Media Advisory
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February 22, 2008
Power to Lead |
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Nurses' Union Convention begins Monday February 25
Delegates will focus on the battle against overcapacity and overcrowding, and how nurses are fighting for public health care
More than 400 delegates and observers will gather at Vancouver's Hyatt Regency Hotel starting Monday (February 25) for the annual convention of the BC Nurses' Union
Under the theme Power to Lead, the Convention- which runs until Wednesday (February 27) ‑ will tackle some of the difficult issues facing nurses, allied health care workers and patients seeking services in BC's health care system.
BC Nurses Union Convention - Monday Feb. 25 Wednesday Feb. 27
Regency Ballroom – Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver.
Daily calls to order 9:00 am. See following highlights.
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The Convention will bring together nursing leaders from Australia, Ontario and Alberta, and from across British Columbia, including Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses' Unions.
It will feature the annual state of nursing address from BCNU President Debra McPherson Monday morning. Monday afternoon members will discuss the steps union activists are taking to engage with employers and government in order to relieve nurses' workloads and improve working conditions at a time of serious staffing shortages and overcapacity conditions.
Also on the agenda is a keynote speech Tuesday morning on the Power to Lead from Jill Iliffe, federal secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation. Australian nurses recently helped lead the fight to unseat the government of former Prime Minister John Howard who tried to dismantle nurses' union and workplace rights.
Iliffe's address will set the tone for a panel Tuesday afternoon on how nurses are leading the fight for public health care in Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia.
On Wednesday BCNU members will rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery at noon to expose the cutbacks in seniors care and press for better services for the elderly in the community and in long term care facilities.
Delegates will also discuss reports from union leaders and debate a series of proposed resolutions and by-law changes.
Convention highlights
| Monday February 25 |
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9:00 am |
Call to Order |
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9:30 am - 9:45 am |
Year In Review Video – The Power to Lead |
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9:45 am - 10:30 am |
Address by BCNU president Debra McPherson |
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11:00 am - 11:25 am |
Linda Silas
President Canadian Federation of Nurses' Unions |
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Jim Sinclair,
President BC Federation of Labour |
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3:45 pm – 5:00 pm |
Overcapacity? Respect Nurses –
coping with overcrowding and shortages |
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| Tuesday February 26 |
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9:15 am – 10:15 am |
Keynote Speaker – Jill Iliffe, Australian Nursing Federation |
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2:30 pm – 4:30 pm |
Nurses fighting for public health care |
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Heather Smith,
President United Nurses of Alberta |
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Linda Haslam-Stroud,
President Ontario Nurses' Association |
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Anne Shannon,
Vice President BC Nurses' Union,
Co-chair BC Health Coalition |
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| Wednesday February 27 |
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11:30 am |
Seniors Matter Nurses Care
Rally for seniors' care – Vancouver Art Gallery |
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| For more information contact |
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Art Moses |
Communications Coordinator 604-868-4259 |
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Dan Tatroff |
Communications Officer 604-868-6865 |
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Sharon Costello |
Campaigns Officer 604-868-4261 |
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