Minutes for Vancouver SP Sub Group Executive Meeting – February 23 2026

Minutes for Vancouver SP Sub Group Executive Meeting – February 23 2026

Date: February 23, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: JOEY Burnaby, 1899 Rosser Avenue #109, Burnaby, B.C.

Executive Members

Tanya Evans

Tim Powers

Lola Bryson

Lindsay Howes – Regrets

Philip Bartha

Bryan Chen

Marianne Quat

Special Guests:
Helen Lu – Vancouver SP Sub Group Member, Health Canada

Hugo Wong – Vancouver SP Sub Group Member, Health Canada

Denis Semail – Vancouver SP Sub Group Member, Health Canada

1. Call to Order

Meeting called to order at 6:16 PM

2. Approval of the agenda

Agenda approved. M/S/C

3. Business arising from the Minutes

Motion to approve minutes from January 20th meeting. M/S/C

4. Welcome to Guests

Guests and executive team members introduced themselves
Discussion of elements of executive team meetings, rules of quorum, executive roles, structure of PIPSC

5. President’s Report

Updates provided regarding bargaining process and SP AGM walk
Members encouraged to participate in outreach events and generate visibility/awareness about WFA, including impacts on government services
Bryan and Tanya temporarily switching roles (Vice President and President)
Acceptance of verbal report. M/S/C

6. Treasurer’s Report

Tim provided an update on the financial status of the SG
Discussion regarding timing AGMs to ensure full allotments received, and working towards holding future AGMs earlier in the year
Signatories added to SG Bank Account
Members reminded to stay in touch with treasurer regarding receipt of Better Together funds
Acceptance of verbal report. M/S/C

7. National and Regional Updates

National
• National WFA Webinars can be found on PIPSC Website
  • ACTION: Share information about webinars with members
    
    
• RTO4
  • RTO4 passed by TBS
  • Group chat available on RTO for members (ask Bryan for access)
  • Members encouraged to petition MPs about RTO
  • Upcoming PIPSC email about meeting local MPs
    
    
• Bargaining
  • Bargaining updates will be shared with members after each round of bargaining through the SP Active Chat, including opportunities for members to ask questions
  • If interested, and if you have a PIPSC email, you can be added to chats to provide input on bargaining (ask Bryan for access)
    
    
• SP AGM occurring on March 28, 2026
  
  
• Advanced Steward Training occurring from April 13 – 18, 2026
  
  
Canada Labour Congress meeting from May 11 – 15, 2026 in Winnipeg
To attend, must be sponsored by national consultation team or the region and must submit application form (can contact Tanya for more information)


Regional
Lunch & Learns have been hosted by various branches and Sub-Groups (recordings should be available online)

8. Debrief on recent events and activities

Lunch & Learn / Evening Mixer with 401 Burrard (Feb 17)
• Attended by National SP President, focused on bargaining and WFA
• Lunch & Learn partially recorded online (can ask Bryan for access)
Evening Mixer held downtown @ Heritage Asian Eatery


Discord Virtual Trivia Night (Feb 19)
• Event was successful, intended to be part of a series of monthly virtual games nights on Discord (w/ prizes) to connect more with younger members
Events sponsored by BC/Yukon region


Sub Group Renaming Survey
• Many responses received from members; intention of survey was to change the name of the Vancouver SP Sub Group to better reflect the geographical distribution of current members
• Unclear when name change will become official, no immediate updates needed to reflect change (cheques, bank accounts, website, etc.)
• ACTION: Bryan to continue following up with National SP about name change
ACTION: Bryan to contact potential new members near Chilliwack

9. Vancouver SP Sub Group 2026 Plans and Activities

Importance noted of having a union component (e.g. guest speaker) for all events planned by the Sub Group


Discord Virtual Games Nights (see notes above)
Plan to continue hosting events monthly for the near future


Pickleball Event
• Event scheduled for April 18, 2 PM – 6 PM @ iPOP near Lougheed Highway
• Whole facility will be open, with instructors, free equipment rentals
• Event being sponsored and organized by many different groups, planning to have BC/Yukon Regional Director as guest speaker
• SP Vancouver has ten allocated spots for members, invites yet to go out (invitation via RSVP only)
• Plan to have prizes for attendees
Sub Group supports spending up to $500 to fund the event M/S/C

