Vancouver Regional Women’s Committee meeting

• Tuesday, March 2, 2010
• 5:30 p.m. – Light Supper, 6:00 p.m. – Meeting
• PSAC Vancouver Regional Office, 200-5238 Joyce St. Vancouver, B.C.

Agenda:

• 2009 Financial Statement
• 2010 Budget
• Elections
• IWD Events

Please RSVP to Colette Savarie. Spread the word: download a poster.

Victoria Regional Women’s Committee invites you to attend a movie history night to celebrate International Women’s Day

• Monday March, 8, 2010
• 5:30 pm to 7:30/8:00 pm
• Victoria PSAC Office, 210-1497 admirals Road

Bring your Mothers/daughters/sisters with you! Please rsvp by March 4th, 2010 to Rosemary, and include any dietary needs, as food will be provided. Download a poster!

• February 16, 2010 – 5:30PM
• Vancouver RO, 5238 Joyce Street
• and via conference call – email Regina Brennan for details

Agenda Items:

• International Women’s Day
• Financial Update
• Financial Limitations for Chairperson
• Access Conference

Tracy Shudo has suggested the Human Rights Committee do a pot luck dinner for the meeting, contact Tracy for more information and to assist.

Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee meeting & Potluck Social: 5:00-5:30 PM (Bring snacks or whatever you want)

• February 18, 2010 @ 5:30 PM
• PSAC Victoria Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road
• Agenda: To be announced.

Potluck Social: 5:00-5:30 PM (Bring snacks or whatever you want)

Old Business for review

1. Review Last Meeting’s Minutes in general
2. Update on New Banking Account & Obtaining 3 Signers – Mandi

New Business:

1. Final Draft of TOR to be adopted and put into force – Paul
2. VIHRC Acronyms + Pronunciation – Michael
3. Adoption of 2010 dates for VIHRC meetings throughout the year -  Michael
4. VIHRC Election for available positions:  Chair, Co-Chair, Treasurer & Recording Secretary – All
5. VIHRC Budgeting Issues – Michael
6. Pride 2010 Funding Request – Paul
7. PSAC National Access Conference in Ottawa – All
8. End of VIHRC Logo Contest Results (Contest ended: Nov 2, 2009) – Dave
9. VIHRC Logo Designs – Committee to select a winning logo? & How to award a prize? – Michael/Wendy
10. Directive on Banner Style & Costing (Regardless on outcome of logo contest) – Mark
11. Website hosting for VIHRC resources?  – Michael

Victoria Area Council Meeting

• March 9, 2010, 5:30PM
• Victoria Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road

Proposed Agenda

1. Treasurer’s report
2. Federal budget follow-up
3. De-staffing of lighthouses update
4. Pension campaign
5. Campbell River & District Area Council

Please RSVP to Rosemary at the Regional Office no later than noon on March 8, 2010. Snacks will be served.ar

Here are some photos from the event here in Victoria that Virginia (Vaillancourt, also on the Regional Council) and I attended. We had amazing numbers and the anger and enthusiasm was a huge surprise. The theme that ran deep was that Canadians do care about what happens in their country and that the Afghan abuse scandal is weighing heavy around what Harper has done to avoid his governments accountability to parliament and the people of Canada. We are such spirited citizens of this country. Everyone should take the time to “care”. It is OUR country!

Twentieth anniversary of Montreal Massacre brings calls to save gun registry

Commemorations held in Greater Victoria and across the country

By Katie DeRosa , Times Colonist December 6, 2009

In Montreal, eight-year-old Marjolaine Ouimet, the niece of Geneviève Bergeron — one of Marc Lépine’s victims 20 years ago — places a flower Sunday on her marker at a memorial site named Place du 6-Décembre-1989. Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay is second from the right. Similar ceremonies were held throughout the country, including Victoria.

In Montreal, eight-year-old Marjolaine Ouimet, the niece of Geneviève Bergeron — one of Marc Lépine’s victims 20 years ago — places a flower Sunday on her marker at a memorial site named Place du 6-Décembre-1989. Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay is second from the right. Similar ceremonies were held throughout the country, including Victoria.

The slaughter of 14 women at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique by Marc Lépine on Dec. 6, 1989, shocked and disturbed the nation.

Memorials in Victoria and across Canada Sunday — the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women — remembered that painful day 20 years ago while urging further progress for the future.

“Twenty years later, we are still struggling for the elimination of violence against women in our society,” said Megumi Matsuo Saunders at the Victoria’s First Metropolitan United Church’s Service of Remembrance and Hope Sunday afternoon. “We need to convert our sadness into action.”

Archbishop Andrew Hutchinson spoke at the service, reflecting on the massacre, which took place while he served as dean of Montreal’s Anglican Church.

“Whatever else the Montreal Massacre was, it certainly was a targeted attack against women and it alarmed women everywhere.”

Hutchinson said that while everyone knows the name of the gunman, we tend to forget the name of the 14 young women who died at his hands.

