Shaughnessy Heights Regional Executive – 2023 Election Results

I have worked at Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Long Term Care) for the past 23 years. I started as a ward rep and then quickly took on steward responsibilities about 13 years ago. 

Over the years, I have held 2 Regional Executive positions. When I was the Steward Liaison for the region, I worked closely with sites that did not have Stewards and provided support and guidance to Stewards that were new to their role. In my current position as the Communication Secretary I have a dual role. I make the agenda and take minutes of meetings as well as send out invites, book venues, and make food arrangements for the regional events. I am responsible for maintaining the communication network within the region. I enjoy participating in the various events that we have in the region: regional meetings, mini regionals, nursing week, BCNU day and LTC walk-abouts. During events; we have the opportunity to share information as well as to have open forum for members to ask questions. I work closely with the Regional Executive Team and seek guidance from the LRO when necessary. 

I would love to continue to serve as the Communication Secretary for Shaughnessy Heights Region.

I graduated from UBC School of Nursing and have been practicing as a registered nurse in the Lower Mainland for the past 24 years. I started my career working on an acute medical unit at Vancouver General Hospital and currently work at BC Women's Hospital as a frontline nurse in a harm reduction based obstetrical unit. I became a steward in Shaughnessy Heights region in the spring of 2016 and have been in the role of lobby coordinator since February 2017.

I have watched our health care system grow and evolve immensely throughout my nursing career; the needs of patients and the demands on nurses have both expanded exponentially. I am a passionate advocate for our members and work to ensure our members' voices are heard locally, provincially and federally. I am committed to member outreach at the work sites and want to engage our members to become increasingly active within the union and the larger community. To accomplish this, I have organized and led many community events with member volunteers and met with all levels of government to highlight the concerns our nurses are facing. I will endeavour to participate in activities within the union and the community that will continue to support this member engagement and advocacy.

I have had the pleasure of working with and learning from an exceptional regional executive team and look forward to the opportunity to continue in the role of your regional lobby coordinator.

Hello my name is Gurvir Sekhon and I am running for the Mental Health Representative position in Shaughnessy Heights. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the membership as the mental health rep for the region over the last 6 years. In the last three years Covid has demonstrated the mental health toll of our profession. Nurses are struggling to find a work life balance and 82% of our member’s report suffering from some sort of mental health injury. It has never been more important to advocate and push for the implementation of the 13 psychological factors so nurses can leave work with energy for their personal lives. I have sat on the psychological health and safety committee at PHSA and have collaborated with the employer to ensure that leadership has the proper training to help members with mental health injuries feel supported during these times. While holding this portfolio we were able to lobby that nurses be included in the presumptive legislation for PTSD. In my regional reports I show case the number of incidents that are occurring and the number of reports provided. I have worked heard to ensure our members are aware of the PHSA workplace health call centre number. I have updated members with the wealthy of resources that are available for their mental health such as the resilience workshops and recently the Before Operational Stress workshop. I am passionate about mental health as evident from my work experience in the adult and adolescent mental health populations over the last 15 years. I ask for your vote to help me to continue the work I have started to make our work place safe.

Raj Johal is a Registered Nurse with over 29 years of nursing experience in postpartum, clinical leadership, mentorship, and redevelopment. Graduating from the last Diploma Program in Nursing, Raj later completed an advanced Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing, and graduated with her BSN in 1993. Raj has worked at Fir Square in BC Women’s Hospital since the unit was established in 2003, providing care to women using substances, and infants exposed to these substances.

Raj is often sought out by leadership for her knowledge and expertise related to safety of nurses and the safety of patients on the unit. Her ability to problem solve and offer viable solutions led her to become a member of the JOSH committee, and she currently Co-Chairs this monthly meeting. Her recent advocacy related to worksite substance exposures led to a WorkSafe BC compliance order, this has resulted in the creation of an exposure plan and has resulted in notable improvements to safety and working conditions in her program.

Raj was elected as the Occupational Health and Safety Representative for the Shaughnessy Heights Region in September of 2022; since that time she has been working tirelessly on behalf of nurses. She is ensuring workers representation and rights are upheld, and participates in workplace investigations, makes recommendations to the employer, and plays a critical role in advocating for safe, healthy worksites for all members in the Region. Raj is a skilled communicator and passionate activist; this is key in her role as she actively engages in planning and decision making for the Region as it relates to health and safety.

Re-Elect Raj Johal as your OH & S Representative.

