More than 600 delegates elected 26 Provincial Executive (PE) members at HEU’s 33rd biennial convention in Vancouver held October 16-21.
HEU president Barb Nederpel and financial secretary Betty Valenzuela were re-elected to their third terms in office.
“We have an opportunity to build on the energy that convention brings and take action on the direction members give us,” said Nederpel. “And I am excited that locals are demanding more education and resources so they can engage members and enforce rights.”
“I am always humbled and honoured to serve our membership,” said Valenzuela. “Our members are the heart and soul of health care, and they have proven that in spades during the pandemic.”
Secretary-business manager Meena Brisard was ratified at HEU’s 2021 convention.
“It’s been an exciting convention as we’ve elected our first diversity vice-presidents,” says Brisard. “We are moving forward in our commitment to build a more inclusive union.”
Delegates also re-elected 1st vice-president Bill McMullan (Kardel local) and 2nd vice-president Charlotte Millington (Royal Jubilee local). and Donovan Adlam (PHSA Amalgamated local) was elected 3rd vice-president.
Senior trustee-elect Chris Batting (Prince George local) and trustee Olivia Burgon (Queen’s Park local) were also elected. They’ll join Talitha Dekker (accounts receivable clerk, Kamloops/Thompson), who was elected at the last convention and will serve as senior trustee for the next two years.
Delegates made history on Wednesday when they elected the union’s new diversity vice-president (DVP) positions and their alternates.
- Ethnic Diversity – Cora Mojica (Vancouver General local), 1st alternate Belina Fernandez (Victoria General local), 2nd alternate Manoj Saxena (Royal Jubilee local)
- Indigenous Peoples – Lynn Serhan (Armstrong local), 1st alternate Teresa Roe (Langley local)
- People with Disabilities – Christine Edgecombe (CMHA Fraser local), 1st alternate Dane Philpott (Royal Jubilee local), 2nd alternate Natasha Cox (Buchanan local)
- Pink Triangle – Darlene Bown (Victoria General local), 1st alternate Ronald Larsen (Becon local), 2nd alternate Kevin Dickie (Lions Gate local)
- 2-Spirit, Women & Non-Binary – Lisa Kreut (Vancouver General local), 1st alternate Samantha Cartwright (Prince George local), 2nd alternate Judy Gicho (Aramark Critical Care Tower Surrey local)
- Young Workers – Seyda Yalcin (Coast/VRC local), 1st alternate Nicole Nellaney (Louis Brier local), 2nd alternate Che Baines (Coast/VRC local)
Thirteen regional vice-presidents (RVP) plus alternates for each position were elected.
Fraser RVPs
- Bonnie Hammermeister (Surrey local), 1st alternate Tina Thiessen (Chilliwack Amalgamated local), 2nd alternate Jonathan Donaldson (Maple Ridge local)
- Scott McKay (Chilliwack Amalgamated local), 1st alternate Ryan Parsons (Royal Columbian local), 2nd alternate Tina Poitras (Willingdon local)
- Diane Tomei (Chilliwack Amalgamated local), 1st alternate Bonnie Ayap (Laurel Place local), 2nd alternate Julie Ovens (Chilliwack Amalgamated local)
Interior RVPs
- Heidi Collins (Vernon local), 1st alternate Baljit Sandhu (Vernon local), 2nd alternate Sara Oliver (Penticton local)
- Monica Thiessen (Salmon Arm/Shuswap), 1st alternate Kim McIlravey (100 Mile local), 2nd alternate Michelle Nelson (Cache Creek local)
- Barbara Shukin (F.W. Green local), 1st alternate Valerie Sailer (Sparwood local), 2nd alternate Marsha Wiebe (Arrow Lakes local)
Northern RVPs
- Angela Sharf (Prince George local), 1st alternate Kimberly Harker (Fort St. John local), 2nd alternate Tracey Beckley (Prince George local)
- Lisa Crema (Prince George local), 1st alternate Michelle Jolley (Prince George local), 2nd alternate Angie Bonazzo (Prince George local)
Vancouver Coastal RVPs
- Louella Vincent (WHR Lower Mainland local), 1st alternate Ruth Mangrubang (Yaletown local), 2nd alternate Jason Sullivan (St. Paul’s local)
- Maria Lugs (Richmond local), 1st alternate Jovito Espinoza (PHSA Amalgamated local), 2nd alternate Tyler Moore (Lions Gate local)
- Karen McVeigh (Dogwood local), 1st alternate Daryl Roche (PHSA Amalgamated local), 2nd alternate Irene Rillera (KCC local)
Vancouver Island RVP
- Ian Smith (Royal Jubilee local, South Island), 1st alternate Teresa McCoy (South Vancouver Island local), 2nd alternate Barbara Riggs (Royal Jubilee local)
- Phil Henderson (Arranglen, North Island), 1st alternate Kim Heaps (Arrowsmith local), 2nd alternate Crystal Christianson (Tri-Port local)
Eight PE alternates were also elected: Jesse Winfrey (Cowichan Valley local), Catherine Black (Tri-Port local), Stephen Ariss (Kelowna local), Barb Clark (Ashcroft local), Terri-Lynne Huddlestone (Prince Rupert local), Ethel Purugganan (Normandy local), Olga Torres-Andino Jr (Kardel local) and Arniel Abella (Kelowna local).