I’m Masha Davidovic. I’m a bilingual policy analyst at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and a current National Executive member, and this year I’m running to be your EC/LOP/OBPO Vice-President as part of the Members United team.

Why I’m Running:

I’ve been an EC for eight years, and I’ve served in senior analyst, manager, and cross-departmental roles in that time. 

I have a unique depth of experience across CAPE. I’m a Director on the National Executive Committee (NEC), Local President at LAC, the Chair of our Equity Subcommittee, and an elected member of the EC Collective Bargaining Committee. Across these volunteer roles, I’ve talked to, supported, and organized hundreds of my fellow ECs across all departments. 

I know our departments, our workplaces, and our work. I know how deeply we believe in the public services we design, coordinate, monitor, and deliver to Canadians. And I know how committed we are to a rational public service that’s built on data, good sense, and leaving no one behind. I’m fiercely committed to these ideals, and to us. 

We deserve better than sweeping cuts, blanket Return-to-Office mandates, and haphazard introduction of new technologies. In so many ways, we’re under attack - and at a time when Canadians need a strong, world-class public service more than ever.

I also believe that we are not powerless against these attacks - not if we combine our deep knowledge of our departments with analytical depth and clarity on what unions are and of how they fight and win.

My Priorities:

I first ran for the NEC in 2023 on a reform platform because I was tired of weak contracts, leadership without vision or strategy, and a union that treated members like stakeholders.

I’m deeply proud of the changes we’ve introduced to CAPE over the last three years. As a NEC member, I’ve been part of key reform initiatives that have increased our ownership over our union: the open bargaining model and framework; an empowered stewards program; equity caucus structures; inter-union coordination; training and education on labour organizing and strategy for thousands of members; and improved tools for local executives, including on Workforce Adjustment.

I’m running with Members United because we need a courageous and tested leadership team with a shared, open commitment to building on successes, learning iteratively from what doesn’t work, and making our union work for all members.

As Vice-President, I’m especially invested in the following platform priorities:

1. Strategic solidarity. Deepening relationships and coordination with our sibling unions, with a long-term commitment to a common front around our shared interests;

2. Member leadership and education. Expanding and systematizing our education programs, from general contract education, to skills-based local executive and organizer training, to labour history and strategy;

3. Effective workplace-level services. Improving our collective capacity for enforcing our contracts by integrating representation services with empowered local executives and organizing responses.

Lastly, I will always be a champion for a union built on equity, anti-racism, and justice for all.

What Else?

Outside of work and volunteering, you can catch me river-gazing, chasing sunsets, cycling, haunting small movie theatres and film festivals with my girlfriend, and reading history books with a whole pot of tea and our enormous cat Iris in my lap.

Je suis Antoine Hersberger, traducteur à la division Industries depuis 2021, et vice-président TR de l’ACEP depuis 2024. Je suis originaire de l’Estrie, j'ai étudié à l’Université de Sherbrooke, et j'habite maintenant à Montréal.

Je suis heureux de me présenter au poste de vice-président TR au sein du groupe Membres unis pour poursuivre le projet de renouveau syndical que j’ai eu la chance de porter avec vous toutes et tous au cours des dernières années.

Je suis arrivé au Bureau de la traduction à un moment charnière, ce qui m’a poussé à rapidement participer aux activités syndicales. Je suis devenu délégué syndical d’Industries en 2023, administrateur TR au Conseil exécutif national (CEN) en 2024, puis vice-président TR la même année. Depuis 2024, j’ai eu la chance de travailler avec nombre de formidables collègues TR pour lancer une initiative de mobilisation sans précédent qui ne cesse de croître, de piloter le déploiement des négociations ouvertes et la première élection d’un comité de négociation à l’ACEP, de jouer le rôle de porte-parole du Comité de négociation TR, de faire de nombreuses entrevues sur les questions TR dans les médias et de nouer des relations stratégiques avec des organisations et politiciens alliés pour défendre nos intérêts collectifs.

Je me présente sous la bannière de Membres unis pour un nouveau mandat, avec un seul but en tête : continuer sur notre lancée afin de défendre nos professions langagières dans un contexte de chamboulement technologique sans précédent.

C’est pourquoi notre plateforme, qui s’inscrit dans la continuité des projets de mobilisation, de négociation ouverte et de solidarité intersyndicale, m’apparaît comme à la fois opportune et à la hauteur de nos ambitions collectives. Nous avons l’occasion de se doter d’un syndicat fort, démocratique et efficace, et nous devons à mon avis la saisir.

Si je suis réélu, je serai heureux de continuer à travailler avec vous toutes et tous pour mener à bien une ronde de négociation historique; nous monterons une campagne allant au-delà de notre milieu de travail et ferons appel à tous les outils à notre disposition pour décupler notre pouvoir de négociation et faire de réels gains à la table.

En parallèle de cette campagne historique, je tâcherai de ne pas trop délaisser mes passe-temps, comme la cuisine, la pâtisserie, le vélo et les recettes de café beaucoup trop complexes!

Solidairement,

Antoine

Je suis Alice Dubeau, traductrice dans la division Technologies et présidente de la section locale 900 – Bureau de la traduction.

Je suis très heureuse de me présenter au poste d’administratrice TR au sein du groupe Membres uni·es pour continuer de faire progresser notre syndicat dans la voie dans laquelle il s’est engagé il y a trois ans.

J’ai commencé au BT en janvier 2021 comme TR-01. Tandis que je me formais en tant que traductrice, j’en apprenais aussi énormément sur le fonctionnement du BT et de notre syndicat et c’est ce qui m’a donné envie de m’impliquer en tant que déléguée syndicale en 2023. Aujourd’hui, je suis TR-02 et je termine mon premier mandat de présidente de section locale. J’ai parlé avec de nombreux collègues depuis les deux dernières années dans le cadre de mon implication dans le comité de mobilisation de la section locale et j’ai une très bonne idée des conditions dans lesquelles travaillent l’ensemble des TR et des changements dont nous avons besoin pour bien faire notre travail.

Je me présente avec Membres uni·es, car je veux continuer à un plus haut niveau ce que j’ai commencé il y a environ deux ans, c’est-à-dire bâtir un syndicat solide pour faire des gains durant les négociations et faire respecter nos acquis après celles-ci. Il s’agit de ma priorité d’une part, en tant que professionnelle langagière, car je veux que mes collègues et moi continuions d’aimer nos métiers et de les pratiquer dans des conditions acceptables; d’autre part, en tant que présidente de la section locale, car je veux que nous ayons suffisamment confiance en nous collectivement pour dénoncer les situations inacceptables et agir ensemble pour les régler.

Si je suis élue au poste d’administratrice TR, j’espère continuer à bâtir un syndicat où les délégué·es et les membres ont les connaissances, le soutien et la confiance nécessaires pour prendre des mesures lorsque leurs droits sont bafoués. J’espère également aider d’autres leaders à développer leurs compétences qu’ils et elles pourront mettre à contribution dans leur section locale.

En plus de mes projets syndicaux, j’ai d’autres projets personnels qui m’attendent cet automne, notamment je prévois de coudre un sac pour ranger mes nombreux jeux de société : deux passe-temps qui me passionnent. Entre les sorties avec mes ami·es ou ma famille, je fais aussi de la natation et j’aime entreprendre des projets d’artisanats et faire des promenades avec mon chien Péko.

En toute solidarité,

Alice Dubeau

Je m’appelle Émilie Rochon-Gruselle, je suis interprète parlementaire pour le Bureau de la traduction depuis 2019, déléguée syndicale pour les interprètes de la section locale 900 de l’ACEP depuis 2024, membre active du Comité de mobilisation TR depuis 2024 et administratrice TR au Conseil exécutif national de l’ACEP depuis 2026. Je suis originaire de Montréal et j’ai déménagé à Ottawa pour faire ma maîtrise en interprétation de conférence. 

Je suis ravie de me présenter au poste d’administratrice TR sous la bannière du groupe Membres unis afin de continuer à bâtir un syndicat à la hauteur des défis auxquels nous sommes confrontés aujourd'hui. 

J’ai commencé mon implication syndicale au printemps 2024, suite aux chamboulements entraînés par la pandémie de COVID-19 et à l’augmentation subséquente et importante des risques pour la santé auditive des interprètes du Bureau de la traduction. C’est dans ce contexte difficile que j’ai décidé de devenir déléguée syndicale et que j’ai créé, avec mes collègues, le tout premier comité de mobilisation des interprètes. J’ai aussi participé activement à l’élaboration et à la mise en place de mesures de protection de l’ouïe robustes afin de protéger la santé et la sécurité des interprètes sur leur lieu de travail. 