During the service, their names were read out and 14 candles were lit.

Women’s activist Rose Henry lit a candle for First Nations women who have been victims of violence.

Henry said that by remembering all women who have been victims of violence, “we’re going beyond just the Montreal Massacre, going beyond [violence against] aboriginal women,” she said. “We’re realizing that this violence has to stop.”

Victoria resident Joy Smith, 51, was a part-time student at Camosun College when the largest mass murder in Canada’s history sent shock across the country.

“We were all just numb,” she recalls.

Smith said all women have experienced some form of violence, which is why the day holds significance for so many.

Dozens of people holding flickering pink lights gathered in front of the legislature at 5 p.m. last night, despite the cold and blowing wind.

University of Victoria student Tara Paterson, 20, was there with 10 other friends. Even though she was just a six months old when the massacre happened, it has shaped her strong views on violence against women.

“I think it’s significant that it’s called the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This [memorial] is one of those very actions. I think this represents a lot more for us than simply the Montreal Massacre, although that is important for us to remember every year.”

While the memorial sent a message of reflection, there was also a strong political message, with speakers urging the federal government to rethink its repeal of the long-gun registry.

“This is the start of a huge campaign to keep the gun registry in place so that all women can be protected,” Virginia Vaillancourt, chairwoman of the Victoria Regional Women’s Committee, told the crowd.

She cited data showing that applications by 6,000 people to own rifles were denied on the basis of previous violence, mental illness or a criminal record.

“If we get rid of the gun registry, those people may actually be able to get guns now.”

Vaillancourt said the gun registry was the product of years of fighting by the families of the victims, and to abolish it would be a major step backward.

Canada’s long-gun registry will be dismantled if a private-member’s bill introduced by a Conservative MP and supported by the party passes through the committee stage and further votes in the House of Commons. It cleared an important hurdle last month when he received second reading with the approval of a majority of MPs, including several New Democrats and Liberals.

It is with distinct pleasure that the Victoria Regional Women’s Committee of the Public Service Alliance of Canada BC in collaboration with members of Canadian Auto Workers cordially invite you to attend a memorial event on December 6th, 2009 to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and the ongoing initiatives to end violence against women.

• Download a poster (pdf).

We will be holding a Candle Light vigil on the BC Legislature Grounds on December 6th, 2009 from 5:00 pm to 6 pm. We will be collecting on this occasion various personal items such as new socks, towels, toiletries, journals and small house hold appliances to donate to Women’s Organizations in Victoria. This is especially important to us at this time of Liberal budget constraints within the province. We request that everyone in attendance bring an item for donation to this very noble and necessary social initiative. We feel it our responsibility to support this.

We look forward to seeing you at this very important memorial. In Solidarity,

Virginia Vaillancourt – Chair, Victoria Regional Women’s Committee, PSAC
Sarah Dutsch – Canadian Auto Workers Rep, Local 114, Committee Chair

November 5, 2009 @ 5:30 PM

PSAC Victoria Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road

Meeting Agenda

• Potluck Social: 5:00-5:30 PM

Old Business for review:

1. Update on New Banking Account & Obtaining 3 Signers – Mandi
2. Update on New Directive on Medical Leave – Mandi

Review Last Meeting’s Minutes in general

New Business:

1. VIHRC Election as committee position titles might be required? – Mandi / Michael
2. End of VIHRC Logo Contest Results (Contest ended: Nov 2, 2009) – Dave
3. VIHRC Logo Designs – Committee to select a winning logo? & How to award a prize? – Michael
4. Directive on Banner Costing (Depending on outcome of logo contest) – Mark / Michael
5. VIHRC member for presentation in other local or AGM meetings? – All
6. VIHRC Recruitment Process – All
7. PSAC Meet & Greet Event in December – All
8. Proposal of a final meeting date in January for VIHRC Term of Reference – All

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 5:30 pm

PSAC Victoria RO – Admirals Walk

In Attendance:

Kay Sinclair BC, REVP (chair), Alexandra Ripco UEW 20076, Virginia Vaillancourt UVAE 20030, Brenda Esplen UTE 20028, Cindy Little UTE 20028, Mandi Schubert (via phone) CEIU 20975, Dyan Day UNDE 21013, Leanne Hughes CIU 20042, Jeannette Lum UEW 20169, Colette Savarie – Regional Rep, Rosemary MacKenzie – Admin Assistant

Regrets: Maddalena Maher

Continue reading the minutes or download here the PDF of the South Vancouver Island Regional Women’s Committee AGM.

Call to Order: Kay called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.

Minutes of Previous meeting:

Minutes from the previous meeting (August 25, 2009) were accepted

Update from the BC Women’s Retreat:

There was an update from Virginia from the Women’s Retreat (see attached). Brenda, Cheryl and Colette provided some of the highlights for them from the Women’s Retreat.

