Simon Fraser Regional Executive – 2023 Election Results

I appreciate and respect the lenses and strength that diversity brings to a cross functional team. I am a registered nurse working in surgical services at Royal Columbian Hospital. I hold a BA in Economics, and a BSN. I previously worked as a Financial Services Manager (Banker). I identify with multiple HRE Caucuses, and both networks. I’ve had the privilege of serving as the Regional Communications Secretary for the past year. This has been an exciting and rewarding role that has allowed me to provide unique perspective, representation, and leadership within the Region.

I am a dynamic and results-driven professional with a passion for technology and learning. Both as a hobby and professionally, I enjoy learning new platforms, exploring new technology, and finding innovative ways to utilize technology. I have effectively utilized various platforms for communication, event planning and registration, and promotion. I have successfully managed and organized regional records, agendas, minutes of meetings, group correspondence, and data registries. I am proficient with Apple, Microsoft, and Google application suites. I am also skilled with Windows and iOS systems.

Statement of Objectives:
1. Acting as an effective member of the Regional Executive Team: I will actively participate in executive planning and decision making, providing valuable insights and contributing to the progress.
2. Modernize record-keeping systems: I will continue to introduce digital tools to organize and streamline regional records and documents.
3. Minute taking and record keeping will remain a priority to support effective decision-making processes.
4. Facilitating regional events, registrations, and logistics: I will continue to proactively coordinate with relevant stakeholders to promote success and improve attendance at these meetings.
5. Advocate for technological advancements: I will stay abreast of emerging technologies and continue to make recommendations.

I am a proactive and collaborative team member, consistently contributing to the performance of the region. I actively participate in regional meetings and events, and their planning. By embracing innovation and leveraging technology, I am confident in my ability to continue excelling in this role and to make a positive impact on our membership.

My name is Maria Huertas and I am an RN with 20+years of experience in various areas of nursing which include home care, long term care, and acute care. I am currently working at Royal Columbian Hospital on the neurosciences unit and I have been on the Simon Fraser Regional Executive for 10+ years first as Communications Secretary and currently as Lobby Coordinator.

During my years as a member of the Simon Fraser Regional Executive, I have had the privilege to represent members during local community events and in my interactions with various MLAs and MPs. From advocating for better work environments for members to advocating for the social determinants of health in the community, I have been able to build strong relationships with community groups and community leaders. At the height of the pandemic, I was able to collaborate with my community contacts and source donations of fabric and utilize the skills of the volunteers of the Royal Columbian Hospital foundation to make and distribute 100s of masks as well as coordinate monthly outreach providing meals for the New Westminster community. I am seeking re-election as Lobby Coordinator to continue to advocate for the members and to build stronger relationships with both the community and local leaders.

I am running for and believe that I am a strong candidate for the Regional Mental Health Representative position. I have 43 years of nursing experience (LPN, RN, casual, RFT) in numerous hospital areas. Currently, I am in a RFT position in pediatrics at RCH. I have also been a steward since 2006 and am presently in my third term as a member educator. Additionally, I have been involved in the HRE caucuses since inception in 2006, initially with the Mosaic of Colors and then with the Workers with Disabilities Caucus. I am the current representative for the latter.

I have extensive experience in all areas of steward work, including covering in the full-time steward position, essential services negotiations, OH+S and PRP. This requires a strong understanding and intimate knowledge of the Collective Agreement and excellent interpersonal, relational and communication skills. I have been an active participant and attended the majority of all regional, mini-regional, and steward meetings, convention, HRE conferences, and bargaining meetings. Furthermore, I have educated members about their rights and have assisted them in grievance, investigative, displacement, termination and other meetings.

My member educator role has allowed me to continue the teaching aspect of the steward role but in an expanded capacity. It enables me to reach members from worksites other than RCH and keeps me updated with current information. Education empowers members and helps them to grow and promote healthy, collaborative relationships with others. It fosters sensitivity, awareness, resilience, and social justice – all of which are important to me. 

As a representative for WWD, I embrace diversity and inclusivity, and advocate for those who are marginalized and discriminated against. Subsequently, I am especially excited about the prospect of facilitating mental health education and continuing the process of removing barriers and stigmas attached to mental health injury and illness. It is important that we recognize, accept, and understand mental health injury and illness as a part of being human and the impact this has on one’s life. In helping those who are struggling, we assist them as well as ourselves to be the best people we can be.

For the previously mentioned skills and experience, as well as my desire to learn and improve, I believe that I am an excellent candidate for the Mental Health representative position. I possess the necessary skill set, knowledge, empathy, and passion that will inevitably ensure that I will be effective in this position if selected.

