Our Union, Our Community
Our Union, Our Community
Remembering Executive Board Member Chris Stolte
Remembering Executive Board Member Chris Stolte
This year, our union was devastated by the sudden passing of SEIU Healthcare Executive Board Member Chris Stolte.
Chris was a dynamic leader in our union, his profession, and his community. He was an even better person, and we are all better at knowing him.
A dedicated, passionate paramedic and long-time chief steward for the County of Lambton, Chris strongly advocated everything related to his profession. He served as a leader and chair on several provincial paramedic committees. He’s served on the SEIU Healthcare Executive Board as the Region 7 representative since 2016.
His activism through his union has been vital in strengthening our support for our paramedic members, and his political work with us resulted in increased ambulance coverage and more paramedics in various parts of the province, including Chatham/Kent and his own County of Lambton.
January 22 - Kitchener Rangers Hockey
Over 100 SEIU Healthcare members and their families joined us for a regional OHL battle between the Kitchener Rangers and London Knights. Ultimately, our Kitchener members went home happiest after a 5-2 Rangers win.
February 18 – North Family Day Event
To celebrate Family Day in the north, we treated interested SEIU members and their families to a special free event. The Englehart Arena hosted our purple families for a special free event of Indoor skating, face painting for the children, a sign painting workshop and lots of food, snacks and beverages for all.
As most of our members are women, we must work together to create workplaces and spaces where women can thrive. This Women’s History Month, we hosted our Women’s Summit to discuss breaking down barriers for women workers to strive socially, culturally, politically and economically.
Before the summit, over 100 SEIU Healthcare members joined the International Women’s Day march in downtown Toronto.
April 28 – Day of Mourning
May 27 - Sarnia Bowling
Marcin Bowl in Sarnia received SEIU members and their loved ones on May 27. The bowling alley was filled with vibrant purple for our first-ever SEIU bowling day.
June 3 - CALM Awards
Scrubs and Scopes Volume 4 – best design for a regular publication
2022 Annual Report – best website content: https://seiuannualreport2022.ca
Online Overtime Calculator – honourable mention for most innovative online tool: https://seiunurses.ca/overtime/
June 17 - Filipino Heritage Month
On June 27, 2023, SEIU hosted its Workers of Colour members. The event was a full day of activism, intriguing conversations, and committee action planning that will guide our union’s future work. It was an excellent opportunity to connect with community members and allies in SEIU. Celebrating SEIU members in this community is another way we are working towards winning racial justice for all working families.
In July, we celebrated our purple power! Members held purple-themed celebrations in their workplaces across Ontario. We received many joyous photos and are glad to see our purple family from all over.
Purple Day at NYGH Seniors Health Centre
Purple Day at Sunnybrook St. Johns Rehab
Purple Day at Bayview Site
Purple Day at Gravenhurst
Purple Day at NYGH Toronto
Purple Day at Women’s Hospital
July 22 – Family Day at Canada’s Wonderland
The 2023 scholarship contest was opened to all SEIU Healthcare members or their children who were enrolled or had been accepted into a post-secondary program in Fall 2023!
The applicant’s videos were so inspiring – we loved learning about what healthcare means to them and what they see for the future of healthcare. You voted for four winners from our eight finalists.
Congratulations once again to our winners:
- Jennifer Alviar
- Matthew Liaw
- Jehnelle Harvey- Dinnall
- Amira Reid
August 26 – Family Day at East Park London
August 26 - Filipino Festival at Nathan Phillips Square
August 27 - Capital Pride Ottawa
SEIU Healthcare celebrated members of the LGBTQ2IA+ community in Region 8. The bunch walked the capital parade in Ottawa with pride. Represented by SEIU community members, staff and their families walked the streets in purple shirts as the crowd cheered them on.
This year, we are getting ready to head back to the bargaining table with the Ontario Hospital Association to negotiate the renewal of your current agreement, which expired on December 31, 2023.
To prepare, we held our bargaining conference to explain the central bargaining process, discuss upcoming priorities and elect your new bargaining committee.
Members at the conference also attended a large-scale anti-privatization rally with workers from dozens of unions from all over the province.