Notre mobilisation se poursuit depuis, et les liens de solidarité entre TR n’ont jamais été aussi forts. Ce nouveau virage de l’ACEP, caractérisé entre autres par la décision historique de tenir des négociations ouvertes et par une volonté d’accroître la solidarité entre collègues, est un projet auquel je crois dur comme fer et auquel je suis immensément fière de participer. 

Je me présente au sein du groupe Membres unis, car de nombreux défis persistent en cette époque charnière pour nos professions, et notre plateforme fait la promotion d’un syndicat démocratique, participatif et représentatif, avec la mobilisation et la solidarité comme phares. Je crois sincèrement qu’il est possible de changer le statu quo, mais seulement si nous nous dotons des outils nécessaires pour y arriver, et c'est ce que reflète à mon avis notre plateforme. 

Si je suis réélue, je m’engage à poursuivre sur cette lancée avec chacun et chacune d’entre vous : continuer à bâtir notre pouvoir collectif pour préserver nos acquis et faire de réels gains pour nos professions lors de la prochaine ronde de négociation et au-delà. 

Lorsque je ne suis pas occupée à interpréter ou plongée dans mon travail syndical, j’adore passer du temps avec ma chienne et mes deux chats pour une bonne dose de zoothérapie. Pour faire le plein de bonheur au quotidien, j’ai un fort penchant pour la lecture, la cuisine, la nature et le bon temps passé entre amis.

My name is Adrian Larose and I work as a Manager in cyber security policy at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, local 527 (TBS / Finance). I’m running with Members United to continue and build on the changes at CAPE over the last three years.

About me: I am a long-time civil servant of about 20 years. Having been in a management role at various large federal departments, I understand the challenges EC managers face. I also volunteer in the community as a Board member at non-profit organizations of various scales and mandates (housing, employment), and so I understand some of the challenges that an organizational-level leadership team like the CAPE National Executive Committee can face and have gained skills to help me best be a NEC Director. At work, I have seen many instances where management acts out of line of what the law requires, both in some previous roles where as an out gay man I faced workplace homophobia, and in my current role at TBS as a steward and as a colleague helping colleagues. During my time working in the accessibility space at TBS, I quickly learnt (via both data and anecdata!) how deeply unwelcoming the federal hiring and HR system is to most disabled folks and how many artificial barriers bureaucracy throws up, even while superficially setting goals to hire more disabled public servants. I bring the lens of universal accessibility to my CAPE roles as co-chair of the Queer and Trans Workers' Equity Caucus, as a manager, and as a steward with CAPE local 527.

I believe it's connecting and working together that can help us rewrite the rules to better meet what we need, just as workers did before us and continue to do globally, so that we can deliver our best as public servants and as ordinary humans.

The Members United platform is strong. Some of the beliefs and commitments I align most strongly with include:

• Equity strengthens our entire union: when we refuse to leave members behind, we build stronger collective power for everyone. I’m committed to strengthening equity caucuses, member networks and education so that members' diverse experiences are reflected, and so that we all have the tools to organize around equity issues.

• Solidarity extends beyond our own workplaces, and I’m committed to strengthening CAPE’s relatio4nships with other unions, community organizations and the broader labour movement.

Also, as I was about to write a "fun fact" saying something awkward about having 3 cats and enjoying gardening (ask me for house plant cuttings or tomato seeds), the eldest cat (Onyx) decided it was time to meow until I took a break. He is our Minister of Naps. He often sleeps in the closet behind me while I work; sometimes, I don't notice, and I shut the closet door. Closets can be cozy, but nobody should be stuck in them.

My name is Anastasia Dudley and I’m a Policy Analyst at Indigenous Services Canada. 

This year, I’m proud to be running with Members United to continue building an engaged and powerful union that is capable of making real wins at the bargaining table and beyond.

I’ve been in the public service for three years and have been an active union member for about as long. I’m a founding and current co-chair of Indigenous Service Canada’s Organizing Committee, which has had one on one conversations with hundreds of members in the past year as we build a strong base for bargaining. I’ve also served as the Secretary and Vice President of Local 517 (Indigenous Services Canada), and have spearheaded many “firsts” for our local, including providing direct support on WFA and a registration campaign which reduced our number of unregistered members by over a hundred people. My leadership at the local level has been focused on expanding our visibility among membership and facilitating member to member communication and coordination on issues most relevant to us, which lately has been RTO4 and WFA.

As a policy analyst, I work on managing data on performance metrics for our department’s 18 public facing programs, ensuring our data has integrity and consistency across public reports. Prior to joining the GoC, I worked in a number of homeless shelters in Montreal; in some instances my work was supported by ISC funding years before I went on to work for the Department. Connecting lived realities to corporate level decision making has been a key driver in my career, and I hope to bring a similar insight as an EC Director on the National Executive at CAPE. 

I’m honoured to run with the Members United election team because I believe in:

• a member-driven union, one in which individuals feel empowered to make meaningful change in their workplaces with the support of their colleagues.

• a union with strong locals, one in which we efficiently share resources, respond to emerging issues and support one another across regions and departments. 

These priorities are important to me as an employee, a local leader, and an organizer.

In the past few years working as an active union member, I’ve seen the one on one efforts of our Organizing Committee directly develop dozens of new leaders in our department as well as our union. I’ve seen members, some of whom have been in government for years and never previously participated, learn the ins and outs of their collective agreement, gain the confidence to stand up for themselves and their colleagues, and take charge of the direction of this union by participating directly.  I believe an empowered union is one in which members have the confidence, knowledge, and support required to lead their own efforts and will continue working to make that vision a reality at CAPE. 

I believe we’ve been divided and conquered by having to have the same arguments at different management tables across departments, buildings, and regions. I’ve seen, and benefitted enormously, from the expertise gained by having union leadership connected across locals and sharing examples and intel of wins on DTA, WFA, and numerous other member concerns. If elected, I will work to tear down information silos and to continue to develop practical structures that strengthen locals in working cooperatively together on issues faced by members across the country.

Lastly, I believe having such an expansive, diverse, and powerful team like Members United at the helm of our National Executive will be a huge show of force for CAPE, especially at the bargaining table.

If elected, I will follow an evidence-based approach to labour organizing, using tried and true methods to build a high engagement union that is capable of winning both at the bargaining table and across the board in interactions with management. 

Outside of work, find me section hiking the Appalachian Trail, playing with my friends’ kids, or muttering to myself, “this should really be a spreadsheet.” I love learning about esoteric Christian traditions (see: Yaldabaoth tattoo) and diligently tracking my movie watching on Letterboxd. A Houston, Texas native, I’m an immigrant to Canada and have been here proudly for 12 years now. I studied Religion, Russian Language, and Economics at McGill for my undergrad and completed a Master’s in Public Policy and Public Administration at Concordia before beginning my career in the public service.  Feel free to find me on Teams or LinkedIn for further discussion, and be sure to vote for the whole Members United team this November. 

My name is Andrew Arcand. I’m an EC-07 Manager at Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada (IRCC). I am also a proud father, husband and member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 

After increasing my engagement with CAPE over the past few years I am proud to run for EC Director with Members United. The changes at CAPE over the past three years in terms of building strength and solidarity through member engagement have been inspiring to see and I am inspired to continue doing my part.  

I have a 24 year public service career at Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada and now IRCC. I am an experienced leader having served as Steward and as a Local Organizing Committee Co-Chair in both Locals 512 and 522. I was also elected by my peers to represent you on the EC Bargaining Committee where I am committed to winning us a fair deal in this round of bargaining. As a member of our local organizing committee, and as a steward, I had hundreds of one on one conversations with members and listened to your concerns over cost of living issues, RTO, accommodations, WFA, equity and an unsafe and hostile workplace environment. I provided support, directed you to the appropriate resources and spoke up on your behalf when needed. I am here for you! 

My experience and passion for people is why I am running as part of the Members United election team. I believe in:

• A union that actually listens to its members and puts you at the forefront of its activities. 

• a union that organizes to win: building our capacity to bargain, enforce our rights and deliver on member priorities while not relying on other unions to carry the weight of our gains. 

• a union that trusts and strengthens its locals through supports and building relationships with members. 

I have seen so much growth in the engagement of our community over the last three years, and want to continue to build on that momentum to ensure that every member can get involved if, and when they choose. 

If elected, I will bring my time, boundless energy, and expertise to represent you. My focus will be on bargaining, organizing and working with locals and to ensure that the union continues with a people centric approach to building strength and member engagement and making gains for our members.

On my “off” time, I love to garden, spend time hiking or watching cooking shows with my husband and daughter, listening to music and podcasts and having dinners with friends. I am a committed admin of our local Buy Nothing group and have been for the past 7+ years. This helps me give back to my community and support the environment which are also great passions of mine.

