Vancouver Metro Regional Executive – 2023 Election Results

My name is Frances Beswick and I'm pleased to be running for re-election as your regional Communications Secretary. My regular position is as a Registered Nurse in the Operating Room at St.Paul's Hospital. I have greatly enjoyed my last few years in the role of Communications Secretary in the Vancouver Metro region, and I hope to continue in the role for the upcoming three year term, if you'll have me. Thank you to everyone in the region for the support. 

Biographical Sketch:

I'm a Licensed Practical Nurse with 25 years of service mostly in Med/Surg , I'm currently working in Renal at St Paul's Hospital 
in the Peritoneal Dialysis Clinic. I'm a Steward and took on the Lobby Coordinator role early this year when there was a vacancy.
I have enjoyed the position, it allows me to actively participate in executive planning and decision making for the region. I'm directly responsible for organizing and evaluating regional Lobby activities, and support our regional equity and human rights caucus/group representatives and communities. 

Statement Objective: 

To leverage my extensive experience and deep understanding of the nursing profession to actively contribute to the advancement of nurses' rights, welfare, and professional growth as a dedicated lobbyist within a nursing union. I aim to employ my advocacy skills and strategic acumen to effectively communicate and negotiate with key stakeholders, policymakers, and legislators, thereby shaping impactful policies, legislation, and initiatives that improve working conditions, ensure fair compensation, and enhance the overall quality of healthcare for nurses and patients alike. By utilizing my expertise and passion for nursing advocacy, I aspire to make a lasting and positive impact within the nursing community while promoting the values and principles of the nursing union I represent. I believe as nurses we are gatekeepers for our public healthcare. 

Hello my name is Madelene Fraser. I am running for the Mental health Representative for Vancouver Metro..I am currently working as a CNL on in patient nephrology/urology. I have worked at SPH for over 30 years. I studied in Sydney, Australia and worked at large inner city hospitals. I returned to Vancouver I wanted to work at SPH specifically with vulnerable and underserviced people and their families.
After many years in nursing leadership roles I learnt that my passion for advocacy and engagement aligned with the values of the BCNU.

I have been in the mental health representative role since last October. My role is to support and educate members in Mental Health related matters. I work collaboratively with the provincial OHS Department, Regional OH&S Representative and OH&S stewards on mental health issues. In the new contract there are funds set aside for mental health support which is fantastic to have funding specifically to support mental health and wellness. More and more, mental health injuries are effecting our members. 

Reporting mental health injuries, violence and bullying is essential for it to be addressed.. The practice of normalizing abuse and violence needs to stop. Reach out to your stewards, OH&S and myself if you experience any type of abuse, bullying or violence we are here to help you navigate the process and get you support.

I am committed to ensuring that members have access to education and resources. I am committed to holding the employer accountable for unsafe practices a that put us at risk. Working countless hours of overtime understaffed and overcapacity are all variables that erode our mental health and wellness.

Thank you for the opportunity to continue working with you.
Thank you for all you do.

Madelene

My name is Arlie Gilhousen and I am an LPN working for Providence Health. I have spent all of my career within St Paul's Hospital and held positions in Gen/Surg, Ortho, ED, Medicine, and Urban Health. I retired April 2022 and have returned as a casual at Crosstown Clinic. My union involvement began in 2013 shortly after LPN's joined BCNU. First a steward, I was asked to join the Regional Executive shortly thereafter and have held two and a half terms as Van Metro's Mental Health Representative and a further term as the OHS Representative. Assisting nurses to create safer working conditions is highly gratifying work and I feel honored to be in the role.

My objectives in the OHS role are as follows:

Optimizing the performance of JOHSC's in my region by
-reviewing all TOR's and identifying deviations from WorkSafe regulations
-getting a complete accurate list of BCNU reps and staying in regular contact
-after a recent change in WorkSafe officers in my region, developing
an accurate list of the name of officers and contacts at each facility
-retaking the BCNU JOHSC training as I have been told it has been significantly upgraded
-identifying and encouraging all BCNU reps to take the JOHSC training

Developing relationships with all WorkSafe officers in my region

Continuing to hold the BCNU SPH JOHSC rep and BCNU RVPC rep positions and ensure I have a
sufficient number of trained alternates

To become more familiar with the Psychological Standard, the 13 factors, and work in tandem with the
Mental Health rep to monitor the Employers implementation

Continue to support nurses who have experienced trauma and violence on the job and lead them through
the process of reporting, what to expect and do, and connecting them to services they may want to engage. The 
Employer has a poor record in supporting nurses regarding article 42.07 C and needs constant vigilance to 
force them to adhere to the PCA.

