Region 5 Regional Director Election

Candidates

Three candidates have been nominated to represent Region 5 members on HSA's Board of Directors: Carla Gibbons, Lisa Daechsel, and Ash Oberoi.

Each candidate has submitted a candidate statement, which you can read by clicking on the candidate's name below:

A cropped image of white woman with brown glasses and long brown hair, standing in front of trees and sky.

I am employed as a cytotechnologist at BC Cancer where I serve as a general steward and previously as lead steward.

While attending HSA events and volunteering in a variety of roles, I have discovered a passion for union governance and processes. I served on the Resolutions Committee and then on the HSA Board of Directors for the 2019 to 2021 term. I was re-elected in spring 2024 and am currently serving as the Region 5 Director.

Within the broader labour movement, I am a Member-at -Large on the Vancouver and District Labour Council. This position has afforded me the opportunity to work with people from an array of industries, and to learn of issues facing workers both inside and outside of healthcare.

As a board member, I attended the combined bargaining conference for the Nurses Bargaining Association (NBA), Community Social Services (CSS), Community Bargaining Association (CBA) as well as the conference for the Health Sciences Bargaining Association (HSPBA) this fall.  Members from all collective agreements are facing issues of respect, workload, work/life balance and within the HSPBA, classification redesign. These should be priorities of the Union going forward, along with focusing on member engagement through updating the HSA Strategic plan on which work has already begun.

We are a region comprised of professionals who work in the community, in programs and in institutions that serve people across the entire province. They are often niche professions that are underrepresented within HSA but have an outsized impact on the province. This creates a unique need for representation within the Union.

My promise to the members of Region 5 is that I will work hard to advocate on your behalf at the board table, on committees and within the broader labour movement. Together we are stronger, please consider voting for me.

In Solidarity

Carla Gibbons

@email

A smiling woman in a white top, wearing large glasses and an HSA lanyard, standing in front of a painted window.

My name is Lisa (she/her) and I am a Certified Child Life Specialist working at BC Children’s Hospital. I acknowledge my privilege as a white settler and uninvited guest who lives and works on the traditional and stolen territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations.

I am honored to submit my candidacy for Regional Director of Region 5. With extensive experience as a full-time Lead Steward at Children’s and Women’s Hospital and a Member at Large for Region 5, I bring a strong commitment to advocacy and transparency.

Through experience in various steward roles, I have developed knowledge of HSA’s policies and constitution, the HSPBA collective agreement and members' concerns. I have focused on reducing barriers that prevent members from feeling empowered within our union and demystifying union processes to increase engagement. I’ve worked hard to amplify the voices of frontline members, ensuring their needs drive the conversations that shape our union’s actions. I feel it is imperative that professions and worksites of all sizes are represented in HSA’s decision making.

My additional work as an Occupational Health and Safety Steward and my participation in various HSA equity caucuses further underscores my dedication to creating an inclusive, equitable workplace where all members can thrive. I am passionate about promoting diversity, safety, and well-being for all workers and I have a proven track record of advocating for fair working conditions, resolving workplace challenges, and strengthening our union’s presence at the worksite.

In my role as a Child Life Specialist, I have honed skills in communication, empathy, and problem-solving. I am ready to bring my experience and dedication to the role of Regional Director. Together we can build a union that works for all of us, where every voice matters and every member feels represented.

A person with dark hair that may be tied back, wearing white shirt and holding sunglasses, in what may be a living room or office.
I Ash Oberoi from Chapter Kettle Friendship Society Region 5 is contesting the Election for Region 5 Director Position. I am very proud & overwhelmed by the Members Support for my Nomination & their support in general. Little background about myself. I work as an Outreach Mental Health Worker. I am the Assistant Lead Steward, OHS Steward, I am on the JOSH Committee as well, I am also the Vancouver Labour Council Delegate & last but not the least I am very honoured, proud & thank full for being Elected as an Alternate on the Bargaining Committee.
 
In a short span I have learned colossally. My growth has been nothing short of sensational & the love, affection & respect that I have garnered & continue to garner from my fellow Members is beyond a shadow of a doubt immensely special to me. I have attended Region 5 Meetings, Convention, Bargaining Conference, Labour Management Meetings & Various other Meetings. I have had lot of Education & Training from HSA as well. 
 
As a Mental Health Worker & A person of Colour I represent a minority group. Our issues & challenges are vastly different.  Having  Me as your Regional Director will address the issue & make the Voices of the Voiceless heard.
 
The USP of me being your Regional Director is that I understand the issues of all the Groups . Please vote for me I need your love & support to continue this Journey & make HSA Members life prosperous, healthy & happy thank you.

All Candidates Meetings

The all candidates meeting will be held online on Tuesday, December 3 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Members should have received an email with a link to join the meeting; if you did not receive the link, please reach out to info [at] hsabc.org.

A recording of the meeting will be posted here for members who were unable to attend.

Voting Information

Voting will be online only, and conducted from 8:00 pm on December 9, 2024 to 8:00 pm on January 5, 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.

Other Information

Members in Region 5 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.

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