Hello My name is Laura Wilson.
I work at RMH. 
I am your current Professional Practice Advocate for Simon Fraser Region. I am also a steward at RMH.
It is my job as your Professional Practice Advocate to bring the Nurse, Manager, Employer practice officer and BCNU practice officer together to help the Nurse make their practice the best it can be. 
I have been in this role for three years now and have achieved many successful changes for Nurses who have brought forward Professional Practice Concerns. My philosophy ( although it's not required ) is to attend the meetings with the Nurse. I feel this achieves better outcomes and the manager takes the process seriously. I support the Nurse through the whole process and feel I have developed a culture of trust though this. Throughout my term I have held many education sessions (Zoom and In person at sites ) to empower all Nurses so they can confidently move ahead with their concerns and have the knowledge to speak with their manager about practice concerns and make the changes that are needed for safe practice.
I have a great passion to continue this work and build on what I have achieved in the last 3 years. I have the knowledge and confidence to achieve much more for the Nurses of BCNU Simon Fraser Region. 
If you vote for me I am ready to continue with this work to help create a work environment where you as Nurses feel safe to bring forth practice concerns and trust that I will follow through until we reach a resolve.

Wendy’s experience in nursing extends over 40 years, starting her career as an LPN, her passion for continued learning led her to complete her BSN, and Specialty Emergency Nursing Certificate. Wendy has a range of experience having worked in leadership roles as a Patient Care Coordinator, in both the Emergency, and Medicine programs and as a Site Leader.

Her knowledge, and experience working in board governance, includes various roles within the Union including Steward, Steward Coordinator, Communications Secretary, member of the Strategic Nurse Staffing Committee, elected Council Member and Chair of the HR Committee, and Regional Council Member for the Simon Fraser Region
.
Her role as an advocate for members’ concerns has been the foundation of her work. She understands the importance of establishing cohesive, supportive, and responsive teams, and has the experience and vision to serve the Simon Fraser Region in this capacity. Wendy is a leader who embraces learning, shares opportunities, and listens to the concerns of nurses, bringing their voice to the forefront when making decisions.

It would be her privilege to be re-elected as the Regional Council Member of the Simon Fraser Region where she commits to serve in the best interests of the membership, guiding the region with sound judgment, integrity, and respect.

Statement of Objectives:
· Recruitment and retention of stewards
· Support and encourage steward work
· Promote safe patient care by collaborating with the Regional Executive Team, stewards, and frontline nurses to hold the employer accountable for the new Collective Agreement and for safe Nurse Patient Ratios.
· Ensure frontline nursing interests are brought forward to key decision makers in the Health Authority and Ministry of Health.

My name is Roy Hansen, RPN and I’ve been working as a full-time nurse at RCH since 2008. It will be a complete privilege to represent and serve in our Simon Fraser Region as a Regional Council Member [co-Chair].

Since leading my nursing colleagues out of a non-nursing Union into BCNU in 2012/2013, I have been an elected Steward, was the RCH co-Chair of the PR Committee for over 5 years, was a Member Organizer twice, and also served as the SF Regional PR Advocate from 2017 until becoming RCH's Full-Time Steward in 2019. 

To me, effective leadership means actively representing our membership with our elected leaders needing to adopt and support a collective vision that understands and promotes the needs of all BCNU members. I’m committed to being a strong and active voice on Council and I'm dedicated to empowering our membership having their ideas valued and respected. Together, we can continue developing our Union into a powerful and productive force to serve our members well. I stand ready to lead in that progressive and positive direction.

I excel at remaining calm, focused and effective, especially in difficult situations. I seek consensus while making tough decisions. I resolve issues through respectful, collaborative efforts with a common sense approach. My positive attitude and enthusiasm run deep and my mature leadership skills are a huge asset. I also include gratitude and humour plus I get along very well with others while working in team settings. 

My varied experiences as a long-time Union activist, Mental Health nurse, Regional Executive member, RCH's Full-time Steward since 2019 and most recently, as an elected representative for Large Acute sites on our Provincial Bargaining Committee, have all provided the foundation to succeed. I will continue to advocate for nurses to have manageable workloads within safer and more enjoyable work-sites. I plan to lead in ways that promote confidence and pride in our Union and our leaders. 

