Sessions and workshops

Panel 1: Aftershocks and Agendas: Navigating a shifting political landscape

Our panelists will dive into the fast-changing political landscape and what it means for BC. How will global shifts affect us here? And most importantly, how can we ensure that policies that truly matter to working people stay at the top of the government’s agenda? Don't miss this lively discussion on what’s next for BC and beyond.

Panel 2: Celebrating Community Solidarity

Grassroots organizations are at the heart of every community: knitting us together, building resilience and fostering a commitment to the collective good. The work of the labour movement is nested in community, too — we are all stronger when we work together. You’ll hear about the work of some leading changemaking organizations on the frontlines in Kelowna and the broader region. And you’ll discover some great opportunities for labour and community to keep working together.

Panel 3: The Future is Now: Young workers in action

Young workers aren’t waiting their turn — they’re organizing for bold change now. Join young activists as they share how they’re bringing new energy and ideas to our movement and taking action on the issues that matter most. Together, we'll discuss what unions can do to back them up, break down barriers and build solidarity across generations.

Solidarity in the Storm: Politics, power and unions in 2025

With the extremely tight race in BC’s recent provincial election, the election of Donald Trump and the Republicans in the US, and now the likelihood of a spring federal election in Canada, everyone is talking politics all of the time. What do these election results mean for our communities? Are we really more divided than ever? How do we find common ground? How do we keep workers’ issues at the forefront of government’s decisions? And how can we get involved as union members? Join us for a participatory workshop on the political challenges facing us today.

Leadership for Inclusive and Thriving Organizations

Leadership styles and approaches differ — and leaders often switch approaches depending on circumstances. In this session, we'll examine common leadership approaches for building inclusive frameworks. You'll explore the facets of your own leadership, and develop tools for leading in inclusive and inspiring ways, and learn techniques and practices for speaking and communicating in your authentic leadership voice.

Building Psychologically Safe and Healthy Workplaces: Mental health first aid and beyond

A psychologically safe and healthy workplace is one where risks to workers' mental well being are identified and managed, and reasonable efforts are made to promote mental health through awareness, collaboration, resources and education. This workshop will explore...

• The need for psychologically safe and healthy workplaces
• How to identify workplace hazards that impact workers' mental health, and practical ideas about how to manage those hazards
• Warning signs of a psychologically unsafe workplace
• Why this is an emerging field especially in the context of labour relations
• What Mental Health first aid is, and how the course can support a psychologically healthy workplace
• Action items to take back to your workplace

Focus Group: Changing climate, changing economy

Our environment and economy are changing, and workers are on the frontlines of those changes: workplace closures, wildfire evacuations, cold stress on construction sites, heat stress in schools, and more. We need a meaningful plan to tackle these urgent issues affecting our families, our communities and our livelihoods, and we really need to hear from you in creating that plan:

• What impacts are you facing in your work and your community from the changing environment and economy?
• What do you think we should do to ensure that the clean economy benefits workers, communities and future generations in a fair way?
• What’s the role of labour unions in moving forward on our environmental, economic and social goals together?

This session is less workshop, and more focus group. It is a high participation session where we want to hear from workers about their experiences and insights.

Panel 4: Labour at the Table: How workers' voices are helping to shape key new BC initiatives

The labour movement advances many priorities for government in an effort to make life better for working people — and often this work demands an approach that span sectors and ministries. Hear from worker voices involved in moving three critical pieces of legislation forward: the Accessible BC Act, the Anti-Racism Act, and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Panel 5: Climate Fallout: Okanagan workers' voices from the frontlines

Wildfire smoke, heat and cold stress, evacuations, economic disruption — for Okanagan workers, the climate crisis is a daily frontline reality. Hear how they’re navigating the impacts on their health, livelihoods, workplaces and communities… and responding with solidarity.