Candidate Biographies

Tom Manz

Submitted August 16, 2023

I’m seeking re-election as a Benefit Trustee representing members of our union Supplemental Pension Plan. I served as an Ex-Officio Benefit Trustee from 1999 through 2016 while concurrently serving as your Provincial Secretary Treasurer. After retiring in 2016, I continued as an Ex-Officio Benefit Trustee through 2018. In 2019 I was elected as a Benefit Trustee which I’m seeking re-election for at the 2023 Convention. In addition to annual pension continuing education sessions, I have completed the following certificate programs, Foundations of Trustee Management Standards, (FTMS) Advanced Trustee Management Standards (ATMS) and the final level in pension education, Masters of Trust Management Standards. (MTMS) These continuing education and certificate programs ensure Trustees stay current with pension regulations, issues, and challenges ahead. They help guide trustees in making best practice decisions to ensure members pension needs are met in retirement. My experience is with both the Union Supplemental Pension and Public Service Pension Plan. (PSPP) My knowledge and history of both our plans has allowed me to quickly recognize any problems with either. An example of this was identifying employer underpayments of Supplemental Pension Monies to sick and injured members. I initiated the grievance and assisted in recovering over $230,000.00 of pension monies owed to members. As well, I was part of the team which fought for and successfully retained our PSPP Early Retirement benefit. An essential benefit the employer, HEABC and BCGEU plan partner were trying to eliminate. I continue to assist members and the Provincial Union Executive with both Supplemental and Public Service Pension issues. Issues which include errors in pensionable time, contribution rates, employer reporting to PSPP and more. Your Executive will be reporting on these issues at convention. I look forward to your support for election to one of the two Benefit Trustee positions. Should you have any questions regarding my candidacy or the Supplemental Pension Plan, please don’t hesitate to contact me at manzt@telus.net

Kevin Lambert

Submitted July 21, 2023

Hello everyone, My name is Kevin Lambert and I am running for a position as a Benefit Trustee.  These positions are elected to oversee the APBC Supplemental Pension Plan of which all FT and regular PT members are a part.  This plan is a benefit we enjoy in addition to our regular pension and provides an extra level of retirement income to paramedics. I have served as a trustee on this plan for close to 16 years and am now the chair of the committee.  In this time the plan has continued to grow and the trustees keep careful watch on the investments and performance of the investment managers to ensure our members will receive the maximum benefit of the plan.  My specific interests are to make sure plan members are getting what they're owed (thanks to the other trustees and specifically Tom Manz for a lot of work on that) and to ensure we minimize losses and get gains where possible without subjecting the plan to undue risk. I look forward to continuing to serve as a Benefit Trustee and would appreciate your consideration. Thank you!

Brooke Lewis

Submitted July 22, 2023

Hey there, I am once again seeking your vote to continue as a member of the bylaw committee. have been active within the union since 2007 when I joined BCAS and attended my very first convention that very year. Over the years, I have continued in different roles from being on the Ceremonial Unit and Bylaw committee, which I am still apart of both. Most recently I became a FT member of 136 in Tofino, and subsequently becoming their shop steward. I love to help fellow members learn about the CA and advocating for them, as I believe we should all have a voice. I encourage all those seeking change to submit resolutions so their voices can be heard, and if anyone needs any help writing one or even where to start please reach out and I will be happy to assist. I thank you for your support and hopefully your vote so that I can continue as a member on the bylaw committee.

Sasha Beer

Submitted August 16, 2023

Hey everyone, I'm Sasha Beer. I work and live in Prince Rupert, been here almost 16 years now. I have been attending convention for quite a few years now and was on the convention committee for two years previously. I have seen and participated in the hard work that the convention committee puts in to make a smooth and successful convention happen. Without a smooth running convention, doing the business of our union would be incredibly hard. I love working with this team to bring convention to our membership every year and very much want to do so again. Thanks for taking the time to read through this little BIO, I would be grateful for your vote. Sasha

Doreen Kathleen Maday

Submitted July 21, 2023

I have been with BCEHS now for 11 years. I have seen many good changes over the years , bur i also see where we need improvement . This year im running for convention because i have come to understand that this is where chmge happens.  I would like to he part of theae changes representing our membera.  We can and will do better!! Im here for you! Im a voice that needs  and wants to be heard.  If you vote for me i will do my absolute best to represent our membership!! All of us !

