2
Table of Contents
1. Guide to Securing a Guest Speaker ................................................................................ 3
2. Tips for Organizing an Effective Meeting ....................................................................... 4
3. List of Individual Speakers .............................................................................................. 5
4. List of Organizations ..................................................................................................... 19
3
1. GUIDE TO SECURING A GUEST SPEAKER
Your objective in securing a guest speaker should be to hold a meeting in which your members learn something of value (that is, your
members should be exposed to information that enables them to be more effective trade unionists and/or more engaged citizens) .
With that in mind, you will want to invite a speaker who can discuss a topic that is relevant a nd timely to the work of your local union.
In your initial request, inform the speaker about your local. Who are you, personally? What is your local about? Who is likel y to be in
attendance that night? What would you like them to speak about? And so on. The more information you give to the potential speaker,
the easier it will be for them to decide if they are a good fit to speak to your local.
You may need to be flexible about two things: the topic being discussed and the timing of the event. A guest speaker may not be able to
discuss the exact topic area, and their timeline may not be a perfect fit with yours.
Try to avoid duplicating the efforts of other local unions in the area. It may make sense to reach out to locals in the region to ask if they
have any interest in jointly organizing a guest speaker or even to check if they have previously invited the guest speaker yo u have in mind.
If your guest speaker is unable to attend, you could ask her to recommend a replacement speaker. Chances are she will know somebody
who could speak to your local union.
Plan your event well in advance of the meeting date. It may take time, ranging from the weeks to the months, to secure a guest speaker.
It is good etiquette to offer an 'honorarium' to the guest speaker. This can be a cash payment of some kind or a donation to a charity of
the speaker's choice.
The tables in sections #3 and #4 contain the names and contact information of relevant speakers and organizations, broken down by
geographic region. This can be your starting point in securing a speaker.
4
2. TIPS FOR ORGANIZING AN EFFECTIVE MEETING
Advertise the meeting well in advance of the actual meeting date, and advertise it often. People often need multiple reminders about an
event before they commit their attendance. The last thing you want is to secure a speaker and have no one show up for your me eting.
Do not make the meeting too long. People have likely worked a full day and have their families/lives waiting for them at the end of the
meeting. The same is true of your guest speaker.
As the duration of the meeting increases, the attention span of the participants will decrease and their desire to go home will intensify.
Do not make the speaker compete with your members going home. If the guest speaker will be just one part of a wider meeting, be sure
to offer to put the speaker near the front-end of the schedule.
Make sure you communicate all the relevant information to the speaker, including the location of your meeting hall (and parking
situation, if relevant) and inquire about their audio-visual needs. Some speakers may wish to do a PowerPoint presentation or use some
sort of technology. Be sure to have that sorted out in advance. You don't want to have to deal with a technical difficulty two minutes
before your meeting starts!
Ask for a brief biography of the speaker so that you can properly introduce them to your local union.
Be sure to thank the speaker for their remarks. Give them time to leave if the meeting will continue, or adjourn the meeting in a timely
fashion.
