June 1, 2017 - We are proud to announce that Brett Barden, Executive Assistant to the USW 1944 National President, has been selected to attend the prestigious Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC) this June.

To receive an invitation to the GGCLC signifies that Brett is an individual with high potential to achieve great success and be in leadership positions in the future. This is a true testament to all he has achieved already in his career and all he has done both in the political arena and for the labour movement.

Brett has been active with the NDP, both in the federal and provincial scene. He was hired as a Constituency Assistant by MLA Sue Hammell and served the people of British Columbia for over five years. Additionally, he has acted as an organizer, campaign manager, regional representative, and as President of local NDP executive associations. Apart from his passion for social justice, labour rights and political activism, Brett is a skilled photographer and dabbles in graphic design. He was even a credentialed photographer at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and formally maintained websites for a number of professional figure skaters.

“As someone who has worked very closely with Brett over the past three years I know that there is nobody as deserving of the privilege of being chosen to participate in the Governor General’s Leadership Conference,” said USW Local 1944 National President Lee Riggs. “I’m confident that Brett will make the most of this experience and that he’ll use all acquired knowledge to benefit the membership upon his return.”

The GGCLC brings together future leaders from across the country in business, labour, and the public sector, for an opportunity to freely and openly exchange views and experiences with peers to gain a practical understanding of the influence of their organizations on the welfare of the community.

USW International President Leo Gerard had this to say about the GGCLC:

“The Conference is a valued experience for emerging leaders from the labour movement. The networking opportunity is exceptional. The Conference broadens each member’s horizon and creates unique situations where people from totally different backgrounds can put their preconceptions away and exchange ideas in an atmosphere of open debate and discovery.”

We wish Brett the best of luck during this exciting conference!

In Solidarity,

United Steelworkers Local 1944