With sadness, we are letting you know that Alice West passed away peacefully on September 17 at the age of 95.
Alice began her union activism in the 1960’s as a shop steward. In 1979, she was elected as National Director for BC, Yukon and Northwest Territories. As one of only three women on PSAC’s National Board of Directors, Alice mobilized and organized to break new ground for women in our union. Alice was a key organizer of PSAC’s first ever Women’s Conferences, nationally and regionally, and chaired the Equal Opportunity Committee. She was the third woman elected as an Officer of the B.C. Federation of Labour, serving as Vice-President and representing PSAC on Operation Solidarity during the turbulent 1980s.
In former PSAC President Nycole Turmel’s words: Alice’s work “…. set the stage for the rest of us. She pushed forward an equity agenda, emphasized the need to be mobilized and politicized and raised issues that were key for women like child care, anti-harassment and pay equity.”
Alice’s obituary can be read at at remembering.ca.
Our thoughts are with Alice’s family, friends, and everyone that was touched by her life.