Labour Appreciation Night
October 16, 2004 - St. Anne's Parish Centre, Peterborough
Jack Layton spoke on Saturday, October 16th for the Labour Appreciation Night. This was the biggest turnout for a Labour Council dinner.
Ten awards were handed out at Labour Appreciation Night, hosted by the Peterborough and District Labour Council on Saturday, October 16, 2004 at St. Anne's Parish Hall, 859 Barnardo Avenue. 136 trade union members and guests attended our seventh annual awards evening which included a buffet dinner and a presentation by Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic party of Canada and MP for Toronto-Danforth.
Click here for details of Jack Layton's speech
(Click on a image to view larger photos as slideshow; click top corners to move between photos in slideshow)
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The following received awards:
Labour Activist
of the Year
The Labour Activist of the Year Award was presented to Keith Riel,
president of the Peterborough and District Labour Council for his activities
over the past year, including his work for the Peterborough Health Coalition,
Electrical Coalition, Workforce Development Board, Social Planning Council, New
Democratic Party executive and United Way Board. Keith, a 35-year employee with
G.E. Canada, is the past president of CAW Local 524 and ran for Peterborough
City Council in 2003.
Labour Family
of the Year
The Labour Family of the Year award was presented to Ken and Marion
Burton. Ken is president of CAW Local 2000 and has helped at most Labour
Council events. Marion is the Chief Steward of OPSEU Local 345 and, in addition
to being vice-president of the Labour Council, is on the EI Board of Referees,
works on both the Health and Electricity Coalitions, and is the United Way
Labour Chair for 2004.
Health and Safety
Award
Karen Ward, from CUPE Local 1943 at the Peterborough Regional Health
Centre received the Health and Safety Award. Karen is a Health and Safety
Representative, a member of the PRHC Wellness Committee, and works on WSIB,
modified duties and return to work cases for her local union membership.
Women's Activist Award
The Women's Activist Award was presented to Candace Rennick for her
work as president of CUPE Local 2280 at Marycrest in support of public health
care and becoming the youngest person elected as Ontario Regional
Vice-President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Humanitarian
Award
CAW Local 524 at G.E. Canada, received the Humanitarian Award for
conducting a clinic at the Evinrude Centre in 2003 for the retirees and current
employees of GE Canada, to determine the state of their health and to try to
discover any pattern of serious disease that might be related to their
workplace.
Community Service
Award
The Community Service Award was presented to Margot Marshall from
Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 345 at the Peterborough Regional
Health Centre. Margot, the Labour Council's Recording Secretary, organized
labour's entry in the Canada Day Parade, the Labour Day Picnic and arranged for
Jack Layton to be the guest speaker for the 2004 Labour Appreciation Night.
Margot was recognized for her 15 years as a volunteer with the Festival of
Trees, and her community work with Forecast and the Peterborough Health
Coalition.
Labour
Media Award
The Labour Media Award was presented to Martin Higgs on behalf of the
Kawartha Pine Ridge Elementary Teachers' Local whose union web site, by being
both interesting and useful, speaks directly to the needs of area elementary
teachers in their workplace and makes members feel they are truly a part of
their union.
Three Labour Pioneer Awards were presented
to:
The late Frank Farley, the last president of United Steelworkers of
America Local 5068, representing the office workers at Outboard Marine
Corporation when it was one of the largest employers in the City of
Peterborough; for a lifetime of dedication to the trade union movement and his
example of leadership in his union local and in his community. Former colleague
Jack Harrington accepted the award on behalf of Brother Farley. Frank's
daughter, Caroline McGee, received a standing ovation for her moving tribute to
her father.
Lloyd Hughes, the last president of Peterborough Local 22 of the Letter Carriers Union of Canada; for his success at bringing respect to his local and serving his membership. The presentation to Brother Hughes was made by George Kuehnbaum, National Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
Bill Woodbeck, president of the CAW Local 524 Retirees, for a lifetime of work in the labour movement. He started working at G.E. Canada in 1949 and became a union steward. After years of work on negotiations and grievances, Bill was elected as Business Agent for UE Local 524 in 1963. Two years later, Bill joined the staff of the United Electrical Workers union and became National Vice-President from 1978 until the merger with CAW in 1992. Today, Bill is the president of the CAW Local 524 Retirees.