Winners of the 2016 Outstanding Member Achievement Awards

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April 13, 2017

Congratulations to these Members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633 who received the 2016 Outstanding Member Achievement Awards!

UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Member Paul SheppardPaul Sheppard

Leadership & Advancement of UFCW

Paul has worked at Good Humor-Breyers in Simcoe for more than 20 years. In 2004, he became Chief Steward. For 10 years he worked in that position to represent his co-workers through grievances and other matters that were important to the Members.

He continues to be a Steward and spends countless hours of his personal time assisting others. He attends regular Stewards training to keep up-to-date and he has been part of the negotiating committee through five sets of bargaining.

Paul was instrumental in assisting the Union during an
eight-week strike at his workplace in 2014. The employer was seeking concessions including substantial wage cuts. Paul’s leadership on the picket line and throughout bargaining contributed greatly to the resolution of that dispute.

UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Member Annette SweetAnnette Sweet

Contributions to Health & Safety and WSIB

Annette is an integral part of the Members’ leadership team at Maple Leaf Heritage. She represents her co-workers as a Certified Member on the Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) and as a Steward.

Considered a ‘go-to’ person when co-workers have an issue, Annette is known to be caring, empathetic, and fair. She will go above and beyond when it comes to health & safety, and will stop production immediately if there’s an issue that needs to be resolved to protect her co-workers.

Annette embodies what a Steward and leader should be. She volunteers her own time to ensure every Member has a safe and healthy workplace to come to each day.

UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Member Linda SouliereLinda Souliere

Fundraising for the LLSC

Linda is a Member at Metro 181 in Sault Ste. Marie. She has been a Steward for 12 years and, in 2016, she became part of the Local 175 Executive Board.

Each year, Linda does an amazing job organizing and volunteering her time at a very successful Bake Sale just outside her workplace in the Market Mall to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC). She coordinates other Members and the community to take part in making and selling the baked goods, donating items for the Penny Table, and selling raffle tickets for great prizes.

The 2016 Bake Sale raised an amazing $9,500 to support the LLSC. Linda inspires a number of volunteers every year to help out for such a good cause, and it is an event that is well loved by the community.

UFCW Locals 175 & 633 - Member Cory FrancisCory Francis

Contributions to the Community

Cory has been a member at Zehrs Great Food in Stratford for 16 years. Over the past decade, Cory has spent his holidays in Cambodia as a volunteer. Through his seniority, Cory has accumulated five weeks of paid vacation and, combined with three weeks’ vacation leave of absence, he has been able to spend a good amount of time following
that passion.

Cory has pledged to donate his winnings to the Aogath Foundation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Aogath Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides education to impoverished children.

Cory Francis - Students at Aogath Foundation in Cambodia (Photo courtesy of Cory Francis)Every year, Cory collects and purchases school supplies, toiletries, and more to take to the Cambodian children. He also collects cash donations to help the foundation provide medical care when needed, and purchase vaccinations and other items. Cory also volunteers his time at the school to help the children learn the alphabet and lend a hand to the teachers.

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