For immediate release: Monday, March 8, 2004

EDMONTON — Today is International Women’s Day and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees has marked the occasion by honouring two committed union activists with the union’s third annual DOVE Award.

Shauna Warrilow, Chair of the AUPE Auxiliary Nursing Care Chapter at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton and Local 046 Council Representative, was one of the two 2004 winners, said AUPE Vice-President Lynne Gingras.

“Shauna has worked continuously and tirelessly for her colleagues on-site at the University of Alberta Hospital,” said Gingras, who is also chair of AUPE’s Women’s Committee. “She is available at all times to assist members and help them resolve their workplace issues, and she has spent weekends and made trips to Northern Alberta to work with her local’s members. The list goes on and on.”

Tracy Quinton, Vice Chair and Council Rep of Local 039 at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, “has been a pillar of strength for her colleagues,” Gingras said.

“As the Calgary post-secondary institution has tried to cut financial corners by cutting support staff, Tracy has not been afraid to take on anyone in defense of her members,” she added.

This year is the third in which AUPE has marked International Women’s Day by honouring female members who have made a major contribution to the betterment of women within the union, said AUPE President Dan MacLennan.

The AUPE award’s initials stand for Day of Validation and Equity.

This year is the first time the union has named two winners, MacLennan said. “The Women’s Committee felt the quality of nominees this year made it impossible to choose one winner.

“This award puts our appreciation of the huge contribution made by the women of AUPE in concrete form,” he said. “Without the strength and vitality of members like Shauna and Tracy, the achievements of the union movement could not have taken place.”

Last year’s award was presented to Mary Sillito, an AUPE activist from Calgary. The first DOVE Award went to Julie Cromarty, a long-time AUPE activist and organizer from Stony Plain.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-232-8392 (cellular phone)
Lynne Gingras, Vice President and Women’s Committee Chair, AUPE, 780-504-7933 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)