COPE 378 Executive Board
The Executive Board is made up of 20 members, including the Table Officers. The board is the executive management body of the union and meets monthly to discuss administrative and operational issues. The board reports to Council on policy and financial matters.
The Executive Board suggests ways the union can improve its policies and services to members. Board members must represent the interest of all members in their respective workplaces. They also sit on the union negotiating committee during bargaining and hold workplace membership meetings.
- Tim Bouzovetsky - Utilities - Fortis Energy
- Yasmin Carroll - ICBC
- Karin Cirez - ICBC
- Nancy DeVries - Utilities - ABS
- Colleen Finn - Combined - Finance-Insurance
- Joyce Galuska - ICBC
- Melanie Greenlaw - Utilities - ABS
- Mike Ferguson - ICBC
- Trevor Hansen - ICBC
- Calvin Jonas - Utilities - Hydro
- Laurie Kirk - Combined - Finance-Insurance
- Rysa Kronebusch - Utilities - Hydro
- Keith Parkinson - Combined - Miscellaneous
- Stephanie Smith - Utilties - Fortis-Hydro
- Stephen Von Sychowski - Combined - Transit
- Tim Weigelt - Combined - Transport-Shipping
- Ian Whittington - Combined - Transit
Tim Bouzovetsky - Utilities - Fortis Energy Tim has been a COPE member since August 1991 when he started work with BC Gas, now FortisBC Energy, as an Engineering Drafter 2. Currently an Engineering Drafter 3, he is also a single father of two, an avid motorcyclist and is very active in this union, his church and his hometown of Chilliwack. He became a Job Steward in September 2004 and was elected to the Executive Council in early 2005. He is currently serving his second term on the Executive Board. Tim was on the 2007 Terasen bargaining team and is currently the Executive Board Member in bargaining with FortisBC Energy. He was also involved in the first alternative Dispute Resolution between Terasen and COPE 378 and represented the energy component of FortisBC in the amalgamation talks in 2011. Tim has attended numerous Job Steward Seminars, local and national and BC Federation of Labour conventions and is a delegate to the Fraser Valley Labour Council. Tim is a member of the COPE 378 Human Rights Committee. He also serves as Vice Chairperson on the Executive Council at his home church. | ||
Yasmin Carroll started her career with ICBC in 1998 and currently works as a Bodily Injury Adjuster at the Surrey Claim Centre. She became a Job Steward in 2004 and was elected to COPE 378’s Executive Council between 2005 and 2008. In June 2008 Yasmin was appointed by COPE 378 to the position of Alternate Trustee for the Joint COPE 378 / ICBC Pension Plan and remains in this position currently. As a Pension Trustee, she continually strengthens her knowledge and skills by enrolling in courses and training whenever possible. Yasmin has attended courses through the Canadian Labour Congress and she is currently working towards a Chartered Insurance Professional Designation. She is a strong advocate for ICBC members and is committed to the Labour Movement. Phone: 604-299-0378 | ||
Karin has been a COPE 378 member since 1993 and currently works at Head Office as the union-appointed Return to Work Coordinator in the Wellness Department. Karin served on the COPE 378 Education, Political Action, and Health & Safety Committees, and as Chair of the Women's Committee. She is a delegate to the New Westminster & District Labour Council. She is on the OH&S site Committee at Head Office for 10 years and the Joint ICBC/COPE OHS&E Committee for the past 6 years. Karin believes in the value of life long learning. She is working towards a Degree in Business Administration to better understand challenges facing business and workers. Karin has completed training in OH&S, Duty to Accommodate, Arbitration, and Facing Management - to name just a few. As her way of giving back to the labour movement, Karin teaches labour courses at COPE 378 Job Steward Seminars, weekend courses and the CLC Winter School. Karin volunteers and helps organize fundraisers for local community organizations such as the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Women's Centre's, Charlford House, United Way and the Burnaby Fellowship. As a working parent she understands all too well the challenges facing working families today. Work should allow people to take care of themselves and their families, which is why fighting for workers rights and benefits is of utmost importance for Karin. Phone: 604-299-0378 | ||
Nancy DeVries - Utilities - ABS Nancy has been active and involved with COPE 378 since 2000. She has taken several courses with the support of the union, including Collective Bargaining, Women in Leadership and Facing Management. Nancy is a veteran of past ABS bargaining committees. Nancy is committed to recruiting more stewards into the union from the membership. Nancy lives in Vernon. | ||
Mike Ferguson was elected to the Executive Board in a By-Election in 2006. A member of COPE 378 for 9 years, Mike currently works in the Privacy and Fair Practices Department of ICBC in Victoria. He has previously sat as a COPE 378 Executive Councillor, Job Steward, and on the Constitution and By-Laws Committee. Mike is currently setting up a sub-committee of the union's social committee to focus on events for members on Vancouver Island. Mike lives in Saanich and is a delegate to the Victoria Labour Council. | ||