Sasha Beer

Submitted August 16, 2023

Hey everyone! For those of you who don't know me, my name is Sasha Beer, I'm a PCP working out of  684 in Prince Rupert. I started my career just over 15 years ago now, as On Call here in Prince Rupert. I've been fortunate enough to have spent all of my career up here and have now been Fulltime for almost three years. In 2015 I started coming to convention as a delegate and participating more in the Union. I've found the process of doing the Union's business at convention every year incredibly rewarding and satisfying. I have made a great number of life long friends during my time at our conventions. I have the privilege of having several former and currently serving members of the negotiating committee as friends and have learned so much about the work involved from them. Over the past few years I've thought about running as a candidate for this committee and after discussing it with a trusted friend, I've decided that it's time for me to throw my hat in the ring. I bring to the table 15 years of experience working in the north of our province and all of the unique facets and challenges that that entails. I have a passion for our aviation operations and providing top tier services to the north. Prior to becoming a paramedic I spent many years in the IT industry working closely with high profile clients as well as vendors and corporate partners, these have taught me how to professionally interact with others at all levels of the corporate hierarchy. I believe I have the skills and the knowledge requisite to work with the negotiating committee to facilitate the improvements and forward movement needed and wanted for my peers in this amazing service in which we all serve.

Ian Johnston

Submitted August 9, 2023

I have been a member of the last two Negotiation Committees and I am very pleased with the advances we have made in the last 5 years. I believe that what I have learned from the excellent committee leaders, and what I learned about the bargaining process in the last two rounds, would make me an effective member of the  next Negotiation Committee. I am asking for your support to participate in one more opportunity to work on the next round of bargaining and push even farther for more gains for members.

My paramedic career started at Burns Lake (Stn 753) in 1989 when I moved there for a job with the BC Forest Service. As was common then, the local Unit Chief got wind that a new OFA3 person was in town and invited me out for coffee and a recruiting pitch. A couple of years in Burns Lake was enough for my wife, and in 1991 I transferred to the East Kootenays for both my BC Forest Service and my BCAS jobs, settling in Kimberley (Stn 414). I am a husband, father to two grown daughters and now a grandfather.

I am currently the an RVP for Region 4 and a proud member of the Ceremonial Unit.

Josephine Miladinovic

Submitted July 25, 2023

Good day, my name is Josephine Miladinovic. I have been working for BCEHS for 9years 11 months and a handful of days in a remote Vancouver Island village called Tahsis.  I have experienced the many changes which the service has gone through during this time from working for $2.00 per hour on pager to our current wages that I am grateful for, but I believe that while fair compensation is important there other equally important aspects to our job.  If elected for the negotiations committee I intend on continuing the fight for ensuring a healthy working environment, fair compensation and benefits along with assisting to ensure that there is a healthy work/ life balance for employees.

Diana Guerin

Submitted July 24, 2023

My name is Diana Guerin I am a Community Paramedic in the Village of Clinton station 308. I am currently RPT and AUC until the SOC is completed and I will be celebrating my 32nd year with BCEHS in August. I love to network and fight the good fight for my community and area, which is why I was a municipal Councillor for 7 years in Clinton (2011 -2018). I have spent many hours working with the provincial government in that capacity, ensuring my community received its fair share of grants,  Clinton Community Forest and  acknowledgements.  Community Paramedicine is my first love in this career as I wind down into a retirement mode. What better way to serve your patients than sitting with them for an hour while we work to help them through their chronic illness or into the next phase of life called "palliative". I believe that we must continue the fight to ensure that our profession receives the increasing skills, safety, mental health support, and the best wages and working conditions we can. Thank you to those who nominated me, I am truly humbled. Regards Diana Guerin RPT CP PCP  308

Jason Victor Jackson

Submitted September 25, 2023

I have had the privilege of serving as 2^nd Provincial Vice President since 2018. During that time, I have successfully managed our union’s labour relations, securing substantial financial gains for our members through arbitrations and negotiations. Through strategic planning, professional collaboration and political advocacy, I led the implementation of our last two collective agreements and most recently led our negotiation committee to secure the most significant monetary gains in the history of our union. I began my career in 1997 on Denman Island and have worked in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Northern BC and VDOC. I am proud to serve as the Unit Chief of Quesnel for the last 17 years. As a union officer I have served our membership for 14 years as RVP, Provincial Recording Secretary, Provincial Chief Grievance Officer, and Provincial Vice President. During my tenure, I have moved our strategic labour relations forward by holding the employer accountable while maintaining professional and respectful relationships.  I have learned to disagree without being disagreeable, that compromise is possible if you know which principles cannot be compromised, and if we're willing to listen to one another, we can achieve our goals. My record of success includes:

• Implementation of the Community Paramedicine Program, investing $15,000,000 in rural paramedic services
• External ACP Hires/Paid Training Award – secured $10,000,000 in funded ACP training opportunities (31 positions)
• External CCP Hires/Paid Training – Protected contracting out, securing $4,000,000 in training funding
• 2019-2022 Collective Bargaining – PEC Lead, responsible for full implementation
• Responsible for SOC implementation, evaluation and successful elimination of the failed model
• 2022 Collective Bargaining – Lead Negotiator
• Prevented elimination of 18 FTE Unit Chief positions provincially in the SOC Model
• Development of 400+ new full-time positions across the Province
• Building strategic relations with Government, HEABC and BCEHS
• Negotiated a 34% wage increase for our PTN members

