Welcome to Convention 2025!

Getting Started on Day One

From the moment the Honour Guard marched in, it was clear that HSAA Convention 2025 was going to be something special.

United by our theme, “Unbreakable: Unleash Your Power, Build Our Future”, more than 600 health professionals from across Alberta gathered to celebrate our solidarity and chart a bold path forward. Day One was a reminder that our Union belongs to all of us.

President’s Address: Mike Parker

HSAA President Mike Parker set the tone with a passionate address that called on members to meet the moment.

Mike celebrated the growth of HSAA, the strength of our members, and the power of solidarity as we face challenges in bargaining and health care restructuring. His message was clear: we are unbreakable when we stand together.

Guest Speakers Bring National and Provincial Solidarity

HSAA was honoured to welcome a powerhouse lineup of guest speakers who reminded us that our Union is part of something bigger. 

National Union of Public and General Employees President Bert Blundon, Canadian Labour Congress VP Siobhán Vipond, Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan and Secretary Treasurer Cori Longo, and Parkland Institute’s Executive Director Ricardo Acuña each delivered energizing messages about building a stronger future for working people.

Welcome Christine deMontigny, HSAA’s New Executive Director

We were thrilled to officially welcome Christine deMontigny as HSAA’s new Executive Director. In her first address to Convention, Christine reflected on the important work of health-care professionals and her excitement to help lead HSAA through a time of change.

Celebrating Excellence: HSAA Awards

One of the most moving moments of the day was our Member Awards ceremony, where we honoured outstanding individuals for their commitment to union values, workplace safety, local leadership, and advocacy.

• Kim Wispinski received the Advocacy Award for her tireless mentoring and organizing in Westlock.
• Michelle Padilla was recognized with the Workplace Health, Safety & Wellness Award for her work at Edmonton Labs.
• Ella Lunn earned the Women’s Empowerment Award for being a passionate voice for women in our union.
• And the Local Unit Champion Award went to Rhonda Kew, a trusted and dedicated leader from Spruce Grove.

Congratulations to all our winners! Your work uplifts all of us.

Keynote: Tina Varughese on Inclusive Workplaces

Renowned professional speaker Tina Varughese brought both laughter and learning to the Convention floor with a keynote that explored inclusion, workplace engagement, and the power of compassionate curiosity. Her engaging style and practical insights left delegates energized and inspired to create workplaces where everyone can thrive.

A Strong Start: Closing Day One

As Day One came to a close, delegates reflected on policy debates, our powerful speakers, and celebrated each other’s accomplishments. With our rally on deck for tomorrow, it’s clear that Convention 2025 is just getting started!

Solidarity Through Day Two

Delegates hit the ground running on Day Two of Convention 2025 with energy, purpose, and a healthy dose of action (and humour) captured on our rally signs! 

Vice President’s Address: Leanne Alfaro

Vice President Leanne Alfaro delivered a powerful address on what it truly means to lead in solidarity. 

“What Kind of Power? Union Power!”

Delegates poured out of the Convention Centre and into the streets of Edmonton for a powerful rally that showed HSAA’s strength. Marching down Jasper Avenue to Boyle Street Park, we sent a clear message: there is NO health care without HSAA members.

HSAA was joined by members and leaders from across the labour movement, including the Alberta Federation of Labour, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the United Nurses of Alberta, and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

Women in HSAA Leadership Panel

After lunch, a highlight of Convention was the inspiring panel on Women in HSAA Leadership showcasing the experiences and wisdom of Alex Boyco and Treena Ward, two members who were instrumental in HSAA’s Women’s Working Group, and two incredible local leaders within HSAA, Andie Kidd and Cassie Schattle.

They shared stories of perseverance and empowerment through challenges like imposter syndrome and finding work-life balance. The framework coming forward from the Women’s Working Group was announced and will include new educational opportunities as well as a new “femtorship” program where women mentors support and empower other women.

Resolution Highlights

Delegates debated and passed important resolutions to set priorities for the year ahead, advocate for better health services, and update union policies. Some of these include:

• Keep the Alberta Health Services, Bethany Nursing Home of Camrose and Lamont Health Centre bargaining unit together for the purpose of collective bargaining with all newly formed provincial health agencies.
• Work with partner Unions and allies to pressure the Government of Alberta to provide stable funding for health care, home care, addictions care, elder care, child care, social services, and supports for persons with disabilities.
• Ensure HSAA advocates to end the unequal gender distribution of paid and unpaid care, advocates for fair compensation and decent working conditions for care workers, educated workers, public and governments on the value of care to the well-being of women, families, communities and the economy, and continues to raise the profile of care workers, the work they do, and the conditions they face.
• Call on the Government of Alberta to significantly increase funding for retention programs, including creating an immediate emergency fund.
• Ensure HSAA demands enhanced mental health and safety support legislation for all health-care workers in Alberta.
• Ensure HSAA calls on the Alberta Federation of Labour to work with the Canadian Labour Congress and provincial and national affiliated Unions to:
  • Advocate for a Pan-Canadian Health Human Resources Strategy to address workforce shortages in the public health-care system.
  • Call for the creation of a Public Agency for Mobile Health Workers Staffing to regulate and stabilize the public health-care sector.
  • Advocate for the inclusion of Alberta Unions and health agencies in striking a Public Health Care Sectoral Table tasked with coordinating the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resources Strategy.
• Lobby all levels of government to increase funding for women’s health programs and research, as well as work with other Labour Unions and partner groups to produce sample contract language and/or policy language that would allow women to take time off without stigma or financial penalty for issues related to hormonal health such as menstrual pain and menopause.
• HSAA will continue to advocate for the Professional Regulation of Addictions Counsellors and protect against the deskilling of the profession by remaining an active voice to protect Albertans who access Addictions and Mental Health Services.

