Candace Rennick, CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer

Candace Rennick has been fighting for better wages and working conditions for CUPE members her entire working life.

Elected our National Secretary-Treasurer in November 2021, Candace’s CUPE history began long before that, when she began working at a long-term care facility in Peterborough, Ontario at the age of 16, and swiftly got active in our union.

Candace was elected President of CUPE Local 2280 at just 22 years old and then went on to be elected Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Ontario, a role she held for
12 years. She has served on our National Executive Board for over 20 years, first as a Regional Vice-President for Ontario and, since 2021, as National Secretary-Treasurer. Candace has served on numerous national committees, represented CUPE internationally through Public Services International, and is a member of the Canadian Council of the CLC.

Since her election to the role of National Secretary-Treasurer, Candace has prioritized several issues, including childcare, staffing, employment equity, enhanced fightback resources, support for smaller regions, and safer union spaces. Candace understands the importance of work-life balance and spends much of her personal time as a proud hockey and baseball mom.

A prudent steward of the union’s finances, Candace is devoted to making sure our resources will always be in great shape so that CUPE members can campaign, organize, and win any battle we find ourselves in.