Colleen Finn (D.A. Townley & Associates) - Combined - Finance-Insurance A member of COPE for 15 years, Colleen is currently works for D.A. Townley & Associates Ltd as a Supervisor in the Remittance Department. She’s been a Chief Shop Steward for the last seven years. Colleen is trained as a Canadian Labour Congress Facilitator, served as COPE 15 Component Director for five years and was a delegate to the COPE/SEPB inaugural Convention. Demonstrating her keen commitment to member service, Colleen continues to upgrade her skills by taking courses offered by the union whenever possible. Colleen is excited about the future of COPE 378 and looks forward to using her extensive trade union experience to the benefit of the union’s members. Colleen lives in Vancouver with her husband and enjoys playing golf on the weekends. Phone: 604-299-0378 | ||
Joyce has been working in the Labour Movement and on behalf of COPE 378 members since 1991 when she became a Job Steward. She has been a board member since 2008 he was an Executive Councillor for Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton, during which time she participated in several successful Arbitrations. As a union trainer Joyce taught week-long Labour Studies courses for the Canadian Labour Congress and Basic Job Steward training throughout the province. Joyce has extensive committee experience. She is the current Chair of the Human Rights Committee and liaison to the Multicultural Committee. She also participated in the ICBC Joint Return to Work Committee from 2003 to 2005, was on the Wellness Committee, and sat on the Workload Committee for five years. She currently sits on the Education Committee Joyce has been an Anti-Harassment Advisor at ICBC since 2000 and participated in the Management Survey Focus Group. She has taken several courses to improve her workplace on behalf of her colleagues including Ergonomics, Duty to Accommodate and Recognizing and Preventing Violence in the Workplace. She currently sits on the ERT in Kelowna and holds an OFA 3. | ||
Melanie Greenlaw - Utilities - ABS Melanie has been an active COPE 378 member since starting at Accenture six years ago. She quickly became a Job Steward, actively representing members in grievances and supporting them before the employer. She is an active volunteer both in the community and in COPE 378's campaigns. Phone: 604-299-0378 | ||
Trevor Hansen started with ICBC at the driver licensing head office in Victoria in June of 2008 and became a Job Steward by September of that year. He was later acclaimed as a COPE 378 Executive Councillor in March 2009 and has served the ICBC membership in this role until he was acclaimed to the Executive Board in May 2011 and again in October 2012. Trevor is currently a member of COPE 378's Youth Action Committee and Electoral Committee. A graduate of the University of Victoria, Trevor earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2007 after majoring in Political Science. He has also taken numerous labour-related courses through COPE 378 and the Canadian Labour Congress. Above all, Trevor understands the needs of young workers and the need for young workers to get involved with their union. He will endeavour to provide this perspective on the Executive Board of COPE 378. Trevor is also the Job Evaluation Officer for ICBC members. Phone: 604-299-0378 | ||
Calvin Jonas - Utilities - BC Hydro Calvin has been a COPE member since 1989 when he joined BC Hydro. Prior to that he had careers as an educator and a computer field service engineer. He became active in the union as an Executive Councillor during his time with BC Transmission Corporation, and continued serving as an Executive Councillor upon his return to BC Hydro in 2010. Having joined the Executive Board in 2011 he serves on the union’s Audit and Education Committees. Calvin brings over 30 years of non-profit management experience to the COPE378 Executive Board. He continues to hold leadership positions within various non-profit BC societies, and local and international fraternal organizations. He is a firm believer in the vital role the labour movement plays in championing social justice and in improving the lives of all workers, unionized or not, throughout the world. Phone: 604-299-0378 | ||
Laurie Kirk (Coast Community Credit Union) - Combined - Finance-Insurance Laurie has been a member of COPE since 1997. She works at the Discovery Harbour of Coastal Community Credit Union as a Senior Member Services Representative and is the Chief Job Steward for 20 branches. Laurie sits as a member of the Grievance Committee and attends Alternate Dispute Resolution meetings and Labour Management meetings. As a member of the Negotiating Committee she was given the responsibility of serving as Committee Secretary. She is a great believer in union education and she was elected to the COPE 378 Executive Board in 2011. Phone: 604-299-0378 | ||
Rysa Kronebusch - Utilties - Hydro
Rysa first began working for BC Hydro as a practicum student in 1996. She was then hired as a consultant and from there worked in Tempworks while they were still a part of BC Hydro. She then became a full-time temporary employee and became a full-time regular employee years later.
