to fostering psychologically safe and supportive work environments.

Katelyn has taken her advocacy beyond the workplace, attending rallies in Ottawa and meeting directly with Members of Parliament to speak out against the privatization of health care. She is passionate about protecting publicly funded health care and believes in standing up for those who cannot always advocate for themselves.

A strong voice for young workers, Katelyn is committed to fostering leadership, inclusion, and empowerment in the workplace. She believes that mental health, worker solidarity, and meaningful advocacy are deeply connected. Through her work, she continues to champion safe workplaces, accessible mental health care, and the importance of ensuring every worker has a voice at the table.

I am proud to seek re-election to the OPSEU/SEFPO Provincial Francophone Committee. Representing francophone members in our union is both a responsibility and a commitment that I have taken seriously throughout my tenure. As a Correctional Officer at Local 234 I have been a strong union advocate, both as a steward as well as Local treasurer.

As a proud Franco-Ontarian, I have experienced the challenges faced by francophones in our province firsthand. More than twenty years ago, I moved from a largely bilingual region to a predominantly anglophone community. Over time, being surrounded almost entirely by English made it harder to maintain my language and cultural connections.

Without clear avenues for support or engagement, I gradually felt a growing distance from my francophone identity. Through our OPSEU/SEFPO francophone community, I was able to reconnect with my roots and re-embrace my language and culture. This journey has reaffirmed for me the importance of creating spaces where francophone members can connect, participate fully, and feel supported within our union.

When I first joined the committee, OPSEU/SEFPO was a bilingual union largely in name only. While our union demonstrated a strong commitment to equity and inclusion, francophone members often faced barriers to full participation, including limited French-language communications and resources, a lack of educational opportunities offered in French, and insufficient engagement with francophone members across the union.

Since that time, our committee has worked collaboratively to change that reality. Together, we have pushed to expand French-language communications, strengthen translation practices, and ensure that francophone members can access union information and participate in union life in the language of their choice. We have also increased outreach and engagement with francophone members and locals, helping ensure their voices are heard in the broader work of our union.

These efforts have begun to make a real difference. Francophone members are more visible, more engaged, and better supported within OPSEU/SEFPO. While there is still work to do, we have laid important groundwork to move our union from symbolic bilingualism toward meaningful inclusion.

If re-elected, I will continue working to strengthen the presence and participation of francophone members in every part of our union. I will work to secure further expansion in translation services being made available to our francophone members and expand educational opportunities in French for all our members. Our goal remains clear: a union where francophones are not only recognized, but fully included, empowered, and represented.

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Educator by training and vocation, I bring over 20 years of experience in teaching and international consulting in sciences and languages. Currently working within the school system, I stay closely connected to the realities on the ground faced by workers every day.

As a Francophone Black woman in Ontario, I bring a lived understanding of gender, racial, and minority-language barriers—not as theory, but as daily reality. This intersectional lens shapes how I advocate: practical, measurable, and focused on dignity at work.

My experience as an entrepreneur and mentor has strengthened key leadership skills directly transferable to union work:
mobilization, inclusive communication, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic problem-solving.

I am actively engaged in union processes (Steward, GMMs, Racialized Workers Convention, policy and bylaw training) and understand how to move issues from member concern to concrete action.

I am committed to ensuring that women’s realities—across all contexts—translate into real improvements inside the union and in the workplace: safety, workload, equity, and accountability.

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Kaylee Heath is a Registered Nurse and Local Secretary at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care (local 329) and has proudly been an OPSEU/SEFPO member since 2012.

As the outgoing Young Worker Equity Executive Board Member and former Region 3 Young Worker Committee representative, seeking election as a Region 3 Board Member is a natural progression in her union journey.

Kaylee’s experience as an Equity Executive Board Member has given her a unique province-wide perspective and strong relationships across regions and equity committees. These relationships are built on collaboration and action. She believes in delivering results, not roadblocks.

Known for showing up and standing firm, Kaylee brings a tenacious, solutions-focused approach to her work. She is committed to building a cohesive Region 3 Board team rooted in solidarity, transparency, and accountability.

As a Cohort 11 Labour College graduate, Kaylee has cultivated a strong network of labour allies across Ontario and within OPSEU/SEFPO’s broader labour movement. These connections can be used to strengthen Region 3 and amplify members’ voices.

Thank you,

Kaylee Heath (she/her/elle)

Dear Region 3 friends,

I hope you and your families are doing as well as possible during what continues to be a very demanding time.

I’m writing to share that I am re-offering to represent Region 3 on the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board. If re-elected, I will also be humbly putting my name forward to run for President of OPSEU/SEFPO.

Before anything else, I want to speak honestly about where many of us are right now. The affordability crisis is real and relentless. Housing, groceries, fuel, and basic necessities are taking a bigger bite out of every paycheque, and that pressure follows people home after long days at work. And still — you show up. You show up for your co-workers, your locals, and your communities. I see that, and I don’t take it for granted.

When I first began this journey 15 years ago, I didn’t come in with all the answers. What I did bring was a deep belief in fairness, a willingness to listen, and a commitment to stand up when workers were being treated unjustly. Over the years, this role — and all of you — have shaped me. I’ve learned how important it is to listen before speaking, to lead with integrity, and to stay grounded in the real, lived experiences of members.

I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room — it’s about being present, accountable, and steady, especially when things are hard. I’ve grown through difficult moments, through disagreement, and through times when the work felt heavy. Those experiences have made me a stronger advocate and a more thoughtful leader.