My name is Dr. An Gie (Angie) Yong, PhD, CE (Credentialed Evaluator), and I am a Senior Evaluation Officer at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). My pronouns are she/her.

This year, I am excited to be running with Members United to build on the progress we have made at CAPE and to help foster workplaces where people feel truly valued so they can thrive in every aspect of their lives.

I have spent my entire public service career at NRCan, where I have deep roots as an experienced Local Leader and Union Organizer. I am a co-founder and co-chair of NRCan’s Organizing Committee (OC) - one of CAPE’s first OCs - and I also serve as a Local Steward. I have supported colleagues on a wide range of workplace issues, from addressing unfair treatment and rule violations to getting actively involved in open bargaining. By connecting with hundreds of members, I have worked to inspire peer involvement and help build a more connected, supportive community at NRCan and across CAPE.

I am running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• Organizing to Win: I am committed to building our capacity to organize around the issues that matter most to members and turn workplace concerns into collective action.

• Power to the Locals: I want to help build stronger, more active locals where members have meaningful opportunities to participate, organize, and shape union activity.

Both of these priorities are important to me as a member and as an experienced Local Leader.

I believe that when we work together closely through organizing, we bargain from a position of collective strength and secure better contracts. A signed agreement is only as powerful if we stick together to enforce it. Over the last three years, I have seen how connecting with one another has sparked a powerful shift at CAPE, turning a historically disengaged union into an active community that won our historic vote for conciliation.

I believe in local empowerment because local leaders understand the daily realities and culture of their departments best. Empowered locals ensure issues are addressed much faster and solutions reflect the actual conditions members face every day. I have seen this firsthand at NRCan: when unexpected workforce adjustment announcements occurred, our experienced local leadership formed a rapid-response team in less than 24 hours to support and guide impacted colleagues.

If elected, I want to use my skills and experience to expand member participation so we can secure a contract that genuinely meets our needs in this bargaining round. I am dedicated to helping colleagues build local support networks, including in departments that do not yet have them. When our members are connected and our local teams are strong, solving everyday workplace challenges becomes much more achievable.

Outside of work, I love metal, true crime, dogs, fitness, yoga, tattoos, and traveling. A fun fact: a group of friends and I built the Wilfrid Laurier University Metal Club, bringing metalheads from Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge together! Building that community from scratch was an early reflection of my ability to identify common goals, recruit supporters, and bring people together - the skills I now use every day to build our union community.

Hello, my name is Alissa Mazar. I’m proud to announce my candidacy for an EC Director Role, running with Members United. 

My commitment to the labour movement is grounded in both experience and research. I grew up in Windsor, Ontario, where unions helped build a strong middle class and made a dignified life possible for generations of workers and their families.

At McGill University, I helped organize the McGill Course Lecturers Union and secure its first collective agreement. I also completed my PhD there, with research focused on private-sector union organizing among service workers in Ontario.

I joined the federal public service in 2020 through the Recruitment of Policy Leaders program and currently work as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Tourism Branch at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. I also serve on the executive committee of CAPE Local 508.

I’m running with Members United because I believe in a union that organizes to win and recognizes that we are stronger together. My experience has shown me that meaningful improvements at work come from building collective power and giving members the tools and confidence to use it.

If elected, I hope to help strengthen the voice and collective power of knowledge workers across the federal public service. I believe that serving Canadians also means standing up for the rights, dignity, and working conditions of the people who deliver public services. We have a critical role to play in shaping the future of work—not just for ourselves, but for all Canadians, and for the next generation to come.

My name is Chad Bredin (he/him) and I’m a Policy Analyst (EC-03) at the Public Health Agency of Canada. I live in Waterloo, Ontario. I’m proud to submit my candidacy for the EC Director role as part of Members United. 

I have been an active member in CAPE ever since I joined the public service in 2022 Prior to that, I spent 15+ years working at the University of Waterloo where I was active in the UW Staff Association, where I was staff rep on multiple committees. I am currently a member organizer for CAPE and have been the co-chair of both the CAPE local 511 (non-NCR Ontario) and 512 (HC/PHAC) Organizing Committees over the past 2+ years. 

Last year I became a steward for local 512 to help address members’ concerns about a lack of support from CAPE Labour Relations Officers during Workforce Adjustment; in this role I supported the grievance on the PHAC SERLO data breach in 2025 and have provided numerous members with individual support and advice related to workplace issues. During my undergrad degree I studied labour history and labour fundamentals, and I successfully completed the Organizing For Power training program from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in 2025. 

I’m running as part of the Members United election team because I support:

• Continuing to build a union that organizes to win: If we want to win better collective agreements for our members (including better working conditions and compensation), we need to be highly organized and able to push back against the employer when we need results. I want to see CAPE continue to support member-led organizing of our union so that we can build real power.

• A union committed to strength through solidarity: Organizing ourselves is vital, but so too is connecting our struggles with those of other unions and wider social movements. RTO4, for example, is tough on public service workers, but it is also detrimental to the environment, affordability (vacant buildings were supposed to be converted to affordable housing), and the working conditions of workers outside the public service whose bosses follow the lead of the federal government. We need to work to connect the dots and build a wider movement for change.

If elected, I want to continue to build an organized, democratic, and inclusive union that can address the needs of members both individually and collectively, and that will be part of a wider movement to take action in support of workers more broadly. I also want to make sure that unique regional-member needs and those of lower-level ECs are included in union decision-making.

Outside of work, I am enthusiastic about music (writing, playing, listening), outdoor adventure, gardening, preserves (pickling, fermenting, and canning), languages, history, and literature.

My name is Dorian Jensen and I’m a research analyst in the Indigenous Languages Branch of Canadian Heritage. 

This year, I’m excited to be running with Members United to be part of a coalition of people at every stage of their public-service careers who share a common desire to continue building the union into one with the tools to tangibly improve all members’ working lives.

I joined the public service in 2024, after several years working in the nonprofit and community organizing sector. As a nonprofit worker, I’ve served as administrative or research staff in organizations dedicated to 2SLGBTQIA+ health, reconciliation and Indigenous wellbeing, and the Canadian arts industry, among others. I have extensive experience working with governance boards, primarily as a secretary and minutetaker, and have also had the pleasure of working as an equity consultant on a number of occasions, helping organizations refine their understanding of accessibility, queer inclusion, and Indigenous reconciliation. Since becoming a public servant, I’ve enthusiastically participated in departmental equity networks and have twice been solicited as a prospective network chair, opportunities which I chose - not without some regret - to decline in favour of focusing on union involvement.

Highlights of that union involvement include a stint as the secretary of Local 528, in which capacity I worked with the other executives to reactivate the local after a period of dormancy, as well as my current work on the Collective Bargaining Committee, where I am one of two chairs elected by the Equity Caucuses - the first time CAPE has had dedicated voices for equity at the bargaining table. I am proud to be a founding member of the CAPE Queer & Trans Workers’ Equity Caucus and the Indigenous Circle, and to have formed strong ties with members from across the public service.

I’m running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• a union committed to strength through solidarity: coming from outside the public sector, I am a firm believer in broad-base community organizing and coalition building. I’ve seen and been part of grassroots justice movements, and know we can harness that power in our workplaces as well.

• a union grounded in equity and anti-racism in every workplace: for a coalition to secure lasting change, it can’t abandon or ignore its most vulnerable members. For a movement to be worthwhile, equity and human rights have to be central to its vision of the future.

Both of these priorities are important to me as a union member and organizer because I think it’s essential, in times of conflict, to build common cause with the people who surround you. Supporting one another - in our union, our workplace, and across the labour movement as a whole - is our best tool to prevent the employer from setting us at each others’ throats.

I believe in these principles because I’ve seen them put into practice in my own communities countless times: the student activist movement; Acorn’s tenant organizing; Idle No More and Indigenous sovereignty movements that continue to this day. As a proud Red River Métis citizen, and as a queer person, my forebears defined their community through resistance to oppression and exploitation. This is a legacy I take very seriously, both in and beyond the workplace.

If elected, I hope to continue the work already underway to make the union a more participatory, more engaged vehicle for representation. In particular, I want to show new public servants, and public servants from equity-denied groups, that we have a full right to participate in defining our collective voice - and indeed, it’s essential that we do so.

Outside of work, I am an avid reader and musician, and appreciate a good board game with friends or a long walk with my headphones. A fun fact about me is that when I was younger I was both a carnival worker and a professional harpist in the same year.

My name is Frank Assu and I am a EC-06 Senior Policy Analyst with the Director General Indigenous Affairs branch at the Department of National Defence.

This year, I’m excited to be running with Members United to continue and build on the changes at CAPE over the last three years. 

