Executive
President — Guy Smith
Guy Smith, a veteran union activist from Edmonton, was elected to his first term as president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees on Oct. 23, 2009.
Smith, 47, has 20 years of history as a union activist on his worksite. A member of AUPE Local 006, he is now on leave from his position as a Child and Youth Care Counsellor at the Yellowhead Youth Centre.
Smith has served in numerous union posts over his career, including eight years as an AUPE vice-president, and service as the Chapter Chair for Local 006 at the Yellowhead Youth Centre.
Throughout his years as an AUPE activist and leader, Smith has been committed to involving members in decision-making and action when needed. He believes that our struggles are only won through grass roots involvement and mobilization of the rank and file membership.
Smith has been successful in organizing against privatization and in defending the interests of AUPE members when it comes to negotiations, working conditions, and the preservation of public services.
Smith and his wife Sherry have two daughters.
P: (780) 930-3301
E: g.smith@aupe.org
Executive Secretary-Treasurer — Bill Dechant
Bill Dechant was re-elected to his third term as AUPE’s Executive Secretary-Treasurer during the union’s 2009 Annual Convention.
During his career, Bill worked for many years as a Power Plant Engineer for the Alberta government and was an active member of Local 004. In 1965, he joined the Civil Service Association of Alberta. In 1974, he assisted with the formation of Local 004. He served as Local 004’s Treasurer from 1974 until becoming AUPE Executive Secretary-Treasurer.
Bill was a member of Local 004’s Bargaining Committee for 30 years, and served on the General Service bargaining Committee for 15 years. In addition, he was a member of the Provincial Executive for six years before being elected Executive Secretary-Treasurer and was a member of the union’s Finance Committee for eight years.
In addition to his work with AUPE, Bill has been very active in the community, showing support for all workers in their time of need back to the Gainer’s strike in the 1970s. He has spent many years coaching baseball and basketball, and he has served on the executives of various organizations. Today, Bill spends his limited spare time helping friends and neighbours keep their houses in good repair and helping neighbourhood kids develop their reading skills.
Bill lives in St. Albert with his wife Germaine and has two adult children, Anthony and Kristianne.
P: 780-930-3300
E: b.dechant@aupe.org
Vice President — Sandra Azocar
Sandra Azocar was elected to the position of Vice-President on Oct. 26, 2007.
At the time of her election, Azocar held the position of Local Council Member and Union Steward for Local 006/014.
Local 006/014 represents members who work for the provincial government’s Children’s Services department, where Sandra is employed as a Social Worker with the Edmonton Crisis Unit.
Azocar commenced working for the Alberta government in 1987, at which time she became active in her union.
Sandra took on Strike Captain responsibilities during the social workers’ strike of 1990. She has also served as Chapter Chair for numerous terms, Chapter Secretary-Treasurer, Local Council member, Local Vice-Chair and most importantly she notes, as a Union Steward dating back to her first week of employment with the provincial government.
At a very early age, Azocar said she learned it was important to stand up and be heard, and to be involved in affecting positive social change, rather than sitting on the sidelines.
Apart from being actively involved in AUPE, Sandra has also been an active participant/member of various political, social, cultural and multicultural groups within the Chilean-Canadian Community, as well as the Edmonton community at large.
Vice President — Philipia Bates Renouf
Philipia Bates Renouf was first elected as a Vice President of AUPE in 2009. She has served as Chair of AUPE’s Local 001, the union’s largest local, and has many years of previous service as local vice-chair, chapter chair and local delegate. Philipia has also served as chair of the Edmonton Area Council, and has been a very active workplace steward and health and safety representative at the Edmonton Law Courts, where she has been employed as a judicial clerk for 25 years. Outside her union activities Philipia is married and has three very active sons. She has a lifelong commitment to fitness, and is a certified yoga instructor. Namaste.
Vice President — Jason Heistad
Jason Heistad was elected as Vice-President on Oct. 21, 2005, during the 29th annual AUPE convention.
At the time of his election, Heistad, a long-time activist in AUPE’s Education Sector, was serving as Chair of Local 071/002, which represents non-academic employees of Olds College, and was a member of the union’s Committee on Political Action. Heistad, 34, works as a Instructional Assistant at Olds College.
In addition to his many AUPE activities, Heistad was elected to a second term as a member of the Innisfail Town Council on Oct. 18, 2004. He is a member of the council’s committees on general government development services, transportation services and recreation, culture and education. He served as Innisfail’s Deputy Mayor in May, June and July of 2004 and 2005.
As well as his formal duties on the town’s council, Heistad is a member of the board of the Parkland Regional Library and the Innisfail Chamber of Commerce. He coaches minor soccer and is a team manager in the Innisfail Recreational Men’s Hockey League.
Jason was raised in a union family. His grandfather, Stan Horodyski, was an official of the Canadian Auto Workers union. His wife Sharla is a member of AUPE Local 003. Jason and Sharla have three daughters.
Vice President — Sandy Kyle
Sandy Kyle, a Vice-President since the October 2009 Annual Convention, is a Licensed Practical Nurse who works with adult brain-injured patients at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton. She has worked in health care for 36 years.
Kyle’s union activities began as a member of the Canadian Health Care Guild before that union merged with AUPE in 1999. Before becoming a Vice-President, she held numerous union positions at the chapter and local levels. These included: Chapter and Local Chair and Treasurer, Local Council Rep and Convention Delegate, Chapter Vice-Chair, Secretary and Chief Union Steward.
Kyle has also served on many worksite and AUPE committees over the years, including EMAC, Social committee, Nursing Practise Council, CPR Instructor and most recently the standing Finance Committee. She has served on the provincial Multi-facility Bargaining Committee for the past four rounds of bargaining and was a strike captain during the health sector job action in 2000.
In her personal life, Kyle enjoys being around her family, especially her son RJ and her five grandchildren, camping, and learning to play the guitar.
Vice President — Erez Raz
Erez Raz was elected to the position of Vice-President on Oct. 26, 2007, during the 31st annual AUPE convention.
At the time of his election, Raz held the position of Chapter Vice-Chair and Council Representative for Local 003, Chapter 008.
Chapter 008 represents members at the Edmonton Remand Center where Raz is employed as a Correctional Officer ll.
Raz was born in Israel and relocated to Canada in 1982, before returning to Israel in 1986. In 1989, he enrolled in the Israeli army where he would serve for the next three years. Upon completing his mandatory military commitment in Israel, Raz returned to Canada.
The 37-year-old correctional worker is married and he and his wife have one daughter.
Although not raised in a union family, Raz has since been immersed in union life, thanks in part to his wife’s family. His wife’s grandfather is a 40-year member of Local 488 of the Plumbers and Pipefitters, while his father-in-law spent 20 years as a member of Local 424 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Vice President — Glen Scott
Glen Scott was elected to his first term as AUPE Vice-President at the 2009 Annual Convention.
Glen has been an LPN since 1994. During the healthcare cutbacks of the 1990s, he worked as a nurse’s assistant for a few years due to a shortage of LPN opportunities, and was a member of both CUPE and CHCG. When he started with the Calgary Health Authority in 1997, he became a member of AUPE, and except for a 7 month position transfer that moved him back to CUPE prior to Bill 27, has been a very happy AUPE member ever since.
Glen has attended many Labour Schools and has held numerous positions within the Chapter and Local structures. He is a very active member in bargaining, and works hard with other members on the things that enhance working and living conditions for our members.
Glen lives in Calgary. He is married with two wonderful children, ages 11 and 14, and has two dogs. He enjoys hiking, photography, cycling, and other outdoor pursuits.