• HSAA will continue to fight the Government of Alberta's messaging around opioid deaths and their introduction of “compassionate” intervention legislation.
• HSAA will continue to advocate for safe consumption sites and harm reduction approaches—which are science/evidence-based practices—across Alberta.
• HSAA will continue to advocate that Addiction Care is Health Care, as well as:
  • Request the Alberta Federation of Labour promote Addictions care is Health Care, promote our campaign and that the AFL will advocate and work with all of its affiliates that Addictions Care is Health Care.
  • Call upon NUPGE to advocate that the Canadian Health Coalition include Addictions Care is Health Care in its next Federal Lobby Day.
• HSAA will continue to advocate for a universally accessible, publicly funded and delivered, not-for- profit, inclusive, and high-quality childcare system, as well as:
  • Work with allies to monitor the implementation of the early learning and childcare agreements in Canada and Alberta with particular attention to the need to expand public and not-for-profit childcare.
  • Continue working with provincial and national allies to advance our shared goals for a universal childcare system and call on all levels of Government to support it.
• HSAA will petition the Government of Canada to have home care included in Universal Health Care in Canada.
• HSAA will work with other Labour Unions and partner groups to produce sample contract language and/or policy language on workplace supports, training and safety policies for HSAA bargaining, as well as:
  • Advocate for the government to mandate intimate partner violence and domestic violence training in all workplaces in Alberta.
  • Encourage employers to coordinate training on intimate partner and domestic violence at work.
  • Lobby the provincial government to ensure that intimate partner violence and domestic violence leave is available to all Albertans for a minimum of 5 days.
  • Lobby governments to increase funding to community services, transitional housing and provide the affordable housing to those rebuilding their and their children’s lives after escaping intimate partner or domestic violence.
• HSAA will develop dedicated union training program specific to engaging young workers in their Union, as well as:
  • Explore ways to reduce barriers to young workers’ participation in our union and the labour movement.
  • Encourage locals to facilitate young worker participation in HSAA events.
  • Encourage Local Units to engage in succession planning with advice from their young workers and young members from a diverse range of backgrounds.
  • Support NUPGE to submit a resolution to the Canadian Labour Congress to raise the age limit for the Young Workers’ Advisory Committee to 35 and under.            

• HSAA will work to increase awareness of the damage that privatization does to public services; the financial cost, access and how privatizing health-care services impacts health-care workers, as well as:
  • Build on the approach taken to respond to the health human resources crisis by working with allies to develop public solutions to problems facing public services, particularly health care, and to lobby for their adoption by governments.
  • Support efforts to reduce the secrecy surrounding privatization including stronger access to information laws, stronger reporting requirements for corporations lobbying governments, and government requirements for corporations to report who really controls them in a publicly accessible registry.
• HSAA will lobby governments to take ambitious, meaningful action on the climate crisis, including reducing emissions and investing in adaptation highlighting the direct impacts the climate crisis has on our health-care system, as well as:
  • Emphasize the role of public services in mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects.
  • Use the social determinants of health to advocate for initiatives that promote the development of sustainable and equitable communities to reduce health inequalities and mitigate the impacts of climate change on the health-care system.
  • Continue to work with allies through the Alberta Health Professionals for the Environment, Climate Action Network Canada, the Green Economy Network, the Canadian Labour Congress to advocate for climate justice.
• Work with affiliate unions to develop and share collective agreement language that helps address potential abuses of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as lobby the provincial and federal government for restrictions on the use of AI in public services to protect human rights, privacy, and labour rights.
• Implement a direct deposit system for all member reimbursements. [Ed. Note: This has already been accomplished! Here: Direct Deposit Form]
• Restore the annual Local Unit funding for units with 10 or fewer members to a minimum of $750.
• Amend the Dell Taylor Memorial Education Fund to allow monies to be used for the payment of registration, examination, tuition fees and/or travel expenses exclusively.
• Advocate for portability of member entitlements during transfers across all newly formed provincial health agencies.
• HSAA release voting results to local unit memberships following a local unit election. Information shall include but not be limited to, total number of ballots casted and vote results for each candidate.
• HSAA will provide a secure communication platform for Stewards.
• Updates to the HSAA Constitution to reflect changes to Board composition and modernize Board nominations and elections.

Full details of resolutions debated at Convention 2025 are available here.

Supporting the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters

This year’s 50/50 fundraiser in support of the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters was a resounding success. Delegates showed up in a big way, helping raise a total of $6,000 with HSAA proudly contributing $1,000.

Every dollar supports critical shelter services and frontline workers doing vital, life-saving work across Alberta. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and helped us turn collective care into real-world impact.

Welcoming the 2025–2026 Board of Directors

Before the end of the day, Convention paused to welcome HSAA’s incoming Board of Directors for the 2025–2026 term. Outgoing board members Lisa Constantini and Jelili Mustapha were thanked for their leadership and service. New members Sondra Baker and Ella Lunn joined a team of returning Directors committed to advancing the priorities set by delegates.

Convention Closes: Stronger Than Ever

As Convention 2025 came to a close, delegates left with more than just gift baskets and fresh merch! They carried home new connections, fresh ideas, and the fire of collective action. From the first motion to the final remarks, HSAA members showed they are ready to unleash our power and build the future of our Union—TOGETHER.