[img_assist|nid=1395|title=|desc=Marya Moffat (second from right) was proud to present Krista Levar (middle, holding plaque) with the Program Staff Leadership Award of Excellence for Police Victim Services of British Columbia conference. Moffat says, “Krista has gone above and beyond the call of duty on many occasions, and always lends a helping hand to others in need.

POWELL RIVER – More than 125 people enjoyed a free public skate Saturday hosted by CUPE. The event was sponsored by CUPE Locals 798, 476 and 873 (representing Powell River municipal, regional, library, school board workers and ambulance paramedics). Skaters had a chance to visit with Santa, have a hot chocolate and talk with local paramedics, CUPE representatives and a teachers’ association rep.

PRINCE GEORGE—CUPE municipal workers are to be congratulated as Prince George was recently awarded the prestigious Gold Canada Award of Excellence Quality Award from the National Quality Institute, based in Toronto. This award is a three-year certification and Prince George has achieved Level 4.

HOPE—Municipal workers have reached an agreement with the District of Hope and have a new contract, effective today. Members of CUPE 458 voted last night to accept the agreement and the District has also signed off on it.

The four-year contract includes 3% increases on January 1 of each year, some improvements to group life insurance, eye exam coverage and a boot allowance. The negotiating process was long, with some difficulties along the way.

VANCOUVER – CUPE delegates were among those on hand today to welcome Harry Nyce as the first aboriginal president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities. The 61-year-old Nisga'a activist and politician as sworn in this morning by delegates from 189 B.C. municipalities after being voted in unanimously. Nyce’s home - Gitwinksihlkw in the Nass Valley - recently became B.C.'s first aboriginal community to join the UBCM.

VANCOUVER—CUPE BC’s 14 delegates at the 2009 UBCM Annual Convention are talking with community leaders to highlight the work CUPE members do. The goal is to renew CUPE’s commitment to make B.C.’s communities stronger and more sustainable.

COQUITLAM—CUPE will address City Council tonight to counter a flawed proposal to contract out food services at the new Coquitlam Sports Centre.

A private consultant’s study claims the city could lose money if food and beverage services stay in house. But CUPE researcher Blair Redlin pointed out to the city’s recreation committee last week that those figures simply don’t add up. He also pointed out that the nine CUPE 386 civic employees currently providing the services weren’t even consulted. Managers simply informed the employees that their jobs would be contracted out.

DISTRICT OF HOPE—Members of CUPE 458, municipal workers have soundly rejected the District of Hope’s final offer in a vote this morning.

CUPE 458 president Louise Piper is calling on the District to come back to the table and negotiate a fair settlement. “We’re willing to negotiate through the weekend if that’s what it takes”, says Piper.

PORT MOODY—When the solid waste and recycling trucks roll out of Port Moody’s public works yard on Monday morning, CUPE members will be behind the wheel. The service was brought back in-house after being contracted out over ten years ago. Today the local celebrated with a pancake breakfast.

WHISTLER—Delegates to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference, a national meeting of municipal stakeholders that ended here yesterday, showed concern about the impact of trade deals on municipal governments and called for full consultation before any more trade talks are held.

A resolution on the issue, submitted by three B.C. municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities, passed easily at the FCM’s annual conference.