Minutes for Lower Mainland BC SP Sub Group Executive Meeting – April 13 2026

Date: April 13, 2026

Time: 5:30 PM

Location: Old Spaghetti Factory, 53 Water Street, Vancouver, B.C. 

Executive Members

Tanya Evans

Tim Powers

Lola Bryson – Regrets

Philip Bartha

Bryan Chen

Marianne Quat – Regrets

Hugo Wong

Helen Lu

Special Guests:
Rob MacDonald – Former Member of Vancouver SP Sub Group 

Carol Ng – Vancouver SP Sub Group Member, RCMP

Karen – Vancouver SP Sub Group Member, RCMP

1. Call to Order

Meeting called to order at 5:57 PM

2. Approval of the agenda

Agenda approved. M/S/C

3. Business arising from the Minutes

Motion to approve minutes from February 23rd meeting. M/S/C

4. Welcome to Guests 

Executive team members introduced themselves to guests, including their roles, and shared rules of quorum, structure of executive team meetings 
Rob MacDonald gave a presentation and provided physical materials covering the structure of PIPSC, the history of PIPSC, composition of PIPSC membership, services offered to members, role of collective agreements and stewards, etc. 

5. President’s Report 

2026 SP AGM Debrief
President shared a variety of updates, including the following:
Bargaining: Good overall turnout from bargaining survey, bargaining notice coming up in June (members encouraged to educate others about the bargaining process)
New Learning Coordinator (see presentations available to educate members in Table of Presentations at the end of these minutes)

Members encouraged to participate in Open Bargaining by obtaining a PIPSC email address and accessing the SP Active Chat

SP Vancouver SG formally changed to SP Lower Mainland SG

Bryan in the process of reaching out to members located in Chilliwack, clarifying extent of SP Lower Mainland SG geographic boundaries

SGs encouraged to clean up their membership lists. Potential opportunity for SP Lower Mainland SG to initiate a survey with a prize draw to assist with this process and engage RAND members (to discuss more next meeting)

PIPSC website has been updated and is still a work in progress, should make it easier for members to connect with stewards.

Acceptance of verbal report. M/S/C

6. Treasurer’s Report 

Tim provided an update on the financial status of the SG
Sub Group supports spending up to $400 to cover costs of travelling and parking for members (including executive members) to attend executive meetings M/S/C
When using funds, make sure we track how funds are being moved around
Acceptance of verbal report. M/S/C

7. National and Regional Updates 

It Takes Experts
National campaign to illustrate the costs of reducing services, members encouraged to share their stories to contribute to the campaign if desired (see QR Code at end of these minutes)
March on Parliament occurred on March 28
Potential to organize a local march with 401 Burrard sometime in the near future (Location and time TBD – Science World?)
Importance of acquiring right permits/approvals before initiating march

RCMP E-Div Union LR Workshop
Occurred on March 11, helped clarify the grievance process
Bryan available to share what he learned about consultation

Regional Lobby, March 30 – April 2
Opportunity to engage with members of parliament, potential for another round to occur in the future
Lobby Kit available if needed

PIPSC gets one seat at the CM Pension Group (RCMP)

RTO4 and Compressed Schedules
Greater scrutiny around compressed schedules (requests for business cases)

Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) passed March 26
Notices on ERI have gone out

BC-Yukon Steward Training coming up (May 7 – 10)
Regional steward training held twice a year

Canadian Labour Congress happening in Winnipeg (May 10-15)

BC-Yukon Regional Council coming up (June 5 – 6)
Can reach out to your branch if you are interested in attending

BC-Yukon Steward Council coming up (Oct 23 – 25)

8. Vancouver SP Sub Group 2026 Plans and Activities

Labour Day Booth @ Edmonds Park
Rob provided an overview of the event – opportunity for labour groups to gain public exposure, share information with other labour groups
Members encouraged to spread the word about event to others
Sub Group supports spending up to $300 to cover costs of purchasing visibility items for the event M/S/C

PS Appreciation Week (week of June 14)
Sub Group supports spending up to $350 to cover costs of purchasing treats (e.g. ice cream) to share with members at four different buildings ($100 per building for 800 Burrard, Surrey RCMP Office, Burnaby HC Office, and $50 for Melville Street Office) M/S/C
ACTION: Executive members to coordinate to determine who will buy and share treats at each office

Pride
To discuss plans more next meeting
Inventory added to shared SG Google Drive that lists all Pride visibility items

Dine Outs (collab with YPC)
YPC confirmed that they can commit $350, still waiting on BT funding
Bryan to use $350 of Lower Mainland SG funds for event
Certain number of seats will be reserved for each group contributing funds
Dates TBD – likely mid-August or early September
ACTION: Everyone to bring suggestions for dine-out locations at next meeting (preferably near skytrain, near Downtown Vancouver or Burnaby)
Potential locations: East is East, Time & Place

Virtual Games Nights ongoing (collab with BC/Y Region & Surrey White Rock Branch)

Vancouver SP, IT, AFS Pickleball Event – May 2

Beach Clean-up (Collab w/ 401 Burrard) – Date TBD
Waiting on updates from 401 Burrard on status

Bird Banding
ACTION: Helen to look into options and costs, to coordinate with Lola
Date and Costs TBD – may want to aim for June and 20-25 people, potentially provide food and drinks (e.g. coffee and donuts)

Observer Spots for In-Person Exec Meetings
To discuss more at future meetings

L&Ls at Lower Mainland SP offices
See presentations available to educate members in Table of Presentations at the end of these minutes

Can still consider other ideas (e.g. bowling) but may be challenging given ongoing plans for other activities

ACTION: Philip to continue looking into microphone options, to discuss as a group at the next executive meeting.

9. AGM Planning 

To discuss more at the next executive meeting
Planning for venue to be in Burnaby (e.g. Grand Villa Casino) and for event to occur in September

10. Other Business 

To discuss visibility items (socks, tote bags, new inventory list) next meeting
Aim to have a point of contact at each workplace within the SG to assist with dissemination of information to membership

11. Location and preferred dates of next meeting

Next meeting tentatively set for May 19 @ 5:30 PM
Location tentatively set for Bin 4 Burger Lounge (Boundary Rd and Lougheed Hwy)
ACTION: Hugo to book location for next meeting

12. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 8:17 PM. M/C 

Available Presentations

It Takes Experts Campaign