Pictured from left to right: UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema, MLA Kim Schreiner (Red Deer-North), UFCW Canada Local 401 President Doug O'Halloran, MLA Barb Miller (Red Deer-South), and Alberta Minister of Labour Christina Gray (Edmonton-Mill Woods)

Red Deer, Alta. – February 18, 2016 – Membership engagement was the theme at this year's UFCW Canada Local 401 Staff Conference held recently in Red Deer.

UFCW Canada Local 401 activists were joined by National President Paul Meinema as well as newly appointed Alberta Minister of Labour Christina Gray, who both stressed the importance that engaged UFCW members play in creating positive outcomes in their workplaces and neighbourhoods.

The week-long conference was also joined by Alberta MLAs Barb Miller (Red Deer-South) and Kim Schreiner (Red Deer-North) who discussed the significance an engaged membership has on the political environment.

The conference was facilitated by UFCW Canada Local 401 Directors Richelle Stewart and Loren Keister. UFCW Canada Local 401 stewards, activists and staff from across Alberta came away from the conference empowered with new skills to engage members to make a difference as activists in their union, at work, and in the community.