As a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as a neurodivergent person, and as an Indigenous person, I want to ensure that real work towards equity is happening in meaningful ways across education.
I began participating in my Local branch of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) when there was an opening as a school representative in 2013. I then served a few terms as an alternate before backing away from union work for a time in order to have a family and complete a Master’s degree. When I was nearing completion of that degree, I needed support from the MTS myself in order to gain appropriate accommodations. While I was going through the process of working with a Staff Officer and self-advocating with them, I was encouraged to step into union work. This led to my successful application to the MTS Labour School Cohort (2023/24). This sparked a passion for advocacy that aligned with my deep commitment to equity.
Now I have stepped into a place on my Local’s Executive as Resolutions Chair and am serving on the MTS Equity and Social Justice Standing Committee where I have continued to push and drive equity work to support teachers. It has also allowed me to have my first article published for the Manitoba Teacher in the Winter 2025 edition.
Participating more actively in my union has only fueled the fire that I carry for the important work of advocating for and supporting teachers in a field that keeps getting more difficult. This is particularly true as the teacher registry has launched, as violence in schools is on the rise, and as disinformation-fueled hate impacts so many equity-deserving teachers.
It is my hope that as my career and participation in the union progresses, that I will be able to dedicate more time to supporting teacher wellness, safety, and understanding of their rights.
