Outstanding Member Achievement Award Winners

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Thank you to everyone who sent in nominations and to all the nominees for the service and care you provide to your Union, your co-workers, your communities, and beyond. You are all Outstanding Members of the Union.

The 2022 Nominations will be open from August 1 to November 1, 2022.Visit ufcw175.com/scholarships-awards for details.

Miriam Vargas

Achieving Improvements in Workplace Health & Safety or Workers Compensation

Miriam wears her work gear as she receives her award.

Miriam works at Maple Lodge Foods in Brampton. In 2015, Miriam was injured at work and she filed a WSIB claim but was denied. She is still in the appeals process for that claim. After the injury, Miriam realized how easily injuries could happen to other members.

She joined the Health & Safety committee to make a difference and fix the problem she encountered that caused her injury. While it still took until 2020 for her concerns to be heard, understood and ultimately implemented, if it weren’t for Miriam fighting, it’s unlikely these changes would have been made at all.

Miriam remains a strong advocate for her co-workers. She helps them fill in Form 6s, stays in touch with the Union Rep, and contacts the Union’s Workers’ Compensation department when needed.

Karen Vaughan

Manifesting Leadership & Advancement of the UFCW

Karen receives her award from Regional Director Sandra Ashcroft.

Karen is a nurse who works at Maplewood Nursing Home in Brighton. She has been a steward for many years and is the Recorder for Local 175.

She is a tireless advocate for the Union, a vocal supporter of all healthcare workers, and a proponent for many much needed reforms to our healthcare system. Karen never shies away from an opportunity to promote the Union. She is often asked to speak on behalf of Unionized workers at a press conference or rally and is always fighting to improve working conditions for all workers.

Karen is very involved in Health and Safety and has instructed on behalf of the Local many times. She is a consistent advocate for her co-workers, and a dedicated caregiver for the residents at Maplewood.

Antonella Rizzo

Demonstrating Outstanding Contributions to the Community

Antonella (left) stands with Union Rep Kelly Dick and receives her cheque.

Antonella is a member of Local 175 who works at Zehrs in Niagara Falls. For more than 16 years, Antonella has been a shining star in both her workplace and the community.

She is a tireless advocate for raising money and helping those in need of assistance in her community. Antonella has facilitated numerous charity fundraising events of every kind to support several local charities.

Even throughout the pandemic, Antonella has continued her dedication to charity and community work.

She is a constant inspiration to her friends and colleagues and well deserving of an award that recognizes her contributions.

Tyler Colwell

Fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada

Tyler wears his work uniform and a face mask while accepting his award.

Tyler works at Metro Cumberland in Ottawa where, throughout his years there, he has been a great supporter of the Local Union’s fundraising efforts to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC).

No matter the event, Tyler always makes himself available, even on his days off, to help out in any way to raise money for blood cancer research. He hopes to run is own fundraising campaign when the COVID situation allows and it’s easier and safer to do so.

Tyler’s dedication, along with the contributions and work of many Locals 175 & 633 members, consistently help the Union raise hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to support the LLSC.

Congratulations to the 2021 Outstanding Member Achievement

Award winners!