MAY 10 @ 1:00 - 2:00 PM 

REigniting
healthcare

A Live streamed Panel

Join the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions for Reigniting Healthcare, a live stream panel covering the most pressing issues facing our health care system today. With the help of union leaders from across the country, we'll explore the staffing crisis, the emergence of privatized care, and how a national pharmacare program could help our overstretched health care system.  
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Panelists

Dr. James M. Buchan
Adjunct Professor,
University of Technology, Australia
Dr. Buchan has thirty years experience of policy research on health sector human resources, specializing in the nursing workforce and in international and  national level strategy, policy and planning; pay, incentives and reward strategy; and labour market analysis.

Dr. Buchan most recent report, Recover to Rebuild explores increasing evidence of the stress, burnout, absence and strikes affecting the nursing workforce. Underlying concerns about poor working conditions and unsafe staffing have become even more obvious, and must be addressed. The core emphasis in the report is that without sufficient investment in well-supported nurses there can be no effective healthcare system recovery and rebuild.
Linda Silas
President, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
Linda Silas has been the President of the 250,000-strong Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) since 2003. As the dynamic and charismatic leader of Canada’s largest nurses’ organization, Linda is recognized as the foremost advocate on behalf of nurses in Canada.

Starting her tenure as a full-time labour activist as the single mom of a 13-month-old son has shaped Linda in a very distinctive way. Linda has earned a reputation for being a caring listener who is focused and solution-oriented in everything she does. A proud New Brunswicker, Linda credits her home province for both her impressive work ethic and her well-known zest for life and adventure.
Aman Grewal
President, British Columbia Nurses Union
Aman Grewal has been nursing for over 35 years. She began working at Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) where she found her passion in pediatrics and later in pediatric emergency, before settling into leadership.

Her involvement with BCNU came early in her career during the strike of 1989 when she took on the challenge of serving as her region's job action coordinator for SMH while the chief steward was away on leave. She stepped up to take on hospital management, coordinate picket lines, and liaise with other unions to help maintain the job action at the large campus.
Adriane Gear
Vice-President,
British Columbia
Nurses Union
Adriane Gear was elected as vice president of BCNU in 2022 during a special election. As vice president, Adriane is excited to lead a team of regional lobbyists and to work with council to ensure nurses are treated with respect and that patients receive the care they deserve.

Adriane has been an RN since 1993, working in long-term care and general surgery at Saanich Peninsula, Royal Jubilee, and Victoria General hospitals. She most recently worked in case contact management and surveillance and is currently working toward BCCNM-certified practice in reproductive health.

Adriane is passionate about health and safety and is driven by action as she cares deeply about the working conditions of nurses.
Heather Smith
President,
United Nurses
of Alberta
Heather Smith is President of the United Nurses of Alberta, which represents more than 30,000 Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and allied workers. She is a prominent advocate for Canada’s universal public health care system and a national pharmacare program.

Elected as UNA president in 1988, she has served in that role ever since. She received the Spirit of Tommy Douglas Award in 2007 for her commitment to the dreams of the late Saskatchewan premier and creator of Canadian medicare.

Smith came to Alberta in 1976 after training in Ottawa. While working as an RN in Edmonton in 1980, Smith became active in the union. She was elected as a local president in 1983 and has served on every UNA negotiating committee since 1984. She has played an important role in the Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Unions since UNA joined that organization in 1999.
Danielle Laviree
Vice-President,
United Nurses
of Alberta
Danielle Laviree was elected as the First Vice-President of the United Nurses of Alberta in the fall of 2019. Prior, Larivee was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as the Member for the constituency of Lesser Slave Lake on May 5, 2015. She was appointed Minister of Children's Services on January 19, 2017. She previously served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Service Alberta. Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Ms. Larivee worked for over 17 years as a registered nurse with Alberta Health Services.

During this time she also spent two years working in home care for the Driftpile First Nation and two years as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) instructor with Northern Lakes College.An active member of her community, she served as treasurer for her local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) from 2013 to 2015, as chair of the Lesser Slave Lake Regional Wellness Advisory Committee from 2014 to 2015 and as president of local 315 of the United Nurses of Alberta from 2011 to 2015.  
Tracy Zambory
President,
Saskatchewan
Union of Nurses 
Tacy Zambory is a Registered Nurse (RN) and President of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN); the union representing Saskatchewan’s Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. Tracy’s journey to becoming president of SUN was born out of her passion for the nursing profession, commitment to improving patient safety, and belief in social justice – values that flourished within her over the course of her 27-year career as a long-term care nurse. Today, Tracy is one of Saskatchewan’s foremost health activists, tirelessly advocating for expanded and strengthened universal health care, improved registered nurse staffing, and better access to health care for all.

As a nursing leader, Tracy strives to use her voice and influence to advance the principles of Truth and Reconciliation in health care, while facilitating crucial conversations around race and gender within the nursing profession. Under Tracy’s stewardship, SUN has instigated and lead critical dialogue on numerous health and social issues from Saskatchewan’s HIV, youth mental health, and overdose crises to the future of seniors’ care and access to rural health in the province.

