Regional Vice-Presidents

Sarah Bjorknas

Sarah has been a member of CUPE Local 23 in Burnaby since 1993 and represents library workers there as a Vice President. She is currently President of the CUPE Metropolitan Vancouver District Council. Sarah is a community activist who is passionate about literacy, justice, peace, dignity and equality.

Stephanie Goudie

Stephanie is a lifelong activist, and has been part of her Local Executive 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 politics and human rights, and is a member of the CUPE BC Political Action Committee. Stephanie is honoured to be serving her first term as Regional Vice President for the North.

Rose Jurkic

I have been the President of my local CUPE 1123 Okanagan Regional Library Workers  for over 12 years. I have served on the Bargaining, JJEC  Committees and organized some of our non-union branches during a contentious job action in 2012. At the Provincial level, I served on the Women’s and the Library Committee for CUPE BC, was the co-chair of the Library Committee this past term and chair of the Resolutions Committee for the past two years. I continue my work as a member facilitator. Prior to becoming involved with CUPE I was working in the non-profit field, first with the Multicultural sector in immigrant and refugee settlement, then working with parents and children with learning disabilities. 

Rolanda Lavallee

Rolanda is President of local 2145 and has worked for the School District in the Bulkley-Valley for 9 years. She has served on the Pink Triangle Committee for CUPE BC and is serving on the Provincial Job Evaluation Committee for K-12.  Rolanda is a passionate social justice activist that believes in accountability, transparency and equality.

Andrew Ledger

Andrew has served on the CUPE BC executive since 2017, first as an Alternate Regional Vice President and in 2019 was elected as a Regional Vice President for the Metro region.

As leader in CUPE, Andrew is committed to improve the working conditions of all CUPE members.

Andrew was elected to lead CUPE Local 1004 in 2014 and continues in that role today, as its President and Full-time Officer. CUPE 1004 is a dynamic local in Vancouver that represents over 3,500 members in 21 bargaining units, including the City of Vancouver Outside and Parks workers, Portland Hotel Society (PHS), Pacific National Exhibition, and EasyPark.

His experience in the Municipal, Social Services, and Health Care sectors means a strong voice for a broad range of CUPE members. Understanding the unique needs of CUPE’s sectors, and how to bring workers together across locals and sectors, is Andrew’s strong suit.

Andrew has proudly co-chaired the CUPE BC International Solidarity Committee since 2015 and is Trustee for CUPE Metro District Council.

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 56^th annual Convention in 2019. He has been a proud CUPE member at the University of Victoria for 15 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 1^st Vice-President and Deputy Chief Steward for many years and has served as an experienced member of the Negotiations Committee from 2009 to present.  In his role he has recently become chair of the Victoria United Way Labour committee and member of the Board of Governors and looks forward to working with the other Unions.

Carmen Sullivan

Carmen Sullivan was elected Alternate Regional Vice-President representing the Okanagan at the 56^th Annual CUPE BC Convention in 2019.  She is currently the President of CUPE Local 900, a composite local encompassing 13 units, 9 municipalities, a regional district, a golf course a wildlife park, and a water treatment centre.  Carmen has been an active member of CUPE working for the City of Kamloops for 26 years.  She is passionate about advocating for members and working together to support each other.

Janet Thorpe

Janet Thorpe has been a proud CUPE member for 25 years working as an Education Assistant in the Boundary School District. She is currently president of Local 2098 and president of the Kootenay Area K-12 Regional Presidents’ Council.