Rasho Donchev, C.Dir., chair

Local 559 – Centennial College
opseulocal559@gmail.com

A proud Centennial graduate, Rasho has been at the college for more than 20 years, working in a variety of positions, including physical security tech and his current position as a scheduling officer.

He has been an active union member within his local, as well as the CAAT-S FT Division, and has served on a number of committees over the last 15 years, including the Joint Classification Committee, the Employer Employee Relations Committee and the DivEx.

Rasho currently serves as the chair of the Board of Trustees at the CAAT Pension Plan and is president of his local.

His involvement with CAAT-S FT bargaining began in 2007, when he was elected as a bargaining team member for the first time, and has been on every bargaining team since.

Rasho considers it a privilege to serve as the bargaining team chair and is looking forward to engaging the colleges in a meaningful and progressive round of bargaining.

 

Christine Kelsey, vice-chair

Local 416 – Algonquin College
twochris@gmail.com

Christine has worked for Algonquin College for 15 years. She became a steward in Local 416 in 2011.

She works at the college’s Centre for Accessible Learning as an assistive technologist.

Before she became president six years ago, she was treasurer for four years. She is serving her third term on the executive of the Ottawa Labour Council, and she chairs itsHealth and Safety Committee.

Christine has been on the divisional executive for four years and was recently elected as chair. She is also vice-chair of the Joint Classification Committee. Christine was also the lead in her local for accommodations and return-to-work for five years.

Christine graduated from the Canadian Labour College program last year. In her spare time, she canoes and kayaks. Last summer she paddled the Rideau Waterway from Kingston to Ottawa. Christine also likes to hike, camp and snowshoe. Four years ago, Christine started riding motorcycles. When the weather is nice, you can find her on the back roads in the Ottawa Valley or in the woods somewhere in Ontario.

Christine is excited to be vice-chair of the bargaining team and is looking forward to working with College Support staff from all 24 colleges this summer.

 

Daniel (Dan) Brisson, CD1

Local 672 – Collège Boréal
danbrisson27@gmail.com

Dan has worked with Collège Boréal since it opened in 1995. He holds diplomas in social work and marketing, as well as a certificate as an employment counsellor.

Dan is employed as a job developer with Employment Services and is vice-president of Local 672. He is also the chair of the Joint Insurance Committee and the EERC, and has previously held other noteworthy positions, including past local president, chair of the Provincial Francophone Committee and chair of the Equity Chairs.

Dan proudly serves as a major with the Canadian Cadet Movement/Canadian Armed Forces, and is a board member for both Collège Boréal and St John’s Ambulance North-East.

Shelley Gartshore, BA, CHRL

Local 124 – Lambton College
shelleygartshore@hotmail.com

Shelley has been employed with Lambton College for 12 years and works as a co-ordinator for the Academic Upgrading program.

She has been a steward with Local 124 for the past nine years. In 2020, she was elected vice-president of her local and is in her second term in that role.

Prior to Lambton College, Shelley worked in the field of health and safety and human resources.

Shelley holds a degree in psychology and a post-graduate certificate in human resources, as well as a certified human resources leader professional designation.

This is Shelley’s first time on a provincial committee for OPSEU/SEFPO.

Robert (Bob) Holder

Local 243 – Niagara College
bholder12@cogeco.ca

Bob has worked at Niagara College since 1993 and is an engineering technologist in the School of Technology.

He has been a steward since 1994 and was chief steward for six years. He has been president of his local since 2007.

Bob is active in the CAAT-S FT Division, serving a second term as a member of the Employee/Employer Relations Committee (EERC) and vice-chair of the Joint Classification Committee (JCC). He is also the vice-chair of the OPSEU Niagara Area Council.

Bob graduated from Niagara College as an electronic engineering technologist and has also completed the OPSEU/SEFPO Train the Trainer program, co-facilitating Region 2 educational weekends.

He is honoured to be a member of the bargaining team representing our 8,000-plus members in this round.

Michael McKeown

Local 353

Photo coming soon.

Mike McKeown began his OPSEU/SEFPO career in 1999 working in youth corrections. Mike joined Durham College in 2008 as a disability adviser (mental health). His home position is classified as an accessibility coach.

He became a steward after our last strike action. Mike was a mobilizer for our 2014 round of bargaining.

 

He joined with Organizing to work full-time on both the CAAT-S and CAAT-A Part-Time organizing drives. He is still involved today assisting the push to get CAAT-A PT certified.

 

Mike became president of Local 353 in November 2015 –  a position he still holds. In 2018, he was elected chair of the EERC. He remains a member of this committee. In 2018, he was also elected to the bargaining team and as a DivEx alternate.

 

He worked Full Time on the We Own It Campaign and was a member of the Human Rights Committee for two years.

 

He holds degrees from the University of Windsor in sociology and criminology, as well as having served in the Canadian Armed Forces. He is a proud father of two and a lifelong union activist.

 

Veneise Samuels

Local 557 – George Brown College
veneise.samuels@gmail.com

Veneise has worked at George Brown College since 2008. She has worked In her current role as a student support representative in the Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies since 2011.

She has held the role of steward since 2009 and vice president since 2011. She is the return-to-work specialist for Local 557, and is chair of the Local 557 Hardship Committee.

Veneise has also been active at the regional level as a delegate for the Provincial Young Workers Committee, while at the provincial level, she has sat on the Joint Grievance Scheduling Committee and the Employer/Employee Relations Committee.

Currently, she sits as a member of the bargaining team and is co-chair of the College of Applied Arts and Technology Pension Plan Sponsors Committee.

Veneise holds an honours degree from Western University, in addition to a certificate in Counselling Fundamentals from George Brown College. She has completed a number of courses delivered by the Region 5 Educational Division and has completed the Fundamentals of Trust Management Standards and Advanced Trust Management Standards programs through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.