Powerhouse Ghie Candido’s passion for event organizing draws on her skills from health care work and community volunteering
Doing critical work
THI VU
and Hollyburn House in West Vancouver will be managed by real estate company Cogir. All current Revera employees, including casuals, will continue their employment with the new service provider, and their HEU contract will be transferred with no changes to any terms or conditions of employment.
Telling union stories An ongoing oral history project by the B.C. Labour Heritage Centre tells the story of the province’s labour movement through interviews with
AFTER THE SHIFT
When Marie Bouchard became an HEU member in 2020, she expected to hear from her union right away. But Mountain Lake local in Nelson was struggling. There was little union presence, and no regular meetings. Bouchard attributes this to high staff turnover. The for-profit facility has changed employers three times in three years, a frustrating experience that, she feels, showed little regard for the workers. “We’re mostly women in this sector, and many of us are racialized,” says Bouchard. “So, even in 2023, we still have to fight for respect at our workplace. That means we have to get involved and organize to get stronger.” Bouchard and her co-worker Kayla Van Dussen began talking with other workers, encouraging them to get involved, and identifying those who could take leadership roles. And at a local meeting this July, a turnout of 30 people – much higher than previous meetings – allowed them to fill all the local executive positions. The local officers plan to take skills and leadership training to sustain their momentum. And they’re eager to connect workers, so they are better positioned to stand up for their workplace rights.
Thi Vu PHOTO
STRONGER TOGETHER
Ghie Candido is a dedicated health care worker. She’s worked in a variety of health settings and roles since 2012, including patient care assistant and support worker. As an immigrant from the Philippines, Ghie knows how critical community support is to newcomers. That’s why beyond her day job, Ghie spends time supporting and contributing to the Filipino community in B.C. She has volunteered with the Lions Gate Foundation to help fundraise for initiatives from the Filipino community. She also trained in event planning at a community college, which led to her role as a key organizer of the largest Philippines Independence Day celebration in the Lower Mainland, held in North Vancouver. This celebration recognizes the day the Philippines was liberated from its colonial Spanish state, establishing the nation as a republic. For Ghie, marking this day in Canada is an important way to connect members of the Filipino community to their history and culture, and to build connections with each other. Community involvement comes naturally to Ghie. Growing up in the Philippines, she For Ghie, marking this day was surrounded by family members who took in Canada is an important leadership roles in her community. “My father was an elected leader in our way to connect members town and also a church leader,” she says. “As of the Filipino community a young person, I was elected to be a youth to their history and culture, representative in my local council.” She currently works as a recreational pro- and to build connections grammer at a long-term care site in Vancouver. with each other. This role allows her to combine her two passions: health care work and event planning. She’s taking some time away from community volunteering to focus on this work. But she acknowledges that her community involvement has given her many resources that she can use in her job, such as connections with musicians and performers. And as an active member of the Filipino community in Metro Vancouver, Ghie knows how critical volunteering is to build communities outside of work.
dozens of trade union leaders and activists, including two key HEU figures of the 1990s – secretarybusiness manager Carmela Allevato and director of communications Geoff Meggs. Other former HEU notables interviewed include secretarybusiness managers Bonnie Pearson and Judy Darcy, financial secretary Mary LaPlante and organizer Sharon Yandle. Their stories and others can be found online at: labourheritagecentre.ca/ oral-history/.
THI VU
Photo project addresses poverty The annual Hope in Shadows wall calendar features images captured by the homeless and low-income vendors of Megaphone magazine, who sell the publication on the streets of Vancouver and Victoria. Vendors keep 50 per cent of profits from sales of the calendar, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. More at: megaphonemagazine. com/hope_in_shadows.
Representing HEU as a sponsor, financial secretary Betty Valenzuela spoke at Hope in Shadows’ 2024 calendar launch in Vancouver with activists, and photo contest winners Lynda Choy and Izzy.
FALL 2023 | GUARDIAN 13