Tracy represents her members as the current Vice President of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) and as an Officer on the National Executive Board of the Canadian Federation of Nurses' Unions (CFNU).
Darlene Jackson
President,
Manitoba Nurses Union
Darlene Jackson is President of the 12,000 member Manitoba Nurses Union. With over three decades of nursing experience she has been an active MNU member since 1981. Shortly after joining MNU she attended her first Annual General Meeting, and has been a committed union activist ever since.

She previously served as President of her worksite in The Pas for over two decades, and on MNU’s Provincial Collective Bargaining Committee (PCBC) through 9 rounds of bargaining as representative for the North and as vice-chairperson. In recognition of her leadership, she was the recipient of MNU’s Yellow Ribbon Award in 1996.

Jackson served as MNU's board member for the Northern Region for four years, and as Secretary-Treasurer for two years. Jackson’s extensive nursing and union experience has provided her with a holistic understanding of issues facing nurses in every region of Manitoba.Jackson believes in the collective power of nurses. Through strong teamwork and representation, she is committed to ensuring nurses practice in a safe and supportive environment, and will continue to advocate for safe, quality health care for all Manitobans.
Paula Doucet
President,
New Brunswick
Nurses Union
Paula Doucet has served as NBNU's president since 2015. Doucet became active in her union shortly after starting her nursing career at the Chaleur Regional Hospital 25 years ago and was soon elected president of her local.  The NB Media Co-op interviewed Paula Doucet on December 22.

She comes from a strong union background: her father Blair Doucet was president of Local 5385 of the United Steelworkers for 15 years before leading the New Brunswick Federation of Labour from 1999 to 2005.
Janet Hazelton
President, Nova Scotia Nurses' Union
Early on in her career she recognized that she and her co-workers needed a stronger voice where matters of compensation, employee safety and work-life issues were concerned. Her volunteer involvement in the NSNU enabled her to pursue additional education in labour relations and ultimately led her to the positions of Second Vice-President followed by Secretary-Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the NSNU.
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She has been on the Board of Directors for the Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia since 2005, and the National Executive Board of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.

She is also the NSNU Trustee for the Nova Scotia Health Employees’ Pension Plan.

On behalf of the NSNU Janet adamantly supports the right to public and accessible health care for all Nova Scotians, not just those living in densely populated areas of the province. Janet Hazelton has been the President of the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union (NSNU) since October 2002.
Barbara Brookins
President, PEI Nurses
Bio Coming
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Yvette Coffey
President, Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland and Labrador 
Yvette Coffey, RN, began her term as president of the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador (RNU) in January 2021.She has a long history of union activism and has been a strong leader for RNU. Yvette served as Vice President for 7 years. She spent 16 years as president of Branch 3 and 26 years as a shop steward.

Yvette has more than 30 years of nursing experience. She has worked in many areas of nursing, including oncology, cardiac care, outpatients, intensive care, orthopedics and med/surg.

She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as RNU President. She understands the issues and is a passionate and strong voice for RNU and our members.Yvette is a mother and grandmother, and a passionate leader for human rights.
Erin Ariss
President, Ontario Nurses' Association
With 19 years of clinical experience as a registered nurse, and a lengthy history of union activism, Erin Ariss says she was never more humbled by the courage and dedication demonstrated every single day by her members throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “I have been in the thick of it, shoulder-to-shoulder at the bedside during the most challenging time most of us have ever experienced in our careers.

When COVID hit, I took action on behalf of my members. Their safety is my top priority,” says Ariss. The Local 55 Coordinator and Bargaining Unit President at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kitchener, Ariss says she has organized and participated in many political action rallies in Region 4. In June 2021, Ariss was instrumental in lead her St. Mary’s Emergency Department (ED) members in an Independent Assessment Committee investigation, where 79 recommendations were issued by the panel of experts to improve the ED.As a Board member, Ariss says she will continue to work on behalf of the nurses and health-care professionals in her region.

At the provincial level, Ariss has been on the Central Hospital Negotiating Team and served on the Board’s Governance Committee.
Angela Precocanin
Vice-President, Ontario Nurses' Association
Linda Silas has been the President of the 250,000-strong Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) since 2003. As the dynamic and charismatic leader of Canada’s largest nurses’ organization, Linda is recognized as the foremost advocate on behalf of nurses in Canada.

Starting her tenure as a full-time labour activist as the single mom of a 13-month-old son has shaped Linda in a very distinctive way. Linda has earned a reputation for being a caring listener who is focused and solution-oriented in everything she does. A proud New Brunswicker, Linda credits her home province for both her impressive work ethic and her well-known zest for life and adventure.
Lora Silman
President, Canadian Nursing Student Association
Aman Grewal has been nursing for over 35 years. She began working at Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) where she found her passion in pediatrics and later in pediatric emergency, before settling into leadership.

Her involvement with BCNU came early in her career during the strike of 1989 when she took on the challenge of serving as her region's job action coordinator for SMH while the chief steward was away on leave. She stepped up to take on hospital management, coordinate picket lines, and liaise with other unions to help maintain the job action at the large campus.