My name is Ana Maria Lyman and I am running in the 2023 Election to hopefully continue to be your Professional Responsibility Advocate for the Shaughnessy Heights Region. I have been very fortunate to have been elected into this role for the last three years. I have learnt an incredible amount and have been able to support many members in all stages of the Professional Responsibility Process. I have been an active steward for the last 4 years. In my steward role I have been able to cover the Full Time Steward Office many times which has helped me gain insight on issues that arise in all areas of our workplace. I work bedside in the Neonatal ICU where I’ve worked for 7 years. Last fall I also began to work casually in the Neonatal Follow Up Clinic. I wear many hats in different areas of health care and I enjoy them all. I believe that my experience and approachable nature make me a great candidate to continue to support the members of Shaughnessy Heights with the PR Process. I am committed to ensuring we have the tools and education for maintaining safe patient care, upholding our professional standards of practice, and creating an easy and accessible pathway for support when needed. Thank you for taking the time to read my statement and for considering voting for me!

Serving the Shaughnessy Heights Region as your current Council Member has been an honour, and I would welcome the opportunity to continue in this role. 

In 2022, I graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing. This education builds my leadership and communication skills as I focus on clear governance, and decision making. I hold a Certificate in Conflict Resolution with a Speciality in Negotiations (Justice Institute of BC), and a Certificate in Governance and Leadership (Queens IRC). The education and experience I have acquired, allows me to effectively advance the priorities of the membership. 

As a Paediatric Registered Nurse and BCNU member for over 16 years, I care about the work that Nurses as professionals provide.

It became very clear to me during the recent ratification, and through some very tough conversations, that nurses continue to be eroded of their sense of community in the union, and the purpose they envision as they continue to push through a flawed and challenged system of power imbalances with the employer. 

I am dedicated to ensure responsible governance, and together with the Regional Executive team and Stewards I will work towards balancing, and shifting the power dynamics faced in the workplace. As a collective, the flaws and challenges we face can also form the strength and action that is required to make change and embrace the prospect of better work environments. 

I have been your advocate and voice at the Council Board, Government, and Health Authority levels, and would welcome the opportunity to continue to share my experience and knowledge in fulfilling this role on your behalf. Vote for Claudette Jut as your Regional Council Representative.

My name is Sherry Lucchesi and I have been a Nurse for 30 years. Having worked 8 years with adults my last 22 years have been dedicated to children and more specifically vascular access. I have been the regional treasurer for the past 2 terms and am putting my name forward again for this position. I have enjoyed my work as a treasurer and look forward to supporting Shaunessy Heights executive team again.

My name is Natasha Milne and I have been a Registered Nurse for 8 years. I work at BC Children’s Hospital in the Operating Room as a Clinical Resource Nurse. I’ve been there for 6 years and am very happy to call the OR my home, where I work with a mighty team. While working in this multidisciplinary team I’ve been able to establish meaningful relationships and find my voice within the fast-paced environment. I have grown to become a mentor and transition into leadership to advocate within my unit for both patients and colleagues which naturally led me to become a Steward. When I am not at work, I find great self care in being busy- playing sports, chasing around my two sons, and hanging out at a dog friendly park with a large coffee.

I love collaborating, hearing from members, and making things right. I establish relationships naturally and follow through with information gathering and sharing. I am running for the position of Steward Liaison once again. While in this position I will continue to engage members and stewards—bringing them information and seeking out their questions. I will recruit new stewards and support them through the learning curve. The learning as a steward is always ongoing. I believe mentorship is a key to success as a steward. The role is not easy, and having a mentor to support you not only as a new steward but as a novice is critical. I have always said our contract should have a grey cover, because it is not black and white; there is a lot to decipher and my goal is to make it easier on all to understand.

I can also appreciate that nurses working the front lines may not have as much interest, passion or simply time to become familiar with the collective agreement. You don’t know what you don’t know until you're in a situation and “don’t know”. My plan while in this role is to reach out and provide education to stewards and members. I want members to know what they are entitled to and not potentially miss out on something because they weren’t familiar with the contractual language. I want to help Stewards be visible in the workplace and confident; therefore, allowing members to feel connected to their Stewards.

As a point of contact I will be able to provide you with up to date information on progress as well as issues currently being faced. I will be your advocate to ensure your rights within the collective agreement are being upheld and guarantee you have adequate steward representation in your workplace. My ultimate goal is to ensure consistent and accurate information is being provided to stewards and members across the region. In order to do this, I will work closely with the other Regional Executives and strive to get you the information you need. It would be my great pleasure to continue to be your Steward Liaison for Shaughnessy Heights!