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Event opens Thursday with keynote speech by author David Chariandy

BURNABY—CUPE library workers from B.C. to Manitoba will converge on the Metrotown Hilton later this week for CUPE’s first-ever Western Library Workers Conference (October 2-4). The conference, which begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday with welcoming greetings, a keynote speech and social, is themed “Connecting Our Communities.”

Focusing on the key role that library workers play—both within and beyond the library environment—as an information and communications bridge to their communities, the event will feature plenary workshops on pay equity, libraries and the community, and technology and multigenerational workers and users. There will also be panel discussions on occupational health and safety and pay equity.

Thursday night’s keynote speaker is David Chariandy, a Simon Fraser University English professor whose debut novel, Soucouyant (Arsenal/Pulp Press) won ForeWord magazine’s gold award for independently published literary fiction and has been shortlisted for several regional, national and international prizes.

On Saturday, a lunch hosted by CUPE BC, CUPE Alberta and CUPE 402 (Surrey Public Library) will feature an address, “Canwest – Media bully: Is free speech worth fighting for?”, by Mordecai Briemberg of the Seriously Free Speech Committee.

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Contact

: Dan Gawthrop, CUPE Communications: 604-291-1940