I have been a part of the public service of Canada since 2009 and an active member of unions since then as well. In 2016 I became a Steward in the CIU union under PSAC while I was a Border Officer with Canada Border Services Agency. In 2018, I moved into the policy world and by 2023 I became one of the EC Directors on the CAPE National Executive Committee (NEC). Approximately the same time I joined Natural Resources Canada and became a Steward with Local 520 at CAPE and the following year, the Vice-President of Local 520. I was also a member of Local 520’s Organizing Committee during that time. I was the Co-Chair of NRCan’s Workplace Health and Safety Committee for one year as well. In December 2025, I deployed to the Department of National Defence and joined Local 505 as a Steward. On August 14, 2026 I was elected as the President of Local 505. 

During my three-year term on the NEC I have sat on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Sub-Committee, helped create CAPE’s first ever Indigenous Circle and became their Liaison to the NEC. 

I have assisted numerous members with grievances, the WFA process, challenging working conditions, occupational health and safety concerns, remote work, parking/commuting challenges, and many other issues that members face on a daily basis.

I’m running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• a union that organizes to win: building our capacity to bargain, enforce our rights and deliver on member priorities

• a union that trusts and strengthens its locals through dedicated resources, authority, support and building relationships to lead effective union activity on the ground where members work

Both of these priorities are important to me as a member and as an experienced local leader. 

Over the past three years, I have seen tremendous growth in member engagement at the local level and at the national level. We are seeing more members voting at the AGM, participating in organizing activities, taking part in CAPE sub-committee’s, and generally being more active and engaged with CAPE initiatives.

This is a pivotal year for CAPE. Not only is it an election year but it is also the first time we have gone into bargaining with an Open Bargaining approach. Participation in Open Bargaining has provided another avenue for general members to have a say in their collective future.

I believe that a union who prioritizes community, respect, and fighting for members rights will also be able to win great changes in our collective agreements and help members regain a positive and healthy office environment while still fighting for fully remote and teleworking opportunities for members.

I have seen first-hand the positive changes that CAPE has made these past three years. CAPE has become noticed at the national level in the union community. When I attended the Canada Labour Congress’s Convention in Winnipeg, MB this past May, so many people from different unions (not just in the federal public sector) mentioned how exciting it was to see the progress CAPE has made and were looking forward to seeing what is coming next.

If re-elected, I will bring my experience these past three years as an EC Director to the NEC table and help guide my new NEC colleagues on a path that continues the positive changes first implemented three years ago. I will continue to advocate for all CAPE members, members in my local, the Indigenous Circle (and all Indigenous members of CAPE), and all other CAPE sub-committees. I have been a past Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Sid Williams Theatre Society in Courtenay, BC, and a Director on the Community Justice Centre Board also in Courtenay, BC. Those experiences along with my positions on the executive of NRCan and DND locals added to my past three years of being a member of CAPE’s NEC will make me an ideal candidate to be one of the new EC Directors for this year’s term.

When I am not working or doing union business I can be found travelling with my wife, one of my four children and their partners, or my grandchildren. I enjoy gardening, golf, hiking, and taking photos.

My name is Dr. James FitzGerald. I hold a PhD in Political Science from York University in Toronto. In 2024, I received an emerging leader in the Public Service Award from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada and Deloitte Canada for my career development events and union work. Currently, I am a Policy Analyst at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). I previously served at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). 

This year, I am excited to be running with Members United to build on the progress we have made at CAPE and to help foster workplaces where people feel truly valued so they can thrive in every aspect of their lives.

I believe in being a leader who brings in new perspectives and experience into building a better union that fights for our rights. As local president of NRCan, I have supported members experiencing WFA, harassment and discrimination, and violations of the collective agreement. Through my role as a co-chair of the NRCan and ESDC Organizing Committees, I have helped build union power and prepare for bargaining. I believe in bringing members into discussion, building consensus, and moving forward together to make the workplace better. Over the last three years, I have spoken to hundreds of members to bring people into the fold and to help inspire people to fight for a better contract. I have also had the privilege of building stronger ties with local leaders in PSAC and PIPSC to strengthen our solidarity work with our sister unions.  

I am running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• Organizing to Win: I am committed to building our capacity to organize around the issues that matter most to members and turn workplace concerns into collective action.

• Empowering the Locals: I want to help build stronger, more active locals where members have meaningful opportunities to participate, organize, and shape union activity.

These priorities are vital to getting a better collective agreement and improving working conditions across Canada. It is time to raise the bar. Not lower it. 

I believe in a union that organizes to win because when members are organized, we bargain from a position of collective strength and secure better contracts. Organizing also contributes to strong contract enforcement - a signed collective agreement is only as powerful as our collective willingness to defend it. Over the last three years, I have experienced how organizing has sparked a powerful shift at CAPE, turning a historically disengaged union into an active, mobilized community that won our historic vote for conciliation.

I believe in increasing power to the locals because when locals are truly empowered, they become vibrant, trusted gathering spaces that can respond effectively to workplace challenges. Local leaders understand the daily realities and culture of their departments best, ensuring that issues are identified and addressed much faster while solutions truly reflect the on-the-ground conditions members face every day. Because we had engaged members, as a local president, I was able to form a rapid response team to support members in their WFA meetings and in the case work that followed at NRCan. If we could support hundreds of members with only a few volunteers, imagine what we can do if we all work together. 

If elected, I want to use my experience to expand member participation so we can secure a contract that genuinely meets our needs in this bargaining round. I am dedicated to helping members build their organizing committees, locals, and union equity caucuses, including in departments that do not yet have them. When our members are organized and our locals are strong, solving workplace challenges - from the bargaining table to our everyday work environments - becomes possible.

Outside of work, I enjoy doing karaoke, escape rooms, and I can usually be found hosting social board game nights. I love catching up with friends over coffee and talking politics. When not sleeping or doing union work, I can be found brainstorming a fantasy sci-fi board game and writing a sci-fi novel. I believe in building community wherever I go and bringing people together. If you run into me in the wild, feel free to chat with me about your favourite Star Trek and your best recs for fiction and non-fiction books.

My name is Jessica Squires. I’m an EC-07 policy manager at Library and Archives Canada. I’m running as part of the Members United group of candidates because I want to keep working on transforming CAPE into a union based on solidarity. 

My Background: I have worked at Library and Archives Canada since 2008, when I joined the department as an archivist, and moved into policy in 2011. Previously I was involved in the Canadian Union of Public Employees as a local President, and in that role I negotiated two collective agreements. I joined the CAPE Local Executive at LAC in 2011. From 2014-2017 I was a member of the CAPE National Executive. During those years we created the CAPE Defense Fund.

In addition to my union involvement, I was an organizer in the antiwar movement and have been consistently involved in campaigns against racism and Islamophobia. 

More recently, I’ve represented local members on the LAC WFA committee, fighting for equity and fairness in the process and working with other local union representatives to ensure we are supporting each other and all affected employees at LAC.

Why I’m Running: I’m running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• a Union committed to solidarity: building our collective power between locals, workplaces, and regions and within the broader labour movement.

• a Union that trusts and strengthens Locals: giving locals the resources, authority, relationships and support they need to lead effective union activity where members work.

Solidarity and coalition work is a strategic priority. Within locals, building solidarities makes it possible for folks to get beyond their day-to-day challenges to elevate their individual concerns to strategy. We also need to continue to build solidarity between bargaining agents; the Quebec model shows that these approaches work. 

Outside the Federal Public Service, when partners in other unions and within broader movements see our fight as theirs, and their fight as ours, it benefits CAPE members strategically. CAPE’s antiwar positions, Stop the Cuts coalition-building on healthcare, etc., are moves in this direction. We can’t afford to lose this momentum. 

Stronger and empowered locals are essential. For most members, reaching out to their LEC because of a problem they’re having is the first contact they have with the union. Enabling stewards to defend members directly, and improving locally-centred activities, is part of this. We also need to improve member education and improve workplace-level participatory democracy. Making space for debates to take place in our workplaces that really get into substance will help members pull together to move into action collectively. 

Building strong relationships with those around us, in the workplace and outside it in the movements, to make positive changes in society, can engage, embolden, and empower. Taken together, it’s the strategy we need to win real gains for all the members of CAPE.

My commitment: If elected, I’ll fight for the entire Members United platform.

I’m determined to keep both workplace solidarity and strengthening our relationships and networks at the forefront. In particular, I want to help us move towards establishing a delegated convention model so that locals, as voices of the members in one workplace or region, can have a real influence on the union’s direction and decisions.

A bit more about me: In my life both at work and outside of work, I do what I can daily and weekly to make the world a better place. I used to live in Halifax. I have a cat named Lucy, after Lucy Lawless; I am involved in community activism against discrimination and racism; and I play guitar and sing in a choir.

My name is Kacy Doucet. I live in rural Nova Scotia and I am an analyst at Statistics Canada.

