Celebrating Outstanding Members 

President Jenn Carr presented awards to deserving Institute members for their exemplary and inspiring leadership and thanked the members of the Award Selection Panel – Chair Bert Crossman, Ralph Herman, and Nita Saville – for reviewing the nominations and for recommending these laureates.

Don't forget to check out the 2022 Stewards of the Year award recipients.

Institute Service Award  

The Institute Service Award recognizes outstanding service over a significant period of time, above and beyond that which might be expected of any devoted member who has served on many constituent body executives.

Life Membership Award

The Life Membership Award recognizes outstanding service of enduring value to the Institute by a regular or retired member of the Institute who has demonstrated leadership for at least ten years.

President Jenn Carr presented the Life Membership Awards to these outstanding members.

President’s Opening Address

At the 103^rd AGM, President Jenn Carr addressed the delegates, touching on the AGM theme “Reconnected” and outlining the goals for the year ahead.

The speech highlighted everything from bargaining to protecting pensions to reaching out to other members and Canadians. We will continue our work to make PIPSC an inclusive, diverse organization. We have a lot of good work ahead of us.

Watch the bilingual video

Full text of the President’s address.

Learn more about the accomplishments and continuous work of Canada’s largest union of professional employees in this year’s annual report.

Read the report

The report includes a message from President Jennifer Carr addressing some of 2022’s most pressing issues including returning to workplaces, bargaining, fighting wage restraint legislation, and more.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae
1872-1918

The day before he wrote his famous poem, one of John McCrae's closest friends was killed in the fighting and buried in a makeshift grave with a simple wooden cross. Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses marking the many graves. Unable to help his friend or any of the others who had died, McCrae gave them a voice through his poem.

In Flanders Fields was first published in England's Punch magazine in December 1915. Within months, this poem came to symbolize the sacrifices of all who were fighting in the First World War. Today, the poem continues to be a part of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Canada and other countries.

Veterans Affairs Canada

The Institute is saddened to learn of the untimely passing of our friend and colleague, Brandon Wilson.

Brandon passed away on October 23, 2022 at the age of 36.  He will be missed.

Brandon became a steward at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2019.

He was a member of the IT Ottawa West Sub-Group and Ottawa West Branch.

The Institute extends its condolences to Brandon’s family and to the many friends who were privileged to know him.

Visitation will be held at the Kelly Funeral Home, 580 Eagleson Road in Kanata on Wednesday, November 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Thursday, November 10 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

A funeral service will take place on Friday, November 11 at 10 a.m. at Bethel Pentecostal Church, 500 Viewmount Drive, Nepean.

Condolences and memories can be expressed online.

We’re currently looking for additional members in your workplace to be a local Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) representative.

In the face of COVID-19 and return to workplaces, health and safety is more important than ever. Our local OHS representatives are crucial in ensuring the health and safety of our workplaces, and we need your help to make it happen.

PIPSC plays an important role in ensuring the health and safety of our workspaces by selecting employees to be OHS representatives. You don’t have to be a union steward to volunteer for this role. The responsibilities of an OHS representative include:

• Implement policies and programs to educate your colleagues about workplace health and safety
• Participate in inquiries, investigations, studies, and inspections about the health and safety of your workplace when required
• Consider and address complaints related to worker health and safety in your workplace
• Create OHS action plans, and address any workplace complaints
• Conduct regular health and safety inspections in your workplace

Help ensure a safer workplace for you and your colleagues by becoming an OHS representative. The deadline to apply is November 7, 2022.

If you have any questions about becoming an OHS representative, please contact your department’s National Consultation President. Apply today!