David Climenhaga joined AUPE as Communications Director in December 2000. He is responsible for AUPE's member communications publications such as Direct Impact, the annual report, the Owner's Manual for new members, and for external communications, including media relations and the preparation of published materials for organizing drives. He is also responsible for the design and day-to-day operation of the AUPE Web site.

Climenhaga came to AUPE after the eight-month strike at the Calgary Herald, where he had been working as Night City Editor when the strike began, as well as serving as vice-president of Local 115A of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada. During the strike he was the Webmaster of the union's Web site. He has been a member of several other unions over the years, including the British Columbia Government Employees Union, CUPE and The Newspaper Guild.

Before joining AUPE, Climenhaga also taught journalism courses at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary. He has worked in senior editing and reporting positions at the Calgary Herald and the Toronto Globe and Mail and written for many other newspapers and magazines.

1-800-232-7284, press 1
780-930-3311 (office direct)
780-717-2943 (cellular phone)
d.climenhaga@aupe.org