This year, I’m excited to be running with Members United to continue building on the accomplishments CAPE members have made together over the last three years. We are at a defining moment that will shape the future of our work, and I’m committed to making sure we have a strong, united voice in the decisions ahead.

Throughout my time as a CAPE Steward, Local Leader, Member Organizer, and co-founder of the Disability Justice Caucus, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with hundreds of diverse members across the country on a range of workplace and equity concerns. These relationships form the foundations of a powerful union.

I am running as part of the Members United team because I believe in:

• Organizing to win: building our capacity to advance and enforce our rights by turning individual workplace concerns into collective action.

• Equity in every workplace: ensuring that members who have historically been pushed to the margins have a meaningful voice in shaping our union and our priorities.

These priorities are important to me because I know how many of our coworkers have felt frustrated and powerless to address workplace issues around Duty to Accommodate, inflexible office presence policies, discrimination, and more. I have seen firsthand that we are stronger together, and want to continue building our historically disengaged union into an active, thriving community.

As an EC director, I will bring my expertise as an organizer and my regional perspective to support a more representative and participatory union, with structures that allow us to connect, share knowledge, take action, and strengthen our communities and workplaces together. 

Outside of work and union activities, you can find me watching Star Trek with my cats, painting portraits of my cats, or gardening (yes, I grow catnip). I also enjoy playing video games with my friends and family, and am an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction.

My name is Karina Kessaris and I am a Program Manager at Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC).

I am happy to be running with Members United to keep the momentum from the past three years going and to continue to organize for power at the bargaining table. 

I am an EC-07 with 18 years of experience in the federal public service, currently working in the Infrastructure Programs Sector at HICC. I hold a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University.  Over the course of my career, I have worked in several federal organizations, including Environment and Climate Change Canada, Elections Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Natural Resources Canada. My experience spans policy development, program implementation, regulatory analysis, and operational leadership. I have also led teams through complex initiatives and periods of transition while maintaining strong collaboration and engagement.

Although new to union activities, I am an elected member of the EC’s Collective Bargaining Committee (CBC) and will be working hard towards a good CBA for our members. I am putting my name forward to be a director to ensure that the NEC and the CBC work hand-in-hand in the coming months and years towards that goal. 

I’m running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• a union that organizes to win: with a systematic approach to developing collective strength and that strives for a high member participation, because together we are stronger.

• a union that is driven by its members : putting us – the members – at the centre of everything we do, and working to strengthen our ability to uphold and enforce our rights

The coming years will be crucial for our union and its members. A shift has been started, and we must continue in this direction in order to see it through. 

Over the past several years, many of us have experienced significant change in our workplace. The recent work force adjustment, combined with growing workloads, stagnant salaries, and declining working conditions, has left many members feeling unheard and undervalued. I share that frustration. As public servants dedicated to serving Canadians, we expect that our expertise, commitment, and contributions be recognized and respected while being treated like the professionals we are. 

When our employer stops working with us and starts working against us, that is when we need a strong union with strong leaders ready to fight to support our claims, to obtain recognition for the value of our work and to secure fair treatment, meaningful engagement, and conditions that allow us to continue delivering high-quality results for Canadians.

I believe in open communication with members, strong defence of our rights, and protecting the most vulnerable among us.

If elected, I will approach this responsibility with seriousness, professionalism, and determination. I will work to ensure that our members’ concerns are heard and addressed, that our demands are clearly and forcefully represented, and that we increase accessibility and services for our members.

It would be an honour to serve our members as a director in the NEC.

When I am not working or doing union business, I can be found at one of the many arenas in and around Ottawa with my two boys.

My name is Kayla Carman and I’m a Senior Policy Analyst at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

This year, I’m excited to be running with Members United to build on CAPE’s momentum by strengthening locals and giving members the tools, resources and support they need to build power where they work.

I have been an active member of CAPE Local 524 since 2022, serving on its executive and organizing committees and supporting members across Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canada Water Agency. Before that, I was a member of my workplace’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee and National Health and Safety Policy Committee, remaining an active member since I started in 2019. I was elected Vice-President of my Local in 2023 and President in 2026, and I currently co-chair our Local Organizing Committee. I also serve on CAPE’s Equity Sub-Committee and provide one-on-one support to CAPE members in need of support and guidance. In my professional role, I lead interdepartmental coordination of consultation with Indigenous Peoples on permits and authorizations for major resource projects.

I’m running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• a union that puts power in the hands of locals: giving local leaders and members the resources, tools, training and support they need to build strong, active workplaces

• a member-driven union: creating meaningful opportunities for members to connect, shape priorities, develop skills and take action together

Both of these priorities are important to me as a member and local leader because I’ve seen firsthand what happens when members are supported by strong locals. When I joined Local 524, there was no local presence in my workplace. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of helping build relationships, community and a stronger local presence for members—and I want to help make that possible in more workplaces across CAPE.

I believe in giving Power to the Locals because strong locals are where unionism becomes real for members: where people know who to turn to, get informed, build relationships with their colleagues, raise concerns and organize around what matters to them. I also believe in a Member-Driven union because our members are our greatest source of knowledge, ideas and power. We need to invest in the training, mentorship, toolkits, recruitment support and community-building that help members and local leaders turn that potential into action.

If elected, I hope to help build stronger, more connected locals across CAPE by putting practical tools, resources, training and support in the hands of local leaders and members. I want locals to have what they need to build community and realize their priorities without burning out on the little things. 

Beyond all of this, I love all things horror and horror-adjacent. I manage a horror themed YouTube channel and an Instagram account, so it’s deadly serious. You can usually find me at the ByTowne in Ottawa for a screening of Friday the 13th parts 1-4… after the fourth I’m not as interested. I’m also the person you want on a walk if you want to know what all the birds are called.

Hi, my name is Lily Spek (she/her). 

I’m a Senior AI Talent Strategist with the CanAI Garage at Shared Services Canada (SSC), where I focus on attracting and retaining AI talent in Canada while advancing ethical, responsible AI solutions to real-world public sector problems.

This year, I’m delighted to be running for re-election as part of Members United, because beyond vision and priorities, we share a commitment to putting members first.

I’m currently one of the EC Directors on the CAPE National Executive Committee, and the past few years have been some of the most challenging, inspiring, and humbling of my career. As Acting Chair of the Accessibility, Health and Safety Subcommittee, it has been clearer to me than ever before that the Employer will not do what’s right, nor even meet its legal Duty to Accommodate; we have to continue to fight to protect our rights. My experience as President of Local 521 (Public Services and Procurement Canada) has cemented and expanded this conviction.

Professionally, I got my start with CancerCare Manitoba before working for the City of Ottawa and then the Ontario Public Service. I bring over 15 years experience in the GoC. I’ve had the opportunity to take on 15 distinct roles at 10 different departments since joining the Government of Canada, first via the Policy Analyst Recruitment Development Program (PARDP) at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and later as one of Canada’s Free Agents. I’ve worked remotely since 2018; work is a thing I do, not a place I go. 

I’m running with Members United because I believe that together, we can accomplish great things and continue building:

• a union that organizes to win: building our capacity to bargain, enforce our rights and deliver on member priorities

• a union driven grounded in equity and anti-racism in every workplace: with equity at the core of how we organize, bargain, and represent members

These priorities are vital to me, especially as a member of the EC Collective Bargaining Committee.

I know that organizing is key to unifying members. Moving from shared action to contract wins is something previously unheard of for CAPE, but also a huge chance for us to change course together. Organized, engaged members are how we translate labour’s inherent strength into. 

Equity means a union where every member feels not only welcome, but wanted. Where lived experience matters and opportunities to collaborate are accessible to all. Fairness and consistency don’t cut it. Gains for equity-denied members are wins for everyone.

If re-elected, I hope to continue the work I started over the past 3 years with Members for Change, but more than that, I want to deliver for members and hold the Employer to account.

In my personal time, I enjoy belting out “I Want to Dance With Somebody” in my 3M N95 Aura. As an individual with multiple invisible disabilities, I value community care and believe it starts with taking action to protect not only myself, but those around me. I adore cycling, walks with my dog (Keeshond AKA Fluffalo), doting on two cats, writing letters by fountain pen, and nerding out about the latest tech gadgets.

Hi, my name is Malcolm Marsh Warmerdam (he/him) and I work on data pipeline maintenance for the labour force survey at Statistics Canada. I’ve been involved with CAPE for the last 3 years and am excited to run with Members United as an EC Director. 

