Members of the Health Sciences Association, the union delivering modern health care that represents health sciences professionals who deliver diagnosis, treatment and recovery in BCs hospitals and communities, is meeting this weekend at its 41st annual convention in Vancouver.

Over the course of the next two days members will be debating a number of resolutions as the union adds to and enhances the agenda it has built over the past four decades.

HSPBA, the union bargaining association that represents physiotherapists and occupational therapists delivering crucial patient services at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority hospitals and agencies, is speaking out against a proposed restructuring that threatens to affect the quality of services delivered to patients.

HSA members in Region 10 have once again elected Heather Sapergia as their representative to the HSA Board of Directors. Heather was acclaimed after the February 9th deadline passed with no further nominations. 

Heather works as a Medical Laboratory Technologist at the University Hospital of Northern BC where she continues to serve as an Assistant Chief Steward. 

HSA members in Region 8 have once again elected Allen Peters as their representative to the HSA Board of Directors. Allen was acclaimed after the February 9th deadline passed with no further nominations.

Allen is a medical imaging technologist at Nicola Valley General Hospital in Merritt, where he continues to serve as an Occupational Health & Safety Steward.

HSA members in Region 6 have elected Anita Bardal to a second term as their representative on the unions Board of Directors.  Anita was acclaimed after the February 9th deadline passed with no further nominations. 

Anita works as a medical radiation technologist at St. Pauls Hospital in Vancouver, where she continues to serve as a Steward.

Anita currently chairs HSAs Run for the Cure Committee and serves on the Education Committee and Womens Committee.  She is also a Constituency Liaison.

HSA members in Region 4 have elected Brendan Shields to a second term as their representative to the HSA Board of Directors. Brendan was acclaimed after the February 9th deadline passed with no further nominations. 

Brendan is a Music Therapist who has worked in a variety of health care settings in Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health.  He currently works, and serves as a Steward, at Richmond Hospital.

During the next several weeks, HSA members in Region 2 will have an opportunity to elect their representative on HSAs Board of Directors.

Nominations for the position closed on February 9th with two members declaring their candidacy:

• Val Avery, a Physiotherapist  at Royal Jubilee  Hospital in Victoria; and

The next HSA Annual Convention will take place April 19-21, 2012 at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver.

All HSA members are welcome to attend and speak at the convention.  However, only delegates have the right to vote.

For chapters with 49 or fewer members, the HSA chief steward is the sole delegate.  If the chief steward is not attending convention, an alternate should be identified.  Chapters with more than 49 members are entitled to one additional delegate for each additional 50 members or portion thereof.

HSA members will soon be preparing for the 2012 HSA Convention, to be held April 19, 20, and 21, 2012 at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver.

Conventions are the unions annual meeting where chapters from around the province determine the future direction of the union.  Policies, actions, constitutional amendments, structural changes are all discussed and debated at convention.