UFCW Saskatchewan Women’s Conference 2017

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Saskatoon, Sask. – March 15, 2017 – UFCW women activists from across the province gathered March 10 – 11, in Saskatoon, for the 11th Annual UFCW Saskatchewan Women’s Conference. The conference, hosted by UFCW Canada Local 1400, was held in conjunction with International Women’s Day.

“Our Women’s Committee planned the conference with two goals,” says Lucia Figueiredo, UFCW Canada Local 1400 Secretary-Treasurer. “We wanted to honour Indigenous women in Saskatchewan, as well as celebrate all women members and workers and their power to mobilize and create positive change.”

On March 11, the 30 activists began the day with a presentation from Maria Linklater, a respected Saskatoon elder, who spent the morning sharing stories about her experience in the residential school system, and the impact it had on her life and the lives of her family.  The group then discussed the Truth and Reconciliation Report and what Reconciliation meant to each of the participants individually.  

Sister Linklater was followed by UFCW Canada’s Western Provinces regional director, Nancy Quiring. Sister Quiring reported on the initiatives of the National Women’s Advisory Committee, including the Closing the Gap gender pay equity campaign.

The conference concluded with a Member Engagement workshop, “to build on the discussions we had throughout the weekend,” says said Sister Figueiredo, “and to sharpen our skills, listening, and abilities to engage and empower the members, as activists in their union and in the community”.

You can find out more about Saskatchewan’s largest and most progressive private local union at www.ufcw1400.ca.