I’ve held roles within local 503 (StatCan) as Director of Organizing on the Local Executive and as a Union Steward, both of which have given me insight into how our locals work and where they need more support. I am a founding and current co-chair of the StatCan Organizing Committee, and have significant training and experience in building member engagement through organizing. I founded the CAPE Chorus as a space for members across locals to sing and write songs about the issues we’re facing, as I believe music can be a powerful tool for bolstering morale, building community, and in fighting for change. As a founding member of the Queer and Trans Workers Equity Caucus, I helped build the community needed to make space at the table for less heard voices and to facilitate effective advocacy work.

I’m running with Members United because the changes I’ve seen in CAPE over the last few years have opened my eyes to what a union can be, and I’m excited to continue that effort. The work being done to improve access to training, increase staff support, and lower barriers to involvement empowers members to fight on the issues they’re experiencing in the workplace. We can only win big in bargaining with an engaged membership who have access to the bargaining table. Members United have the experience and platform to take up the torch and keep CAPE moving forward in this direction.

Outside of my union involvement, I have over 10 years experience as a loud advocate for intimate partner violence prevention, as well as many years experience in queer activism and education. What I’ve learned in that work informs my understanding of workplace issues, and the importance of solidarity and community. I’m also the financial agent for my local riding association, which has given me valuable financial management experience. StatCan folks may know me from my monthly office hours open to all StatCan staff to help folks learning to use open-source tools. I bring the same spirit of support and education to my union efforts as I’ve demonstrated in my StatCan open-source work.

I have been fighting to empower CAPE members and get them the support they need when they need it. When elected, I will continue to fight to facilitate member-led collective responses to systematic issues in the workplace. I will continue to fight to get locals the resources they need to provide support to their members. And I will continue to fight so we win the contract we deserve.

My name is Marcello Barisonzi, and this year I am running for an EC Director position as part of the Members United team.

I am a data analyst at Statistics Canada, currently on secondment at Elections Canada. Before joining Statistics Canada, I worked as a methodologist at Elections Canada, focusing on the analysis of Census data for federal electoral districts. I have been with CAPE since 2025, and I am a member of the Collective Bargaining Committee and a co-chair on the Articling Committee on AI and Technology. 

I’m running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• A union that organizes to win: I believe CAPE needs the capacity to organize, bargain and enforce our rights, and to back those rights with collective action.

• A union that practices solidarity: I believe solidarity across union lines is vital to introducing oversight and accountability to the changes in our workplace, and I’m committed to strengthening CAPE’s relationships with other unions, community organizations and the broader labour movement.

We are living in a time where workers’ rights are under threat from the government, in collusion with banks and corporations. If we are to show resistance towards American aggression, we cannot simply copy their methods here in Canada, we must offer an alternative model to the whole of North America, an alternative based on solidarity and economic growth for everyone.

More about me:

Earlier in my career, I was a scientific consultant at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, where I developed software systems supporting the ATLAS experiment at CERN. I began my career as a researcher at CERN, contributing to statistical analyses of high-energy physics data in the search for supersymmetric particles. 

I hold a PhD in Elementary Particle Physics from the University of Twente, the Netherlands and an MSc in Physics from the University of Pavia, Italy.

Je m’appelle Marilou Favreau-Léger, et je suis analyste des politiques à Emploi et Développement social Canada (EDSC). Depuis mon entrée dans la fonction publique en pleine pandémie, je suis chaque jour davantage convaincue que les liens qu'on tisse entre nous, bien plus que nos titres, font notre force syndicale. C'est cette conviction qui m'amène cette année à me présenter avec l'équipe Membres Uni·es, parce que je crois qu'ensemble, on va toujours plus loin.

Je suis à EDSC depuis près de 5 ans, où j'ai eu la chance de m’engager aux côtés de mes collègues de la section locale 514, d'abord comme déléguée, puis chef déléguée, et aujourd'hui vice-présidente. J'ai également mis la main à la pâte au comité de mobilisation. Ces expériences m'ont appris l'importance d'aller à la rencontre des gens, une personne à la fois, ainsi que d'apprendre à connaître nos milieux de travail et celles et ceux qui les font vivre. C'est en tissant ces liens, patiemment, qu'une série de frustrations isolées peut devenir une force collective.

Je me présente avec Membres Uni·es parce que deux engagements de la plateforme me tiennent particulièrement à cœur : placer les membres au cœur de l'action et des décisions qui guident nos stratégies syndicales, et bâtir une solidarité durable avec nos collègues, parce qu’on est plus fort·es ensemble. Pour moi, ce sont plus que des slogans. L’ACEP, ce n'est pas une structure lointaine qui parle en notre nom. C'est nous, dans nos coffee chats impromptus, dans les liens de confiance qu'on bâtit à travers le temps, dans notre capacité à soutenir nos collègues, peu importe notre ministère, notre région ou notre poste. Mon parcours, de déléguée à vice-présidente de la section locale 514, m'a montré à quel point on est gagnant·es quand on prend le temps de se parler, et qu'on ose explorer ensemble jusqu'où notre élan collectif peut nous mener. 

Pour découvrir l'ensemble de la plateforme, je vous invite à visiter le site de Membres Uni·es : https://membersunited-membresunis.ca

Si je suis élue, je souhaite contribuer à outiller tous les membres pour qu’on puisse agir ensemble dans nos sections locales comme à la table de négociation. Je veux aussi m’assurer qu'on n'oublie personne en chemin, et que les réalités de chaque région et de chaque section locale trouvent une oreille attentive au comité exécutif national, pour que le celui-ci demeure ancré dans ce qui se vit sur le terrain.

En dehors du travail et de la vie syndicale, j’aime passer du temps de qualité avec mes proches et ami·es, autour d'un petit festin improvisé, avec de la bonne musique et, si la chance le permet, avec un feu de camp et des guimauves grillées.

My name is Megan Sicard (they/she). I am a Franco-Ontarian Policy Analyst at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), where I have been serving as a public servant for five years. 

This year, I’m excited to be running with Members United to continue to build a union that empowers members.

I am currently completing my master’s degree on a part-time basis in Social Innovation at Saint-Paul University where I am pursuing research. I have built up the ESDC Organizing Committee as Co-Chair, contributing to the rise of membership engagement in one of the biggest departments and working closely with Local 514 and the regional Locals to identify members’ priorities and empower members to get involved. I have also been serving on the Occupational Health and Safety Committee (OHSC) at Phase IV in Gatineau for a little over a year. 

I'm running on the Members United platform because I believe the strength of our union comes from members having the knowledge, opportunities and confidence to participate and lead. I want to see members better equipped to support bargaining, stewarding, organizing and member mobilization across our union. Both of these priorities are important to me as a member organizer because I think there is power in numbers and that members deserve better. 

I believe that we are in a historic moment with the opportunity to win a contract that will shape the future of our work and we are stronger together. A member-driven, high-participation union has the potential to win us a better contract and give us the workplace we deserve. 

If elected, I hope to continue to contribute in the creation of an engaged membership and deploy the resources to defend our rights and win improvements at work. I wish to build sustainable member power to help members find help, support the work of stewards and locals, providing them with resources and training they need to continue enforcing our collective agreement.

Out of the office, I love spending time with my cats and loved ones, playing outside, biking, cross-country skiing, playing volleyball, or at home crocheting with a good show.

Hello CAPE members!

My name is Neil Burron and I am honoured to be running for an EC Director position on CAPE's National Executive Committee (NEC). Along with my colleagues from Members United, I am committed to building a stronger union through member engagement, equity, and active, organized locals in our workplaces. I hope to bring my experience in both the labour movement and the public service to this shared effort.

Originally from Montreal, I have been working in the public service for sixteen years. I am currently a manager at Employment and Social Development Canada, where I oversee a team working on labour policy and legislation. I have a PhD in political science and have been fortunate to work on a range of issues, including labour and international affairs. Outside of work, I am a proud partner, father, and stepfather, as well as an avid reader, record collector, runner, and increasingly injury-prone martial arts practitioner.

By running for the NEC this year, I hope to continue supporting the important work of making CAPE a stronger and more effective union. Since entering the public service, I have been active in CAPE in a variety of roles. I currently serve as an NEC Director (2024-2026) and have been a local president, vice-president, and director of education. During an earlier term on the NEC (2015-2017), I helped establish CAPE's first Education Committee. In recent years, I have organized educational events on topics such as the Carney Government, collective bargaining, and labour history. I believe political education plays an important role in helping union members better understand the challenges we face and how we can address them together.

Members United has put forward a detailed platform that reflects our vision of a member-driven union that organizes collectively in the workplace to achieve meaningful gains. As we enter a new round of collective bargaining and continue to navigate the impacts of WFA, potential austerity measures, and AI-driven work intensification, strong member engagement will be more important than ever. The progress we have made as workers has always depended on collective action and solidarity. I am proud to be part of a team dedicated to strengthening that solidarity and helping build an even stronger CAPE for the future.

