Staff
Scott McCannell | Executive Director
Scott has been a PEA staff member since January of 2010. As a Labour Relations Officer, he serviced St. Margaret's School and UVic and has worked as the PEA's Executive Director since January 2011. Scott has a varied background in labour relations and human resources. Scott says his passion for labour relations started as a local union activist and elected representative with the Energy & Chemical Workers Union (now UNIFOR) and continued while he completed a bachelors and then subsequently, a master's degree. Scott has always been interested in promoting and establishing successful workplaces that put their employees first and provide conducive working environments.
Scott’s free time is spent with family and being active in the outdoors.
Email Scott | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 203
Rhiannon Bray | Labour Relations Officer
Rhiannon has worked for the PEA since 2009. She is currently assigned to the St. Margaret’s School, Health Science Professionals, Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, Oil and Gas Commission and Okanagan Regional Librarians chapters. She holds a Masters Degree in Dispute Resolution from the University of Victoria. Her thesis focused on labour relations in a multi-union setting. Before coming to the PEA Rhiannon worked on global human resources initiatives for a multinational electronics company in Japan. Rhiannon is an experienced Labour Relations Officer. She has represented members at mediations, arbitration hearings and has negotiated many collective agreements. The most fulfilling part of her work is advocating for members on a daily basis.
Outside of work Rhiannon enjoys spending time with her family and is happy to call Victoria her home.
Email Rhiannon | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 204
Brett Harper | Labour Relations & Member Development Officer
Brett splits his position between labour relations and member services. He is the Labour Relations Officer for HESU, LABC and LSL. He also supports the PEA's Education Committee, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and oversees organizing at the PEA.
He has a history of union involvement with the BC Union Workers’ Union (BCUWU) and is currently serving as a BCUWU Vice-President. He is pursuing further education and certification in labour relations and labour law. Brett's background is as a communications professional. He holds a Masters Degree in Communications from Royal Roads University and a Communications Management Professional (CMP) designation from the International Association of Business Communicators. He has worked for municipal governments and not-for-profit organizations.
Email Brett | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 206
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Sam Montgomery | Labour Relations Officer
Sam Montgomery is the Labour Relations Officer for the University of Victoria.
Sam is a seasoned trade unionist and has extensive experience in collective bargaining and membership engagement across the US and Canada. After serving as the President of her graduate employees’ union and a Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers in Michigan, Sam worked in Ottawa as a researcher and advocate with the Canadian Association of University Teachers. From there, Sam was the Higher Education Field Representative for AFT-Vermont, where she organized, bargained, and lobbied for public service professionals across the state.
Sam holds a doctorate in Psychology and Women’s Studies and brings a feminist lens to her labour relations work. She is passionate about empowering union members to collectively improve their working conditions and is committed to principles of equity and social justice.
Sam is happy to call Victoria home and currently serves as the PEA staff union delegate to the local labour council and as Treasurer of the Victoria NDP Federal Riding Association. Outside of work and volunteering, Sam enjoys exploring the natural beauty of Vancouver Island with her family and their dog.
Email Sam | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 201
Melissa Moroz | Labour Relations Officer
Melissa’s first official involvement in the labour movement began when she was elected shop steward for Teaching Assistants in the department of sociology while completing her Master’s degree at UVic. From there she was hired by the UVic Educational Employees’ Union in various capacities including business manager. She has a wide breadth of experience also having worked as a national representative for CUPE, servicing municipal, K-12, colleges, and social services locals.
Melissa played an active role in her own union as a shop steward and the vice-president of her local, the Union Workers’ Union of BC. This experience brings her helpful insights into how other unions in the province operate. In 2014, Melissa won the national “Bud Jimmerfield” award from the largest private sector union in Canada in recognition of her outstanding contributions.
Melissa has worked as a labour relations officer at the PEA since 2011. She especially enjoys working directly with members and organizing for collective agreement improvements through bargaining.
Email Melissa | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 202
Jordana Whetter | Senior Communications Officer
Jordana joined the PEA in 2019 and brings a diverse range of experience with both public and private companies. She completed her Masters Degree in Communications from Royal Roads University and her Bachelors Degree in English and Journalism from the University of Victoria. With project expertise in all areas of communication, Jordana is well suited to support the PEA team. You can find her out paddleboarding or hiking with her family when the weather is good.
Email Jordana | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 210
Marc Joly | Financial Officer
Marc Joly, an accountant with a wealth of training and experience who will take the reins of the financial department.
Marc has held numerous accounting positions throughout his career with organizations including BC Lottery Corporation, Ducks Unlimited and Underwriters Insurance Brokers. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
In his personal life, Marc spends time with his family—which includes a West Highland Terrier. He’s a downhill mountain biking and road biking enthusiast and has been learning to play guitar for far longer than he would like to admit.
Email Marc | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 207
Toshie Arakawa | Executive Assistant
Toshie is the Executive Assistant at PEA. Toshie is a graduate of the University of Victoria. Her background in clerical work started in the biochemistry department of University of British Columbia. Subsequently, she worked in Ontario at the national office of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, where she supported the management and volunteer board, and was involved in meeting planning. After many years of living outside Victoria, Toshie is glad to be back and she looks forward to supporting PEA members.
Email Toshie | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 205
Marianna Azouri | Administrative Assistant - Membership
Marianna started with the PEA as an administrative assistant in the summer of 2000. Over the years Marianna’s been involved in all areas of administrative support and is currently maintaining the membership department. In her many years of employment at the PEA she has met and built many strong relationships in and out of the office. She feels blessed and thankful that after all these years at the PEA she still enjoys coming to work. Born and raised in Italy Marianna’s main love/passion are her children, food and the peaceful sound of nature.
Email Marianna | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 209
Michelle Cuthbert | Administrative Assistant
Michelle has an extensive background in customer service and administration. Before coming to the PEA, she worked as an Administrative Assistant and Support Coordinator for the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner and is looking forward to being a part of the PEA team.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Graphic Design from Vancouver Island University and enjoys doing anything creative. She is born and raised on Vancouver Island, finds any excuse to travel somewhere new and spends much of her free time at the lake with family and her energetic golden doodle.
Email Michelle | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: 200
Duncan Pike I Organizer
Duncan Pike is an organizer, campaigner, and social movement trainer with a passion for supporting people who are working for a more just, fair, and equitable society. Before joining PEA, Duncan worked as an Instructor with the Institute for Change Leaders in Toronto, where he trained hundreds of new activists and union members on organizing and campaign strategy and tactics, public narrative, and campaign messaging.
As a campaigner with a media freedom nonprofit, Duncan led the successful, nationwide campaign to pass Canada’s first ‘press shield’ law to protect journalists’ sources. As a member of USW Local 1998 in Toronto, Duncan led internal mobilization efforts against Ontario’s anti-worker Bill 124. A survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Duncan works with other adolescent and young adult cancer survivors to fight for increased resources for AYA cancer care. Duncan lives in Youbou with his wife and dog.
Email Duncan | Phone: 250-385-8791 EXT: