74th BC/Yukon-RC - Regional Director’s Report
Regional Director’s Report – Regional Council 2018
Welcome delegates to the 74th BC/Yukon Region Council being held on June 1st and 2nd in incredible Whistler, BC. I would like to wish all delegates a successful, productive and enjoyable Council. This year’s Council is shaping up to be another great two days of information, education and debate.
This is my 4th report to the Regional Council and it has provided me an opportunity to reflect on the last few years as your Regional Director. Without a doubt the most enjoyable part of this position is meeting members and hearing about the incredible work they perform for their department and Canadians. In addition, I am always awestruck by the devotion and commitment of our dedicated stewards and activists and their efforts towards our members, their workplaces and our communities. You are all an inspiration. Finally, I am truly driven by the on-going and incredible potential of this organization to create change.
As a Director of the Board, my focus continues on advancing PIPSC’s strategic plan, advance issues important to our Region and creating member value. This past year, as Chair of the Executive Compensation Committee (ECC), we completed a three-year process to modernize executive compensation at the Institute that is principled and evidence based. As Board Liaison for the Science Advisory Committee (SAC), we have advanced our three-year strategic plan with the release of the ‘Defrosting Science’ and ‘Women in Science’ reports. Other notable activities at the Board included: a report on the ‘Authority of the Executive Committee (EC)’ that included recommendations to improve governance; and, a recommended Board policy that prioritized replenishing our financial reserves as a result of the approved dues increase.
Regionally, since the 2017 Council in Burnaby, we have had another busy and successful year. Again, the Region hosted two Basic Training sessions, Advanced Steward Training, and Executive Training. Our annual Steward Council was again well received as we introduced some new format ideas, including ‘ED Talks’ (Educational and Development) and the 1st Annual ERO Panel Challenge. In each of the past three years, we have seen an increase percentage of stewards attending Council. Stewards should mark October 19 and 20, 2018 in their calendars for this year’s Steward Council, which is shaping up to be bigger and better than last year! Our ED Talks for 2018 will focus on knowledge, skill development and wellness – all to build the internal and external capacity of our stewards.
Building capacity in our organization, Region and membership will continue to be my focus for the remainder of 2018. This year, we are rolling our Better Together efforts in our smaller communities. In addition to a successful lunch and learn in Agassiz on March 15th, we have events scheduled in Kamloops in June and plans for outreach in Prince Rupert in the fall. All three of these communities previously hosted their own Branches. As well, I am committed to continue working with our separate employers (YHC, BCFNHA, and Destination Canada) to build their capacity and our smaller departments in the Region (LAC) to support their consultation efforts.
As we move forward into the second half of 2018, I am looking forward to working with everyone to advance PIPSC’s vision, mandate and efforts. More than ever, our families, friends, neighbours and communities are counting on PIPSC and its members, to defend public professionals and public services. We as individuals, and a collective, have the opportunity and potential to have great influence on the direction of bargaining, labour relations and our country leading up to the next federal election.
The work of our Union and our Region is dependent on volunteers who undertake tireless hours of effort and commitment to members. A huge thank you to the Regional Executive; all of our Stewards and active members; Group and Branch Presidents and Executives; and, RMG Chapter and Sub-Group Presidents and Executives.
Finally, I would like to extend the Region’s continued appreciation to Ernie McLean and the team at our Regional Office – Cynthia Pang, Patricia Fung, Harinder Mahil, Dulce Cuenca, Simon Cott and John Ehinger. We are extremely fortunate to have such a group in the BC/Yukon Region to support our members and regional leadership. You folks are the best!
Please contact me if you have any questions, need additional information or have something to discuss.
Better Together!
Rob
Robert K. MacDonald, B.A., MRM
Steward
Director, BC/Yukon Region
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
236-888-8739