In 2020, the world confronted a global pandemic which exposed the importance of occupational health and safety. Endless demands fell on members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) to keep Alberta running, to care for the elderly and the infirm, and to protect vital infrastructure, all while the UCP government worked to reverse protections for Alberta workers despite the pandemic.
“Every day, AUPE members are put in position where the ultimate cost of doing their job could be death,” says Bonnie Gostola, Vice President of AUPE and Chair of AUPE’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee. “Every day Alberta workers become injured or become ill because there is a lack of proper protections, procedures or knowledge about the safety rules. Every day, Alberta workers deal with indifference by employers and unfortunately, fellow workers, who take shortcuts to get their work done due to pressure from their bosses.”
“The Rolyn Sumlak award is one of the highest honours we can bestow on an AUPE member for health and safety activism and advocacy.” - Bonnie Gostola, Vice President of AUPE and Chair of AUPE's Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
But across the AUPE membership, there are people protecting their fellow workers and those they serve.
That’s why each year, AUPE’s Occupational Health and Safety committee presents the Rolyn Sumlak Award to one or more AUPE members in recognition of their dedication to occupational health and safety. AUPE Local 012 commissioned the Rolyn Sumlak Award in 1990 to commemorate the untimely workplace fatality of Rolyn Sumlak and to honour all workers who are injured or killed at work.
“The Rolyn Sumlak award,” says Gostola, “is one of the highest honours we can bestow on an AUPE member for health and safety activism and advocacy.”
The recipients of the 2021 Rolyn Sumlak Awards are:
Stephen Caughie, Local 071
Stephen has worked in the Auxiliary Facilities Department for Bow Valley College for over 10 years. Noted for looking out for his co-workers, Stephen fearlessly defends them by and asking management difficult questions to improve safety for all.
“I was quite honoured to receive this award,” he says. “I’ve been around for a long time, and together, we’ll continue to make sure everyone will stand up to employers and make sure worker health and safety are number one so we can all come home safe.”
Jennifer Corkum, Local 046
For over a decade, Jennifer has been involved in education and OH&S initiatives at her worksite, Westview. Her experience in OH&S has only been exceeded by her passion for the safety of her fellow workers. She has helped create number of initiatives including the development and implementation of procedures to prevent accidental exposures to hazardous medications.
“I’m really honoured to accept this award and thank my nominators,” she says. “I’ve been working very hard to improve OH&S and again, am honoured for this award.”
“OH&S has always been important to me. I’ve tried to do my best to support the members and make the worksite safe for all.” - Elizabeth Csernyanski, 2021 Rolyn Sumlak Award Recipient.
Elizabeth Csernyanski, Local 049
A long-time worker for Capital Care at Strathcona and Dickensfield, Elizabeth is known as a forceful and strong-willed individual who stands up to management to make her sites safer on behalf of her fellow workers and the residents they care for.
Some of Elizabeth’s projects include getting the employer to improve drainage in faulty showers to stop water spilling into residential living areas and replacing the hazardous hot steam tables for food service. “OH&S has always been important to me,” says Csernyanski. “I’ve tried to do my best to support the members and make the worksite safe for all.”
Bowman Pringle, Local 003
Bowman Pringle is a strong and tireless OH&S advocate for his union and at his worksite, the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Facility. Due to his dedication, he was also instrumental in organizing a subcommittee to prevent overdose deaths amongst the inmate population. This work resulted in a near elimination of overdoses at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre.
Pringle was also key in developing and implementing a COVID intake unit for new inmates, volunteering to work on this unit. “As you know, we had a fellow brother pass from COVID, and it’s really affected everyone at the Centre,” says Pringle. “So, I’ll still work to be a strong advocate for safety and thank the committee for this award.”
“I don’t do this for recognition. I do this for my fellow members and the safety of the working unit that we have. I really enjoy it when I walk into meetings and management cringes, because then I know I’m doing my job. - Frank Snow, 2021 Rolyn Sumlak Award Recipient.
Frank Snow, Local 052
An electrician at the University of Calgary for over 22 years, Frank has been deeply involved in AUPE and is known as someone who listens to members’ concerns. He addresses wrongs by filing numerous OH&S complaints on behalf of his fellow workers.
“I don’t do this for recognition. I do this for my fellow members and the safety of the working unit that we have,” says Snow. “I really enjoy it when I walk into meetings and management cringes, because then I know I’m doing my job. And sometimes, some of the managers accept that what I’m trying to bring forward is not to go against them, but to make something safer.”