Nanaimo, Duncan, & District

Labour Council

P.O. Box 822 Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5N2
Ph:(250)760-0547 labour@telus.net

Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council

Good and Welfare

This page is where we put stories about union members and their families with in our area. Births, deaths, illnesses, grandchildren, marriages, etc can be placed on this page. Just contact our administrator, Bob Smits, at 250-753-0201 by phone or by email at labour@telus.net.

Youngest Attendee at Christmas Meeting

Here, shown with his proud mother, Lucy Oxman, at the Annual General Meeting is our youngest attendee, Theo Michael Oxman.

Theo with John Little

Always ready to discuss baby pictures, our Vice President, John Little, holds Theo Michael Oxman for a photo op.

Births

- Theo Michael Oxman

Theo Michael Oxman, born this summer to Unite! Here Local 40 member Lucy Oxman.

Deaths
- Bob Freer Steelworkers 1-1937

Sadly, we have to report the passing of Brother Bob Freer, Financial Secretary of Local 1-1937. Bob passed away February 12, at home and surrounded by his loving family.

Bob was part of the Internationa Woodworkers of America from a very young age, as he grew up listening to his father Ernie, and members like Syd Thompson, Ben Thompson and Bill Wilson talking Union politics, history and strategy, along with having a drink to ensure the discussions were animated.

Bob started working in the forest industry while still in high school, working cleanup at Rayoniers Marpole Sawmill on weekends, and logging during the summer breaks. After graduation, he began working full time in the logging industry.

Following in his father's footsteps, Bob was always involved in Union activities. In 1987 he became Warden of Local 1-71, and in September was hired as a Business Agent with Local 1-71 in the Queen Charlottes. He was a key figure in the merger of Local 1-71 and 1-217 to create Local 1-2171 in 1998. When Locals 1-2171, 1-80 and 1-363 merged he was the Financial Secretary, and held that position with 1-1937, the new local.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanette, two daughters, Rachel and Felicia, and a large extended family and many friends.

Deaths
Ernest F. Little Ernie F. Little

Earnest (Ernie) F. Little, well known local veteran and farmer died Sunday December 19 in Nanaimo. Mr Little flew in the RCAF during WWII as an artillery observer and met his wife, Eileen, in England in 1944.

Mr. Little, 89, is survived by a wide circle of friends, 9 children, including Brother John Little and Brother Phil Little, many adopted children, 16 grandchildren, numerous adopted grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.

A celebration of the life of Ernie Little was held December 30 in Nanaimo. In addition to family and friends, many members of the BC NDP, including current MLAs Doug Routley and Leonard Krog, and former MLA Dale Lovick attended.

Melsness Birth!

ada

Sarah Melsness, a COPE 15 delegate, reports she gave birth to Ada on Sept 6, 2009. Mother and daughter are doing well, and Ada can be seen at left!

We hope to see both of them at the Christmas Party.

Unite Here! Member in Tragic Auto Crash

Unite Here! Local 40 member Rosane (Rosie) Perreault, a housekeeper at the Coast Bastion and her husband Lyle Hall, a meatcutter at Thrifty Foods, were both killed when a southbound VIA Rail train smashed into their car at Dorman Rd in Nanaimo October 14. Their son, Andrew, 14 who was in the rear seat, is in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Vancouver. They are also survived by Shawn, 16 and another brother at college in the United States.

Members of Unite Here! Local 40 began their rally on Friday with a brief eulogy and a minute of silence by all attending. A private family memorial service for Perreault and Hall will be held on Oct. 24 in Nanaimo at Sands Funeral Chapel at 1:00 pm.