News & Updates

Sheila Lee didn’t initially set out to be a music therapist. In fact, she hadn’t even heard of the profession until a classmate at the University of British Columbia casually suggested it to her. At the time, she was studying psychology with the goal of becoming a social worker or counsellor. But the idea stuck. She enrolled in Capilano University’s...

Date: Monday, June 16, 2025 Time: 9am - 4:30pm PST Location: Virtual via Zoom Prerequisite: HSA’s Basic Steward Training This one-day training session is designed for Lead Stewards. General Stewards working at sites with no lead stewards and Assistant Lead Stewards are also welcome to apply. As chapter leaders, you have additional opportunities, responsibilities, and tasks. We will review the...

Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025 Time: 9am - 4:30pm PST Location: Virtual via Zoom Social media has been an ever-changing technology since its invention and widespread adoption, but there is a growing body of evidence on social media’s impact on our democracy – and it’s not good news. This workshop will cover the current trends regarding social media ownership and...

Date: May 22, 2025 Time: 9am – 4:30pm PST Location: Virtual via Zoom HSA is pleased to have Kerry Palmer facilitate this one-day course to assist members in daily interactions with colleagues and patients/clients. First offered to the membership at the 2024 Young Workers’ workshop, this workshop is now available to the general membership. Everyone has a personal skill set...

From his early days growing up in Ontario, where he first learned about the potential of unions through his father’s union activism, to his current dual role as a respiratory therapist and lead steward at Lions Gate Hospital, Tim has built a career that embodies compassion and a commitment to making a difference. Almost 20 years ago, Tim made the...

Each year, the Canadian Labour Congress’s Pacific Region Winter School provides union members from across BC the opportunity to deepen their knowledge, develop their skills, and connect with other unions. This year, HSA supported five members in attending the school through scholarships that covered registration, wage replacement travel, accommodations, meals, and dependent care. Throughout January 12 to February 14, Tiger...

Date: May 5-6, 2025 Time: 9am to 4:30pm PST, one hour for lunch Location: HSA Office, New Westminster Supervisors were some of the founding members of HSA when the union was first organized, and HSA is unique in terms of the number of supervisors who are included in the union. This workshop is for HSA supervisors who want to learn...

2025 marks the first time in HSA’s history that all members in good standing are eligible to vote for the union’s president. WHEN TO VOTE The election will be conducted through a secure online vote administered by Simply Voting, an election management platform used by HSA for elections and ratification votes. Voting will be open for a 24-hour period from...

Members with incomplete contact information may receive a phone call from Stratcom between Wednesday, March 5 and Saturday, March 8, 2025. Your union is always looking to better reach and engage you, HSA members, to provide up-to-date information that may impact you and your colleagues. One of the most important issues for union members to stay informed about is bargaining...

First celebrated in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was initiated by the labour movement in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Over one million people attended those first events, campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, and hold public office. International Women’s Day was widely acknowledged in Canada by the 1980s, and many feminist organizations organized rallies, public forums, and cultural...