My name is Nicole Kavanagh and I work in Indigenous relations and reconciliation policy at Fisheries and Oceans. I have been a national employee working remotely from St. John’s, NL since 2011. At CAPE, I am a member of the Collective Bargaining Committee and the Disability Justice Caucus.

This year, I am proud to be running for EC Director with Members United. Over the last three years, I have been inspired by CAPE's focus on member engagement, organizing, and representation. Today, workers are increasingly under pressure to accept decisions that negatively impact the quality of their work and their lives: now more than ever, we need a union that is organized, connected, and ready to stand together. The Members United team is positioned to ensure the progress we've made continues and that CAPE becomes an even stronger voice for its members.

My Background
I moved to Ottawa to join the federal government mid-career in 2006. I returned to my home province in 2010 and have worked remotely in various NCR roles ever since.  Long before remote work became commonplace, I sought opportunities to build national teams and networks across the country, participating in transformation initiatives like Blueprint 2020 and the grassroots employee initiative, FlexGC. 

Since 2021, I have been working in reconciliation policy. I focus on bringing people together across regions, departments, and perspectives to address systemic anti-Indigenous racism, build trust, and advance meaningful change. I am also involved in government-wide networks including the Anti-Racism Ambassadors Network, the Infinity Network, and the Interdepartmental Network on Employment Equity and Diversity. Through these roles, I have built relationships with public servants across Canada and seen firsthand the power of community and coalition-building.

Prior to joining the public service, I held several management roles and enthusiastically participated in labour-management committees - working collaboratively to resolve issues and build relationships and workplaces grounded in respect, trust, and dignity. For much of my federal career, I was in HR and worked outside a bargaining unit. Those experiences taught me not to take union representation for granted and reinforced the reality that when workers have a meaningful voice, everyone benefits. 

I'm running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• a union committed to strength through solidarity: history shows us that workers gain rights when they build solidarity, develop coalitions, and work together to strengthen their collective power.

• a union grounded in equity and anti-racism in every workplace: equity strengthens our entire union, when we refuse to leave members behind, we build stronger collective power for everyone. Rising tides lift all boats!

We are at a critical point in history. Long-standing worker rights are under pressure, and workers are increasingly being asked to do more with less. Our employer is making “philosophical choices” that have real world impact: disproportionately negatively affecting women, members of equity seeking groups, and Indigenous Peoples. We are federal employees, but we are also Canadians - with families and lives outside of work. We need data-based decision making that makes life - and services -  better for Canadians, not worse. 

We need to strengthen solidarity within CAPE, build stronger relationships with other unions, and remind one another of our collective power. When workers stand together and support one another, we can accomplish far more than any of us can alone.

What I Hope to Achieve

If elected, I will work to help build a CAPE where every member feels informed, connected, and empowered to take action. The rights we take for granted today - from parental leave to safety standards - were won because workers stood together. Now it’s time for us to do the same. 

Outside of Work

I am an avid reader, podcast listener, cook, and baker. I love to travel with my family, appreciate a good hike with my dog, Hobbes (a potcake from St. Lucia), and savor quiet time with Scout, my black cat. Fun fact: years ago, I learned that black cats are less likely to get adopted. Scout is my fourth black cat, following the paw prints left by Cleo (19), Franny (16), and Lulu (16).

I’m Rebecca Clark (she/her), a bilingual policy analyst at Natural Resources Canada working in environmental and regulatory policy. 

I am running with Members United because I believe it’s more important than ever to have a strong union that’s ready to stand up to an employer that has shown itself to be insensitive to our needs and concerns.

I have been a co-chair of the organizing committee at NRCan for over a year, I am a founding member and current co-chair of the Gender Justice Caucus, and this year I became president of CAPE Local 520. As a result, I spend a lot of time connecting with and supporting members from a variety of backgrounds. 

In my previous career as managing editor and production manager of a nonprofit music magazine, I represented employees at Board of Directors meetings, where I successfully advocated for the Board to prioritize and fund staff salaries when there were budget shortfalls. When I went back to school to do my master’s in environmental impact assessment, I served as a link between fellow researchers and student government to compel the university administration to honor its commitment to divest from irresponsible fossil fuel investments. I’ve also been involved in politics at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels, including running as a provincial candidate for the Québec National Assembly and serving with my local municipal riding association to organize general meetings, develop policy proposals, and work to get Valérie Plante elected as mayor of Montréal.

CAPE is becoming a strong union with the power to make real change in our workplaces, and I want to see that work continue. To me, that looks like giving stewards and local executives the support we need to do more to resolve problems in the workplace, building stronger equity caucuses that can advocate for equity-denied members, and winning the strongest possible collective agreement for CAPE members – and by extension, all workers in Canada, because when we fight together, we have the power to win and raise the bar for others. 

Members United has a full platform full of initiatives that I firmly believe in, and I’d encourage you to learn more about them.

As an EC director, I will work to continue building a strong union that empowers members to advocate and solve problems for ourselves by creating structures that allow us to connect, share knowledge, take action, and strengthen our communities and workplaces together. I want to see us standing up against all forms of inequality, whether it’s racism in the workplace, the erosion of our financial stability as our pay fails to keep pace with inflation, denial of the accommodations we need to do our best work, or the power imbalance created by an employer that insists on philosophical, rather than evidence-based, decision-making. Workers deserve better pay and better working conditions, but we won’t get those things unless we stand up and fight for them. As an EC director, I won’t just stand up and fight for a better workplace and a better Canada – I’ll help you fight for better too.

Outside of work and volunteering, you can often find me hiking, biking, or paddling around the NCR or provincial parks. I am an avid citizen-scientist and iNaturalist user, and am one of the top 25 identifiers of maple species in Québec on iNaturalist. I also enjoy singing folk songs and traditional union songs with the CAPE Chorus, sewing clothes for myself and my sister, reading books, and cuddling my beloved kitty, Dr. Billie Syed the Magical Thesis Cat.

My name is Samantha Bokma and I’m a Policy Analyst at Transport Canada’s Supply Chain Office. 

This year, I’m excited to be running with Members United to continue and build on the changes at CAPE over the last three years. 

I spent most of my public service career at Environment and Climate Change Canada and recently transitioned to a new role after being affected by Workforce Adjustment (WFA). I am an experienced Local Leader, having served as a Local President, Vice President, Steward, and Local Organizing Committee Co-Chair at Local 524 (ECCC/IAAC/CWA) and currently serving as a Local Organizing Committee Co-Chair and Steward at Local 506 (TC). Over the last year, I have supported over 100 members through the WFA process, serving as the bargaining agent WFA committee co-chair, providing advice on the interpretation of the Directive and supporting members in fighting for equity and fairness in the process.  

I’m running as part of the Members United election team because I believe in:

• a union that organizes to win: building our capacity to bargain, enforce our rights and deliver on member priorities

• a union that trusts and strengthens its locals through dedicated resources, authority, support and building relationships to lead effective union activity on the ground where members work

Both of these priorities are important to me as a member and as an experienced local leader. 

I believe in a union that organizes to win, because I have seen organizing in action, resulting in tangible benefits for members. At Local 524, organizing not only engaged more members in the collective bargaining process than ever before, it also enabled members to bring forward concerns about WFA to their colleagues and the local was able to respond by holding management accountable by enforcing the rights and entitlements of the Directive.

I also believe in a union that trusts and strengthens its locals, because as a local leader I have seen so much growth over the last three years, and want to continue to build on that growth by bringing my experience to the table, highlighting ongoing challenges and coming up with proactive solutions to empower locals to continue to support members in their workplaces. 

If elected, I hope to bring my expertise as a local leader and organizer to support better coordination and collaboration between local executives and local organizing committees to ensure that the one-on-one conversations with members translate into direct support at the local level allowing concerns in the workplace to be raised with management and inform national bargaining priorities and a stronger contract. 

Outside of work, I love gaming, gardening, sewing, singing, and taking care of my two beagles. A fun fact about me is I am a Pokemon master, having defeated all gym leaders and catching all 1025 different Pokemon.

My name is Dr. Sami Rehman, and I am a Senior Advisor (EC-06) at Health Canada and President of CAPE Local 512, one of CAPE's largest locals. 

I am running as part of the Members United team and seeking your support for EC Director because I believe CAPE should be a union that listens to its members, stands up for their rights, and remains accountable to those it serves. 

For years, I have been committed to supporting and advocating for CAPE members. As Local President, I have supported hundreds of members facing Workforce Adjustment, workplace disputes, return-to-office challenges, and other workplace concerns. Through these experiences, I have seen firsthand the importance of strong representation, clear communication, and leaders who are prepared to take action when members need support. 

In addition to serving as Local President, I previously chaired CAPE's Audit Committee for nearly three years, helping oversee the organization's finances and governance. This role provided me with a deep understanding of CAPE's operations and reinforced my commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of members' dues. 

