With the election of Alex Silas to National Executive Vice-President at the PSAC National Triennial Convention, PSAC-NCR’s Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President Ruth Lau MacDonald becomes the REVP for the region.
Lau MacDonald was elected Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President at the 2023 National Capital Region convention.
Ruth is an experienced organizer who has dedicated her capacities to the Ottawa Area Council, the Pride committee, the Members with Disabilities Action Committee and is a member of the Union of Health and Environment Workers and started her career at Parks Canada as a student in 2016.
She also brings her experience as a community organizer to the position, having organized in her student union and later with a variety of community groups and social justice causes over the past 15 years. As a proud queer woman with an invisible disability, she is passionate about work that is anti-racist, decolonized and rooted in justice for all.
“This is an exciting opportunity to serve members,” said Lau MacDonald. “I’m looking forward to leading the region in a good way with a focus on transparency, good governance and equity. We are a strong and fighting union with amazing grassroots leaders who are ready to bring their ideas to life, and I look forward to supporting these leaders and being a strong advocate for the needs of all members in Ottawa, Gatineau, and surrounding communities.”
Lau MacDonald is excited to implement more listening tools like surveys and townhalls while in the position of REVP.
“They help us map out where members are at, how they’re affected by certain issues, and what their priorities are,” said Lau MacDonald. “That means you’ll be seeing more opportunities for two-way communication during my term, along with new opportunities for members to get involved and learn about the union.”
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Alex for all the hard work he’s put in for our region over the years, helping navigate us through the pandemic to where we are today,” said Lau MacDonald.
Alex Silas leaves the position of Regional Executive Vice-President, which he has held since May 2020. He was appointed to the position in 2020 and then elected REVP in 2021 and again in 2023.
Silas is the first young worker and member of a Directly Chartered Local to be elected to PSAC’s national executive. Since 2020, he served as Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region. He has been a PSAC member since 2010 when he was hired at the Bank of Canada as a security officer.
“It has been a privilege to serve PSAC members in the NCR, and I am humbled that members have now put their faith in me as I take on this new role to represent our diverse membership coast-to-coast-to-coast,” said Silas, National Executive Vice-President-elect. “Together, we will organize, fight for workers’ rights, and defend those whose voices need to be heard.”