PEA Education Conference 2023: Reflect & Revitalize
April 21 & 22, 2023
Victoria, BC
In Person at the Inn at Laurel Point
Expression of Interest
Delegate spots for the in-person conference are allocated to each chapter. Final registrants will receive union leave for the Friday of the conference and any necessary leave for travel. Members may require additional confirmation from their chapter executives to attend the conference. The deadline for expressions of interest has passed.
Speakers Info
Rohini (Reah) Arora
Director of Organizing & Campaigns, BC Federation of Labour
Rohini is a seasoned organizer who has helped to run elections at every level of government, as well as issue campaigns across the country. In Alberta, she managed stakeholder relations for the Office of the Premier under Rachel Notley. Before moving to the BCFED she was the Campaigns Director for the creative agency, Point Blank.
Rohini and Jonny Sopotiuk will be presenting a workshop on "Organizing with a Community Focus".
Alden Habacon
Principal, Inclusive Excellence Strategy Solutions
Diversity & Inclusion Strategist, Facilitator, Consultant
Alden E. Habacon (he/him/his) is one of Canada’s leading diversity and inclusion strategists and facilitators. He is well known in this field and highly regarded for his fourteen years of impact, and his innovative work around inclusive leadership, unconscious bias and intercultural training. He works with leadership in a wide range of professions and sectors throughout Canada, including the legal community, social services, the public sector, municipalities, first responders, and large private corporations. Over the last few years he has delivered professional development to faculty and staff in almost every university in British Columbia and currently works with many universities across Canada, the US and Hong Kong. He is currently a Visiting Diversity & Inclusion Fellow at the University of Delaware.
Alden will open the conference with a plenary titled "Reflect & Revitatlize in a Regenative Workplace". He will also be presenting a two part workshop on "Active Bystander Training" and "Receiving Feedback with Grace".
Len Pierre
Owner and Managing Consultant, Len Pierre Consulting
Educator, Consultant, TEDx Speaker, Social Activist, Traditional Knowledge Keeper, and Cultural Practitioner
Len Pierre is Coast Salish from Katzie (kate-zee) First Nation. Len is an educator, consultant, TEDx Speaker, social activist, traditional knowledge keeper, and cultural practitioner. His experience includes Indigenous education and program leadership from various health organizations including the First Nations Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority, and the Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Addiction. As an agent for change, Len leads and advises for systemic transformation in universities across North America. He specializes in the development of educational programs and services with decolonization and reconciliation as its core values. He comes to us with an open heart and open mind and hopes to be received in the same way.
Len will be presenting a plenary on "Two Eyed Seeing" and will facilitate a workshop on "Indigenous Cultural Advocacy & Allyship".
Sussanne Skidmore
President, BC Federation of Labour
Sussanne Skidmore was elected BCFED president in 2022 after being elected as the federation's secretary-treasurer in 2018 and 2020. A well-known human rights, social justice and queer rights activist, she served as executive vice-president of BCGEU for 5 years. She has co-chaired the BCFED’s Human Rights Committee and is active in the federation’s Women and Gender Rights Committee. Skidmore is the national treasurer for the New Democratic Party of Canada and a vice president of the BC NDP.
Sussanne will be presenting on "Topics Important to the Labour Movement" at the closing plenary.
Jim Stanford
Director, Centre for Future Work
Economist, Author, Economic Commentator
Jim is one of Canada’s best-known economic commentators. He served for over 20 years as Economist and Director of Policy with Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector trade union (formerly the Canadian Auto Workers). He is quoted frequently in the print and broadcast media, and writes a regular column for the Toronto Star. He is also the Harold Innis Industry Professor in Economics at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, and an Honorary Professor in the Department of Political Economy at the University of Sydney. Jim has also served for many years as a Research Associate and volunteer with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Jim will present a virtual plenary on "The Future of Work" on Tuesday, April 18th at 12:00 p.m. PDT. This will be open to all members. Link forthcoming.
In this section
The PEA was formed in 1974, by a group of professionals working in the public sector. The story goes that the founders of the union mortgaged their houses to fund negotiations of the union’s first collective agreement.
Now, the PEA is BC’s union for professionals. We represent a wide range of professionals including lawyers, foresters, engineers, agrologists, teachers, veterinarians, fundraisers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists program managers, librarians and more.
Our union is led by the PEA Executive. They represent members from across the chapters of the PEA and set the overall vision and direction for our union.
Resources for our members
Navigating a union can sometime be a challenging process. Under this section of the website you will find resources to help you navigate the PEA. In the members section you'll find expense claim reimbursements, information on the PEA's scholarship and bursary program and our grants and donations program.
Collective bargaining and job action resources explain the process of collective bargaining and what to do in the unlikely event of job action.
Local reps can also find resources to help them complete their job more effectively. This includes ways to welcome new members, how to take notes in investigation disciplinary meetings and more.
The heart of our union
The PEA is made up of nine chapters, or groups of members who either work for the same employer or are in the same field of work. Each chapter has an elected executive tasked with running the affairs of the chapter. Each chapter is entitled to representation at the PEA Executive, the governing body of the union.
Our members work for a range of employers: the Province of BC, the University of Victoria, St. Margaret's School, the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, the Oil and Gas Commission, the Law Society of BC, Legal Services Society, the Okangan Regional Library and health authorities across BC.
Professionals need unions now more then ever
Since the 1970’s, when the PEA was formed, our mission has been to ensure our members can work in safe, productive environments and receive fair and reasonable wages and benefits for the valuable work they do. We help individuals and groups of professional workers to understand the challenges they face in their workplaces and some of the solutions available to them.
We work with potential members to become certified as a union and achieve the wages, benefits and respect they deserve.