I am running with Members United because I believe CAPE must continue to be:

• Member-driven, transparent and accountable: Every decision should reflect the needs and priorities of our members and involve open communication and responsible leadership.

• A stong, effective union that fights to win: CAPE must continue to advocate forcefully for fair working conditions, job security, and members' rights.

• Collaborative and inclusive in empowering locals: Strong locals, engaged members, and effective leadership are the foundation of a successful union. 

My experience in local leadership, governance, and financial oversight has prepared me to contribute effectively at the national level. I understand the challenges members face, and I understand the responsibility that comes with representing them. If elected, I will work tirelessly to strengthen member engagement, support local leaders, and ensure CAPE remains a principled, responsive, and respected voice for EC members across the public service. 

Most importantly, I believe union leadership is about service. It is about listening to members, earning trust, and delivering results. That is the commitment I bring to this campaign and the commitment I will bring to the National Executive Committee.

I would be honoured to earn your support and your vote for EC Director. 

My name is Shawn Barney, a public servant with close to 20 years of public service experience, working as an Senior Economic and Socio-Economic Analyst-Researcher at Canada Border Services Agency.

Thank you for taking the time to read my submission to run for CAPE’s National Executive Committee. I am privileged to be running with Members United to continue the meaningful work done over the last three years to transform CAPE into a stronger organized and member-driven union. 

My entire federal public service career has been within CBSA, starting in Thunder Bay as a Student Border Services Officer before transitioning to an indeterminate role in the National Headquarters. I’ve done my best to have a lot of hobbies and activities to enjoy life outside of my career. As you read this, I will most likely be at a gym powerlifting and working to achieve some personal goals (i.e., to squat and deadlift 530 lbs, bench 315 lbs), wiggling to a song in my headphones, or laughing to a podcast. I love to collect physical media in all forms, but primarily film and television. I have created a retro gaming hub in my apartment to relive the games I would’ve rented at my local Blockbuster or Rogers Video. While gaming, my one year old chihuahua T’Ana will snuggle into my lap. At night, I dream up plans only Pinky and The Brain could concoct to break into The Criterion Closet.

While working in an environment with a lot of union activity, my actual union engagement occurred after the 2023 PSAC strike. By then, I successfully deployed to the EC group, where I quickly became involved in the inner workings of CAPE. When the National President informed me CBSA had no local activity, I got to action, getting the needed signatures to request the National Executive to formally recognize and create Local 530, representing the ECs employed at the NHQ for CBSA where I have served as Local President and Steward since its inception. Understanding the importance of collaboration, I began introducing myself with other local executives and stewards, creating a network and chat group designed for all of us to learn from one another, share resources, and assist in larger local activities across locals from Ottawa and the regional representatives. These collaborative efforts resulted in me writing one of the few member resolutions that passed in CAPE’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (Support for Local Leaders), to demand for better infrastructure and support for our local leaders. In 2026, I joined CAPE’s Collective Bargaining Committee, where I am excited to work for the members that comprise CAPE to develop a strong collective agreement that meets the moment for all of us, with fair wages for our work, protections against a fickle employer, and equitable provisions for all of us.

I am running as part of the Members United election team because many of my values align with the goals and commitments of the team itself. I want to help build issue-based networks that connect members and give them opportunities to organize around the issues that matter to them. I’m committed to building stronger connections among CAPE members so that we can act together when our rights and working conditions are under threat.

These are issues that I have seen first hand through my roles at Local 530; in a work environment where members know that calling attention to the harassment in the workplace can result in retaliatory measures, it is vital to create strong, member-led organizations, supported by both the NEC and the locals. By creating systems of community and common issues, our greatest strength, our ability to stand together, will make us unstoppable.

This is only some of the goals and commitments we as Members United are running on. 

If you deem me worthy of your vote, if elected to the national executive, these values will remain. I will remain committed to creating an equitable community, to ensure members feel like they are heard and valued, that they have power, and more importantly, they are supported. I will endeavour to remain humble, to be mindful of my blind spots, to listen to feedback and criticism, and to create safe spaces for all members.

If you’ve read this far, thank you. I appreciate your interest in union activities and hope I can represent your interests in the coming years. I will do my best to do right by you.

Hi! I’m Tasha Rabinowitz. I use they/them pronouns and I live in K’jipuktuk, or Halifax. I’m a Research Analyst at Statistics Canada, where I have worked for five years. At CAPE, I am a member of the Collective Bargaining Committee, the Vice President of Local 201 (Nova Scotia), and Organizing Committee co-chair. 

I am running with Members United because I want to build a stronger union with which we can win and enforce stronger contracts.

Over the past years I have helped to revive a regional local presence where I live through outreach, hosting events and through building relationships with other federal government union members. In addition, I have been building relationships with members in my Department to ensure that folks are educated, heard, and supported to take ownership over their workplace conditions. Through these experiences, I have continually brought the voices of members into union activities and have gained experience with collective decision-making. I have also learned about challenges in CAPE’s structure, particularly for regional members.

Why am I running?

When I first sought to get involved at CAPE several years ago, I was extremely disappointed to find very few, relatively meaningless, and ostensibly unsupported opportunities and a weak, centralized power structure. Like many of you, this was not a union that I saw myself in. 

With the leadership change during the last National Executive Committee elections, I have seen CAPE undergo substantial change. I have found tangible support for doing the work of engaging with members, and a meaningful plan to win better workplace conditions.

I’m running with Members United because we are committed to:

• Continuing the work of empowering members and locals with more clearly defined responsibilities, roles, authority, and adequate resources. To effectively win and enforce better contracts, it is essential that members have access to practical information and can connect with others who share their concerns.

• Modernizing union structures so that members can more effectively participate, steer union decisions, and access representation. In particular, I bring a regional lens to this work that I believe is important for a national membership – I want to work to make sure regional members see their issues in union activities.

If elected, I hope to advance a more representative and participatory union. One in which members can learn, grow, and become empowered to directly influence their workplaces.

Fun facts

Outside of work, I am a trained environmental scientist, I am an avid outdoorsperson, I am an artist, musician, and I have a sweet cat named Sally. This summer I have been really enjoying snorkeling and playing stand-up bass in my 7-piece country band called (What’s it like to be) a horse in the city.

My name is Thomas Côté, I am a project officer within Statistics Canada’s Collection’s, Planning and Research division. I am also a proud and dedicated dad, and an active member within my local community.

I am excited to run for EC director with Members United alongside a group of members that are dedicated to building a strong union that belongs to its membership. I have been inspired by the renewed sense of agency and bravery being fostered among ever greater numbers of our members and am glad to be contributing to this project.

I have been a member of the federal public service as an EC-02 since May 2022 and have served in my role faithfully. Sensing an impending desperation around RTO and WFA, not just from myself, but from my colleagues as well, I decided to contribute my many years of experience as a Tenant Union organizer to our local’s member-led Organizing Committee (OC). With the support of my OC colleagues, I’ve helped shift the culture within our local and increased member engagement and representation. I’ve fostered trusting relationships with dozens of my colleagues, and helped them not only regain confidence in their union and collective bargaining, but more importantly, in their own power. Though I have only been contributing to our union’s organizing drives for a relatively short time, I am very proud of what I have helped accomplish. If it wasn’t for the contributions of dozens of member-organizers like myself, it is unlikely that our members would have had the courage to upturn 20 years of CAPE history and choose the Conciliation-Strike path.

My undying faith in regular working people is why I am running with Members United. I know that this group of members shares my belief that the strength of our union comes from members having the knowledge, opportunities and confidence to participate and lead. This is why I want to help build a union culture where member leadership is recognized, supported and developed at every level. I want to help build stronger, more active locals where members have meaningful opportunities to participate, organize and shape union activity. But to make any of this happen, we have to recognize the breadth of knowledge, experience and diversity within our workplaces. I want CAPE’s structures, education and resources to reflect the diverse experiences of our members, to be accessible to all, and to empower everyone to contribute their strengths, backgrounds and experiences to their union.

I believe that these are some of the foundational pillars that have allowed us to make such impressive changes in our union’s culture in such a short period.

If elected, I will ensure that member empowerment is at the heart of every idea and action adopted by our union, so that every victory won belongs to every one of us. I’ve seen first hand, both in my workplace and in my community, the sense of dignity and joy people gain when they unite and fight together for a common goal. I’ve been privileged to learn from many neighbours and coworkers what it means and what it takes to organize to win, and I hope to lend this experience to every CAPE member as an EC director.

When I’m not working with my coworkers or neighbours to fight for their interests, I’m writing and playing music, adventuring outdoors with my adorable son and brilliant and beautiful wife, or complaining about RTO4.