Regional Vice-Presidents

Sarah Bjorknas

Sarah has been a member of CUPE Local 23 in Burnaby since 1993 and is a Vice-President representing Library workers. She is currently President of the CUPE Metropolitan Vancouver District Council. Sarah is a community activist who is passionate about equity, dignity, justice and peace.

Monica Brady

I live on the beautiful North West Coast of BC. I am President of Local 2052 and Diversity Vice-President for Northern Area District Council and have been involved with both for 20 years.  I also sit on the CUPE BC Persons with Disabilities Committee and have been involved with them for 18 years.  I enjoy supporting the members of my Local and working on issues that are important to us, such as Occupational Health & Safety and violence in the workplace. 

John Gibson

I am currently President of CUPE Local 454 representing over 1100 members in Delta BC and Regional Vice-President - Metro of CUPE BC. I have spent the past two decades defending the rights of CUPE members through my activism and continue to fight for the rights of all workers. I am honoured to serve on the Executive Board with such incredible leaders. Together we will effect positive change for all members.

Stephanie Goudie

Stephanie is a lifelong activist, and has been part of her Local Executive in Dawson Creek since 2014. She was a candidate for the BC NDP in 2017, and continues to work with the party as President of her Riding Association. She is passionate about progressive and human rights, and has served on the CUPE BC Political Action and Anti-Privatization committees. Stephanie is honoured to be serving her second term as Regional Vice-President for the North.

Rose Jurkic

I have been the President of CUPE 1123 Okanagan Regional Library Workers for over a decade. I have been the Chair of the CUPE BC Library Committee and Co-Chair of the CUPE National Library Committee.

Amber Leonard

Amber Leonard is a regional vice president of CUPE BC representing Vancouver Island. Elected in May 2015, Amber is a CUPE member in the Sooke School District. She has been an activist for many years, is currently the president of the Vancouver Island District Council and served as a Trustee with CUPE BC for two terms before being elected RVP.

Sara Manchester

Sara Manchester is an Alternate Regional Vice-President of CUPE BC representing the Fraser Valley. She was elected to this position in May of 2019; Sara is a CUPE member at the Township of Langley. She has been actively involved with her Local since 2016 and is currently the President of CUPE Local 403 and serves as a Trustee on the Fraser Valley District Council.

Kirk Mercer

Kirk Mercer was re-elected Vancouver Island Regional Vice-President, at CUPE BC's 57th Convention in 2021. He has been a proud CUPE member at the University of Victoria for 17 years. He currently serves as President for Local 951, and is also the Chair of the CUPE BC Skilled Trades Committee. Kirk previously held the positions of 1st Vice-President and Deputy Chief Steward for local 951 over years and has served as an experienced member of the Negotiations Committee from 2009 to present.  In his role he continues as chair of the South Vancouver Island United Way Labour committee and as member of the Board of Governors and looks forward to working with the other Unions.

Debra Merrier

Debra has worked for the Surrey School District #36 for 20 years as an Indigenous Youth Care Worker. She joined Local 728 in 2006 as a Shop Steward and continues to work in many areas of our Local. At the Present time, her role is 2^nd Vice-President and on the Constitution Bylaws/Education Committee.

Tony Rebelo

Tony is currently the President of Local 7000, which represents SkyTrain and Southern Rail workers.  He has been a Union advocate for the past 17 years holding different positions within his Local.  He currently sits on the CUPE BC Occupational Health & Safety and Transportation Committees and was appointed to the National Transportation Committee in early 2020.  He is also a Trustee for the Fraser Valley District Council.

As a Union Advocate, Tony is committed to improving working conditions for all workers.  He looks forward to working with other Union leaders within CUPE on continuing to make the Union stronger as we move forward.

Lois Rugg

I am President of CUPE Local 4879, Thompson Rivers University Support Staff Member of the University Standing Committee and bargaining Committee President of the Kamloops and District Labour Council. I am serving a 2-year term on the BC Fed Executive Council representing the Southern Interior Labour Councils and am the former Co-Chair of the CUPE National Post-Secondary Task Force.

Kari Scott-Whyte

Kari Scott-Whyte (she/her) is honoured to be serving in her first term as Regional Vice-President for the Metro region. Elected to the Executive of CUPE Local 391 in 2016, she is now in her second-term as President, representing 750 library workers in three public library systems from across the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw , Tsleil-Waututh, and shishalh Nations. Kari has served on the provincial Library Committee and is currently a Member-at-large with the Metro Vancouver District Council.