Public services matter deeply to me because they matter to you. In education, health care, social services, developmental services, the LCBO, and the Ontario Public Service, OPSEU/SEFPO members continue to defend work that keeps communities functioning — often under intense pressure and scrutiny. I am proud to stand alongside you in that fight.

I have always believed that the gains we make are only possible through collective action. Over the years, I have worked to bring transparency, honesty, and consistency to this role, even when conversations were uncomfortable. I have never lost sight of who I am accountable to — the members of Region 3.

I am re-offering because I still believe in what we can achieve together. Workers deserve wages that keep pace with the cost of living, secure jobs, strong benefits and pensions, and workplaces that are free from harassment and discrimination. Just as importantly, we deserve a union culture rooted in respect, unity, and care for one another.

After 15 years of serving this region, I am proud of the leader I’ve become — not because I’ve done it alone, but because I’ve learned from you every step of the way. I am ready to help lead our region, and our union, into its next chapter.

It would be an honour to continue representing you. This April, I once again ask for your support.

Please join me in a townhall on Wednesday, March 11th at 7 pm:

Time: Mar 11, 2026 07:00 PM America/Toronto
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When the union said nothing about the province closing the Ontario Fire College, I worked with members and communities across the province, and we forced the issue into the provincial spotlight. I cofounded the Muskoka Power of Many, a community‑labour network that brought together unions and local groups to share tools, build leadership, and turn everyday frustrations into collective action on a range of issues from paid sick days to land back. As chair of the Orillia Area Council, I’ve long believed that area councils should be where locals set direction and hold Board members accountable between elections. This campaign is about making that real.

Commitments:

• Member‑driven priorities: Create regular regional meetings where locals set direction for the Region.
• Real transparency: Information can’t be left to die in silos; we report back in plain language on the range of debate and what decisions mean for our region.
• Organizing, not just servicing: Refine servicing, but build out our organizing so employers feel pressure beyond paperwork.
• Equity and precarity as strategy: Treat equity and precarity not as side issues, but as core to organizing the members who are hit hardest.
• Make politics ours: Connect our issues to the decades of government austerity and privatization and start playing the long game.

Too many members experience the union as a distant service provider rather than as a vehicle for our own power. Information gets stuck at the top or is lost in our busy lives. Decisions feel remote and irrelevant. The politics that shape our lives are seen as “distractions.” I’m running to change that. I want members to set priorities, shape the politics of our province, and feel their union backing them where it counts.

The crisis we’re facing was built by deliberate choices, from underfunding services to privatization. Better choices can undo it. I’m asking for your support so we can use the structures we already have to build real power, not just manage decline.

In solidarity,

Chris McConnell
Local 317
[email protected]

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I am a proud 20+ year OPSEU/SEFPO member and I have spent much of that time actively supporting workers and strengthening solidarity in Region 3 and beyond.

I work as a paramedic, a profession rooted in service, teamwork, and advocacy. Those same principles guide my work within our union – listening to members, offering support, and ensuring those I’m responsible for have strong representation when it matters most.

Early in my union journey, I stepped forward during a challenging time in my workplace when members were divided and engagement was low. By working alongside coworkers to rebuild trust and encourage participation, we strengthened our local and created a more engaged membership. That experience reinforced my belief that strong unions are built through grassroots leadership and active member involvement.

Over the years, I have developed a strong working knowledge of union policy, procedures, and the OPSEU/SEFPO Constitution. This experience has allowed me to assist members and local leaders in

navigating complex issues and advocating effectively within our union. Because of this, many members across Region 3 know they can rely on me as a trusted and dependable resource when they need guidance, information, or support.

During my time on the Executive Board, I have worked to remain present, accessible, and responsive to Region 3 locals – attending events, supporting activists, and ensuring our region’s perspectives and priorities are represented in union leadership discussions. I have also demonstrated collegiality and effectiveness in my work with other members of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Executive Board.

Region 3 members have a strong reputation for demonstrating solidarity, activism, and leadership. I am proud to represent a region with such dedicated activists and engaged members, and I remain committed to supporting the locals and leaders who make Region 3 strong.

I live in Region 3 with my wife, Amanda, and our two children, Liam and Lawsyn. My family continues to inspire my commitment to advocating for workers and building a stronger future for working people.

It would be an honour to once again receive your support and continue serving as one of your Region 3 Executive Board Members.

In solidarity,

Joel Usher

I’m a CSR at the LCBO with 10 years of service, a steward for 5 years, Chair of Local 377’s Youth Committee, and I was honoured to accept the 2025 OPSEU/SEFPO Young Worker of the Year Award.

Over the past term, I’ve participated in educationals, conventions, conferences, rallies, store tours, and Young Workers Conferences, and helped organize the most recent Provincial Young Workers Conference as well as the Provincial Young Workers Mentorship Program.

With your continued support, my goal is to strengthen youth engagement in Region 3, create opportunities to connect, and ensure young workers voices remain strong.

I’m so excited to see you at Regionals and thank you for your support. If you have any questions do not hesitate to DM or email me. Together, we can keep making positive change.

In Solidarity,

Bri Boyd 🌸

Stacey Foster is proud to stand for the OPSEU/SEFPO Provincial Women’s Committee representing Region 3. She is a committed union activist who believes that strong unions are built when women’s voices are heard, respected, and empowered.

Stacey shows up for members. She believes in solidarity, lifting others up, and ensuring that women across Region 3 feel confident to take space, speak out, and step into leadership within our union.