5
INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS
BRITISH COLUMBIA
NORTH COAST
Bert Mercer, English
Economic Development Manager, Nisga'a Lisims Government
http://www.nisgaanation.ca/contact-1
NORTHERN BC
Peter Ewart, English
Stand up for the North Committee
www.facebook.com/StandUpForTheNorth
VANCOUVER
Adrienne Smith, English and French
Lawyer, Trans activism, and union activism
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennessmith/?ppe=1
Iglika Ivanova, English
Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-British Columbia
Seth Klein, English
Director, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-British Columbia Office
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/bc
VICTORIA
Caitlyn Vernon, English
Campaigns Director, Sierra Club-British Columbia
www.sierraclub.bc.ca
6
ALBERTA
CALGARY
Leigh Golden, English
Director, Workers Resource Centre
www.helpwrc.org
Nick Falvo, English
Director, Research and Data, Calgary Homeless Foundation
http://calgaryhomeless.com
EDMONTON
Ricardo Acuna, English
Executive Director, Parkland Institute
www.parklandinstitute.ca
FORT MCMURRAY
Cecilia Mutch, English
Executive Director, United Way
www.fmunitedway.com
SASKATCHEWAN
REGINA
Simon Enoch, English
Director, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Saskatchewan
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/saskatchewan
SASKATOON
Max Fineday, English
Co-Executive Director, Canadian Roots Exchange
www.canadianroots.ca
MANITOBA
WINNIPEG
Molly McCracken, English
Director, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Manitoba
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/manitoba
7
ONTARIO
BARRIE
Dale Biddell, English
Chief Executive Officer, United Way-Centraide
www.unitedwaygsc.ca
BRANTFORD
Sherry Haines, English
Executive Director, Brant United Way
www.brantunitedway.org/about
HAMILTON
Brendan Sweeny, English
Professor, McMaster Labour Studies
https://aprc.mcmaster.ca/people/brendan-sweeney
Deirdre Pike, English
Senior Social Planner, Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton
www.sprc.hamilton.on.ca
Rick Monture, English
Professor, McMaster Indigenous Studies
www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~english/Faculty/monture.html
Tom Cooper, English
Director
Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction
http://hamiltonpoverty.ca
Wayne Lewchuk, English
Professor, Global Labour Issues, McMaster University
https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/people/lewchuk-wayne
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KINGSTON
Robert Hickey, English
Associate Professor, Industrial Relations, Queen's University
http://mir.queensu.ca/index.cfm/students-faculty/faculty/robert-hickey/
KITCHENER-CAMBRIDGE-WATERLOO
Kim Decker, English
Executive Director, YWCA Cambridge
http://ywcacambridge.ca
Trudy Beaulne, English
Executive Director, Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
www.waterlooregion.org
LONDON
Roberta Cory, English
Local Chapter Leader, Council of Canadians
www.londoncouncilofcanadians.ca
OSHAWA
Scott Aquanno, English
Professor, Faculty of Social Science, University of Ontario Institute of
Technology
www.uoit.ca
OTTAWA-GATINEAU
Andrew Jackson, English
Senior Policy Advisor, Broadbent Institute
www.broadbentinstitute.ca
Angella MacEwen, English
Economist, Canadian Labour Congress
http://canadianlabour.ca
Cindy Blackstock, English
Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
https://fncaringsociety.com/user/76/contact
https://fncaringsociety.com
Stephen Gowans , English
Political Commentator/Author, Independent
https://gowans.wordpress.com
9
Stuart Trew, English
Editor, The Monitor, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
www.policyalternatives.ca
PETERBOROUGH
Brenda Dales, English
Executive Director, Peterborough Social Planning Council
www.ccsd.ca/index.php/social-planning-councils/item/peterborough-social-
planning-council
Bryan D. Palmer, English
Professor, History Department, Trent University
www.trentu.ca/history/publications_palmer.php
ST. CATHARINES-NIAGARA
Simon Black, English
Assistant Professor, Labour Studies, Brock University
