Unity, growth, and revitalization were the central themes of this year's Ontario Federation of Labour Convention, which ran in Toronto from Novmember 23 to 27, and drew over 1,000 delegates from across the province.

As one of the larger caucuses, UFCW Canada played a key role in determining the fed's new leadership team, which will be led by OFL president-elect Sid Ryan, who was nominated by UFCW Canada Local 1000A Executive Vice President Pearl Sawyer. Sister Sawyer and the National Office's Bob Linton will continue to serve the union, and the provincial movement, as UFCW Canada's representatives on the OFL executive board.

In addition to shaping the fed's future, UFCW Canada was honoured at convention with two OFL awards for outstanding activism.

The OFL’s Youth Booster Award was presented to Debora De Angelis, a UFCW Canada national representative who was a founding member of the OFL Youth Committee in 1997. De Angelis received the award for her initiative, enthusiasm and “never-take-no-for-an-answer” attitude, said OFL executive vice-president Terry Downey. Prior to her current responsibilities in the UFCW Canada Training and Education Department, Sister De Angelis served the union as National Youth Coordinator, and was the OFL’s youth vice-president from 1997 to 2003.

UFCW Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) were also honoured by the OFL in the form of the prestigious Bob Borch Human Rights Award, which the OFL presents at each convention to organizations or individuals who display an extraordinary commitment to furthering the rights of workers in Ontario.

“The tireless efforts of UFCW Canada and the AWA on behalf of agriculture workers is the amazing and untold story of the Ontario labour movement,” said OFL President Wayne Samuelson in presenting the Borch Award to Wayne Hanley, who serves both organizations as national president, on the third day of the provincial labour federation’s 2009 convention. 

“This is a group of workers that play a fundamental role in our lives as food producers and most Ontarians don’t even know they exist. UFCW Canada and the AWA are the organizations that are, and have always, put up the resources and stepped up to fight for the respect and dignity of one our province’s most important and exploited labour forces,” said Samuelson.

Of the 100,000-plus agriculture workers in Ontario, 30,000 are migrant labourers who come to Ontario every season as part of a difficult and lonely effort to earn a living. Because of their precarious status, migrant farm workers often find themselves exploited by unscrupulous employers. UFCW Canada in cooperation with the AWA operates four support centres across the province to help migrant workers face the enormous cultural and systemic challenges waiting for them in Canada.

"It's an honour to accept this award on behalf of all the people who have given so much of themselves to this campaign over the past 15 years," said Hanley, flanked by several long-time activists who have helped to make the support centre program possible.

"Because of their commitment to doing the right thing for the right reasons, health-and-safety protections for farm workers are now guaranteed under the law, and the days of Ontario denying the basic labour rights of agriculture workers are rapidly becoming part of a very shameful past.

“What we need are over 30,000 of these awards. One for every migrant farm worker who comes to Canada every year. They part with their loved ones each year to work our fields and produce our food. They are the real heroes, their courage inspires our efforts, and this award belongs to all of them."