National Youth Committee
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The National Youth Committee (NYC) has representation from every region of the country and works as an advisor to local union youth committees. The job and goal of the NYC is to give direction to the national youth organizer on projects and initiatives, create a national youth network where young workers from coast-to-coast can communicate, and build links. |
Chris O’Halloran, Chair
UFCW Canada National Training and
Education Representative, Youth Issues
 Chris started his involvement with the union as an employee of Forest Lawn IGA and as an active member of UFCW Canada Local 401 for the past six years. He also served as a shop steward and chairperson on the local youth committee. His responsibilities included organizing, educating and coordinating youth events within his local union.
Chris is a graduate of the Labour College of Canada’s labour studies program in Ottawa. Chris also served as the first youth Vice-President on the Alberta Federation of Labour’s executive board.
Currently, Chris has been appointed to the national office of UFCW Canada. His responsibilities include Talking Union education, youth programs and initiatives, specifically concerning increasing youth involvement and awareness on unions and workers’ rights.
ONTARIO
Enver Harbans
UFCW Canada Local 175 & 633
Enver is proud of his Trinidadian origins and this is the reason behind his hard work to combat issues related to systemic racism in black communities. He is nearing graduation from Carleton University where he will obtain a degree in Anthropology and hopes to continue the cause for justice with the union movement when his undergraduate academic career is over.
Enver has been a shop steward for nearly two years and has been employed at Loblaws for eight years. Being from Toronto’s inner city, Enver understands the social complexities young people face in an economically depressed environment where opportunities are scarce, making the underworld an attractive alternative. To make youth more conscious of their place in the broader society, Enver believes alliances between community organizations and the labour movement is a decisive catalyst for change. He believes that such alliances will foster and help prepare young people for their important contributions as workers, making them more conscious of their worth and necessity in a society that neglects the voice and struggles of young minorities.
To initiate change, Enver understands the importance of the working-class struggles, as workers are the ones who build the very foundation on which our society stands. If real systemic change is to come the only place to start is with the organization of workers in alliance with community members to bring forth change that is historically necessary.
Enver is open to any dialogue that seeks to better the relationship between the labour movement and minority communities as he believes young minorities are the most neglected when it comes to state and organizational policies, yet have the most to gain from a strong alliance between labour and community members.
Contact your regional Representative at youth@ufcw.ca
Mark Stockton
UFCW Canada Local 175 & 633
ATLANTIC REGION
Craig Walsh
UFCW Canada Local 864
Craig is a member of UFCW Canada Local 864 where he serves as a Vice-President of the local union executive board and unit chairperson for Cavendish Farms in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Craig has been with Cavendish Farms for more than nine years and is currently employed as a millwright in the maintenance department.
Craig has been involved with UFCW Canada for six years when he started as a shop steward. He graduated from the National Youth Internship program in 2003 after hearing about it while on his contract negotiating team. Since then, he has taken part in numerous facilitator and training courses offered by UFCW Canada, as well as teaching at the Atlantic Regional Youth Conference in 2005 and conducting shop steward training courses in his area.
Contact your regional Representative at youth@ufcw.ca
UFCW Canada Local 1288P
ALBERTA
Michelle Cahill
UFCW Canada Local 401
Michelle works at the Real Canadian Superstore in Calgary, Alberta and has been a proud member of UFCW Canada Local 401 since 2001. She has been a shop steward and actively involved with the local union for four years.
Michelle has participated in many of the courses that local 401 and its affiliates offer, including the 2006 Youth Internship Program put on by the national office. Taking advantage of the many educational opportunities has allowed her to become more active within the local union.
Michelle is a vice-president of Local 401’s executive board, chair of the provincial youth committee, member of the health and safety committee, and a member of Superstores bargaining committee.
She has participated in several organizing drives, including the successful certification of Lakeside Packers in Brooks. She has walked with members of the UFCW and others in the fight for a fair and decent workplace. She also assists the local union as a relief representative for both the business agents and the support staff.
Contact your regional Representative at youth@ufcw.ca
SASKATCHEWAN
Brandi Tracksell
UFCW Canada Local 1400
Brandi has worked at the Saskatoon Coop as a cashier/hardware clerk since 2001 and she has been an active shop steward throughout her time there. In 2003, Brandi began working as a special projects union representative for UFCW Canada Local1400. She has been involved in many different organizing campaigns, such as: Wal-Mart, Sobeys, Coops, various retail locations, hotels, meat processing, packing plants, call centres, and security guards.
Brandi chairs the local union’s youth committee and has coordinated many leukemia and other community fundraising events. She is also the labour director for the New Democratic Youth of Canada and an executive member of the Saskatchewan Young New Democrats. She sits on the Canadian Labour Congress youth committee, the Saskatoon and District Labour Council youth committee, and also volunteers with the United Way as an in-school mentor. As well she works closely with Big Sisters, Should Exploitative Economics Persist (SHEEP), and Making Poverty History.
Brandi is a 2003 Youth Internship Program graduate and was fortunate enough to co-facilitate YIP in 2006 and 2007.
Contact your regional Representative at youth@ufcw.ca
Ashley Delorme
UFCW Canada Local 248P
Contact your regional Representative at youth@ufcw.ca
MANITOBA
Justin Gilchuk
UFCW Canada Local 832
Justin is currently employed at Maple Leaf Pork (Warman Road) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Originally joining UFCW Canada Local832 as a Canada Safeway member, Justin has been an active member in Local832 since 2001.
Serving as a shop steward, Justin has seen first hand the importance of organizing, political action, and involvement within the local union. Sitting on the current Local832 youth committee, Justin has participated in discussions and action plans in all areas of union activism and has actively become involved in both provincial and federal politics.
Justin currently sits on UFCW Canada Local 832’s advisory board. Also, he has attended the 2005 Local 832 youth conference, 2006 Youth Internship Program, as well as the Federal NDP convention in Quebec City, where he participated in both policy and resolution forums.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Justin attended Miles Macdonell Collegiate where he graduated with honours and a French immersion diploma.
Contact your regional Representative at youth@ufcw.ca
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Brandy Convey
UFCW Canada Local 1518
Brandy has worked at Save-On Foods and is an active member of UFCW Canada Local1518. She has been a shop steward since 2002.
Brandy is 2005 Youth Internship Program graduate and was excited to take back all the useful information and tools to her local union. She also helped coordinate and organize a successful multi-local youth conference.
Brandy is the co-chair of the British Columbia Federation of Labour’s young workers committee and sits on the Vancouver District Labour Council for her local union. She has been active in a number of different campaigns and projects with these groups.
Contact your regional Representative at youth@ufcw.ca
Eric Derish
UFCW Canada Local 247
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