Black Eagle Awards honour UFCW Canada activists

Over the years, migrant agriculture workers in Leamington, Ont. have come to know René and Mary Vidal as the couple to turn to for help with their workplace, housing, and legal issues.

As the staff of the first-ever Canada Migrant Agricultural Workers Support Centre, the Leamington couple have helped and counselled thousands of migrant workers since 2001 and were recognized at the annual Black Eagle Awards dinner in Toronto.

According to national agriculture program coordinator Stan Raper, “Their commitment and compassion and the success of the Leamington centre proved how important this work is and showed the way for establishing seven other UFCW Canada support centres across Canada.”

Another couple, Herman and Joanne Plas, who volunteer at our Simcoe, Ont. support centre, was also honoured at the fundraiser dinner, held November 21.

The Vidals are pictured above , surrounded by UFCW Canada staff Stan Raper, Lincoln Ellis, Patty Valadez, and Andrea Galvez; Herman and Joanne Plas are pictured at right.

Sister Valadez works at our centre in St-Rémi, Qué., and is the daughter of the recently-deceased Patricia Pérez, who ran the Québec centre until her death in October. Sister Pérez was honoured with a Black Eagle Award in 2006. The awards are presented by the Canadian Labour Congress and the César E. Chavez Foundation.