Atlantic Region Newsletter - Winter 2026 | The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

Atlantic Region Newsletter - Winter 2026

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From the Director

The winter season was in full swing in 2025, with the first snowfall hitting many parts of the country as we rolled into the holiday stretch. I’m looking back on that time now, and I hope your holiday season ended up being a good one.

Since the previous newsletter, we wrapped up a very successful Atlantic Steward Council and also delivered both a Basic Steward Training and Constituent Body Executive Training. Participation was strong, and it was great to see that level of engagement across the region.

In September, PIPSC also delivered bargaining training for all groups, making sure bargaining team members were well prepared and aligned heading into negotiations. This training is critical — not just for understanding the process and the mechanics of bargaining, but for building confidence, strengthening our approach, and ensuring teams are ready to represent members effectively at the table.

One of the biggest challenges we continued to face in 2026 is the growing pressure created by the federal government’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER). While the messaging from Ottawa remained vague, the impact on departments is clear: cost-cutting targets are driving restructuring, reductions, and uncertainty. In many cases, that translated and will translate into Work Force Adjustment (WFA) measures that will affect members directly. As always, our focus has been on making sure employees understand their rights, that the rules are followed, and that members are treated fairly throughout the process. Stewards have been critical in supporting members through these situations, and we will continue pushing back wherever we see shortcuts or decisions that put the burden on workers.

Take care — and as we move into 2026, I want to thank you for everything you do and for the strength you bring to our union. I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish together in the year ahead, and I wish you and your family a healthy, happy, and well-deserved fresh start.

Mark Bellefleur

Atlantic Regional Director

Basic Steward Training Sessions

The Atlantic Training Committee hosted a Basic Steward Training session on September 18-20 in Saint John, NB. Simon Davenport and Mason MacDonald (our new Atlantic LRO) facilitated the training of 17 participants. Participant feedback on the course material, activities, and popular education style was positive. Lori Rowe attended as the training committee representative and held a well attended social event at Mix, the hotel restaurant. Welcome to the new stewards!

Atlantic Steward Council

ASC 2

This year’s Atlantic Steward Council was held October 24-25 at The Marriott Harbourfront in Halifax with the PIPSC Board of Directors being guest attendees. The Friday afternoon started with an Indigenous Opening from the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Center then followed with a questions and answers session with ERO Max Way which was then followed by the Group Breakouts. On Saturday, the stewards received an informational workshop session on Work Force Adjustment from ERO Simon Davenport, Mason MacDonald, and Max Way. It was then followed up with a President’s Address from Sean O’Reilly. In the afternoon session the steward participants were involved in the Steward Panel where experienced stewards answered fellow steward questions with their experience.

Atlantic Region Awards

Our 2025 Steward of the year award was presented to Lucille Shears.

Lucille

Lucille is an exemplary leader, contributing to our union goals as an active steward, assisting members on a regular basis, and signing up Rands. She has held many positions of leadership and impacted members across the country. She has been on the IT Group National Executive and a member of the IT Bargaining Team, a member of the Atlantic Regional Executive, and a member of the DFO National Consultation Team.

At Coast Guard, Lucille is recognized as a great advocate for PIPSC and is well respected by her employer. She has made a substantial contribution to having her employer change term positions into indeterminate positions, which had a tremendous impact on those members.

Lucille has dealt with issues in the workplace one-on-one, at the lowest possible level, which has ensured that an increased burden on staff dealing with grievances did not occur, therefore helping keep relationships with management and members professional and respectful. She continually educates our members on their rights which is increasing the number of members that are knowledgeable and engaged with the union.

Lucille has discussed Contracting Out with MPs and other leaders. She continually brings ideas forward, regardless of who is there, she explains how the idea can be accomplished through team effort and division of work. She is not afraid to engage in difficult conversations, and her actions have inspired other stewards and raises the bar of a great steward.

Congratulations Lucille!

Charity Donations

At all the Atlantic regional events, the regional executive holds a raffle with the proceeds going to a local charity.

