The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Log in

PIPSC Fraser Valley executive Meeting

October 30, 2024
7:00 PM PT

LOCATION
Old Yale Brewing - 33738 Laurel St, Abbotsford, BC V2S 1X2

Agenda

Meeting commenced at 7:07 PM

  1. Roll Call (members of the Branch Executive)

In attendance:

Terri D’Souza (CFIA S&A), President

Christine Kleindienst (SH), Member at Large

Danika Overmars (SH), Member at Large

Rayna Gunvaldsen (CFIA-VM), Member at Large

 

Absent:

Ravipal Kochar (SH), Treasurer

Stephan Deo (SH), Secretary

Febin Meckkaden Paily (SH), Member at Large

  1. Approval of the Agenda (M/S/C)
    • No amendments
  2. Report of the President (M/S/C)

As we near the end of 2024, I think the Branch is off to a great start in its first year, having a full new executive after being dormant for over a year. We have lost a few members on the executive due to other career opportunities or life circumstances that have precluded them from actively participating, but I’d like to thank each of them for stepping up to the role at the start of the year and the contributions they were able to make during their time on the executive.

 

We have had many fun events to boost membership engagement in 2024, starting off with our Spring event at Galaxy Bowling in Abbotsford that had a great turnout of 25 attendees who enjoyed bowling, pizza, and snacks! This was a great first step to letting our members know that the Branch is active again. Thank you to all who attended and to Alicia Lunz (BC/Y Regional Executive, BC/Y Young Professionals’ Committee Executive, and Pacific Regional Consultation President for Correctional Service of Canada) for her assistance in running the event and engaging with members.

Our Summer events at Otter Co-Op Waterpark in Aldergrove were a huge success – the July date reached capacity within an hour of registration being open and was in such high demand that we added on a second date in August. Each event had 40 attendees who had a great time swimming, tubing, going down water slides, playing, and enjoying our private lounge area with refreshments. Thank you to the members and their families who not only attended, but helped to set up, carry the (very heavy) cooler, and clean up at both events. A very special thank you to Danika Overmars on the Fraser Valley Executive for the great suggestion to hold this event.

The Branch had a full delegate count and was delighted to be at the 79th BC/Y Regional Council in Kelowna on June 7th and 8th. We had an excellent 2 days working together with other members in the BC/Yukon region to share our experiences, network, and gain knowledge that we can bring back to the Fraser Valley Branch to better support our members. The BC/Y Young Professionals’ Committee planned 2 membership engagement events for young workers and their families that was attended by some of our members and executive. I coordinated having an Elder from the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society attend the Regional Council to open the event with a prayer and discussion on how PIPSC can further reconciliation. As a member of the BC/Y Awards committee, I worked with the other committee members to select our Executive of the Year for 2024, Dean Corda, who was truly deserving of this award for his many years of hard work and dedication to our members. As your Branch President, I also presented a report on our activities for the first half of the year. The report can be found in the virtual binder.

As your Branch President, BC/Y Regional Executive, BC/Y Young Professionals’ Executive, and BC/Y representative on the National Science Advisory Council, I have been steadily busy since our last executive meeting. I attended a Science Advisory Council meeting virtually in June to finalize the 2024 Survey of Federal Scientists. The survey received responses from hundred of science members at PIPSC and was created to better understand our members’ work and any challenges they might be facing with the goal of using the findings to substantiate our arguments in collective bargaining and monitoring ongoing issues, including political interference, in federal science and public policy. I subsequently met with the committee in Ottawa in September to go over the results of the survey and compile the findings for future dissemination. Also in September, I attended a Regional Executive meeting in Harrison Hot Springs to plan the 2024 Steward Council. The Executive hosted a social event where I was able to connect with a small group of Fraser Valley members who were in attendance. I attended more BC/Y Regional Executive and BC/Y Young Professionals’ Executive meetings while in Vancouver for the BC/Y Steward Council in mid-October. As a member of the BC/Y Awards committee, I worked with the other committee members to select our Steward of the Year for 2024, Unika Attridge, who received multiple nominations and is truly deserving of this award for her hard work as a union steward and unwavering support of the many members she has helped. This event served as a good reminder for us to continue to encourage our membership to become union stewards.

Looking forward for the Fraser Valley Branch in 2025, we hope to actively engage members through the executive and events and look forward to hosting lunch and learns, site visits, and membership engagement activities throughout the year where we hope to have great participation. I hope we can collaborate on an event with our Retired Members’ Guild chapter to bring together retired members and soon-to-be retired members. I look forward to the 2024 Fraser Valley AGM, our elections, and continuing to grow our active membership into 2025.

  1. Financial Report (M/S/C)
    • Expenses for 2024 include Branch events (Galaxy bowling, Otter Co-Op Water Park x2) and a member request for funding refreshments for an office event.
    • Remaining funds allocated for 2024 AGM.
  2. New Business
    • By-law Amendments
      • Amendments to the FV bylaws were provided by Mike Chow from the PIPSC Bylaws and Policies Committee
      • Amendments bring the FV bylaws up to date for 2024 and consistent with other Branch bylaws
      • Amendments were voted for in favor by all members present at the meeting and a proxy vote from Stephan Deo; none opposed
    • Changes to the Fraser Valley Executive
      • Vice President, Adam McClean (SH), stepped down from his role due to a career opportunity. Stephan Deo (SH) has stepped into to VP role.
      • Subsequently, members Aleigh LaRose (SH), Lauren Brine (SH), and Ryan Liden (CS) who were no longer able to participate actively on the executive, agreed to step down from their roles.
      • Will have to run elections at AGM to fill vacant positions (Secretary, Members at Large).
    • Holiday event / potential event with FV Retired Members’ Guild
      • Terri is in contact with President of the FV RMG to attempt to plan something for 2025
    • FV AGM 2024
      • Will communicate via email to arrange due to PIPSC AGM preventing a suitable meeting date to timely plan the FV AGM
      • Event tentatively in 2nd week of December
  3. Upcoming General PIPSC Events and Meetings
    • Retired Members’ Guild AGM – Nov 7
    • PIPSC AGM – Nov 7-9
    • Basic Steward Training – Nov 14-16
    • BC/Y Executive Leadership Training – Nov 29-30
    • Women in Science Cafe with Naheda Sahtout – Dec 3
  4. Next Fraser Valley Branch Executive Meeting
    • In late January 2025, date set following FV AGM and elections
  5. Roundtable
    • No issues identified
  6. Adjournment (M/S/C)
    • Adjourned at 7:44 PM.
Published on 4 November 2024