She knows that equity work is not just about attending events — it is about supporting members, challenging barriers, and building stronger, more inclusive workplaces.

Stacey believes that the work of the Women’s Committee must always remain member-driven, grounded in the real experiences of workers and focused on creating meaningful change.

If elected, Stacey will work to ensure the Provincial Women’s Committee continues to be a strong voice for women, equity, and social justice within OPSEU/SEFPO.

Strong voices. Strong women. Strong union

Kris currently serves as 1st Vice President of Local 304 and the Region 3 Representative and Secretary on the OPSEU/SEFPO Provincial Human Rights Committee. Known for working tirelessly and always showing up for members, Kris is committed to ensuring that human rights remain a core pillar of our union.

Throughout their union work, Kris has focused on education, empowerment, and solidarity. They helped introduce and strengthen collaboration between OPSEU/SEFPO and the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, bringing new learning opportunities and human rights education to members.

Kris believes Region 3 is strongest when it is grounded in solidarity and driven by members, not titles or positions. Human rights work must be active, visible, and connected to the real experiences of workers in our workplaces and communities.

If re-elected to the Provincial Human Rights Committee, Kris will continue to:

• Work tirelessly and show up for members
• Expand human rights education and awareness
• Strengthen collaboration with equity committees
• Ensure Region 3 voices are heard provincially
• Keep our union grounded in solidarity and member-driven action

Because human rights are union rights, and when members lead, our union is stronger. Our Voices Matter. Our Rights Matter. Our Vote Matters.

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My name is Veronica Attard (V), and I am a proud union leader and dedicated advocate for Region 4.I live & work on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin and Anishinaabe Territory.

I bring a diverse background with 22 years in the Education sector and 15 years in Long-Term Care. Over the years, I’ve worked as a casual, seasonal, temp, part-time, and full-time employee. I’ve been an OPSEU/SEFPO member for 15 years and was previously a CUPE member.

My Experience

Throughout my time in the labour movement,

I have firsthand experience standing up to a hostile employer and defending members— such as large-scale layoffs and the 2025 CAAT-S full-time bargaining and 5-week province wide strike.

Since 2022, I have proudly represented all sectors at the Board. My approach is simple: members first, politics second. I am continuously learning the different components of OPSEU/SEFPO to help me better represent members at board. I regularly consult with sector leaders on proposals, resolutions and collaborate with fellow EBMs on Educationals and regional events.

My Four Key Beliefs

1. Transparency and Accountability

This role exists to serve the Region and the membership. I am accountable for my actions. I believe in speaking up on important issues. I stay rooted in OPSEU’s core values: being member-driven and treating everyone with dignity and respect.

2. Local Autonomy

No one knows their workplace better than the workers who work there. My job is to listen and help members get what they need.

3. Mentorship

Our movement depends on the next generation of activists. I believe in empowering members with the knowledge they need and creating new leaders.

4. Organizing

An informed and organized membership is an engaged one. I’ve seen the power of member driven bargaining and deep organizing. While every sector is different, strong organizing is essential to fighting apathy and the employer divide-and-conquer tactics.

If re-elected to the OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board, I remain committed to working hard, staying connected to Region 4, and ensuring your voices guide my decisions.

Vote for V. Vote for your voice at the Board.

Erica comes from a proud union family. Her father was a letter carrier with Canada Post and was on strike in 1981 when postal workers won 17 weeks of maternity leave. Her mother served as a steward and bargaining team member for Kingston Fire and Rescue. These early examples of solidarity and collective action helped shape Erica’s strong belief in the power of unions to improve workers’ lives.

When Erica began her career more than 30 years ago as a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) at Kingston Health Sciences Centre, it was no surprise that she quickly became involved in her union. She started as a steward and has since served her local in many leadership roles, including Treasurer, Chief Steward, Vice-President, and for the past five years, President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 4106. Erica has also served on the local bargaining team through numerous rounds of negotiations, advocating strongly for members’ rights, fair contracts, and safe workplaces while working to engage and mobilize members around the issues that matter most to them.

Beyond her local, Erica is actively involved in the broader OPSEU/SEFPO. She currently serves as a Regional Organizer for Hospital Professionals Division (Sector 10) on the Divisional Executive and as Secretary for the Kingston Area Council. She has also attended many rallies and strike lines in support of locals and sectors because she recognizes that OPSEU/SEFPO is one union and that solidarity across all sectors is one of its greatest strengths.

Over the years, Erica has taken part in numerous educational opportunities offered by OPSEU/SEFPO, including courses in arbitration, mental health in the workplace, and other areas related to member representation. These experiences have strengthened her ability to educate, support, and empower members while advocating effectively in grievances, return-to-work discussions, and disciplinary meetings.

A fierce advocate for the members of Local 4106, Erica is committed to bringing that same dedication, experience, and strong voice to members across Region 4 and throughout OPSEU/SEFPO as an Executive Board Member—working to engage, mobilize, educate and empower members to build an even stronger union.

• email: [email protected]
• cell: 289-685-6964
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About me:

My name is Mateo Dorado-Troughton. I’m an organizer, a geologist in the OPS, and a fierce advocate for workers and the importance of our public services.

I’ve been an OPSEU/SEFPO member since 2018 and after connecting with Region 4 while attending the Provincial Young Workers Conference in 2021, I’ve jumped headfirst into our union. Members need mentorship to ease into our structures, and I’ll always be thankful for mine.