As our healthcare system evolves so does the role of paramedics and dispatchers. The road ahead is filled with challenges and opportunities. We must continue to maintain responsible relationships with Government, HEABC, PHSA and BCEHS. As our profession and organization grows, we must secure a voice at every table to ensure the needs of our members are met. The health and wellness of our members is paramount. As President I plan to partner with the Canadian Institute of Public Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) in a longitudinal study of mental health with paramedics in BC, to develop a long-term strategy and meaningful supports for our members. I believe the diversity of our workforce should be celebrated. We must seek partnerships and ally with members who need our collective voice to ensure they are treated fairly with equal opportunities. I have submitted resolutions to Convention to add an Indigenous Health Navigator, a Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access and support a Women’s Advocacy Director. We need to build a strong team to succeed. I humbly ask for your support to finish this work together as a team. Thank you for your consideration. Please contact me with any questions: jason.jackson@apbc.ca

Kelly Diana Budway

Submitted August 15, 2023

My name is Kelly Budway and I am asking for your support in the upcoming election for the position of Provincial Recording Secretary. I currently work as the PCP Unit Chief in Pemberton, and I have been a Regional Vice-President in 2 West for the better part of 8 years. I also have been a member of the Negotiations Committee since 2018, initially as the Recording Secretary, then chairing the committee during the 2022 round of bargaining. In addition to these roles I presently sit on the Frontline Supervision, Vacation and Health Benefits working groups. Through the duties of these roles I have gained considerable knowledge of our Collective Agreement and representing members in dealings with management. With our extensive Collective Agreement and the constant changes with MOA’s, LOA’s, Employer Policies, and Arbitration Awards, every day is a school day, and I very much enjoy the learning process. I am looking forward to the challenges this new position will bring. During previous employment, I have had an extensive career with CUPE. I was an initial force behind a union drive and following certification I was elected onto the Bylaw committee. I’ve also held positions as Base Vice President, Employee Chair for the Workplace Health and Safety Committee of Western Canada, and National Recording Secretary for that Local. These roles have all provided me with the opportunity for further learning with CUPE education, taking various courses in the Steward Learning Series as well as Health & Safety, Conciliation, Mediation, the Negotiations cycle, Mobilizing Members, as well as Strike Training. Given my tenure with APBC, I have proven commitment to bettering our working conditions, striving to make our workplace better for all. I’m excited about the prospect of being elected as the Provincial Recording Secretary, having a bigger voice and bringing a fresh perspective to our Executive. In solidarity, Kelly Budway

Grant Farquhar

Submitted July 20, 2023

Hi everyone! My name is Grant Farquhar and I am an "On-call  PCP at Station 414 in Kimberley, BC. I have been employed with BCAS since June 2000 and have been an active advocate for APBC since 2006. I have held the positions of Safety, Shop Steward, RVP Region 4 for multiple years and currently seeking your support for my third term as Union Trustee. I am currently the longest serving trustee and the Chair of our Trustee Committee. AS an on-call member in Kimberley I have always advocated for the betterment of all our members and profession. I was fortunate to be selected to the APBC Ceremonial Unit in 2019. I have represented APBC's Ceremonial Unit and membership at our Annual Retirement Dinners, at LODD events in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and locally at many Remembrance Day Services. These events though solemn are critical for the survivors and I will always endeavor to participate. In my regular employment I am the President and Business Agent for United Steelworkers Local 1-405 in the Southeast corner of BC. In this full-time role I oversee the office operations and ensure fiscal responsibility to our 1800 Steelworker members.  I am also the Lead Negotiator for our local's many and diverse collective agreements ranging from Credit Unions to Ski Hills to Forest Industry Operations to Insurance Agencies and more. This diversity in workplaces and adapting to each during interactions has given myself great insight into conflict resolution and seeking and implementing resolves required. On a personal level I and a proud parent and spouse, and my family has been my biggest supporters and influencers. They have supported me in all my endeavors and continue to be by my side today. Unionism has been at the forefront of most aspects of my working life however I do enjoy golfing, curling competitively (with my daughter) skiing, fishing and hiking. As a long serving APBC member and officer and always being attached to the Kimberley Station I am able to bring a different perspective on all matters that have been brought in front of the Trustees. The protection and integrity of our union and its membership has always been the most important role that I have strived to uphold and commit to continue if re-elected. Please reach out if you need more information. grant.farquhar@apbc.ca