I continue to pursue my passion to advance workers' rights around the world by connecting with other like-minded individuals for the purpose of working together to ensure that workers have a voice in their workplaces. I am open to new partnerships and opportunities to contribute to economies, large and small.I began my career in the energy sector more than 45 years ago, with the completion of an apprenticeship program in the trade of Electrician. For me, lifelong learning and applied… Show more I continue to pursue my passion to advance workers' rights around the world by connecting with other like-minded individuals for the purpose of working together to ensure that workers have a voice in their workplaces. I am open to new partnerships and opportunities to contribute to economies, large and small.I began my career in the energy sector more than 45 years ago, with the completion of an apprenticeship program in the trade of Electrician. For me, lifelong learning and applied knowledge go hand and hand. After completing an Honours Degree in Labour Studies I went on to build the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers (CUSW) where I served as President for almost 20 years. I also held the role of Trustee and Administrator of the Power Sector Benefit Trust Fund and the Power Sector Retirement Trust Fund, have served on Boards and Advisory committees at the College and University level and even served a term as Chair of the Board at the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association. Most of my working life has been spent working in and/or studying the energy sector, alongside the labour movement. I've been directly involved in building the responses to the changing work environment both through the introduction of business models and by embracing new technologies. Understanding the direct relationship between successful businesses and the workforce has provided a model for successful transitions to new career opportunities. I'm passionate about exploring the changes of skills necessary for workers to participate in the evolving workplace and in creating Sustainable Industries that are emerging around Canada and across the globe. Show less

By the 1970s I was entrenched in the electrical sector in Ontario, and found myself working in a industry that was fraught with health and safety issues, and yet my peers and I did not have access to a benefit plan. Not only did we and our families not have access to things like dental coverage, but when someone needed chiropractic or other care to help keep their body in shape for the often physical labour assoicated with our work, we found ourselves having to constantly dip into our pockets… Show more By the 1970s I was entrenched in the electrical sector in Ontario, and found myself working in a industry that was fraught with health and safety issues, and yet my peers and I did not have access to a benefit plan. Not only did we and our families not have access to things like dental coverage, but when someone needed chiropractic or other care to help keep their body in shape for the often physical labour assoicated with our work, we found ourselves having to constantly dip into our pockets. For some this meant skipping treatment entirely.Along with a small group of peers, I began to work tirelessly to set up a Group Benefit Plan to provide support to all of us and our families. More than 40 years later, I am proud to still be the Trust Administrator of the plan that we built - now serving more than 5800 families, including 11,000 individuals. To this day, the Power Sector Benefit Plan is self-managed by Members, for Members. Show less

Much like was the case with our situation around not having access to a Benefit Plan, we needed to come up with a Retirement Plan solution that would meet the needs of workers and their families. As contingent workers, we found ourselves moving from site to site and employer to employer, with no way to collect and hold onto the retirement contributions that we were making.And so a small group of us decided to start the Power Sector Retirement Plan. Today our Plan has 8,000 members with… Show more Much like was the case with our situation around not having access to a Benefit Plan, we needed to come up with a Retirement Plan solution that would meet the needs of workers and their families. As contingent workers, we found ourselves moving from site to site and employer to employer, with no way to collect and hold onto the retirement contributions that we were making.And so a small group of us decided to start the Power Sector Retirement Plan. Today our Plan has 8,000 members with combined savings of $270M. I'm proud to continue to hold the role of Trust Administrator of our Group Plan. Show less

I created SMARTNETAlliance, for the purpose of bringing businesses together to advance the transition to Canada's sustainable economy. By working together, we will create workplaces that are meaningful, safe and participative...ones in which workers and employers come together for joint success and share in the outcomes of that hard work.The goal is to assist entrepreneurs in the sustainable economy through providing direction, assistance and support. The SNA 'Entrepreneurs’ Club' is… Show more I created SMARTNETAlliance, for the purpose of bringing businesses together to advance the transition to Canada's sustainable economy. By working together, we will create workplaces that are meaningful, safe and participative...ones in which workers and employers come together for joint success and share in the outcomes of that hard work.The goal is to assist entrepreneurs in the sustainable economy through providing direction, assistance and support. The SNA 'Entrepreneurs’ Club' is open to anyone with a small business interested in educating themselves. We are working together with members of communities across Ontario, in various capacities, including Project Management and Construction, Installation and Community Power projects. Together we are building a model for a better future. Show less

Globalization, Deregulation and Privatization. These were the three words that motivated us to move forward to build a Union for the 21st Century. We needed to build a Union where we as members could come together and share our common interests. We needed to build a Union that provided us with the flexibility to respond to the opportunities that would emerge as the Canadian economy restructured in response to mobility of Capital. We started building our Union in 1999 and I am pleased to say… Show more Globalization, Deregulation and Privatization. These were the three words that motivated us to move forward to build a Union for the 21st Century. We needed to build a Union where we as members could come together and share our common interests. We needed to build a Union that provided us with the flexibility to respond to the opportunities that would emerge as the Canadian economy restructured in response to mobility of Capital. We started building our Union in 1999 and I am pleased to say that we have been successful. I continue to serve as the Past-President and a Member of the National Board. Show less