My experience:

I’ve represented and organized with members as an OPS Unified mobilizer during negotiations, as vice‑president of a composite local, and through member‑led initiatives like the Organizer’s Book Club, which brings workers together to deepen our understanding of union issues and come up with creative solutions and actions.

My vision:

Unify

Connect issues from across divisions and sectors to our shared struggle: protecting our public services and improving material conditions for all workers.

Lead

Govern from principle, not pragmatism – guided by democracy, equity, justice, and organizing principles. Respect member time & dues by being prepared for board meetings. Collaborate with other officers for a productive and functional board.

Uplift

Advocate for seasonal, precarious, low income, and marginalized members. Lower barriers for participation, and provide on-ramps for member involvement. Broaden understanding and context of our union’s structure, constitution, policies and procedures.

Grow

Learn and share member, local, sectoral, divisional, and regional issues. Strengthen ties between the region, area councils, and locals. Act as a conduit for information to and from the executive board, empowering members and the region.

My commitment:

Our regional representation is ready for a fresh face. If elected to OPSEU/SEFPO’s Executive Board, I will learn from our members and put in the hard work that is needed to adequately represent our region; I will keep equity central in my decisions and actions; I will utilize organizing principles to support members and campaigns; and I will uphold our constitution, policies and procedures to deepen our union’s democracy.

It’s time to try something new – Vote Mateo 4 EBM!

Our public services are under attack in Ontario. No matter where we look, the playbook is the same: under-fund, under-resource, and privatize. Our members are facing burnout, precarity and job loss, and worsening conditions.

Workers’ rights are weakened when we are isolated from one another. When we are siloed into our own sectors or our own locals, unaware of what our fellow members are facing. We are easy to under-pay, undermine, and exploit. It’s obvious that Doug Ford’s aim is to wring every single worker dry-and that makes our fight political.

Employers are afraid when they see us come together-and with good reason. When we come together as a community to defend one another, when we act in solidarity, when we build our common cause, we win. I have experienced the power of community care and solidarity! This inspired me to want to give back, and to make sure that support exists for others when they need it.

No worker is our enemy. Every one of us has more in common, and so more to give one another, than what we are taught to believe. Leaders need to set an example. To clear the path and empower others. We build our movement by amplifying the voices of members who are under-represented and silenced. By building a bigger tent, and inviting people in. By encouraging healthy dissent and still coming together when it matters. By fighting the employer instead of fighting among ourselves.

It’s these values that have led me to add my name to the impressive list of labour leaders and activists seeking to represent Region 4 on the OPSEU SEFPO Executive Board. I believe in an executive board that looks to the future for what can be, instead of dragging us back. I believe in a labour movement that is brave and fiercely compassionate. And I believe in a union that fights to win-not just the battles at the bargaining table, but the war on public services.

If you believe the same, I ask for your support. Vote for me as one of your Region 4 Executive Board Members.

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 613-218-7323
• Instagram: melissa.4.a.better.opseusefpo
• Facebook: Melissa Shaw
• Website: Betteropseu.ca

I am excited to announce I am running for re- election to OPSEU/ SEFPO’ s executive board. The last 4 years have been an exciting challenge and an honour to represent the members of region 4 .

I have had the opportunity to sit with members, listen to members and support members and locals in the region.

I am seeking your support to continue this advocacy for ALL members, sectors, divisions & equity groups in region 4.

Regionally we have made many improvements, but Better is Possible! I have Supported locals through mergers, separations and PSLERTAs. I have stood shoulder to shoulder with many of you at rallies and strike lines, because your fight is my fight.

We still have a lot of work to do and I look forward to hearing from you on how we can better the future of OPSEU/ SEFPO Region 4 together.

After 15 years of working in the Construction and Services Sector, I knew I had to make a change.

I proudly work in the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) as an operator, and I bring nearly 19 years of active union leadership within OPSEU/SEFPO.

Proven Leadership

Vice-Chair, OPS Unified Central Employee Relations Committee (CERC) Chair, OCWA Ministry Employee Relations Committee (11 years) Former Local President

Chair, Joint Health & Safety Committee (15+ years)

Certified Trainer for the Workers Health and Safety Center (11) years Trainer for OPSEU/SEFPO – MERC/LERC and Educationals

OPS Bargaining Mobilizer (2015) – Part of the “Flying Squad” following a 98% strike mandate OPS Bargaining Team Member (2021) during the unconstitutional Bill 124

A Leader Who Shows Up

I have experience in both the private and public sectors, and I fully understand the diverse needs of our membership. I listen and hear our members.

I believe leadership means being accessible and I’m only a phone call away when members need support.

My Commitment to You

If elected, I will:

✔ Build stronger solidarity across Region 5

✔ Strengthen transparency between members and the Executive Board

✔ Ensure accountability at every level

✔ Break down barriers and bring members’ voices forward Strong representation. Real accountability. United membership.

Vote Chris Eckert – Region 5 Executive Board

JP believes that powerful unions are built from the ground up. They don’t rely on insiders or hierarchy; they rely on everyday members coming together to take collective action.

JP’s leadership is grounded in a core belief: No other worker is our enemy.

• Differences make us stronger — organizing around shared interests builds real power
• Workers gain when we stand together; the boss gains when we’re divided
• Accountability and transparency create stability – and the resources and power needed to win.
• Building a strong union means building an inclusive union: one where equity is valued.

JP focuses on building bargaining readiness, cross-sector solidarity, and member-led decision-making. They are a working President — present in bargaining rooms, on picket lines, and in training sessions – always prioritizing member needs over personal power.