As well there was comments regarding the Rally in Vancouver for the Coast Hotel employees. One member mentioned she enjoyed meeting women from all of the regions. Colette had only received positive comments. There is another Rally that is being held in Nanaimo at the Coast Bastion Inn on Friday October 16, 2009. All members welcome to come out and show their support.

Elections

Kay mentioned the various roles in a Regional Women’s Committee.   They consist of a chair, a co-chair, a treasurer and a secretary and then the members at large.

Virginia Vaillancourt volunteered to run as Chair of the Committee.    She was elected through acclamation.

Mandi Schubert volunteered to run as Co-Chair of the Committee.    She was elected through acclamation.

Brenda Esplen volunteered to run as Treasurer.    She was elected through acclamation.

Dyan Day volunteered to run as Secretary.    She was elected through acclamation.

Women’s Forum:

The PSAC National Women’s Program is holding consultations across the country on two important priorities of the PSAC – pay equity and child care. The Vancouver consultation will take place on Thursday, November 5th and Friday, November 6th at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Patty Ducharme, the National Executive Vice-President, and AndréeCôté, the Women’s Program Officer, will attend the forums designed for women activists in our Union.

An all day forum on pay equity will take place on November 5th followed by a reception with representatives from women’s groups and women activists from other unions. The pay equity forum will provide information sharing, capacity training, and a consultation on local and provincial strategies for our federal pay equity campaign. The half day session on child care on the morning of November 6th will include a discussion of child care issues from national and regional perspectives. The session will also include listening to members’ child care needs and experiences and their suggestions for a PSAC child care campaign.

The forum can accommodate about 25 participants which has been designed for the following women members/activists:

- the B.C. Regional Council Women’s Coordinator and Alternate;

- Regional Women’s Committee activists (one or two from each Committee); and

- other interested PSAC activists interested and involved in women’s issues.

PSAC members/activists who are young mothers are particularly encouraged to attend.

If you are interested in participating in the forum, please send your expression of interest to the PSAC B.C. REVP office by e-mail to Kay Sinclair at sinclak@psac.comor by fax at (604) 430-0194 by 5PM, Thursday, October 15, 2009, and please indicate the following:

- any involvement in a Regional Women’s Committee

- any involvement in women’s groups and/or issues in your community

- any involvement or support for women’s issues in your Local or Component etc.

- interest in further developing your feminist analysis

- commitment to working on a pay equity and/or child care campaign.

Again the deadline for expression of interest is noon, Thursday, October 15th.

December 6 Events:

The newly elected Chair, Virginia Vaillancourt, took over chairing the meeting at this point.   She asked for suggestions regarding the 20^th Anniversary of December 6^th.

- join Clipper Staff – hold a candlelight vigil on Parliament Legislature
- Dawn Black MLA in Vancouver – discussion on women’s issues
- talk to Victim Services about doing a presentation on their services and how they help women in the community
- Women’s Organizations; Transition houses – see what assistance they need ie., blankets, socks, collect toiletries for them; have them come and discuss how they help women who are in need
- Women’s Sexual Assault Centre
- Seniors/older women – issues in coping at home; in LTC facilities, etc
- CLC put together about 20 postcards re Dec 6th; these will be sent to the Women’s Committees and then Women sign them and send them to their MP’s, MLAs

Virginia has sent an email to Nick Humphreys who is a member of the Union of Environment Workers (UEW) Local 20169 and works for Natural Resources Canada at the Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria.  Nick is the UEW Regional Vice President for BC/Yukon and the chair of the BC Regional Political Action Committee.  Nick is also an executive member of the Victoria Labour Council. I have asked if he is able to check out for our committee what events the Victoria Labour Council are planning this year to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 1989 Montreal Massacre.

Virginia has also sent an email to Sarah the contact at the Victoria Clipper to see if I can meet with her to discuss events and combining our efforts.

Next Meeting: Next meeting is scheduled for November 3rd at 5:30 pm

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:23 pm.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MINUTES – September 15, 2009

PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

Virginia Vaillancourt – UVAE 20030, Cindy Little – UTE 20028, Ian Wiggs – UNDE 21008, John Vogt – UNDE 21003, Ken Waldron – UNDE 21013, Paul Jones – UNDE 21008, Jim Sidel – DL 05120500, G. Goodmanson– UEW 20169, Peter Neelands – NRU 20088, Nick Humphreys – UEW 20169, Scott Parker – UTE 20028, April Evans – UVAE 20030, Betty Gunville – CIU 20042, Robert Nyst – UNDE 21008, Jim Sidel – DCL 05120500, Pete Wills – UEW 20076, Wayne Little – UTE 20028

PSAC Victoria RO Staff Present:

James Little – PSAC Rep

Guests:

Regrets: Dave Jackson – PSAC Regional Rep, Noelle Arnold – AGR 20064, Bernadette Israel – GSU 20001, Anita Hoffman – CEIU 20975

Read the rest of the minutes here or download a PDF of Victoria Area Council AGM minutes.

Sister Cindy Little                                                        Virginia Vaillancourt

President                                                                         Recording Secretary