Day 3 of Convention included a series of National and Regional elections, with delegates electing David Neufeld as the new USJE National President and Lynette Robinson as National Vice-President. 17 Regional caucuses also elected their respective Regional Vice Presidents who comprise the new USJE National Executive.
New USJE National President David Neufeld who served previously as National-Vice-President for 7 years and Regional Vice President for 14 years for CSC Community and Parole Board of Canada (West) received a strong mandate from delegates.
During his campaign, David committed that, if elected, USJE would:
- demand that all departments work collaboratively with USJE to define the new normal and future working conditions.
- develop a robust campaign strategy to engage provincial and federal politicians on changing legislation to include USJE members for presumptive injury compensation.
- implement a communication strategy that will modernize & enhance interactions, sharing and transparency between USJE National Office, RVP’s, local executives and members at large.
Once the new National President was declared, delegates convened in their regional caucuses to vote for their respective Regional Vice Presidents (and alternates), as well as select their delegates (and alternates) to the PSAC National Convention. The new caucus for Quebec RCMP–Justice–PPSC–CSC Community–PBC met officially for the first time and elected Regional Vice President Andréanne Samson. For a list of all RVPs and alternates, please see below.
Presiding over the elections were PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President (REVP) Quebec Yvon Barriere and PSAC REVP North Lorraine Rousseau, both long-time USJE members. Both spoke to their pride of being USJE members and to the work for USJE and PSAC to accomplish together.
After the elections concluded, Lorraine, who lives and works on the land of the Carcross/ Tagish Nation, spoke powerfully about how settler Canadians must confront the legacy of violence and trauma from seven generations of residential schools – as it is the only way to lead to true reconciliation. She urged USJE and all its members to lift up the recently established National Equity Committee and support them do their important work to create fair and equitable spaces for everyone.
In the afternoon, four of our Union members were awarded USJE Honourary Memberships in recognition of their service to the USJE membership.
- Jan Hauck received an Honourary Membership for her long service to the organization. The award was presented by Paul Blais, the previous RVP National Capital Region (NCR), RCMP. Paul spoke to what a tremendous mentor and RVP Jan was – always working for her members.
- Debbie Stangrecki, the former RVP Alberta, NWT & Nunavut, RCMP–Justice–PPSC, was recognized for her decades of tremendous work for USJE members in a speech by Valda Behrens, RVP for the same region, who, in a moment of levity, presented her with a Princess crown, and an Honourary Membership.
- Dawn Staruiala was recognized for her many years of work at Local 40008, Regina RCMP with an Honourary Membership. Jackie Oswald, the previous RVP Saskatchewan & Manitoba CSC, spoke about Dawn’s role in blazing a trail for members as the first USJE member representing RCMP members on a PSAC Bargaining Team.
- JP Surette, RVP NCR, gave a tribute to his predecessor and mentor Danielle Belleau, who was granted Honourary Membership posthumously. Danelle’s sister Nathalie Belleau accepted the award and spoke movingly to Convention about how Danielle, who passed away in February, was both a tremendous human being and a remarkably dedicated union activist.
Dr. Rose Ricciardelli, Professor at Memorial University, updated Convention delegates on research that USJE has commissioned as part of a deeper dive into the risks of Operational Stress Injuries (OSIs) amongst Detachment Service Assistants (DSA) in the RCMP and Parole Officers. USJE expects to extend this research beyond these occupational groups and examine the effects of OSIs on more facets of USJE’s membership. Rose’s team has already finished their field research and conducted a preliminary data analysis. They hope to release their report to USJE by the end of the year.
Convention delegates then left to prepare for an evening of celebration and relaxation at a gala reception with dinner and a Newfoundland kitchen party band.
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Congratulations to these new and returning Regional Vice-Presidents and alternates:
CSC Community/ PBC (West)
Jeff Sandelli Regional Vice-President
Mike Reeves 1st Alternate
Morgan Haupt 2nd Alternate
CSC Community/ PBC (Ontario & Atlantic region)
Carol Osborne Regional Vice-President
JR Legault 1st Alternate
Ora Jean 2nd Alternate
British Columbia, CSC
Kirsty Havard Regional Vice-President
Alan Otrisina 1st Alternate
Laura Wildly 2nd Alternate
British Columbia & Yukon, RCMP–Justice–PPSC
Nicole Gibson Regional Vice-President
Zoe Johnston 1st Alternate
LeAnn Wheeler 2nd Alternate
Alberta, CSC
Zef Ordman Regional Vice President
Ashley Petryshen 1st Alternate
Audrey Parker Brown 2nd Alternate
Alberta, NWT & Nunavut, RCMP–Justice–PPSC
Valda Behrens Regional Vice-President
Samuel Bourget 1st Alternate
Karen Hess 2nd Alternate
Saskatchewan, CSC
Shauna Ward Regional Vice-President
Tonya Missens 1st Alternate
Brenda Schreiner 2nd Alternate
Manitoba, CSC
Frank Janz Regional Vice-President
Nestor Galarnyk 1st Alternate
Tom Lanctot 2nd Alternate
Saskatchewan & Manitoba, RCMP–Justice–PPSC
Heather McKinnon Regional Vice-President
Kirsty McDougall 1st Alternate
Ryan Forsberg 2nd Alternate
Ontario, CSC
Bill Bailey Regional Vice-President
Kyle Grace 1st Alternate
Jaclynn Rhodes 2nd Alternate
Ontario, RCMP–Justice–PPSC–CSIS
Bella Skalin Regional Vice-President
Kathy Samuel 1st Alternate
Geovanna Santamaria 2nd Alternate
National Capital Region (NCR)
Jean-Paul Surette Regional Vice-President
Jena Russell 1st Alternate
David Breault 2nd Alternate
National Capital Region (NCR), RCMP
Sonia O’Brien-Colterman Regional Vice-President
Cristina Machado 1st Alternate
Thomas Clapham 2nd Alternate
Quebec, CSC
Patrick Ménard Regional Vice-President
Réal Tessier 1st Alternate
Alain Chartrand 2nd Alternate
Quebec, RCMP–Justice–PPSC–CSC Community–PBC
Andréanne Samson Regional Vice-President
Sandy Berthelotte 1st Alternate
Paul Daigle 2nd Alternate
Atlantic, CSC
Laurie-Ann Wesselby Regional Vice-President
Heather Reid 1st Alternate
Nathalie Minsta 2nd Alternate
Atlantic, RCMP–Justice–PPSC
Lynette Robinson Regional Vice-President (& National Vice President)
Dana Colley-Provo 1st Alternate
Julia Somers 2nd Alternate