Connect with JP / Connectez-vous avec JP:

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It is with great honour and pride that I am re-offering for the seat of Region 5 Regional Vice-President.

A dedicated advocate for strong governance, transparency, and member engagement in Region 5. With extensive experience in organizational leadership and community service, I have worked consistently to ensure members’ voices are heard and represented at every level.

During my time serving in Region 5, I have focused on improving communication between leadership and members, while strengthening and supporting initiatives that advance fairness and democracy within the region.

I believe that education, awareness and accountability are key to building stronger, more equitable work places and communities.

I bring a thoughtful, solutions-focused approach to leadership and believe that effective representation means listening carefully, addressing concerns respectfully, and working constructively to move the region forward.

If re-elected as Region 5 Regional Vice President, I will continue to advocate for transparency, responsible governance, and meaningful education for the members that I serve.

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Ram Selvarajah is a veteran labour activist and public service professional with over 25 years of experience in the Ontario Public Service (OPS). He currently serves as a Senior Systems Analyst with the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and holds significant leadership roles within the labour movement and financial governance sectors.

Labour Leadership and Advocacy

Throughout his career, Ram has been deeply involved w0ith OPSEU/SEFPO, serving in various capacities from Chief Steward to Local President (Local 524). He is currently a representative for Region 5 on the OPS Unified Bargaining Team. Beyond his local, he serves as the President of the Peel Regional Labour Council, where he focuses on building coalitions and strengthening worker solidarity across diverse sectors.

His advocacy is rooted in human rights and equity. He is a member of the Tamil Workers Network Steering Committee and has been a vocal supporter of social justice initiatives, including championing inclusion for marginalized communities and supporting nonunionized workers.

Governance and Financial Expertise

Ram brings a high level of technical and strategic expertise to his roles. He is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees for OPTrust, one of Canada’s largest pension plans, where he also chairs the Investment Committee. His background in governance is supported by an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, a BA in Political Science, and a Diploma in Accounting. He holds several designations in the I&IT Sector in addition to being a licensed Paralegal by the Law Society of Ontario

His campaign for leadership within OPSEU/SEFPO emphasizes:

• Strategic Governance: Moving toward long-term planning and data-driven “health dashboards” for union locals.
• Coalition Building: Uniting different sectors to build collective power rather than reacting to crises individually.
• Financial Integrity: Leveraging his professional background to ensure union dues are used effectively for the membership.

Community Involvement

Active in the broader community, Ram serves on the Board of Trustees for United Way Greater Toronto. His personal journey—born in Sri Lanka, raised in Nigeria, and moving to Canada—informs his perspective on policy and human rights. He is known for his “open-door” approach to leadership, often inviting direct communication from union members and community partners to better understand and solve the problems they face on the ground.

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In that time she has had the opportunity to work with activists across the various sectors within OPSEU/SEFPO, learning about precarity, workplace health and safety, privatization, austerity, inequities in the workplace and beyond. Most importantly she knows that we have more in common as working people, and, together as working people we have power.

She has led in a variety of positions including Chair of the Provincial Women’s Committee, International Women’s Day Toronto Organizing Committee Member, Local President, Bargaining Team Chair, President of the Greater Toronto Area Council, and Executive Board Member for Region 5.

Her activism is focused on bringing people together to create better workplaces, better governments, and a better world. In building solidarity, we build community, while generating spaces and sources of joy in making change together.

She began this work by ensuring that members have many opportunities to actively engage with each other and social justice movements, by offering education, formal and informal spaces, and mentorships. She plans to further expand spaces for connection and mobilization.

For members to fully participate, these spaces must be transparent, free of violence of all kinds, free of oppression, and equitable. She will continue to fight for safe spaces within our union.

Working people have the power to create a better world, but we only build solidarity if we cross boundaries and barriers. Building on the work she has done in forging connections to social movements and the broader Labour movement, she, along with her comrades, will fight for a better future for working people.

Butterfly Sabrina GoPaul is a mother, grandmother, organizer, frontline worker, and resident member of Jane Finch Action Against Poverty (JFAAP). Formed in 2008, JFAAP is the longest-standing political grassroots action resistance in the Jane-Finch community. JFAAP’s members are community residents, from babies to elders, community workers, educators, artists and art movements, activists, allies from different organizations, and union members in the area, across the city and province. The backbone, heartbeat, and visionaries of JFAAP are the fire women— the aunties, the elders, the travellers of lands, the oral storytellers and warriors, primarily Black, Brown, and other racialized community members from all over the Global South.

Currently, Butterfly works at Parkdale Community Legal Services [PCLS] in the role of a community legal worker on the Social Assistance (income security) Anti-Violence and Health team for the past four years, after leaving her position of more than 14 years at Black Creek Community Health Centre (BCCHC) in the role of a community health worker. During her time at the BCCHC, she was a leading member connecting grassroots organizing to OPSEU/SEFPO Region 5, received the Human Rights & Equity Award in 2015 and, more recently, in 2023 as a member of the R5 Coalition of Racialized Workers (CoRW). She also won the Mayworks—Min Sook Lee—Labour Activist Award in 2013. Butterfly has been committed to community, labour, activism and advocating for the most marginalized communities in her professional work and grassroots organizing for over two decades.