This year at Steward Council tickets were sold for a chance to win Bone Conductor Headphones with a total of $XXX being raised for North Shore Fire Recovery in Newfoundland. This fund was set up after a wildfire ravaged through multiple communities and destroyed at least 200 structures. It will support individuals and families as they rebuild their residences and firefighting capacity and equipment on the North Shore of Conception Bay. Thank you to all participants at Steward Council for such a great fundraising effort. This year the regional donations from fundraising efforts reached an all time high of $XXX. These charities have greatly appreciated these donations.

Extra Training Session

ETS

In Charlottetown, PEI, two of our Atlantic member facilitators, Ellen Careen and Lori Rowe, facilitated Core Training for Constituent Body Executives from November 21-22. Thank you both for such a successful and excellent facilitation session. They worked together seamlessly in engaging the 23 participants in a dynamic and inspiring session. Carolyn Hynes attended as the training committee chair to support the facilitators, participants, and hosted a social event. The highly enthusiastic group socialized at a local bowling alley, played many rounds of Code Names, and ended the weekend with a late-night dinner at a nearby restaurant. Thank you to Atlantic Regional Director, Mark Bellefleur, for attending the bowling event Friday. The participants were pleased to have the opportunity to meet and chat with you.

Atlantic Young Professionals Committee

The Atlantic Young Professionals Committee (AYPC) was created in the spring of 2017 and has been focusing on getting young professionals, 40 and under, engaged and participating in PIPSC events.

Following a call for expression of interest in the fall, the members of the Atlantic Young Professionals Committee are as follows:

Erika Isenor - Chair NS

Alexandra Payne - NS

Christine LeDrew – NL

Tiffany Snow - NL

Patrice Richard – Secretary NB

Alexander Blaney - NB

Spencer Gallant – PEI

Hallee Hunter - PEI

Many thanks to the outgoing members Kelly Weir, April Carter, Ashlee McLeod, and Carl Morgan for their participation.

The AYPC has been hosting member events in conjunction with our meetings. Some of these events include a Pool night, Boardgame café, Bowling, Indoor Roller Skating, indoor trampoline park and a Meet and Greet at local establishments. If you have any suggestions on events you would like to see near you, please reach out to the AYPC at aypc_cjpa@pipsc.ca or any member of the committee. Keep an eye out for an invite near you.

106^th PIPSC AGM

The 106^th PIPSC Annual General Meeting was held on December 12-13 at The Sheraton Toronto Center in Toronto, Ontario. There were over 700 delegates from across the country in attendance. The Atlantic delegates met Thursday evening for a discussion on the resolutions prior to the Financial Forum.

Friday began with an Indigenous Greeting followed by President Sean O’Reilly addressing the delegates and holding a Q&A period. Friday afternoon the business aspects of the AGM commenced where the first resolutions were presented and debated. Over the two days, not all resolutions submitted were presented and debated by the delegates as there was over 50 resolutions submitted. The AGM Delegates carried a resolution to decrease the size of the National AGM. The Atlantic Region has a few resolutions brought to this year’s AGM. The Atlantic resolution on increasing constituent body funds was carried. President Sean O’Reilly awarded members from across the country with Life Membership awards, Institute Service Awards, and Steward of the Year awards. Two of our Atlantic Members, Kailey von Richter and Laura Lee Mullin, received a President’s Achievement Award for the work they have been doing to help their members at DND. More information from the AGM can be found on the PIPSC Website (https://pipsc.ca/about/governance/agm/2025).

Calendar of Events

(Items are subject to change)

January 30, 2026 Atlantic Regional Training committee meeting, Halifax

January 31, 2026 Atlantic Regional Executive meeting, Halifax

February 19-21, 2026 Basic Steward Training, Halifax

March 13, 2026 Atlantic Regional Training committee meeting, St. John’s

March 14, 2026 Atlantic Regional Executive meeting, St. John’s

April 16-28, 2026 Regional Training School, Delta Dartmouth

May 21, 2026 Atlantic Regional Executive, Halifax

May 22, 2026 AYPC meeting, Halifax

May 22, 2026 Branch and Provincial Group President’s meeting, Halifax

May 22-23, 2026 82nd Atlantic Regional Council, Halifax