The History of the UFCW Local 832 Youth Committee

The UFCW Local 832 Youth Committee began in 2000. After the National Youth Conference was held in Winnipeg, Kim Ferris and Trish Malabar along with former staff representative Darcel Lecocq, began recruiting members to form a committee at the local level. Members began meeting on a monthly basis at the union office in Winnipeg. The committee developed and established themselves within the local over the next few years by getting involved in the local’s events, such as the family picnic. The youth committee in its early stages also worked on reaching out to other young members both within the local and the community. Every year a booth was set up at the Winnipeg Career Symposium, as well as the Red River Exhibition.

In 2003, Marie Buchan took over the youth Committee as the Staff Advisor. During the Western Regional Youth Conference in August 2003, then president of UFCW Local 832, Robert Ziegler, pledged to the youth committee of the local that he would set aside a budget for them. He also committed to address the local’s executive board and suggest that a youth position be created on the executive board. That motion was passed and for the last four years a youth member of the local has sat on the executive board.

In 2004, the youth committee, which now had approximately 17 members formed an “Executive Board” for the youth committee. A President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer and Recorder were all nominated and elected to these positions. This gave the committee a real sense of direction and the ability to delegate various tasks. It was after these elections that the committee’s activities increased dramatically.

In one year the committee held a Bud, Spud & Steak fundraiser for Leukemia, a Curling Bonspiel and a Volleyball tournament.

In May 2005, UFCW Local 832, held it’s first ever Youth Conference. 50 delegates from across the province gathered in Gimli, Manitoba for a very successful 3-day conference.

In the fall of 2005, the Youth Committee held their first committee meeting in Brandon, Manitoba to establish a satellite committee in the West. Plans for 2007 include another meeting in the West as well as a meeting for our members up North.

If you are interested in being apart of the UFCW Local 832 youth committee contact Kim Ferris at 786-5055 or email her at kim.ferris@ufcw832.com