Butterfly had been a member of OPSEU/SEFPO for nearly ten years before becoming more active in the union. For a long time, she wasn’t sure where she fit in—how her work connected to the broader union, or how her politics aligned. But after finding a space with a few people and organizers who shared her values, she found her place in the CoRW. Since 2018, she challenged and held to account the previous leadership of the union, collaborated to transition from a coalition to a committee, supported in developing the terms of reference that led to developing a process for the first election summit and Equity Executive Board Member seats, all while providing resources to enhance Jane-Finch movements.

Butterfly’s lived experience allows her to authentically connect with people to advocate for issues related to children/youth, women, access to education/employment, workers’ rights, food and the food system, policing/community safety, housing, immigration and migration, and social justice, collaborating with artists and arts movements. Butterfly has a degree in Journalism, Print & Broadcast from Humber College. She was a former host for CHRY 105.5FM News Now. She is a natural storyteller, passionate about using the arts to display struggle and resistance.

She is the mother of two Suns—one 30 and one thirteen—and the grandmother of five: her twelve‑year‑old, three‑year‑old, and six‑month‑old granddaughters, and her six‑year‑old and almost two‑year‑old grandsons. Her commitment as a Mother and organizer, wanting a better state of education for her community, motivated her to run for school board Trustee in 2014 & 2018 in Toronto. She voices passionate viewpoints about the experiences shared by the community and her vision for a stronger, more organized and mobilized Jane Finch community, the city of Toronto and the union.

My name is Zen, and I have been a proud OPSEU/SEFPO member working at the LCBO for over a decade. Throughout my time in the workplace and the union, I’ve developed a strong passion for member engagement, education, and ensuring workers understand their rights and the power of collective action.

When I first started as a young worker in a workplace with mostly older employees, I quickly experienced how easy it can be for young workers to be taken advantage of and being pushed to work hard and take on more tasks than others. I was often expected to take on more physical work and responsibilities because I was told “you’re young, you can handle it.” I was pushed very hard in those early years, and it eventually led to a workplace injury. At the time, I didn’t fully understand my rights or how to speak up for myself.

That experience shaped how I see the labour movement today. Education is key for young workers so they understand their rights, protect themselves in the workplace, and ensure they are not taken advantage of.

Since then, I’ve become actively involved in the union by completing Steward Level 1 and Level 2 training, as well as anti-racism equity, and numerous other courses. I’ve also had the opportunity to represent members and speak at union events, including delivering a speech in front of over 200 members at the Racialized Workers Conference after being elected as an alternate representative for this region.

I believe it is critical to get young workers involved and interested in the union early in their careers, especially during times when there is so much division and hate in society. Our union should be a place where workers come together in solidarity, support one another, and learn the importance of standing up collectively.

My goal as Young Workers Representative for Region 5 is to help connect young workers to the union, ensure new members understand their rights from the beginning, and create spaces where young workers feel heard, supported, and empowered.

Young workers are the future of our union. When we invest in educating and engaging them, we strengthen our entire movement.

Caitlyn Smith (she/her/elle) is a Youth Career Counsellor and a proud OPSEU/SEFPO activist from Local 512. In both her professional career and her activist career, Caitlyn sees first-hand the frustrations and disadvantages that many young workers face on a day to day basis.

Caitlyn was a recent participant of the Young Worker Mentorship Project for 2025/2026 and the project allowed her the opportunity to further connect with Young Workers within OPSEU/SEFPO to see what challenges they’re experiencing in their workplaces. Through her project, Caitlyn has been able to raise Young Worker participation for Region 5 Educationals, connect Young Workers with mentors, and act as a resource for Young Workers interested in becoming stronger activists.

In her workplace, Caitlyn represents and supports her members as a Unit Steward, Chair of the JHSC, and the Chair of her Bargaining Team. She is currently mentoring 2 Stewards who will eventually take over these roles, when they feel ready. Caitlyn is also supporting Sector 5 as a DivEx member to also bring forward concerns and ideas from Young Workers to build on the continued success of the sector.

Caitlyn’s moto for an OPSEU/SEFPO elected role is; “One elected; learn the role, grow the role, and then mentor the next person so they can also succeed in the role. We’re a membership driven Union, we only succeed when many voices are heard”.

TJ works full-time at Centennial College and has served on her Local Executive as Communications Secretary since 2014. She is passionate about engaging with and giving back to the community through her outreach work across Toronto and Durham.

She currently serves as the Human Rights Chair and delegate to the Greater Toronto Area Council, is a member of the Coalition of Racialized Workers, a facilitator for OPSEU’s Dismantling Systemic Racism program, a member of the Social Mapping Committee, and a delegate to the Toronto & York Region Labour Council.

During her time as Region 5 Human Rights Representative, TJ helped implement the Human Rights Conference, which explored human trafficking through discussions with survivors and special constables from the Ottawa region. She has completed the John Humphrey Human Rights training and is now a certified facilitator for this program.

TJ is a lifelong learner who regularly attends the Canadian Labour College Summer School and participates in union educationals as both a learner and facilitator within Region 5. She also frequently engages in labour movement webinars and union education opportunities.

She actively collaborates with other equity groups including the Coalition of Racialized Workers, Rainbow Alliance, and the Provincial Women’s Committee. Her activism continues on the front lines, where she has supported actions with the LCBO workers, postal workers, the College strike, and various rallies across the city. She has also attended the Indigenous Conference to deepen her understanding and awareness of Indigenous communities.

TJ’s goal is to continue advancing inclusive leadership while working to dismantle systemic barriers.

