PDLC - A Listing of Labour Appreciation Nights

Labour Appreciation Night

by Dean Shewring, past president of the Peterborough and District Labour Council

The Peterborough and District Labour Council has hosted an annual Labour Appreciation Night since 1997, missing only two years (2000 and 2005) for this event. The purpose is to honour those who have contributed to the trade union movement in the Peterborough area, who have worked to improve the lives of working people generally and who have contributed to the betterment of their community. Long Term Service Awards recognize the dedicated service of delegates to the Peterborough and District Labour Council.

The following is a listing of our Labour Appreciation Nights, from the most recent to the very beginning ...

Friday, October 30, 2009 - Knights of Columbus Hall

Hosts: Labour Council President Marion Burton and Vice-President Dean Shewring

Guest Speaker: John Cartwright, President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year - Vern Andrus, CUPE Local 5555
Community Service Award - Lynda Bolton, CUPE Local 126
Health and Safety Activist Award - Suzanne Wheeler, OPSEU Local 345
Labour Media Award - ATU Local 1320 website (Bob Jackson webmaster)
Labour Pioneer Awards - Debbie Chute, OPSEU Local 345 (organizing); Wayne Eastabrook, IBEW Local 636 (representation); and Elizabeth Shaughnessey, OPSEU Local 345 (organizing)
Appreciation Award - Len Lifchus, United Way of Peterborough and District
Long Term Service Awards - Adele Franklin, OPSEU Local 351 retiree (10 years) and Dave Nickle, OSSTF (10 years)

Friday, October 24, 2008 - Knights of Columbus Hall

Hosts: Labour Council President Marion Burton, Vice-President Dean Shewring and Treasurer Bill Astell

Guest Speaker: Wayne Samuelson, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year - John Prentice, CEIU Local 628 (PSAC)
Labour Pioneer Award - James Walton, CUPW Local 590 past president (service and representation)
Health and Safety Activist Award - Peterborough Occupational and Environmental Health Coalition (Marion Burton, chair)
Women’s Activist Award - Lori Karas, CUPW Local 590 president (negotiator/trainer/national women’s representative)
Long Term Service Awards - Bill Astell, CUPW Local 590/United Way (20 years) and John Prentice, CEIU Local 628 (15 years)

Friday, November 2, 2007 - Knights of Columbus Hall

Hosts: Labour Council President Marion Burton, Vice-President Dean Shewring and Recording Secretary Margot Marshall

Guest Speaker: Dave Coles, President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year - Dave Nickle, OSSTF District 14
Community Betterment Award - CAW Local 1987 (United Way campaign success)
Health and Safety Activist Award - Karen Quesnel, CAW Local 1987
Labour Pioneer Awards - Bonnie Lee Baker, OPSEU Local 345 past president (representation); George Hewison, Musicians Union (labour music promotion)

Friday, October 27, 2006 - Peterborough Lion’s Centre

Hosts: Labour Council President Marion Burton and Recording Secretary Margot Marshall

Guest Speaker: George Hewison, Labour Musician

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year - Candy Lindsay, OPSEU (organizing Fleming College part-time employees)
Community Service Award - Ted Dawes, UFCW Local 175
Health and Safety Activist Award - Cathy Webdale, CUPE Local 2280
Labour Pioneer Awards - Sheila Bowser, OPSEU Local 345 retiree (negotiations/service) and Dean Shewring, CUPW Local 590 past president/vice-president (service, representation and organizing)
Women’s Activist Awards - Elaine Bagnall, OPSEU Local 362 (strike leader, provincial women’s council) and Pat partridge, CAW Local 1996 (negotiator, women’s issues)
Long Term Service Awards - Dean Shewring, CUPW Local 590 (30 years) and Marion Burton, OPSEU Local 345 (20 years)

