Registration will be used to confirm the number of in-person attendees at the Fantasyland hotel. If you plan to attend IN PERSON, click HERE
To register to attend by ZOOM, click HERE
There will be an election for a 1 PRC COMMITTEE Member
Click the link below to view the May edition of Local 196’s e-newsletter:
Local 196 UNA e-newsletter: May 2025
The Local newsletter was sent via MailChimp with updated member contact information from the Provincial UNA Office. It was sent to personal email addresses only. Please update your contact information in UNA’s DMS system if you have not received our newsletter.
This year’s gift for Local 196 members is a CoffeePass. Office reps will pick up the gifts from the Local 196 office this week to distribute to their team members.
What is CoffeePass?
CoffeePass is Edmonton’s local café passport—a curated experience designed to promote and support the city’s vibrant coffee community. The 2025 Edition of CoffeePass gives passholders 40 coffees—one at each of our 40 participating independent cafés—allowing you to explore the best local spots, each offering unique charm, friendly atmosphere, and excellent coffee.
What Do I Get With a CoffeePass?
With your CoffeePass, you’ll receive one (1) drip or brewed coffee at each participating café. While exact menu options vary, most cafés also offer espresso-based drinks (like lattes or cappuccinos), which you can upgrade to by paying the difference or a set cost. This helps cafés cover costs while still offering you a great experience.
Don’t forget to check the CoffeePass café partner list or ask your barista for specific drink offerings.
For the list of cafes – https://www.coffeepass.ca/cafes
How Does It Work?
– Bring it with you to any of the 40 café partners.
– Show your pass at the counter.
– Pick your drink from the CoffeePass menu.
– The barista will mark off the café logo on your pass.
– Enjoy your coffee, tip your barista, and maybe grab a treat to further support the café!
Can I redeem more than one coffee at the same café?
No—each café is a one-time redemption to encourage exploration.
What if I don’t drink coffee?
Most partners offer tea or alternative beverages for CoffeePass holders.
❤️ Happy Nurses Week 2025 to the community nurses of Local 196! ❤️
You’re not just caregivers—you’re lifelines. From home visits to health advocacy, from crisis response to quiet support—you walk into people’s lives with skill, compassion, and heart. You make it better, not in hospital halls, but in living rooms, shelters, schools, and streets.
Community doesn’t happen without care—and you are that care. You meet people where they are and fight for what they need. That’s nursing. That’s leadership. That’s Local 196.
To every community nurse: your work ripples far beyond what most ever see. Thank you for showing up, standing strong, and making it better every single day. 💪❤️
By Rachel Steel, Geri Ruston and Gerri Logan
Click HERE to listen to the newest podcast episode.
Rachel, Gerri, and Geri take listeners on an unforgettable journey through the life and legacy of Mary “Mother” Jones — the labour organizer once dubbed “the most dangerous woman in America.” From famine-stricken Ireland to the sweatshops and coalfields of the United States, the podcast traces how grief and injustice forged her into a tireless champion for worker safety and dignity.
But this isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a call to action. The episode draws parallels between the brutal conditions Jones fought against and the occupational hazards faced by Alberta nurses today, from violence and burnout to unsafe staffing ratios and systemic neglect.
The legacy of Mary Jones reminds us that the struggle for safe and just workplaces is far from over, and that every nurse who dares to speak out is walking in the footsteps of giants.
This episode was inspired by the OH&S article in the Spring 2025 UNA Bulletin, which highlighted Mary “Mother” Jones—many thanks to UNA OH&S Advisor Dewey Funk for bringing this figure to our attention.
Nearly half of Alberta’s young nurses are leaving the profession within just five years—and it’s not hard to see why. Between long hours, overwhelming stress, and feeling undervalued, many burn out before they find their footing.
Why? With healthcare systems already stretched thin, this trend signals a more profound crisis. While Alberta’s new 2025 agreement introduces higher wages and rural incentives, experts say targeted support—like mentorship, mental health resources, and flexible scheduling—is critical to keeping the next generation of nurses on the front lines.
Click HERE for the new spotlight on Why Young Nurses are leaving Alberta’s Healthcare System.
Click the link below to view the April edition of Local 196’s e-newsletter:
Local 196 UNA e-newsletter: April 2025
The Local newsletter was sent via MailChimp with updated member contact information from the Provincial UNA Office. It was sent to personal email addresses only. Please update your contact information in UNA’s DMS system if you have not received our newsletter.
The guest speaker will be Dr Gabor Maté
Gabor Maté is a Hungarian-born Canadian physician, bestselling author, and internationally respected speaker, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over decades of clinical practice in family medicine and palliative care, as well as his groundbreaking work in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with patients challenged by addiction and mental illness, Maté has become a leading voice on trauma, addiction, childhood development, and mind-body health.
In his talks based on his book “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture,” Maté explores how many of the chronic illnesses and emotional struggles seen today are not abnormalities, but natural responses to a society that often undermines human needs. He emphasizes that healing requires reconnecting with our authentic selves, fostering compassionate environments, and addressing the cultural conditions that give rise to suffering. His message is one of hope: while trauma can shape us, it does not have to define us.
Maté’s work resonates deeply across Canada and around the world, calling for a shift toward a more humane, trauma-informed approach to health and well-being.
Register for the event through DMS
Registration Deadline is May 5th at 1200h
Not a UNA member? Go to the UNA website for instructions on how to become a member.
This event is open to members & duespayers of Local 196 only.
TICKETS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.
Registration must be completed using a non-AHS email.
Questions/Dietary requests? Please email Local196Education@una.ca
By Rachel Steel
Click HERE to listen to the newest podcast episode.
In this episode of The Spotlight, we’re joined by Cori Longo, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), for an engaging and inspiring conversation about the power of activism and the importance of labour solidarity in Alberta. Cori takes us through her unique journey—from her first unionized job as a teenager to her time as a postal worker and registered nurse, and eventually into leadership roles within the Canadian Labour Congress and the AFL.
Drawing on over two decades of union experience, Cori shares how her frontline work shaped her commitment to workers’ rights and why political engagement is not just important but essential for protecting public services, workplace conditions, and the future of healthcare in Alberta. She presents a compelling argument for why nurses should view themselves as caregivers, advocates, and changemakers.
Throughout the episode, Cori explains the role of the AFL in supporting workers across all sectors and provides practical, empowering advice on how nurses and other workers can get involved, whether through policy advocacy, union participation, or grassroots organizing.
This episode is more than a conversation—it’s a rallying cry. Cori’s message is clear: when workers raise their voices, they can shift policy, protect their professions, and create lasting change. Whether you’re a seasoned union member or just starting to explore labour activism, this episode offers the insight and motivation to take that next step.
(The episode was recorded on March 14, 2025).
United Nurses of Alberta, Local 196 
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