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Region 4 Regional Director By-Election 2024
A byelection for a new member of HSA’s Board of Directors from Region 4 has been called. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Regional Director Alexandra Thomson effective Friday, October 25, 2024.
“Serving as your Regional Director has been an incredible honour and a deeply rewarding experience. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of representing our members at various significant events such as the Canadian Labour Congress in Montreal and the NUPGE Convention in Newfoundland. I’ve been involved with many HSA committees and have a special place in my heart for occupational health and safety (OHS),” Thomson said in a message to members, where she explained that she is leaving the bargaining unit after accepting an excluded position with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.
Candidates
Three candidates have been nominated to represent Region 4 members on HSA's Board of Directors: Maha Elashi, Laura Greenwood, and Tanya Dunne.
Each candidate has submitted a candidate statement, which you can read by clicking on the candidate's name below:
My name is Maha (she/her) and I’m a Physiotherapy Educator with Vancouver General Hospital. While I can share more about myself here, I recognize that I will not be representing myself/my own interests— this is a role in which I would represent my fellow members of Region 4.
Instead, my intention is to meet you personally, and to use this opportunity to echo a biography of our region: what my fellow members have shared with me/each other, and to leave space for the conversations and perspectives that I will continue to seek beyond this campaign.
Classifications: during the Region 4 meeting, we were all loud and clear. It’s important that our leadership better understands the complexity and responsibility of each of our unique roles, and to support grievances to ensure our wages more accurately reflect our knowledge and experience.
Transparency and accessibility: members seek more dialogue with the Board of Directors using a two-way communication system, as union structures were created to be “bottom-up.” As a Regional Director (RD), I understand that my vote would not be my own, but a representation of the diversity of perspectives of Region 4 members. It is important that an RD is accessible, and that members feel their perspectives will be brought to the table passionately.
Reconcili-ACTION and accountability: there is a sentiment of reconciliation in words, but it’s important to actively work towards decolonizing our spaces, systems, and practices through action, as we continue to play “catch-up and patch-up” in a healthcare system that was not created for the diversity and intersections of all of our members in-mind.
I look forward to connecting with my fellow Region 4 members to better understand how I can continue to champion you at a table where many of us continue to seek representation, empathy, and understanding.
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Friends, our healthcare system is under significant strain; we feel it everyday, yet it cannot function without us. The housing and affordability crisis is a significant stressor for members in our region. Without adequate transportation infrastructure to support a reasonable commute, members are increasingly forced to move outside the Lower Mainland. Those who remain are left with unsustainable workloads, understaffed teams, and mounting pressure to support complex client/patient needs. As we enter a new round of collective bargaining, unity is essential. We need to focus on our shared interests, protect the gains we have made and push for better. Better for workers and better for health care!
As an Occupational Therapist, and Clinical Supervisor with Richmond Mental Health and Substance Use Services, I have been actively involved with our union throughout my career. In my chapter, Richmond Mental Health, I've served as Lead Steward and Constituency Liaison. As your re-elected Region 4 Member-at-Large, I’ve had the privilege of representing our region on the HSA Resolutions Committee both terms. My activism and experiences with HSA have given me a deep understanding of union structure and governance, as well as the common issues faced by members across our province.
Over the years, I hope I have earned your trust as someone who is thoughtful, balanced, articulate, and courageous. These are the qualities I aim to bring to the Board of Directors as your representative. Those who know me understand that I value integrity, fairness, and continuous learning. As your Regional Director, I will be committed to listening to you, learning from you, and advocating for you and the complicated, exceptional work that you do. Together, we have the power to create positive change that improves our working conditions, supports our members, and enhances the quality of care for all.
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I am interested in standing for election in the 2025 By-election for Region 4 Regional Director. I am passionate about advocating for our members and driving meaningful change especially during this pivotal time of contract negotiations. Since 2021, I have served as a General Steward and was elected Member at Large for the Resolutions Committee at the 2023 Regional Meeting. This year, I represented Region 4 at the Bargaining Proposal Conference. These roles have deepened my connection with our membership and strengthened my ability to represent members’ concerns effectively.
In 2022, I participated in HSA’s Core Member Engagement Team (CMET), a leadership program focused on building union strength through organizing and mobilizing. As part of this initiative, I supported stewards at various sites in orienting and engaging members, honing my skills in active listening, conflict resolution, public speaking, and strategic planning. Collaborating with steward teams, I developed engagement strategies that translate member needs into collective action, preparing me for the responsibilities of a Regional Director.
With over 20 years as a physiotherapist and my role as Regional Physiotherapy Educator at Vancouver Coastal Health, I understand the challenges health science professionals face. I am committed to advocating for workload improvements, recognition of specialized skills through the new classification system, and expanded professional development opportunities.
The role of Regional Director is critical for governance, advocacy, and strategic direction within HSA. Directors communicate with members, foster unity, and shape board decisions while representing the union in various capacities. My ongoing commitment and experience equip me to fulfill these responsibilities with dedication and integrity.
I am passionate about strengthening solidarity and would be honored to represent Region 4, setting strategic priorities that reflect our members' needs in the coming years.
Sincerely,
Tanya Dunne
Email: @email
All-Candidates' Meetings
HSA hosted an all-candidates’ meeting on Tuesday, November 19. You can watch a recording of the meeting here:
Voting Information
Voting will be online only, and conducted from 8:00 pm on November 22, 2024 to 8:00 pm on January 2, 2025. All members with a personal email address on file with the union will receive voting credentials for online voting by email. To ensure you are able to vote, please click here to update your contact information.
Voting credentials will be sent by Simply Voting directly to members on November 22. Please add Simply Voting to your safe senders list to ensure your voting instructions are not caught in your spam filter. All emails related to the vote will originate from @email and from one of the following domains: simplyvoting.com or o3.email.simplyvoting.com
Position Details
This is an excellent opportunity for members to serve on the HSA Board of Directors, contribute to the leadership of the union, and to represent the interests of other members. HSA’s Board of Directors comprises 10 Regional Directors elected by members from their region, and the President, who is elected every two years during the union’s annual convention.**
To be eligible to run for the Board of Directors, a nominee must have been a member of HSA for at least one year immediately prior to election, be in good standing, and be nominated in writing by two members in the region they are seeking to represent. The term of office is two years. Regional Directors may serve for up to three consecutive terms.
Responsible for the overall governance of the union, board members participate in Board of Director meetings, held at least quarterly in person – when possible – at the union office in New Westminster. Directors chair or participate on HSA’s governance committees, which meet at least two times a year. They serve as HSA representatives to events and external meetings, chair annual Regional Meetings, and report to members in their region regularly. While the union provides wage replacement at Regional Directors’ regular rate of pay for shifts missed due to participation in meetings related to their role on the Board of Directors, as well as reimbursement for associated travel, accommodation, and dependent care costs, Regional Directors also devote considerable volunteer time to the position to allow for material review, responding to emails, and periodic evening meetings held by telephone or online.
The successful candidate will assume the position immediately upon election and serve until the conclusion of the union’s spring 2026 convention.
To obtain an information package, including a nomination form, please send an email to @email. Nominations will close at noon (Pacific time) on Friday, November 15.
** HSA has changed how the union President is elected. Starting in 2025, every member will be eligible to vote in an online election. Stay tuned for details on how to vote for HSA President in April 2025.
Nominations
THE DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS WAS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024 AT 12 NOON.
To obtain an information package, including a nomination form, please send an email to info [at] hsabc.org
Other Information
Members in Region 4 may receive email messages from candidates for the position; under HSA policy, candidates are entitled to contact HSA members by e-mail for the purpose of campaigning in the election.