This being the first time going to one of CUPE’s week-long school events, I was honestly a little trepidacious about the event. I had expected it be uncomfortable and for my anxiety to be tested. I was wrong.
Throughout the entire event, CUPE BC and National staff made sure that everything about the event was inclusive, comfortable and most importantly, educational. This is not to say that it was easy. In fact, we covered some quite difficult material in the Shop Steward series that myself, Jason Insley and Virgie Stewart attended and Lynne Johnson found the Health and Safety course equally challenging. By the time we had completed our courses though, we all came out of it with a wealth of knowledge, and a new respect for our positions within the local.
Included with our enrollment was free admission to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre which we toured after we completed classes on Thursday, after we had spent Wednesday morning learning about Indigenous culture in B.C. (Pictured below)
While this may have been my first time at one of these events, it will certainly not be my last.
All in all, it was a great experience for each of us.
Recording Secretary
Dave Sylvest
Pictured: Everybody from all classes, including instructors
Shop Steward Series, including Dave Sylvest, Jason Insley and Virgie Stewart
Health and Safety Series, including Lynne Johnson
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
Virgie Steward with one of our facilitators for the Shop Steward Series, National Rep Deea Bailey