• 705-698-7489
• [email protected]

Dan has been a member of the executive since 2006 at Local 672, representing local members in the following capacities: Chief Steward, Treasurer, Vice-President and now as President for over 9 years and in his 5th term. He has sat on several provincial committees for our CAAT Support Staff Division, Chair of the CAA, member of the CREE, Vice-Chair of the Division Executive and on our 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2025 bargaining teams.

Most notably, he was elected to the OPSEU/SEFPO Board of Directors as a Francophone equity member in 2024. Currently enrolled in Labour College of Canada Co hort 15

With Collège Boréal since August 1995, he has served in many capacities such as Administrative Assistant to the Collège Boréal Foundation, Employment Consultant in several sites such as Elliot Lake/Blind River, Nippising, Chelmsford/Val Caron and now at 1560 LaSalle since 2010. He is on the Board of Directors of Collège Boréal and the Fondation du Collège Boréal as a support representative.

He has been an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces since 1998, attaining the rank of Major and working with the Army, Navy and Air Cadet programs. He has since retired in early Feb 2026. He has served on the Board of Directors for St John Ambulance since 2022.

He enjoys traveling and spending time with his nephews (3) and nieces (6) and 2 great nephews. He enjoys spending time at his camp in Nipissing.

Dan Brisson, CD
President of Local 672
Full-time and part-time support staff

Region 6 union family, and Friends,

My name is Mandi McNeil, and I am proud to be seeking re-election as your OPSEU/SEFPO Region 6 Executive Board Member. During my time in this role, I have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our Region and our members. I always show up and make sure the support our members need is provided to the best of my ability. One thing that has always remained clear to me is my goal to represent our region and the amazing people who live and work across Region 6.

When I was elected to this role almost two years ago, I began travelling across our vast region to ensure presence, to connect with members, and to ensure that I was fulfilling and upholding the commitment I made to the members of Region 6.  I committed to members that I would do the work with them and for them and I believe I have done just that. I put my heart and soul into everything I do in my family, my union, and my work. I will continue to do this for all of you if given the opportunity!

My key priorities continue to be Member education, Member engagement, and Strengthening Community Partnerships. With my years of experience within OPSEU SEFPO holding various leadership roles, I have a deep understanding of the needs of our members and the challenges we face ahead.

I believe that our union is strongest when we are supporting, protecting, empowering one another, and ensuring every member has a voice at the table. Region 6 members have unique needs, differences, and challenges that deserve to be seen, heard, and recognized.  As a Region when we stand together, we are strong, we are unstoppable, “WE ARE THE NORTH”.

I remain committed to continuing the work, with honestly, integrity, transparency, trust, and upholding the oath of office. If re-elected, I will keep putting members first, ensure members voices help shape our union and regional vision, continue to remove barriers, support equity, expand education and engagement, and strengthen our connections with community partners, Let’s continue the fight together to build a strong, more inclusive OPSEU/ SEFPO.

It has been an honour to serve the members of Region 6, and I would be extremely grateful to earn your vote and your trust for another term as your Region 6 Executive Board Member.

On March 21, 2026, vote to re-elect Mandi McNeil!!

I’m Jamie Tynan-Byrd-Owen — a proud member of OPSEU/SEFPO, and a committed union activist who believes our strength comes from informed, engaged members.

As a three-term President of a composite local, I represent members from a variety of workplaces across multiple sectors of the Broader Public Service and multiple ministries of the Ontario Public Service – both Unified and Corrections. That experience has given me a deep understanding of the diverse realities our members face across our union.

I don’t see leadership through the lens of one division — I see it through the lens of the entire region.

Through OPSEU/SEFPO’s Membership Development Trainee program, I worked as a Staff Representative supporting locals through all stages on the bargaining cycle and supported members through workplace investigations, grievances, and Trustee Audit Report submissions. I’ve seen firsthand how critical clear communication and strong representation are when members need support most.

If elected, I commit to:

• Open, consistent communication — members should never be left in the dark.
• True transparency — decisions and discussions at the Board level must be shared back with the region.
• Accountable leadership — leadership must answer to members, not the other way around.
• Representation for everyone — not just one division, not just one sector — but all of Region 6.

Our union works best when members are informed, leadership is transparent, and trust is earned. I am ready to serve Region 6 with integrity — and to ensure every member has a voice at the table.

Hi! For those of you I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, I’m Linsey Patterson, and I’m running to be your next Human Right Committee Rep for Region 6.

Human Rights must be universal, and the preservation of those rights are paramount. We live in a time where our rights are being called into question within our workplaces, our communities, and by our provincial administration. We deserve more stability. We are entitled to the security of knowing that our implicit rights to exist, express ourselves, take care of ourselves, and hold space wherever we are, be respected beyond doubt. We deserve committee members who are motivated to uphold those standards, promote equitable progress, and stand strong in the face of headwinds caused by the rapidly changing political climate.

As your Human Rights Committee Representative, I pledge to show up, to learn, to listen to the communities I represent, and to educate the members of Region 6, to truly represent to the needs of the North. I pledge to forge connections with our membership to truly understand the scope of our struggles and our strengths. I am motivated, eager, and hopeful that we can make the meaningful changes that we deserve, in order to progress the movement, and strengthen the union for future workers.

A bit about myself, I am a soon-to-be 30 year old LBED member. I have worked for the LCBO for the past seven years. I have recently become the proud President of Local 602. I am a proud citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, I live with ADHD, je suis une femme Francophone, I am a member of the LGBTQQIA2S+ community, a young worker, and a woman. These lived experiences give me intersectional perspectives on issues that affect a range of equity groups. I am an artist who enjoys a range of hobbies including painting, sewing, crafting, and writing. I am very social and truly enjoy meeting people.