Saturday, October 16, 2004 - St. Anne’s Parish Centre

Host: Labour Council President Keith Riel

Guest Speaker: Jack Layton, Leader New Democratic Party of Canada

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year - Keith Riel, CAW Local 524
Labour Family Award - Marion Burton, OPSEU Local 345 and Ken Burton, CAW Local 2000
Humanitarian Award - CAW Local 524
Health and Safety Activist - Karen Ward, CUPE Local 1943
Women’s Activist Award - Candace Rennick, CUPE Ontario Regional Vice-President
Community Service Award - Margot Marshall, OPSEU Local 345
Labour Media Award - Martin Higgs, Elementary Teachers Federation website
Labour Pioneer Awards - Frank Farley, retired president USWA Local 5068/5009; Lloyd Hughes, retired president LCUC Local 22 (CUPW Local 590); and Bill Woodbeck, president, CAW Local 524 Retirees

Saturday, October 18, 2003 - Knights of Columbus Hall

Host: Labour Council President Keith Riel

Guest Speaker: Alexandra Dagg, Ontario Council President, Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year - Margot Marshall, OPSEU Local 345
Community Service Award - Eric Batten, CEP Local 294 (retiree), Reeve, Douro-Dummer Twp.
Humanitarian Award - Donna Emby, CUPE Local 1943
Health & Safety Award - CUPE Local 4911 (George Barron)
Labour Media Award - Peterborough Collective (Fred Birket, Karen Hicks & Martin Higgs)
Long Term Service Awards - Neil McMahon, ATU 1320 retiree (40 years); John Ball CAW Local 524 retiree (30 years); and Ray Peters CAW Local 524 retiree (30 years).

Saturday, October 19, 2002 - St. Anne's Parish Centre

Host: Labour Council President Bev Toivonen

Guest Speaker: Hassan Yussuff, National Secretary-Treasurer, Canadian Labour Congress

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year - Marion Burton, OPSEU Local 345
Community Service Award - Ray Peters, CAW Local 524 retiree, Board President and founder, Peterborough Community Legal Centre
Labour Media Award - Heather Bickle & Paul King-Fisher, OPSEU Local 362

Saturday, October 13, 2001 - Steele Centre, Fleming College

Host: Labour Council President Bev Toivonen

Guest Speaker: Irene Harris, Executive Vice-President, Ontario Federation of Labour

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year - Betty Cree, OPSEU Local 351
Community Service Award - Floyd Howlett, Peterborough Coalition for Social Justice
Health & Safety Award - Wendy Russell,
Labour Media Award - Dean Shewring, CUPW Local 590

Saturday, October 23, 1999 - St. Anne's Parish Centre

Host: Labour Council President Bill Astell

Guest Speaker: Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year - Bev Toivonen, OPSEU Local 358
Community Service Award - Steve Madill, CAW Local 1996
Women's Activist Award - Cathy Fowle, CAW Local 222
Health & Safety Award - Rhonda Nicholas and Linda Staples, CAW Local 1987
Labour Media Award - Dean Shewring, CUPW Local 590
Labour Arts and Culture Award - Rob Fortin, CUPW Local 590

Saturday, April 25, 1998 - Steele Centre, Fleming College

Host: Labour Council President Tom Veitch

Awards:

Labour Activist of the Year (Community Service) - John Taylor, CAW Local 524 retiree
Women's Activist Award - Gloria Jean Johnston, CAW Local 524
Organization Support Award - Laurie Miller, UFCW Local 512
Women's Issues Award - Julie Craib, ATU Local 1320
Health & Safety Award - Jim Walton, CUPW Local 590
Labour Media Award - Dean Shewring, CUPW Local 590
Labour Arts and Culture Award - Rob Fortin, CUPW Local 590

Saturday, May 24, 1997 - Royal Canadian Legion Hall

Host: Labour Council President Tom Veitch

Guest Speaker: Jean-Claude Parrot, Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress (former National President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers)

Awards:

Labour Activists of the Year - CUPW Local 590 (Jim Walton, President and Dean Shewring, Vice-President)
Community Service Award - Jake Kennedy, CAW local 524 President
Spouses and Partners Award - Valerie Veitch
Long Term Service Awards - Neil McMahon, ATU 1320 retiree (35 years); and Ray Peters, CAW Local 524 retiree (25 years).

Check out our Photo Gallery for a visual record of our more recent Labour Appreciation Nights.