The National Executive is the highest authority of the National Union between conventions. It carries out the instructions of the convention. It conducts the affairs of the National Union. With the Constitution as its guide, it shall take all action necessary to carry out the aims and objectives of this National Union.
Pierre Gingras is Legal Counsel for
COPE/SEPB
Click here to E-mail Serge Cadieux
An economist, financial analyst, and longtime union activist, Gwenne Farrell was acclaimed as COPE-SEPB national Secretary-Treasurer at the union’s national convention in June, 2007.
As the Vice President representing the BC Hydro Groups of COPE Local 378, Gwenne is the primary political and union representative for over 3,000 workers in the British Columbia energy sector.
Gwenne has been a member of COPE-SEPB since starting with BC Hydro, the province’s provincially-owned utility, in 1990 as a customer service accounts representative. She quickly rose through BC Hydro financial departments, becoming a senior Financial Analyst in 2001.
Gwenne comes to COPE-SEPB with a strong labour background. She has a degree in economics with a focus on labour economics, from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. She was elected Vice-President of Local 378 in 2005, and previously served as a COPE 378 Executive Councillor and a Job Steward. As Vice President, Gwenne is also the spokesperson for Local 378’s flagship Take Back the Power campaign, the leading voice fighting energy privatization in BC.
Gwenne chairs a number of internal committees at COPE 378 and also sits on the Inaugural Executive Council of the Fraser Valley Labour Council, and on the Canadian Labour Congress’ Energy Task Force.
In addition to her labour activism, Gwenne also volunteers extensively in the community. She sits on the BC Elks Association Finance Committee, the Economic and Energy Policy Committee of the BC-NDP, the Board of Directors of BC Citizens for Public Power, is a Trustee of HYDRECS, and is on the United Way of the Lower Mainland's Campaign Labour Committee. She is also the Treasurer of the White Rock Players Club and sits on the City of White Rock Arts and Culture Committee.
Gwenne lives in White Rock, BC with her husband, Tom.
Click here to E-mail Gwenne Farrell
I was born in January of 1948 the youngest of three children. There were my sisters Pierrette and Monique, my father Robert who was a sales clerk and my mother Rhea a housewife dedicated to defending the most destitute women. I have inherited some of their genes no doubt: I hate inequities, love people and I am a perfectionist to a fault.
I lost my first regular job as a reprisal from my employer for having organized the place. I became member of Local 57 when I was hired to the position of library technician by the Baldwin Cartier School Board in 1973. In 1975, I was given the opportunity to sit on the provincial bargaining committee for the public and parapublic sector. In 1978, I was elected President of my base unit until 1999.
In 1980, the convention elected me President of Local 57 for a one-year term. There was no doubt in my mind at the time that it would be for a year only. Thanks to the support, the cooperation and the dynamism of the membership I have been able to remain President of SEPB-Québec, the then Local 57 until June 2003. I filled the position of Secretary in my unit until 2003.
Prior to Local 57 restructuring in 2003, I had also been President of the Eastern Canada Council for 4 years. I have been a member of the Canadian National Committee since 1980 and worked with six different Canadian Directors; from Roméo Corbeil to Jerri New who became Canadian Director in March of this year. In 1998, I became Vice President for Region 1 (Quebec and the Maritimes).
I have been a member of the General Council of the Quebec Federation of Labour since 1985 and I have been involved for more than twenty years with the Federation’s Labour Education Committee.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support over the years. Every delegate, every unit officer is key to whatever progress and success a trade union can achieve.
Maurice has a Bachelors degree in arts and has three daughters : Myriam, Julie and Karine.
Click here to E-mail Maurice Laplante
Elizabeth ( Liz ) Fong, currently Vice-President, Region 2 - Ontario, has been a union activist since 1975, originally with the Union of Bank Employees who are now members of United Steel Workers. Due to an employment change, she joined our Union and has been an active member since 1987.
She has served as a delegate to the Labour Council of Toronto and York Region; as an Executive Board member representing Labour on the Toronto Training Board;and serves on several Labour Council and Ontario Federation of Labour Committees.
She is presently the President of COPE Local 343 and previously held this position from 1990 to September 2002, where she relinquished the position to serve as International Vice-President, for what was then Region X, Canada.
Click here to E-mail Garry Hamblin
David Black is National Vice-President, Region 4. He is also a Vice-President of Local 378, representing members at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). David serves as the COPE representative to the National Political Action Committee of the Canadian Labour Congress.
David works as a Claims Adjuster at ICBC and has been a member of the Union for more than ten years, serving as a Job Steward, Executive Councilor and Executive Board Member. He has also served on many Union Committees at Local 378.
Click here to E-mail David Black
Patty has been a member of Local 343 for more than 25 years. She worked for approximately 6 years at the Toronto Labour Council. During that time Patty was elected as a member-at-large on the Local 343 Executive Board and subsequently served as President of Local 343 for 2 terms of office. She became a full-time representative for Local 343 in 1987. Patty is currently a staff representative with COPE Ontario. Patty has represented her union at various levels of the labour movement, including 4 terms on the Toronto Labour Council Executive, OFL Women’s Committee, Toronto Labour Council Women’s Committee, various Local 343 committees, as a Regional Representative on the National Committee of COPE and she currently sits on the National Executive Board as the Vice President, Seat Reserved for Women.
Click here to E-mail Patty Clancy
Pierre Gingras was called to the Quebec Bar in 1975. He first went into private practice specializing in civil, business and educational law.
He later joined the litigation department of the Consumer Protection Bureau of Quebec, a government agency, where he acted as a prosecutor.
Pierre Gingras became involved with the labour movement when in 1977 he joined the legal staff of the Service Employees’ Union, Local 298 (QFL).
He was hired as lawyer by OPEIU Local 57 in June of 1982. In 2004, he was appointed Assistant Director and Person-in-Charge of the legal services of SEPB-Québec.
Pierre Gingras also sits on the Canadian Labour Congress where he participates in organizing forums and national conferences. He has often been a speaker at various conferences on labour and human rights related issues.
He was invited to join the CLC delegation in his capacity of legal counsel and take part in the United Nations World Conference against Racism that was held in Durban, South Africa in June 2001.
Upon the formation of COPE SEPB Pierre Gingras was appointed Legal Counsel to the National Executive.
Click here to E-mail Pierre Gingras
News and Information
