Sponsored by: The Canadian Labour Congress and North Central Labour Council

Join us for a meal of locally produced ingredients and our Leadership Series Lunch presentation delivered by CUPE BC President Barry O'Neill.  Barry will speak on CUPE BC’s latest campaign, the "Ten Percent Shift", intended to support local economies by encouraging citizens to use their individual and family purchasing power to buy locally made products and services from locally owned businesses.
 
Barry O’Neill’s presentation shows how the everyday actions and decisions of consumers can benefit local economies, make them more vibrant and sustainable, and create good local jobs. “Local First” campaigns like the Shift have been growing all over North America, and the presentation talks about the economic arguments that support them. O’Neill will also touch on how local governments can play a role in developing a long-term vision for the local economy that is practical and realistic.

Barry O'Neill has been president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees of British Columbia since 1997. CUPE is the largest Union in BC representing 85,000 members.  Barry also sits as Canadian Vice-President representing over 600 thousand workers in Canada. The occupational groups Barry represents vary and include those working in municipalities, school districts, universities, colleges, social services, ambulance paramedics, flight attendants, and others

Barry is also a Director of Working Enterprises, the Columbian Foundation, Working Opportunity Fund and Camp Jubilee, and his recent launch of a voluntary carbon offset company, “COOL WORKS” reinforces his view that economics and the environment can and do work together very well.