Once elected, I pledge to:

• Co-lead our Region by effectively engaging with and empowering nurses
• Make sound Council governance decisions while upholding fiduciary responsibility 
• Engage in respectful debate with open, direct dialogue seeking the best outcomes for our membership
• Encourage all members to participate in and feel strongly connected to our Union
• Remain calm, friendly, approachable, respectful, accountable and responsive to concerns
• Promote innovative methods to conduct Union business
• Maintain expertise with our PCA's contract language and processes
• Provide a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that fosters creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and amicable 
communications

Website: www.electroy.ca 
Email: electroy@shaw.ca

Biography
• Graduated from the Douglas College RN program in May 2005
• Worked at Ridge Meadows Hospital since I graduated and currently work full-time in the Intensive Care Unit
• Completed my Critical Care training at BCIT
• BCNU steward since 2006
• Served as Regional Co-Chair from January 2016 to May 2016
• Current Regional Treasurer (since 2017)
• Member of the Provincial Finance Committee (In-Town Treasurer)
• Prior to becoming treasurer, I held the Professional Responsibility Advocate role from 2009 to 2017
• Have a strong understanding of BCNU financial policies and accounting software

Statement of Objectives
• Be fiscally responsible with BCNU funds
• Ensures the Simon Fraser Region receives a fair amount of funding for a large region
• Believe that BCNU needs to be more visible at our worksites. This year we have increased our mini regionals to 5 rounds at our acute care sites. We see approximately 1250 members at each round of our mini regionals. This year we will have an evening mini regional at each acute care site to allow us to connect with our members who work evening and night shifts. We have also increased our mini regionals at our long term care and community sites to 3 per year. 
• Support using multiple means of connecting with members including large regional meetings, dinner meetings, mini regionals, worksite visits and telephone/zoom townhalls
• Believe that we need to have well supported and educated stewards at our worksites. We have increased our steward meetings to 3 per year and have weekly drop-in zoom sessions with our full time stewards.

I'm excited to run for the position of Steward Liaison in the Simon Fraser Region. I have been a nurse since January 2013 and started my career on Med/Surg at Surrey Memorial Hospital; however transferred to community and home health after one year. I was a home care nurse in Burnaby for several years, before moving to the TriCities office in 2021. Although I have always worked as a home care nurse, I also have experience as a community health nurse (case manager) and palliative clinician. I was appointed a steward in 2017, then elected in 2019. I was the region's first steward at large for several months which provided experience and insight into acute, long term care, and corrections. I am the current Steward Liaison and was appointed to the position upon my return from maternity leave in September 2022.

Over the last several months I have learned about the role and expectations as well as gleaned how I would like to proceed should I continue as steward liaison. I have observed the regional council members, how they operate as a team, and how I can support and facilitate it's service to the region. I have connected with the stewards and steward teams and made myself approachable and available. I have met with the steward liaisons throughout the province on education days, gained insight into how other steward liaisons function within their regions, and discussed role specific challenges as well as possible solutions. If elected, I will use this knowledge and experience to increase my capacity for steward recruitment by attending the Building Union Strength course to engage with potential ward reps and stewards. I will take a lead role in developing and facilitating meetings geared towards steward education and development. I will continue to collaborate with stewards with a goal to increase my capacity to support well established and functioning steward teams. Lastly, I will find ways to further recognize and communicate the immeasurable value and worth of our stewards both on a personal level as well as through the Regional Executive.

I've always been fond of teaching, learning, and mentorship and therefore seek the role of Steward Liaison to support our stewards as they transition from novice to expert and beyond. With my experience, I believe I could excel in this roll and be of valuable service to the council, region, and our stewards. It has been a pleasure to serve the Simon Fraser Region thus far and I hope to continue to do so in the upcoming term. Thank you for your consideration. 

I have been a fierce advocate for nurses for the last 5 years as a BCNU Steward. I have also been a Registered Nurse at Royal Columbian Hospital for the last 9 years. I work in the CSICU. In my role as a steward, I have educated our members on the collective agreement and their rights. I have advocated on behalf of and fought hard and without reservation for the rights of our members with some great sucesses. I have also recruited and mentored newer stewards. I have served as the Full Time Steward and covered vacation for the Full Time Steward. I believe that collective agreement literacy is essential for all members to ensure we are maximizing our rights and influence in the workplace. I also believe that trust in our Union has eroded over the years and that needs to be corrected. This loss of trust has resulted from a variety of reasons but I believe a lack of openness and clarity around how our Union operates is paramount to how this issue has been exacerbated.

I believe the role of Steward Liaison covers not just support and education for current stewards but also education around the role that Stewards play within our Union and bringing that information to our members. This approach, I believe, can both improve understanding and trust in our Union but also be used as a recruiting tool for those that may have an interest in taking on the role of BCNU Steward. 

I would like to expand the Steward team in our Simon Fraser Region where the needs are greatest and help empower all of our Stewards to achieve maximal results for our members and assert the strength of the BC Nurses Union. 

I encourage you to vote for me as Steward Liaison for the Simon Fraser Region so that I may further help bolster the strength of the nurses in our region and prove what we can achieve as a strong and unified Union.