Nurses from across BC are gathering in Vancouver this week

March 04, 2013

Annual BCNU convention will focus on "Keeping the Promise" of safe patient care through safe staffing

More than 400 nurses from around the province will be gathering at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver starting tomorrow (March 5) for the annual convention of the BC Nurses' Union. The convention will focus on Keeping the Promise of safe patient care through safe staffing, as agreed by the provincial government and health employers last fall in collective bargaining with the Nurses' Bargaining Association.

It will be the first convention since more than 7,000 Licensed Practical Nurses at five health authorities and Providence Health Care voted to join BCNU and are part of the delegation.

Highlights: BC Nurses Union Convention -

Hyatt Regency Hotel, 655 Burrard St Vancouver.

Tuesday March 5

8:30 am - Call to order

9:00 am - Year in Review video

9:15 am - Address by BCNU President Debra McPherson

Wednesday March 6

8:45 am - Linda Silas, president Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions

Thursday March 7

9:15 am - BC Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid (schedule permitting)

10:30 am - Keynote speaker Linda Duxbury, Carleton University

12:00 pm - Rally (details to follow)

The convention kicks off Tuesday morning at 8:30 am. The annual Year in Review video will be shown at 9:00 am, followed by an address by BC Nurses? Union President Debra McPherson.

Other sessions of interest to the news media include greetings from Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions on Wednesday (March 6) at 8:40 am; an address by BC Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid Thursday (March 7) 9:15 am (schedule permitting), and a presentation Thursday (March 7) 10:30 am on work/life balance by keynote speaker, Linda Duxbury from Carleton University.

Regular business will include discussion of proposed resolutions and by-laws changes.