I believe I am a great choice for your next Human Rights Committee Representative because I am one of you. I know what it means to be a Northerner. I understand what it’s like to navigate our communities, what our needs are and how our local politics intertwine in our lives. I understand the geographical constraints, the literal climate and the physical barriers that we have to navigate in our day-to-day lives. I understand the closeness of our communities, and the ripple effect that one small change can have on those communities.

Thank you for the support and the chance to make a difference!

I am reachable via email at [email protected] as well as on Facebook

I am proud to stand for re-election as Executive Board Member for Region 7 with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union / SEFPO, thank you to my nominator. Throughout my time in leadership, I have remained committed to one core principle: members must always come first. Whether advocating at the Executive Board table or supporting locals across Northwestern Ontario, I work to ensure that the voices, concerns, and priorities of members guide the decisions we make as a union.

I strongly believe that an informed and engaged membership is the foundation of a strong union. That is why I have consistently supported member education and leadership development. When members have access to training, labour education, and opportunities to build their skills, they are empowered to participate in their locals, advocate for their coworkers, and strengthen our union from the ground up.

I also know that the strength of our union extends beyond our workplaces. Building community coalitions and strong relationships with labour and social justice allies helps amplify our voice and strengthens the work we do for members. I have been committed to building those relationships and ensuring that when workers speak, our communities stand with us.

Across Region 7, I have focused on building trust with our locals and community partners, listening to members, supporting local leadership, and fostering solidarity throughout Northwestern Ontario. If re-elected, I will continue to represent Region 7 with integrity, transparency, and a steadfast commitment to putting members first. #UnionStrong #MembersFirst

I’m proud to stand for re-election as Executive Board Member for Region 7 with OPSEU/SEFPO. Thank you to my nominator and to the members who continue to place their trust in me.

Serving Region 7 has been an honour. Throughout my term, I’ve worked to stay connected with locals across Northwestern Ontario—listening to members, supporting local leaders, and helping ensure your voices are heard at the Executive Board.

I believe a strong union is built by informed and engaged members. Supporting education, leadership development, and opportunities for members to get involved helps strengthen our union and our region.

If re-elected, I will continue to represent Region 7 with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to putting members first.

• Email – [email protected]
• Cell Phone – 807 628 4009
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/share/1GK3QA9HTw/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I have been a labour leader in Region 7 for thirteen years. I serve as a local president (since 2017) and I have been a CAAT-A Bargaining Team member for two demanding rounds. I am also a CAAT-A Divisional Executive Team member (two terms), and was a Provincial Workload Task Force member. Together, we made real real gains including a super majority strike mandate, substantive workload advances (the first since 1985) and groundbreaking equity provisions in our working conditions. My leadership experience illustrates the ability to build collaborative and strategic worker power on the ground that is inclusive in the most challenging of circumstances (through COVID and the International Student reforms to name a few).

For decades workers have been hit hard. In the North, this hit is even harder. The austerity and privatization agenda we’re facing is an attack on all workers and public services, affecting every OPSEU/SEFPO member in Region 7, across all sectors and divisions. Our workplaces are vastly different, and yet we are all feeling the same impact; many of us are at risk of losing employment, working several jobs to stay afloat and/or managing daily unacceptable working conditions. I see the role of an Executive Board Member as a chance to serve each and every one of our members within our Region to fight back against this attack on workers.

As a Region 7 Executive Board Member you would see me doing what I do – day in and out – and that includes;

• reaching out, collaborating and ensuring inclusion of all voices and perspectives in Region 7
• mentoring and building organic new leaders, while giving them a seat at the table
• strengthening the use of an equity lens in all OPSEU/SEFPO and Region 7 operations
• creating space for differences of opinion and challenging conversations, to come to stronger strategic action plans that demonstrates solidarity in action
• building inclusive worker power on the ground that demonstrates powerful collective action

Sometimes new voices are exactly the ones we need.

Rebecca Ward for Region 7 Executive Board Member 

Dana Bruno is a dedicated union activist within the Corrections Division of OPSEU/SEFPO and a proud member of Local 708. Dana currently serves as the Chair of the Provincial Young Workers Committee (PYC) and is seeking re-election to continue building on the important work the committee and its members have advanced over the years.

Dana has been an active member in Region 7 for several years and is proud to be standing for re-election. Throughout her time on the PYC, she has worked to strengthen engagement among young workers, promote education about the union and labour movement, and create opportunities for young members to become more involved in their locals and regions. Dana believes that young workers are not just the future of the union—they are an important part of its present.

Dana has organized and supported a wide range of member-focused initiatives, including a resolution-writing Zoom room, OPSEU 101 education sessions, a human trafficking awareness seminar, and many other learning and engagement opportunities. Education, accessibility, and advocacy remain at the core of her work.

A strong believer in succession planning, mentorship, and leadership development, Dana is committed to ensuring that young workers have the knowledge and confidence to step into leadership roles within the union. If re-elected, Dana is committed to mentoring her alternate and continuing to bring meaningful education and opportunities back to Region 7.

Dana is seeking another term to continue advancing the work done by PYC members throughout the years while building capacity, supporting members, and strengthening Region 7 through informed and engaged activism.

If you are interested in speaking with Dana, please feel free to reach out at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @dlbopseu.

• Listening to members.
• Supporting local leaders.
• Strengthening Region 7 together.