1984 - Dianne McDonald was appointed President of the union four months after the founding convention. She was elected to a second term as President and, ended up assuming the position of treasurer for that term as well. Prior to joining Council, Dianne held positions as steward, senior steward and President of the Local at Woodlands. Coming into the position of President just four months after the founding convention, Dianne was involved in getting the union established. Major accomplishments during her term were the union's purchase of a half-share of the office building, the separation of the union's finances from those of the association, and obtaining first certifications in log-term care facilities. Dianne, although today she holds a senior management position, remains supportive of the union and RPNs. She is today, Mrs Dianne Wenham.

Representatives of the Greater Vancouver Mental Health Services and URPNBC place the final signatures on their 5th agreement on August 28, 1984.

1984 - Vic Walker, President of Local 105 (Community) was also Chair of the union's Grievance Review Committee and URPNBC's representative on the Public Sector Committee of Operation Solidarity.

As Usual there were mixed feelings about some of the resolutions delegates considered at URPNBC Convention at the Sheraton Villa in Burnaby in 1984. Delegates can be seen casting votes at right.

URPNBC Council members and Dwight Wenham, Director of labour relations, look a a variey of design ideas before selecting the union's new logo which was first introduced in early 1986.

Sept.17, 1987 Council Meeting. Left to right are Dwight Wenham, Jim Boyd, Darlene Doiron, Bev Stewart, Kathy Nelson, Charles Southwell, Leona Poworoznyk, Maggie Singh, Rita LaChance, Lola Backeland, Terry Riley, Jan Terepocki, John Ryan, Shaikh Ibraheem, and Val Andee. Andy McColl was absent when the photo was taken.

It's Ours

The Union of Psychiatric Nurses has paid off the mortgage on the Union's building in Coquitlam and President, Jim Boyd is shown above cutting up the mortgage.

In a mortgage cutting ceremony following the UPN Council Meeting on September 8th, President Jim Boyd congratulated the members of the Union of Psychiatric Nurses and thanked everyone involved in making it possible for the Union to pay for its own building. Mr. Boyd expressed special thanks to Dwight Wenham, the Director of Labour Relations, and Executives and Councils of the Union, past and present, for their foresight and involvement.

The President closed his remarks by saying: "The security of having a mortgage-free building will help keep us independent as a union of psychiatric nurses for as long as humanly possible."

Delegates to the 1989 Convention in Whistler engage in lively discussion during the education day workshop on privatization by Patrice Pratt and Jack Campbell of the BCGEU.

Representatives of UPN and BCNU met in the summer of 1989 for a wage an policy conference. Shown (left) is part of the UPN delegation and (right) Dwight Wenham, Director of Labour Relations.

Members of the BC Government Nurses Negotiating Committee meet to finalize proposals in September, 1989.

UPN Equity Review Committee members take a "photo break" during a training session at BCGEU Headquarters in Burnaby in 1994. They were learning the fine art of "gender neutral" evaluations. Left to right are, Glen Haugo, Woodlands School, Gerry Nelson Forensic Psychiatric Services, Linda Logan (Moyneur) Local 105 Inpatient Facilities, Colette Martin, Riverview Hospital, Sue McHallum Riverview Hospital Geriatric Program (recently deceased) and Sandra Pughe representing Community Mental Health Centres.

UPN President Stew Johnson and Director of Labour Relations, Dwight Wenham ponder their next move during a presentation to the Dorsey Commission in 1995.

Commissioner Jim Dorsey listens intently to the UPN submission. Later, he was to recommend the elimination of the Union of Psychiatric Nurses and our members were to go the HSA in the Health Sector and BCNU in the Public Service. UPN appealed the decision and won back it's certifications and members.

UPN members protest poor living and working conditions at Riverview Hospital. When RVH management and Ministry officials failed to respond appropriately UPN members took their fight to the streets. (literally) Here they can be seen marching in front of Health Minister Mike Farnworth's constituency office on Shaughnessy Street in Port Coquitlam in 1999. Two years later, although improvements have been made, the fight with RVH management continues. UPN members were also supporting BC Ambulance workers who were on strike at the time which is why an ambulance can be seen in the background.

UPN Vice-president Steve Kenneth (left) is seen being congratulated by Nora Coté of the Canadian Labour College, after successfully completing the the College's Residential Labour Education Program in 2000. Steve was the first UPN member to attend the residential program. Nice going Steve!

UPN Office Manager Louise Gibson (left) and her able assistant Darlene Fenske keeping the UPN Executive on track as usual.