More than 800 delegates elected 26 Provincial Executive (PE) members at HEU’s 34th biennial convention in Vancouver held October 20-25.
HEU president Barb Nederpel and financial secretary Betty Valenzuela were re-elected to their fourth terms in office.
“To be a strong voice — a force to be reckoned with in B.C. — and continue to win, we need to be strong and united internally,” said Nederpel. “The strength of HEU has always been the activism of members.”
“Even when we disagree, we are united in our quest to make this union bigger, stronger, more diverse and more inclusive,” said Valenzuela. “I’m happy to report our union is in solid financial shape.”
Secretary-business manager Lynn Bueckert, appointed by the PE earlier this year, was ratified by convention delegates.
“Wins driven by courage, activism, power and solidarity of our union members, that’s what makes us who we are,” Bueckert said.
Delegates also re-elected 1st vice-president Bill McMullan (Kardel local). Talitha Dekker (Kamloops/Thompson local) was elected 2nd vice-president, and Charlotte Millington (Royal Jubilee local) was elected 3rd vice-president.
Chris Batting (Prince George local), elected last year as senior trustee-elect, will serve as senior trustee for the next two years. Olivia Burgon (Queen’s Park local) was elected as senior trustee-elect, and Lisa Kreut (Vancouver General local) was elected as trustee.
Diversity Vice-Presidents
Ethnic Diversity
Cora Mojica (VGH local)
Indigenous Peoples
Lynn Serhan (Armstrong local)
People With Disabilities
Jovito Espinoza (PHSA Amalgamated local)
Pink Triangle
Darlene Bown - Island Health/RJH local)
2-Spirit, Women and Non-Binary
Belina Fernandez (Victoria General local)
Young Workers
Leanne La Guardia (PHSA Amalgamated local)
Regional Vice-Presidents
Fraser
- Bonnie Hammermeister (Surrey local)
- Diane Tomei (Chilliwack Amalgamated local)
- Shivonne St. Pierre (Menno Home local)
Interior
- Barbara (Barb) Shukin (F.W. Green local)
- Baljit Sandhu (Vernon local)
- Kim McIlravey (100 Mile local)
North
- Lisa Crema (Prince George local)
- Tammy Meise (Prince George local)
Vancouver Coastal
- Maria Lugs (Richmond local)
- Ranjit Uppal (PHSA Amalgamated local)
- Ethel Purugganan (Normandy local)
Vancouver Island
- Anna Caldwell - South Island (Victoria General local)
- Phil (Philip) Henderson - North Island (Park local)
Alternates were also elected for each Diversity and Regional Vice-President position, and eight alternates for the PE at-large positions.