Meet your Bargaining Team!
Christine Kelsey, 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 its Health 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.
Shelley Gartshore, BA, CHRL, vice-chair
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.
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.
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 – Durham College – michael.mckeown@rogers.com
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.
Veronica Attard
Local 416 – Algonquin College –
Marcia Steeves
Local 351 – Fleming College –
Contact your bargaining team: caatsftbargaining@opseu.org
Meet your CAAT-S FT 2022 bargaining mobilizers!
Four of your co-workers were elected at a provincial union meeting in May to work with support staff to build bargaining power. These four members will work with your local unions and the bargaining team to host events and speak with as many of you as possible.
This is your contract. It is important that you stand up with your co-workers and tell the colleges that you deserve to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect! Support staff work in more than 150 professions in the colleges. The colleges don’t work without us.
We are asking all support staff to wear blue on July 13 and August 10 to show support for the bargaining team and a fair contract.
Carla Tillapaugh
Local 124 – Lambton College – carlatillapaugh@hotmail.com
For OPSEU Regions 1 and 2: St. Clair, Lambton, Fanshawe, Conestoga, Mohawk, Niagara and Sheridan
Carla has worked for Lambton College for 17 years. She is a graduate of the college’s Information Technology Professional Program, Teacher of Adults Certificate and Part-time Teacher Training.
Carla is employed as an Employment Consultant and Job Developer with Employment Services. She worked in IT prior to her current role. Carla is in her last term at University of Western Ontario, where she is completing her Bachelor of Social Sciences with her Major in Indigenous Studies.
In her spare time, she enjoys time with her family and friends. Her hobbies are singing and performing community theatre, riding her motorcycle, sailing, cycling, travelling and gardening. She was a previous steward in 2011-12 and hopes to become a steward with Local 124 later this year.
Éric Lacroix
Local 471 – Collège La Cité – ericl219@hotmail.com
For OPSEU Regions 3 and 4: Durham, Georgian, Fleming, Loyalist, St. Lawrence, La Cité and Algonquin
Éric graduated from Collège La Cité in their HVAC program. He has worked at La Cité since 2019 as their Purchasing, Warehouse and Stock agent for their skilled trades institute.
He has been vice-president of Local 471 since 2021. Before being at the college, Éric worked in different areas of construction.
He enjoys spending time outside with his kids and grandkids.
Colette Cameron
Local 559 – Centennial – caatsregion5mobilizer@gmail.com
For OPSEU Region 5: Humber, Seneca, Centennial and George Brown
Colette is a Centennial College alumni and has worked at the college in a variety of positions since 2002.
She currently works at the college’s School of Community and Health Studies and is engaged as a Joint Health Community Member and Treasurer/Union Steward at the college. She is also on the Centennial College Alumni Association as a Board of Directors Director currently serving her second term.
She has been an active union member since 2014 and enjoys engaging with her local members.
In her free time, Colette enjoys cooking international cuisine, gardening and anything that has to do with outdoors. Colette is thrilled to be part of the Bargaining Mobilizer team and is looking forward to engaging with the Region 5 college members during the bargaining phases.
Lynn Ainslie
Local 656 – Cambrian – lynthibault@hotmail.com
For OPSEU Regions 6 and 7: Canadore, Sault, Cambrian, Boréal, Northern and Confederation
Lynn has worked for Cambrian College since 2015 and is currently an employment consultant and job developer with their employment services department.
Lynn’s background is Law and Social Work. She is active with her local and is currently the communications officer. She has been a union steward since 2016 and is also an alternate for the JIC Committee.
Lynn enjoys spending time with family and friends. Her hobbies include camping and the outdoors, and she participates in competitive bass fishing.
