RICHMOND—CUPE human rights activists are gearing up for a big conference (“Human Rights – Making it Happen,” November 18-20) which opens next week at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond.
The conference will for the first time bring all four of CUPE BC’s equity-seeking groups—workers of colour, aboriginal workers, workers with disabilities and pink triangle workers—under one umbrella to tackle key equality and human rights issues facing workers today, both on the job and in society at large.
“There are so many important issues right now surrounding human rights, in our workplaces and beyond, that we’re expecting a very dynamic conference,” says Shehnaz Motani, CUPE BC’s Diversity vice-president (Workers of Colour). “From this, we hope to see delegates return to their locals and their district councils with a renewed sense of purpose in advancing equality issues.”
Although the conference will be well attended, an aboriginal gathering that was planned for the pre-registration period has been cancelled. The conference registration will begin at 3 p.m. on November 18, with the opening session beginning at 7 p.m. followed by a reception.
The keynote speaker will be BC Human Rights Coalition executive director Susan O’Donnell.