To identify and mentor possible replacements for my role, as this would be, if I am elected, my last term

I graduated with a BSN from the University of British Columbia in 2013 and prior to that, I did biomedical research at UBC. In my career so far, I have worked in Richmond Hospital on Acute medicine ward, St. Paul’s Hospital on Cardiology Med/Surg ward and Emergency Department. I have also worked for 2 years full-time as General Nurse Educator with Professional Practice. My portfolio was scope of practice and policies/guidelines and general orientation. I am currently working full-time as Access Services Educator and casually pick up in the Emergency department at St. Paul’s Hospital. 
I have been involved with BCNU since graduating, but in the past 9 years, I became more involved becoming a steward for the Emergency department at St Paul’s and PR Advocate for Vancouver metro region since 2017. As PR Advocate, I have been assisting members with the PR process and PR education, attending education sessions and PR meetings. I enjoy engaging with members, listening to their stories and providing guidance and support to help them solve the issues that arise at the workplace. 

Statement of Objectives:
• Support , promote and problem-solve safe patient care and nursing practice at worksites
• Educate members about existing PRP resources available to them
• Attend Regional and PRF meeting as well as education sessions 
• Connect and collaborate with BCNU Professional Advocacy Officers 
• Assist PRP education sessions for members and managers, making sure it is a collaborative process
• Maintain accountability for time spent on union activities

My name is Meghan Friesen, your Regional Council Member of the Vancouver Metro Region. I have had the privilege and honour of serving you over the past three terms, I am eager to continue working tirelessly on your behalf in the term to come.

For over 29 years, I have served as a Registered Nurse, dedicating my career to the well-being of others. Within the BCNU, I have actively engaged in member advocacy, undertaking various roles that have allowed me to effect positive changes within our profession. As a steward and full-time steward, I have supported fellow nurses through grievances and worksite campaigns, ensuring their voices are heard. Furthermore, I have been elected to several committees of council, contributing to effective board governance, leadership development, and unwavering support for our members and stewards. Notably, my previous participation in the BCNU Bargaining Committee has given me the opportunity to directly represent the interests of nurses at the government and health authority levels, resulting in significant improvements to our working conditions.

I take immense pride in being a nurse, just like you. My passion for supporting and caring for my fellow nurses has been the driving force behind my activism and strong leadership. Grounded by a deep belief in the problem-solving abilities of nurses and their capacity for professionalism and respect, I have dedicated myself to their advocacy. Moreover, I am a humble alumnus of the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference, and I have completed the Queen's Certificate in Governance and Leadership Excellence from Queen's University. Armed with these invaluable experiences and learnings, I have consistently demonstrated strong, accountable leadership by being accessible, responsive, and fully committed to addressing member concerns.

Today, I stand before you with an unwavering commitment to fostering a stronger collective that embraces and takes action on issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. I have listened attentively to the concerns of our Regional Membership, and I am optimistic about the potential for growth and open-mindedness as we confront the toxic cultures that plague our workplaces on a daily basis.

I am committed to advocating on behalf of nurses, tirelessly championing their priorities and ensuring that their rights under the collective agreement are upheld. I will continue to fight for work environments that allow you to maintain your professional standards of practice. Creating safe workplaces, both physically and psychologically, is at the heart of my dedication.

As I seek re-election, I humbly ask for your support and your vote. Together, we can forge a brighter future for the nurses of the Vancouver Metro Region and our entire province. With unwavering commitment, passion, and dedication, I promise to keep working tirelessly on your behalf.

My name is Nino Villamente, I am an RN working at Mt St Joseph and St Paul's Hospital in the Emergency department. I have been active in the union as a steward since 2017 and has held the Regional Treasurer role the last three years. I am also a member of the Men in Nursing caucus and was the regional rep in the past. I am dedicated, passionate about being an advocate for members and a proponent of safe practice and environment not only to staff but to our clientele, our patients. I would like to declare my intention to run as the regional treasure for the region of Vancouver Metro once more. I have gained invaluable experience the last few years thru the pandemic and the process of ratification the last 2 NBAs. It has helped me understand the importance of stewardship and union membership and how we as union leaders can help our members in protecting their rights as workers. I believe these will help me further in assisting the membership if I am fortunate to be given another chance. 

I’ve been in the healthcare field since 2006 and have since worked in Long-Term Care, Acute Medicine, Acute Care of the Elderly, Respirology, Family Practice, Emergency, Rural, Addictions and Primary Care.

I currently work in Mount St. Joseph’s Hospital's Emergency Department, as well as casually in the community, at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS’s (BC CfE) Hope to Health Primary Care Clinic and Supervised Consumption Site in the Downtown Eastside. 

I first became a steward in 2017 and have been your current regional Steward Liaison since last October. My role as Steward Liaison has been to fulfill the educational needs of your steward team, to recruit, mentor and support new stewards and active members, and to be the link between your Regional Executive Team, the Full-Time Stewards/Steward-at-Large, your Regional Steward Team and you, the Members.

Moving forward, my short-term goals are to keep developing team strengthening strategies within the Regional Steward Team and increase support of worksites without stewards. On a more mid to long-term basis, my goal is to recruit and mentor stewards to provide members with deeply needed support.