The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Log in

BC/Yukon Region – Regional Executive Meeting #1 

Friday, February 21, 2025, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Inn On The Quay, 900 Quayside Drive, New Westminster, BC, V3M 6G1  

Meeting ID FCNPH4S7CRP

 

 Meeting Minutes

 

Regional Executive Meeting – February 21, 2025

  1. Approval of Agenda – (All) Consensus
  2. Approval of Minutes – (All) Consensus
    1. November 28, 2024
  3. Business Arising from Minutes – (All)
    1. Review of action items - Moved to new folder called 2025 under Action Items.
    2. Surrey Branch update – (D. Chiu & R. MacDonald) Branch is up and running. Members will be attending our events. There is a desire to bring Langley into the Fraser Valley Branch. Reach out to Langley members to see if there will be a desire to attend more events if they are annexed to the Fraser Valley Branch. AI: Phil send a survey to Langley see if there is a desire for Langley to attend Fraser Valley Branch BF to June meeting.
    3. Subcommittee for bylaws review – (K. Johnston) Gender review – No issues. Portfolio review – Katrina created folder in the By-law folder. Katrina set up meeting with her committee members and solidify the by-laws.
    4. Chief Steward for BC/Yukon Region – (D. Corda) Liaison between BC-Yukon Chief steward and the National Chief Steward. Ongoing.
  4. Regional Director Report - (M. Cranny)

Regionally things have been relatively quiet since our last meeting. The newsletter is out! Big shout out to Terri for turning a pretty dry looking newsletter into something fun and dynamic. Sadly, comms won’t let us send a PDF to members so the workaround was sharing the boring version with a link to the exciting one. That’s one reason it took so long as Alex was trying to get comms to go along.

In December there was an orientation/training session for new and returning directors followed by BOD and RD meetings. New directors were invited to observe the BOD meeting for open session. I think this was a valuable exercise to help introduce everyone and with so many new folks, gave them a better sense of how it goes. Committee chairs were selected at that BOD meeting. I am the new chair of the Executive Compensation Committee which is interesting and a lot to take in having not sat on that committee before. I participated virtually for all 5 days worth of meetings which is a lot (too much?) of virtual meetings in the wrong time zone but I wasn’t allowed to fly yet.

In January I attended an ECC meeting and BOD meetings, including a strategy meeting to help our board get on the same page regarding recent history. Thankfully I could join in person. Committee members were presented and selected for all committees. I was decided to put the PRQC committee on hold until we get a better sense of their mandate. The AC is looking into deprofessionalization as it is still a key issue. There was concern this wasn’t effectively being addressed in the PRQC. All committees of the board are being reviewed to make sure they have clear mandates and are doing necessary work. This is partly related to cost containment within the union. We discussed the AGM and lessons learned. That will be revisited more completely as we form a task force for this years AGM. We are looking at continuing the tradition of letting regional directors host a BOD meeting in their region during this term. While this can increase costs one of the key benefits for me is connecting our elected leaders with members in regions and showing them that it’s not just NCR issues that matter. I would like to host a BOD in Victoria or Vancouver. If Victoria, I can take the lead, if Vancouver, I would ask for someone from that area to take the lead.

There have been some difficult personnel changes including letting the Executive Director go and dissolving the office of the Executive Secretary. I can’t get into all the specifics but it was a difficult decision and we received good advice from external council who are experts in governance and employment law. The search for a new ED is underway and we are keenly aware that we don’t want to go back to the old system that allowed the COO to become entrenched. The duties of the ES office fall to the GC office. 

I spoke with both Christina Nikiforuk and Roger Haskett regarding their efforts at SC last year and feedback I received. Generally it was felt that Christina was a good speaker but the topic wasn’t quite right for that event. I would like to discuss having her at Regional Council.  With Roger it was discussed that he was really underused and that I would like to entertain having him at SC this year with a different structure that takes advantage of his skills. He has provided a proposal that I will share with you all.

I will be going to Whitehorse again this year in April to attend the AGM and meet with members. The YPC has also set up some events and I’m excited the progress we are making in the Yukon. Labour School and our next RX meeting is the week after that in Victoria and I will be there. I’ll be attending the Victoria RE subgroup AGM and Vancouver RMG AGM in April as well.

The next BOD meeting is next week and I am off to Japan on leave for a couple weeks right after that.

Accept and approve Morgan’s oral report. m/s/c

  1. Committees of the Board – PRQC halted? – (P. Mantler)
  2. Changes to PIPSC internal structure – (D. Corda)
  3. Guest Speaker updates (Nikiforuk, Engagement Unlimited) Discussed guest speakers. Recommended to have Roger as speaker for Steward Council.
  1. Office/Staff Report – (K. Hawkins)

The Regional Office workloads continue to be exceptionally high and, as a result, I was able to secure an early additional indeterminate position in the region. This was slated for the next fiscal year but the situation was growing worse and I was supported to staff this position. I'm glad to share that Dave Saba was the successful candidate for the indeterminate position in the office. This opened up a term competition and interviews are taking place next week. As with all terms, I'm always concerned about having enough in-region applicants. It does seem that folks are reluctant to apply for terms in such an expensive market. Nevertheless, I have two good candidates. I anticipate requesting support for an additional indeterminate position for the region in the 25/26 fiscal year. This office has been particularly hard hit by leaves and dramatic increases to workloads. I believe I can make a strong case for additional representational staff. One ERO is on medical leave and our current caseload average is 71, with a wide range between 59-105 cases per person. 