https://brocku.ca/social-sciences/departments-and-centres/labour-
studies/faculty-members#sblack
SUDBURY
Kaili Beck, English and French
Master Lecturer, Labour Studies, Laurentian University
https://laurentian.ca/faculty/kbeck
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THUNDER BAY
Bonnie Krysowaty, English
Social Researcher & Planner, Lakehead Social Planning Council
807-624-1725
www.lspc.ca
TORONTO
Alan Sears, English
Professor, Ryerson University
www.ryerson.ca/sociology/about-us/faculty/department-chair/searsa
Alex Himelfarb, English
Author, Independent
https://afhimelfarb.wordpress.com/alex
Armine Yalnizyan, English
Economist, Independent, President Canadian Association of Business
Economists
Chris Ramsaroop, English
Director, Justice for Migrant Workers
www.justicia4migrantworkers.org
Craig Heron, English
Professor, York University
http://people.laps.yorku.ca/people.nsf/researcherprofile?readform&shortna
me=cheron
Danielle Martin, English and French
Physician-Activist, Canadian Doctors for Medicare
http://ihpme.utoronto.ca/faculty/danielle-martin
Deena Ladd, English
Founder/Coordinator, Workers Action Centre/Fight for $15 and Fairness
www.workersactioncentre.org
Fay Faraday, English
Lawyer/ Equal Pay Coalition Co-Chair, Equal Pay Coalition
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fay-faraday-58409813/
Grace-Edward Galabuzi, English
Professor, Ryerson University
www.ryerson.ca/politics/about-us/personnel/faculty/galabuzi-grace-edward
John Shields, English
Professor, Ryerson University
www.ryerson.ca/politics/about-us/personnel/faculty/shields-john
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JP Hornick, English
Professor, George Brown Labour Studies
www.georgebrown.ca/school_of_labour/staff_profiles.aspx
Judy Rebick, English
Author, political commentator, past president of NAC, Independent
www.nsb.com/speakers/judy-rebick
Lesley Wood, English
Professor, York University
http://people.laps.yorku.ca/people.nsf/researcherprofile?readform&shortna
me=ljwood
Maude Barlow, English
Chairperson, Council of Canadians
https://canadians.org/maude
Natalie Mehra, English
Director, Ontario Health Care Coalition
www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca
Pam Frache, English
Researcher/ Activist, Workers Action Centre/OFL
www.workersactioncentre.org
Myer Siemiatycki, English
Professor, Ryerson University
www.ryerson.ca/politics/about-us/personnel/faculty/siemiatycki-myer
Sally Miller, English
Author/Food Activist, Independent
www.sallyemiller.com
Sheila Block, English
Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Ontario Office
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/ontario
Trish Hennessey, English
Economist, CCPA Ontario
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/ontario
Viktoria Belle, English
Child care advocate, feminist, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care
416-538-0628
www.childcareontario.org
Winnie Ng , English
Academic, equity advocate, Formerly Ryerson University,
Good Jobs for All Coalition
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WINDSOR
Adam Vasey, English
Director of Advocacy and Outreach, The Downtown Mission of Windsor
www.downtownmission.com
Chris Huxley, English
Professor, Labour Studies/Political Science
www.trentu.ca/ids/faculty-research/dr-christopher-huxley
Kelly Stack, English
Executive Director, Essex Community Services
http://essexcs.on.ca
13
QUÉBEC
MONTRÉAL
Eve-Lyne Couturier
Analyst, Institut de recherche et d'informations socioéconomiques
http://iris-recherche.qc.ca
QUÉBEC CITY
Jacques Beaudet
Directeur général, CDÉC de Québec
http://cdecdequebec.qc.ca
Nora Loreto
Author, journalist, activist, Canadian Association of Labour Media
https://noraloreto.ca/about
SAGUENAY
Martin St-Pierre
Directeur général, Centraide-Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
www.centraidesaglac.ca
NEW BRUNSWICK
MONCTON
Barbara Quigley, English
Local Chapter Leader, Council of Canadians
https://canadians.org/chapters
Johanne Perron, English
Executive Director, New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity
www.equite-equity.com
14
SAINT JOHN