Dine-Outs
• Potential for collaboration opportunity with YPC
  • YPC and SP Vancouver pick a restaurant, and each group funds half of the seats for their members
• More likely to occur in late summer/fall
• Important considerations include audience, timing, cost, location
ACTION: Executive members to brainstorm timing, locations, and costs for dine-outs to bring to next meeting

Beach Clean-up w/ 401 Burrard
• Potential for collaboration opportunity with 401 Burrard
• Would likely be done during the Summer, main cost would be providing food for members
ACTION: Lola to contact Amanda (401 Burrard) about collab opportunities


Bird Banding (Vancouver Avian Research Centre)
• Discussed idea for potential bird banding or another nature-related event with an environmental organization
• Main costs would likely be a donation, potentially food for members
ACTION: Lola to look into potential options for nature-related event


Labour Day (Edmonds Park)
• No details currently provided regarding the event
• To consider visibility items for the event, including ways to potentially increase attendance (e.g. providing boxed lunches, advertising prize draws and visibility items, PIPSC Passport)
Sub Group supports spending up to $70 for Rob MacDonald to attend a future executive meeting to assist with planning for Labour Day. M/S/C

National Public Service Week (NPSW)
• NPSW currently scheduled for June
• Past Sub Group efforts have including leaving food (e.g. ice cream, coffee) in lunch rooms for members to enjoy, accompanied by a union message
• To discuss and approve funding for NPSW at next executive meeting
SG to consider submitting a Better Together funding request to support efforts


Pride
• Event likely to be held in August, potential event for PIPSC Passport
• SG has some visibility items that can be used during the event
• SG may need to provide additional funding for visibility items (cost depends on where items are purchased)
• ACTION: Marianne to check whether SG possess PRIDE temporary tattoos
SG can determine whether to approve additional funding (and how much) depending on current inventory


Movie Mornings
Executive not aware of any plans to organize a movie event
ACTION: Tim to contact IT group about potential for an event


ACTION: Philip to look into options for acquiring a microphone for the SP Vancouver Sub Group (for guest speakers at future events)


Various other ideas for future events also discussed (curling, bowling, baseball, axe-throwing, rec room, lunch & learns at various work places)

10. AGM Planning

General preference to hold next AGM in mid-September
Various potential locations for next AGM discussed, including Grand Villa Casino, Metrotown Hilton, Coquitlam Library
Key factors for venue include booking cost, parking costs, accessibility, level of privacy / quiet, option to serve alcohol, availability of guest speaker
Potential to help accommodate transit to AGM for those with barriers (e.g. funding Uber from a Skytrain station)
Potential to also hold AGM virtually or do a room booking and order catering
ACTION: Lola to research venue options for AGM

11. Other Business

Visibility Items
• Bryan planning on ordering more items, making collectable visibility items
• Sub Group supports spending up to $40 for creation of 80 animal holders. M/S/C
  • ACTION: Bryan to order animal holders for Sub Group
• Sub Group supports spending up to $360 for 20 visibility items (socks and tote bags) M/S/C
ACTION: Executive to create an inventory of visibility items on Google Drive, with Philip to add Pride items


Importance of having executive committee members that represent as many workplaces as feasible to help with dissemination of information to membership


Sub Group supports appointments of Hugo Wong and Helen Lu as members of the SP Vancouver Sub Group Executive (both Members at Large). M/S/C

Sub Group supports spending up to $150 for two other members of the SP Vancouver Sub Group to attend next exec meeting. M/S/C


Sub Group supports spending up to $70 for Denis Semail to attend an upcoming executive meeting to help with AGM/event planning. M/S/C


ACTION: Philip to follow up with Helen, Hugo, Marianne, and Lola about adding correct contact info to SP Vancouver SG website, remove information about former members, and update roles of executive team members, and send Lola contact information for Administrative Assistant for BC/Yukon Region.

12. Location and preferred dates of next meeting

Next meeting tentatively set for April 13 @ 5:30 PM
Location tentatively set for Old Spaghetti Factory (Gastown)
ACTION: Philip to book next meeting

13. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 8:52 PM. M/C