The Regional Office moved last month and that went very smoothly. The moving team consisted of a few managers (myself and my Corporate Services colleague), Alex (who did amazing pre-work), IT and a moving company. All staff did their own office packing and the unpacking was efficient and done ahead of time. The new office is cozy, in a good way. It feels like a fresh space with plenty of room to work collaboratively. The team is very happy and we have eliminated all of the clutter that accumulates over the years. We can also use that space for Regional Executive meetings in Vancouver if you like.

We are prepping for the Labour School and have teams of EROs training the stewards. All staff will be in attendance.

Accept and approve Kris’ oral report. m/s/c

  1. Financial Report – Treasurer - (P. MacDougall)
    1. Financial update - Financial Stmt 2025 in the drive.  Financial Statements 2025 – m/s/c. Amended Budget 2025 – m/s/c. AI - If hospitality room is attached to a member room then the cost is lower.
  2. Regional Training Committee Report – (P. MacDougall)

National meeting – WFA training requested by Atlantic region; BC-Yukon regional may request

for the same training. April 2025 – Labour school – 70 applicants and 40 seats available. Sunny and Priyanka to present OHS training in Dec. There are 2 other new trainers. Request for funding for Execs training’ if funding not approved for this year, will ask again next year. Mentorship program – National initiative. Recommended two non-RX members (Sunny and Priyanka) to join the TC committee. RX members to stay on as TC members: Alicia and Terri.

Accept and approve Pete’s oral report. m/s/c

  1. Upcoming training in BC/Yukon Region
  2. National training initiatives
  3. Review Training committee membership
  4. proposed seminar (Engagement Unlimited) – Discussed motion to approve request for special funding for the Engagement Unlimited seminar. m/s/c AI: Morgan to request special funding from the BOD for member engagement workshop.
  1. Awards Committee – (D. Corda) No updates. AI: Dean to send email to Alex to send a call for potential candidates (Execs and stewards)
    1. Executive of the Year
    2. Steward of the Year
  2. YPN Initiative – (D. Chiu)

The YPC is working on a slightly different cadence this year. The committee has already met a handful of time to plan the first outreach in Whitehorse, along with looking ahead on further engagements and outreach (Penticton, Prince George, Nanaimo). There are two YP members within Whitehorse who will be coordinating the activities and one will be traveling there to assist. A glass-blowing event will be exclusive for Young Professionals. The local bowling facility will be rented out for a more family-oriented event that will be co-hosted with the Whitehorse branch.

Victoria branch has reached out to collaborate on an event, potentially another event during labour day. The committee is planning on co-hosting several events there. The YPC is also planning on other co-hosted engagements in Vancouver and Surrey.

The web page for the BC/Yukon YPC now has a roster of the members. Meeting minutes and engagement content are still outstanding as they still need to be finalized. 

The national ad-hoc committee met in December coinciding with Advisory Committee meeting. First half of the meeting had discussion around the objectives at the national level and the future of this committee. Dave Sutherland is passing on the torch as the YPC liaison along with several other regional chairs/liaisons.

Accept and approve Davy’s oral report. m/s/c

  1. National initiatives
    1. Legacy Fund & challenge cup – (S. Auchoybur) No updates.
  2. New Business
    1. 2025 Regional Council update at Tigh-Na-Mara in Parksville
      • Local foodbank charity – AI: Lauren contact and make arrangements for sponsored charity to make presentation
      • Presentation by AC/PIPSC staff – Lobbying – Brought up by Dean
      • Nature Walk – AI: Terri to post meeting engagement/Liability release on C-event 
      • 80’s Music Bingo – AI: Alicia to organize entertainment
    2. Regional Executive swag – AI: Terri accepts recommendations/suggestions for swag
    3. Re-imbursing PIPSC for cell phone expenses
    4. Storage locker – Discussed locker is at over capacity. AI: Lauren to explore costs/sizes of lockers at current and alternate facilities. 
    5. PIPSC Finance committee report - (S. Auchoybur) – QR code for donation. Ways to speed up to collect donations for the Legacy Foundation.
  3. Next Meeting(s)
    1. April 8, 2025, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, April 9, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Mariott Inner Harbour, Victoria
    2. June 11, 2025, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Tigh-Na-Ma-Ra Resort, Parksville, Training Committee
    3. June 12, 2025, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Tigh-Na-Ma-Ra Resort, Parksville, Regional Executive
    4. June 13 – 14, 2025, Regional Council – Tigh-Na-Ma-Ra Resort, Parksville
    5. September 2025, TBD (includes strategic planning day) Sept 5 & 6 or 12 & 13, Vancouver area
    6. October 16, 2025, 1:00 – 5:00 pm, October 17, 2025, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Westin Hotel, Whistler
    7. October 17 – 18, 2025, Steward Council, Westin Hotel Whistler
    8. December 4, 2025, Delta Suites, Vancouver
    9. December 5-6, 2025, Delta Suites, Vancouver
  4. Roundtable

Dean to borrow the owl

Pete - Training Committee Terms of Reference updated. m/s/c

Morgan – political climate or artificial intelligence training depending on when election is called.

Lauren - locker organization as is over capacity. Discussed purchasing totes to organize locker. Authorized the purchase of totes. m/s/c AI: Alicia and Terri – purchase totes, label and organize locker contents.

  1. Adjournment - To adjourn. m/s/c
Published on 20 June 2025