Tag: Awareness Days
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Thank you! Women make our workplaces stronger: International Women’s Day 2019
OPSEU Celebrates International Women’s Day A message from OPSEU’s President and First Vice-President/Treasurer: On this International Women’s Day we honour all women both inside and outside of OPSEU – including women in the province of Ontario, across Canada, and around the world for the endless contributions they make to their workplaces, families, and to their…
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March is Easter Seals month
Just as OPSEU works hard to ensure that people with physical disabilities can lead productive, enjoyable, and satisfying work lives, Easter Seals works hard to ensure that kids with physical disabilities can experience freedom, independence, and a sense of accomplishment. March is Easter Seals month. We’d like to mark the occasion by acknowledging and celebrating…
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OPSEU thanks the Canadian Red Cross for its decades of humanitarian work
Since US President Franklin D. Roosevelt first proclaimed March as Red Cross Month in 1943, countries around the world have used March to salute the work and legacy of the International Red Cross. Roosevelt’s proclamation came 80 years after the Red Cross was founded in Switzerland, initially a neutral force to aid the wounded on…
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Lent: a time to look at – and beyond – yourself
March 6 is Ash Wednesday, the start of a 40-day fast known as Lent observed by millions of Christians from denominations across the globe. It’s a time of preparation for Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. During Lent, Christians take up a number of time-honoured practices that underscore the penitential nature of the…
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Pink Shirt Day: OPSEU members in social services mark National Pink Shirt Day
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas issued the following statement today to mark National Pink Shirt Day, February 27. Dear friends: National Pink Shirt Day was started by a group of teenage boys in Nova Scotia in support of another boy who was the victim of bullying. OPSEU members have stood in solidarity with the National…
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Family Day – putting family first
Family always comes first. While OPSEU members work hard to ensure we deliver quality services to Ontarians, it’s also important to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. Then we can put our best foot forward and help take care of others. Family Day is only observed by five provinces. Ontario started recognizing Family…
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Heart and stroke – getting to the heart of the matter!
One Canadian dies from heart disease every seven minutes. Some 2.4 million Canadian adults have heart disease right now – that’s similar to the population of Toronto. We can’t ignore those figures, nor can we dismiss the costs to the economy, our health care system or to our families. Because whenever a heart stops beating,…
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OPSEU celebrates Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a time for looking forward, as well as reflecting upon the past, with hope and renewed optimism. Today marks the first day of celebrations in honour of the arrival of the Year of the Pig. At OPSEU, we honour the significant contributions of Chinese Canadians who have been integral to the…
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The Black and African Health Month Series
Many Black and African communities are wary of a month of a year where the system “allows” them to be Black and African for a month of the year, for obvious reasons and therefore a response in some quarters was to develop the Black and African Health Month. This was coined by an OPSEU member,…
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Region 2 Black History Month Screening ‘It takes a Riot’
The Region 2 Coalition of Racialized Workers presents a screening and discussions of “It Takes a Riot” in commemoration of the Yonge Street uprising that took place on May 4, 1992. Date: February 22, 2019 Location: Hamilton Regional Office, 505 York Bouvlevard, 2nd Floor Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. “It Takes A Riot” is…
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Organizing for migrant justice during Black History Month
Following the sold-out screening of Migrant Dreams at OPSEU’s Human Rights Conference in December, the Coalition of Racialized Workers invites all members to an extended discussion of migrant justice issues. Date: February 15 Location: Toronto Regional Office Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Snacks and Refreshments will be served. To RSVP, contact Patrick Riley, Treasurer…
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Black History Month 2019
During Black History Month, we pay tribute to the activists who, from the Underground Railway to the founding of the earliest Black trade unions – the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters – to those freedom fighters who, like Viola Desmond, sat in designated whites-only areas in defiance of racial segregation laws. From the Abolitionist…
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On World Cancer Day, OPSEU demands treatment equity
We all know how difficult a cancer diagnosis can be for a person and their family. But for people living in developing nations, or who are living in poverty in developed nations like Canada, cancer is particularly devastating. Even cancers that are medically treatable can be a death sentence for people who can’t afford the treatment,…
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Let’s Talk 2019: A conversation we must have
Some 8,000 OPSEU members work in the mental health sector. Tens of thousands more work with people with mental health issues. As such, OPSEU always has its finger on the pulse of mental health care in Ontario. We know government funding for mental health care doesn’t begin to meet the needs of Ontarians, which continue…
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Vigilance is ever vital to prevent history from repeating itself
Today we pause to remember one of the darkest chapters in world history, the Holocaust. January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day and it is vital that we never forget the barbaric Nazi genocide that killed millions of innocent people and left those who survived scarred for life. We should always honour the memory of…
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World Braille Day a chance to push for more opportunities for workers with disabilities
Today we celebrate the work of Louis Braille, who at the age of 15 invented a remarkable reading and writing system that changed the lives of blind and partially sighted people. Braille helped them connect with the sighted world and empowered them to more fully participate in it. Increased literacy led to better education, the…
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This January, get informed about Alzheimer’s – and what it means for you
Some 747,000 Canadians are living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s is the most common form. That means just about every family in Canada has been, or will be, touched by dementia. Since there is no guaranteed means of prevention, every one of us risks receiving a diagnosis of dementia. And while there is currently no cure…
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Sex workers’ rights are human rights
Workers’ rights include dignity, respect, and a safe work environment that is free from violence. This is why we stand in solidarity today to mark International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers. Since 2003, December 17 has been a day to remember all sex workers who have suffered from violence and to defend workers’…
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Solidarity: The foundation for a successful union – and a better world
The labour movement relies on solidarity to be successful. As the old saying goes, “United we stand; divided we fall.” But like so many things in life, it’s easier said than done. Particularly in very democratic unions like OPSEU, where a free expression is encouraged. It can sometimes be a challenge to get a consensus,…
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OPSEU Region 5 recognizes ‘Women of Impact’
On December 5, 2018, a large crowd of OPSEU members gathered for Region 5’s “Women of Impact” Recognition Awards. Carol Mundley, chair of the Provincial Women’s Committee, OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU Second Vice-President Sarah Labelle and Region 5 Executive Board Member Kingsley Kwok were among those who attended. Guests enjoy conversation over dinner…