Sent on behalf of President JP Hornick and First Vice-President Laurie Nancekivell
We are thrilled to inform you that, as of September 15th, 2025, the Membership Development Trainee (MDT) and Staff Development Trainee (SDT) programs will begin. The purpose of these programs is to provide OPSEU/SEFPO members and internal permanent staff with an opportunity to shadow roles at OPSEU/SEFPO to develop their knowledge and understanding of the trade union movement through mentoring and skills development.
The following is the list of successful 2025 MDT and SDT candidates:
2025 MDTs
- Penny Wolf will be a Regional Secretary in Guelph Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Simone Warner will be a Staff Representative in Windsor Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Sara McArthur Timofejew will be a Staff Representative in Owen Sound Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Andrew Harrigan will be a Staff Representative in Orillia Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Mezaun Hodge will be a Staff Representative in Ottawa Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Taryn McDiarmid will be a Staff Representative in Toronto (155 Lesmill) Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Jesse Patterson will be a Staff Representative in North Bay Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Raymond Zuliani will be a Staff Representative in Thunder Bay Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Asma Zahra will be a Grievance Officer in the Arbitrations Unit, Contract Enforcement Division.
- Scarlett Mackay will be a Campaigns Officer in the Central Campaigns & Policy Research Unit, Political Action & Education Division.
- Lyle Williams will be an Education Officer in the BPS Campaigns & Education Unit, Political Action & Education Division.
- Wendy Lee will be a Human Rights Officer in the Member Equity Unit, Contract Enforcement Division.
2025 SDTs
- Lucy Gregory will be a Staff Representative in Toronto (155 Lesmill) Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Janey Haggart will be a Staff Representative in Toronto (155 Lesmill) Regional Office, Negotiations Division.
- Steven Cheng will be an IT Hardware Technician in the Information Technology Unit, Finance & Operations Division.
- Jean-Philippe Maher will be an Organizer in the Certification & Merger Unit, Political Action & Education Division.
We are deeply grateful for the dedication of our mentors in these respective divisions to advancing and strengthening OPSEU/SEFPO. These programs could not run without their time and dedication.
We would like also to express our gratitude to the Education Unit, as well as our OPSEU/SEFPO Executive Board Members (EBMs), Ed Arvelin and Dr. Crystal Garvey, for their collaborative efforts in planning and executing these two programs. We are grateful for all their hard work and commend their dedication to this process.
The MDT and SDT programs have increasingly become important and impactful over time as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen OPSEU/SEFPO and support our members. Through skill development, job shadowing, and peer-to-peer mentorship, these programs will aid the participants’ professional development and give our members and staff opportunities to practice skills and deepen their understanding of the potential for the labour movement to build worker power.
Together, let’s work together to make sure these MDT and SDT participants are successful and have a positive OPSEU/SEFPO experience.
In solidarity,
People and Culture Division