Rysa became a job steward in 2000 and was elected to an executive councilor position not long after. She also served on the 2012 BC Hydro bargaining committee.
Rysa is the Chair of the COPE 378 Women's Committee.
She is a dedicated union activist who is deeply committed to all of her members, no matter what status of employment.
Phone: 604-299-0378
Email Rysa
Stephanie Smith - Utilities - Fortis-Hydro
Stephanie has been a COPE member since 2005 when she started as an Application Programmer at FortisBC Inc. Now an Operations Systems Analyst, Stephanie has also taken on the role of Job Steward, and was elected to the Board in 2012. As a Board Member, she has joined the Education Committee, Political Action Committee, Youth Action Committee, and Events & Social Planning Committee.
As part of a resilient unionized region of the interior, she is a strong advocate of all members and is committed to the Labour Movement. She wants to bring union education to members, and help those who need a voice.
Stephanie lives in Castlegar with her husband, where they enjoy golfing and Kootenay life.
Phone: 604-299-0378
Stephen Von Sychowski - Combined - Transit
Stephen became a casual customer information clerk at Coast Mountain Bus Company in 2007. He quickly moved on to become a job steward and, the following year, an Executive Councilor.
He is a member of several Committee’s including Constitution & Bylaws, Environment, and Political Action. He is also Co-Chair of the Youth Action and Organizing Committees.
Additionally Stephen serves as 2nd Vice President of the Vancouver & District Labour Council, and Chair of the BCFED Young Workers Committee.
Stephen has been a consistent advocate for COPE 378 members and young workers, both in the workplace and in the community. He has been active in a number of major campaigns including the campaign for Grant's Law, the $10 NOW campaign, Citizens for Public Power, the Employee Action & Rights Network, and others.
Stephen was born and raised in Prince George, British Columbia, and moved to Vancouver in 2004 where he continues to live today with his wife, Erin.
Phone: 604-299-0378
Tim Weigelt - Combined - Shipping-Transport 
Tim has been a member of COPE 15 (now COPE 378) working in the dispatch office of Yellow Cabs since 1989 where he has served as Shop Steward, Picket Captain and Councillor. Tim served as Director of the Transportation & Manufacturing Component [E] since 2007.
Tim’s union experience includes terms as chair of the COPE 15 Human Rights, Constitution & Bylaws and Communications Committees. He has also served on the Education Committee, and has sat on several negotiating committees. Tim currently sits on the COPE 378 Constitution & Bylaws, Electoral and Environmental Committees and represents COPE 378 as a delegate to WESTAC.
His labour education includes several Occupational Health and Safety courses, Provincial Labour Law, Canadian Labour Congress Trainer and BC Fed Organizing Institute classes.
Proudly residing in the People’s Republic of Burnaby, Tim is a delegate to the New Westminster & District Labour Council.
Phone: 604-299-0378
Ian Whittington - Combined - Transit
Ian Whittington has been a member of COPE 378 for over 10 years. He quickly became a COPE 378 job steward after joining the union and was elected to COPE 378's Executive Council to represent the Transit Police about eight years ago.
Ian has been an integral part of Transit Police collective agreement negotiations for the last two rounds of bargaining. He has over two decades of experience with police unions, both provincially and federally, including 16 years as the union president of a smaller federal organization. Ian is proud of his track record with these other police unions, which includes taking on the federal bureaucracy on behalf of his members and resolving the issue to a positive conclusion.
Ian is pleased his years of experience are now in service of COPE 378 members.
Phone: 604-299-0378