Randy Hatfield, English
Executive Director, Human Development Council-New Brunswick
http://sjhdc.ca
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Mark Greenan, English
Campaign Manager, PEI Coalition for Proportional Representation
https://peipr.ca
NOVA SCOTIA
CAPE BRETON ISLAND
Johanna Padelt, English
Local Chapter Leader, Council of Canadians
www.canadians.org/chapters
HALIFAX AND MAINLAND
Christine Saulnier, English
Director, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Nova Scotia
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/nova-scotia
Pam Glode-Desrochers, English
Executive Director, Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre
902-420-1576 Ext: 238, [email protected]
www.mymnfc.com
Lindell Smith, English
Councilor, Halifax City Council
http://lindellsmithhfx.ca/about-lindell/
Marion Moore, English
Local Chapter Leader, South Shore Nova Scotia, Council of Canadians
www.facebook.com/SouthShoreCouncilofCanadians
15
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
ST. JOHN’S AND AREA
Dan Meades, English
Transition House Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
www.thanl.org
Heather Jarvis, English
Feminist Activist, Co-Founder of 'Slut Walk'
www.nsb.com/speakers/heather-jarvis
Jenny Wright, English
Executive Director, St. John's Status of Women Council,
https://sjwomenscentre.ca
Remzi Cej, English, French, Spanish, Albanian, Serbian, and Turkish
Director, Human Rights Activist
Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism, Government of Newfoundland
and Labrador
https://about.me/remzicej
16
UNITED STATES
Bill Fletcher Jr, English
Co-founder for the Centre for Labour Renewal-Former Education Director
AFL-CIO, Author
http://billfletcherjr.com/email
http://billfletcherjr.com/blog
Available via Skype
Kendall Fells, English
National Coordinator, Fight for $15 National Campaign/SEIU
http://fightfor15.org
Available via Skype
17
LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS
NATIONAL
National Speakers Bureau, English and French
1.800.360.1073
www.nsb.com
Expert Women
http://expertwomen.ca/browse-experts
United Way (find your local chapter)
www.unitedway.ca
www.unitedway.ca/how-we-help/find-your-uwc
The Council of Canadians (find your local chapter)
https://canadians.org/chapters
https://canadians.org
OTHERS TO TRY
Your Local Community Development Agency
Your Local Food Bank
Your Local University/College Professors
BRITISH COLUMBIA
NORTH COAST
Council of Canadians, English
https://canadians.org
NORTHERN BC
United Way, English
250-561-1040
www.unitedwaynbc.ca
18
VANCOUVER
Broadbent Institute, English
http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-BC, English
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/bc
Pembina Institute, English
604-874-8558
www.pembina.org
VICTORIA
United Way, English
250-385-6708
www.uwgv.ca
Together Against Poverty Society, English
250-361-3521
www.tapsbc.ca
ALBERTA
CALGARY
Pembina Institute, English
403-269-3344
www.pembina.org
United Way – Calgary, English and Mandarin
www.calgaryunitedway.org
EDMONTON
Alberta Federation of Labour, English
www.afl.org
Parkland Institute, English
www.parklandinstitute.ca
Pembina Institute, English
780-229-3154
www.pembina.org
19
FORT MCMURRAY
United Way – Fort McMurray, English
www.fmunitedway.com
SASKATCHEWAN
REGINA
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Saskatchewan, English
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, English
www.sfl.sk.ca/about-us/contact-us
www.sfl.sk.ca
SASKATOON
Upstream Canada, English and French
www.thinkupstream.net
MANITOBA
WINNIPEG
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Manitoba, English
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/manitoba
Manitoba Federation of Labour, English
www.mfl.ca/contact.html
www.mfl.ca
20
ONTARIO
BARRIE
United Way, English
705-726-2301
www.unitedwaygsc.ca
Barrie Pride, English
www.barriepride.com
BRANTFORD
United Way Brant, English
519-752-7848
www.brantunitedway.org
GUELPH
United Way Guelph, English
519-821-0571
www.unitedwayguelph.com
HAMILTON
Hamilton Social Planning and Research Council, English
www.sprc.hamilton.on.ca
KINGSTON
