Vancouver—Thursday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m. CUPE members from across Canada and community guests will gather at Vancouver’s Hyatt Regency Hotel to consider the history, the present and the future of human rights in Canada.
“In the face of an increasing onslaught by our federal and many provincial governments, against economic and social programs and increasing moves to control citizens lives in Canada, this conference will act as a reminder that human rights should never be put on hold for any reason,” says Paul Moist, CUPE national president.
Guests including the respected Musqueam Elder, Larry Grant, who will open the conference; activist lawyers, Anita Braha and Kiké Roach, Adriana Paz, organizer with Justicia for Migrant Workers, academic, researcher and activist Sherene Razack, and social justice activist Itrath Syed will join CUPE leaders including National President Paul Moist, National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Généreux, Ontario Secretary-Treasurer Fred Hahn in workshops and panel discussions examining the many ways in which human rights intersects with all aspects of our working lives.
Inclusion will be the watchword of this conference as issues related to Aboriginal workers, workers with disabilities, workers of colour, and migrant workers are examined in both the Canadian and International context.
Popular theatre created especially for the conference will be one of the highpoints of the opening ceremony on Thursday night. Performances by a variety of groups including Jayne’s Gang, FootEdge Dance Company, Sara Kendall and Curtis Clearsky will be used throughout the conference, to enhance workshop discussions and participant engagement throughout the conference.
“We know that in the fight to defend human rights at home, we need to continue our international work,” says Claude Généreux. “This national conference will serve as a reminder that especially during times of national economic and social struggle our support for international workers rights must not waiver.”
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Information:
James Chai, CUPE Communications, 416.458.3983
Louise Leclair, CUPE Communications, 613.314.7199
English and French interviews can be arranged. Releases in Mandarin, Cantonese and Urdo are also available.