2023 PSAC BC Indigenous Peoples Summit

Building our community as Indigenous members throughout BC

To: ​​PSAC Locals/Branches in the B.C. Region

  • Summit details: November 24-26, 2023
  • Conference location: Hilton Metrotown, 6083 McKay Ave, Burnaby, BC V5H 2W7
  • Application Deadline: Friday, October 13, 2023, 5 PM Pacific Time Zone

THE APPLICATION PERIOD HAS NOW ENDED. Thanks to all members who applied.

We are pleased to inform members that the 2023 PSAC BC Regional Indigenous Peoples Summit will be held Friday, November 24 through Sunday, November 26, 2023. This Summit is a fully funded event for participants.

All participants are expected to attend the full Summit.

More information about travel and loss of salary will be available as part of the full participant’s package, which you will receive on confirmation of registration.

We encourage you to personally inform PSAC Indigenous members in your area to ensure they are made aware of this Summit. In workplaces where members continue to work from home, please share with your contacts or ask to post the information on the Union’s electronic bulletin board (if there is one at your workplace).

Summit Objectives

PSAC BC Indigenous members will gather to learn, share, and strengthen the PSAC Indigenous program under the theme “Building our community as Indigenous members throughout BC.”

The objectives of the 2023 PSAC BC Indigenous Peoples Summit are:

  • Identify the roles and responsibilities of the National Indigenous Peoples Circle (NIPC);
  • Sharing Circle discussions on: Who are we? How are Indigenous People represented within the PSAC? How are we supported?
  • Truth and Reconciliation report card update;
  • Develop an information and communication plan for Indigenous PSAC members.      

Participants will take part in sharing circle discussions on Indigenous issues in the community and within our union. This will engage participants on what barriers they continue to face and what successful strategies they are using to mobilize Indigenous members in the Union.

Participants who reside within 80 kilometres of the venue:

  • Will be entitled to claim loss of salary for Friday (and Saturday and Sunday if normally scheduled to work)
  • If not working, will also be entitled to claim a $50 per day allowance (or actual cost if higher) for Saturday and Sunday to cover the cost of travel (including parking) and meals
  • Hotel accommodation will not be provided

Participants who reside more than 80 kilometres from the venue will be considered as in travel status, which means the following costs will be covered:

  • Will be entitled to salary for Friday (and Saturday and Sunday if normally scheduled to work)
  • Travel costs, including ground transportation;
  • Meal and incidental allowances (except those provided) as per the PSAC Travel Policy;
  • Hotel accommodation costs at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown Hotel;
  • Hotel self-parking

Accommodation for disabilities

The PSAC Accommodation Policy strives to ensure that PSAC events are barrier-free for members with disabilities. Once selected as a participant, members will be asked to specify their accommodation needs to facilitate their participation at the Regional Indigenous Peoples Summit.

Family care

The objective of the PSAC Family Care Policy is to remove one of the barriers which prevents participants from attending Union activities and which provides for the reimbursement of family care expenses. A copy of the policy is available on the PSAC website here.

On-site childcare is intended to remove a barrier to a participants’ ability to attend at the conference and is provided only for those who could not otherwise attend, had the service not been available. Requests must be received no later than Friday, October 20, 2023.

PSAC policies: anti-harassment, scent-free and smoke-free environment

During the Summit, and at all events associated with the Summit, the PSAC Anti-Harassment, Smoke-free Environment and Scent-free Environment policies will be in effect. Please refrain from using scented products of any type.

If you have any questions with respect to the Summit, please contact Angela George​​​​ (GeorgeA@psac-afpc.com / (778) 357-0358) or Alex Vital Stuit (StuitA@psac-afpc.com / ​​​(236) 317-1099)

Selection of Participants

If you are selected as a participant to this Summit, you will be advised by email and or telephone call. Please ensure you provide us with your contact coordinates that you will have access to during the month of October and November 2023.

We look forward to having Indigenous members in the PSAC BC Region gather to strengthen the PSAC Indigenous program at the regional and national levels.

In Solidarity,

Jamey Mills ​​​​
Public Service Alliance of Canada
Regional Executive Vice-President, BC​​

Alan Otrosina
PSAC BC Regional Council
Indigenous Peoples Coordinator

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