United Way-Kingston, English
613-542-2674
www.unitedwaykfla.ca
KITCHENER-CAMBRIDGE-WATERLOO
Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, English
www.waterlooregion.org
YWCA Cambridge, English
519-267-6444
http://ywcacambridge.ca
Social Planning Council Cambridge and North Dumfries, English
www.spccnd.org
House of Friendship, English
www.houseoffriendship.org
21
Niagara Poverty Reduction Network, English [email protected] www.wipeoutpoverty.ca
LONDON
London Poverty Research Centre, English
http://povertyresearch.ca/connect
http://povertyresearch.ca
OSHAWA
Durham Workforce Authority, English
www.durhamworkforceauthority.ca
Community Development Council Durham, English and French
www.cdcd.org
OTTAWA-GATINEAU
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-National Office, English
www.policyalternatives.ca/contact
https://www.policyalternatives.ca
Broadbent Institute, English
613-688-2071
www.broadbentinstitute.ca
Caledon Institute of Social Policy, English
www.caledoninst.org
PETERBOROUGH
Workforce Development Board, English
www.wdb.ca
Peterborough Workers Action Centre, English
[email protected] or 705-743-5915
www.facebook.com/PeterboroughWorkersActionCentre
22
ST. CATHARINES-NIAGARA
United Way St. Catharines, English and French
905-688-5050
www.unitedwaysc.ca
SUDBURY
Council of Canadians – Sudbury Chapter, English
www.facebook.com/groups/1482146302051411
TORONTO
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Ontario, English
www.policyalternatives.ca/ontario
Equal Pay Coalition, English
http://equalpaycoalition.org/contact
http://equalpaycoalition.org
North York Harvest Food Bank, English
https://northyorkharvest.com
Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, English
416-538-0628
www.childcareontario.org
Ontario Federation of Labour, English
http://ofl.ca
Parkdale Community Legal Services, English
416-531-2411
www.parkdalelegal.org
Toronto Social Planning Council, English
www.socialplanningtoronto.org
Wellesley Institute, English
www.wellesleyinstitute.com
Workers Action Centre/Fight for $15 and Fairness, English
416-531-0778
www.workersactioncentre.org
Workers Health and Safety Centre, English
416-441-1939
www.whsc.on.ca
23
THUNDER BAY
Thunder Bay Social Planning Council, English
www.lspc.ca
WINDSOR
United Way, English
www.weareunited.com
QUÉBEC
MONTRÉAL
Council of Canadians-Montreal Chapter, French
www.facebook.com/councilofcanadiansmontreal
Centre de travailleurs et travailleuses immigrantes / Immigrant Workers
Centre, French
514-342-2111
http://iwc-cti.ca
Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), French
514-383-8000
http://ftq.qc.ca
Institut de recherche et d'informations socioéconomique, French
http://iris-recherche.qc.ca
QUÉBEC CITY
Centraide Québec et Chaudière-Appalaches, French
418-660-2100
www.centraide-quebec.com
SAGUENAY
Centraide Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, French
418-543-3131
www.centraidesaglac.ca
TROIS-RIVIÈRES
Centraide Mauricie, French
819-374-6207
www.centraidemauricie.ca
24
NEW BRUNSWICK
MONCTON
Council of Canadians-Moncton Chapter, English
www.facebook.com/CouncilOfCanadiansMonctonChapter
New Brunswick Federation of Labour, English and French
http://fednb.ca
SAINT JOHN
United Way-Saint John, English and French
506-658-1212
www.unitedwaysaintjohn.com
Human Development Council, English (506) 634-1673 www.sjhdc.ca/
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Women's Network PEI, English and French
902-368-5040
www.wnpei.org
PEI Federation of Labour, English
www.facebook.com/PEI-Federation-of-Labour-237097756656667
25
NOVA SCOTIA
CAPE BRETON ISLAND
United Way-Cape Breton, English
902-562-5226
www.unitedwaycapebreton.com
HALIFAX AND MAINLAND NS
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Nova Scotia, English
(902) 240-0926
www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/nova-scotia
Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, English
902-454-6735
http://nslabour.ca
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
United Way-N&L, English
709-753-8288
www.nl.unitedway.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, English
www.nlfl.nf.ca