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).
By Gerri Logan
Click HERE for the new spotlight on Shelters, Sweeps and Substances.
Beliefs and Challenges: Some believe that sweeps (forced cleanups or displacement efforts) will encourage people to move to shelters and access services. However, these actions make it harder for individuals to maintain relationships and access necessary resources, leading to interpersonal conflicts. Additionally, people being forcibly moved often face the loss of important personal property like medications, identification, and blankets.
Housing Crisis and Displacement: The lack of affordable housing contributes to the houselessness crisis. Encampments are being pushed out of inner-city areas, into the suburbs, or further away. These displacements force people into hazardous, less visible areas, which leads to health risks. As a result, there has been an increase in opioid overdoses and stimulant use, as people try to stay awake at night or while on the move.
Substance Use and Fatalities in Edmonton: Fentanyl and Methamphetamine remain the highest risks for accidental drug poisoning fatalities in Edmonton.
Health Risks: The displacement also results in increased incidents of frostbite and amputations, as individuals are forced to endure harsher living conditions without proper shelter or protection.
The guest speaker will be Dr Brian Goldman
The Casino Shift: Betting on the Future of Healthcare
Dr. Goldman is one of those rare individuals with great success in not one but several adrenaline-pumping careers. He is a highly regarded emergency physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. He’s the host of CBC’s award-winning radio show “White Coat, Black Art”, where he takes listeners behind the scenes of hospitals and doctors’ offices, and the host of the podcast “The Dose” on current events in healthcare. He shares the lessons he learns in healthcare to benefit others, both in the healthcare industry and to help corporations & organizations learn from high-stakes environments. Dr Goldman will speak about the last chapter of his forthcoming book, “The Casino Shift,” which is the Future of Healthcare.
Register for the event through DMS
Registration Deadline is April 11th at 2359h
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
Members of United Nurses of Alberta have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement with Alberta Health Services, Recovery Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Covenant Health, Lamont Health Care Centre, and The Bethany Group (Camrose) that will again make Alberta nurses the highest paid in any Canadian province.
The new agreement includes:
For more information, click HERE
Click the link below to view the March edition of Local 196’s e-newsletter:
Local 196 UNA e-newsletter: March 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.
By Rachel Steel and Gerri Logan
Click HERE to listen to the newest podcast episode.
In this episode, hosts Rachel Steel and Gerri Logan explore the urgent need for presumptive legislation to protect nurses from psychological injuries such as PTSD and burnout. They are joined by Heather Murray and Katrina Stephenson, two passionate advocates fighting for policy changes recognizing mental health struggles as a workplace hazard for nurses.
The episode underscores the broader implications of inaction, warning that without proper mental health support, nurses will continue to leave the profession at alarming rates, worsening the ongoing healthcare crisis. The hosts and guests emphasize collective action, urging nurses to unite in advocating for policy changes that recognize and address these mental health challenges.
**Trigger warning** The discussion includes mention of suicide as it relates to job-related mental health injuries.
About the Guests:
Heather Murray
Heather Murray is a registered nurse with over 15 years of experience in emergency and critical care. A longtime advocate for nurse mental health, she has worked closely with professional associations and policymakers to push for presumptive PTSD legislation. Having personally experienced the emotional toll of frontline nursing, Heather is committed to ensuring that future generations of nurses receive better protection and access to mental health resources.
Katrina Stephenson
Katrina Stephenson is a nurse educator and mental health specialist who has spent the last decade supporting nurses dealing with trauma and burnout. She is a CAF Mental Health & Wellness Nurse and nurse Leader with Nurse 2 Nurse Peer Support. Katrina believes we need to approach each other with compassion and understanding around mental health and substance use challenges to reduce stigma and discrimination. She has been instrumental in bringing awareness to psychological injuries in nursing, speaking at conferences, and lobbying for legislative reforms.
United Nurses of Alberta, Local 196 
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