Executive Board
President
Mike Myers
president@cupe561.ca
Vice President
Darin Nielsen
Treasurer
Wendy Meston
treasurer@cupe561.ca
Recording Secretary
Jill Allen
Executive Shop Steward
Debbie Monkman
Member At Large
Karin Leathwood - School District #43
Shamus Halvorsen - School District #43
Donna MacMurchy - Coquitlam Public Library
Carol Archibald - Transdev
Shayna McCormack - Diversity
Membership Officer:
Dawn Robertson
Trustees:
- Delilah Burry (April 2026)
- Rebecca Campesato (April 2027)
- Jennifer Corbett (April 2028)
Committees
CUPE 561
Grievance (4)
- Darin Nielsen
- Shamus Halvorsen
- Ari Silver
- Elizabeth Roux
Bylaws (4)
- Darin Nielsen
- Elizabeth Roux
- To be Elected
- To be Elected
Social & Picnic
- Elizabeth Roux
- Kyle Jones
- Jill Allen
- Karin Leathwood
Political Action
- Mike Myers
- Darin Nielsen
- Ari Silver
Fraser Valley District Council (Transdev only)
- Krishna Sharma
- Byron Page
- Elizabeth Roux
- Jim Evans
Metro Council - (SD43 and Library only)
- Kyle Jones
New Westminster District Council (SD43 and Library only)
- Kyle Jones
School District Committees:
Negotiations
- Irene Schoemaker
- Jill Allen
- Darin Nielsen
- Shamus Halvorsen
Health and Safety
- Shamus Halvorsen
- Shayna McCormack
- Darin Nielsen
- Kyle Jones
Appointed Committees: School District 43
DTA (Duty To Accommodate)
- Shamus Halvorsen
- Ari Silver
- Darin Nielsen
Seniority Appeals
- Mike Myers
- TBD
Benefits
- Irene Schoemaker
Tech Change
Paid Ed/Job Related
- Karin Leathwood
- Carla Nielsen
EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
- TBD
Contracting Out
- Damon Bickle
- Andy Menic
Joint Job Evaluation
- Irene Schoemaker
- Shamus Halvorsen
- Jennifer Corbett
Pension
- Irene Schoemaker
JEIS (Joint Early Intervention Services)
- Irene Schoemaker
- TBD
- TBD
What we do
Cupe 561 represents members from the following bargaining units: Children’s House Montessori Preschool, Coquitlam Public Library, TransDev, and School District 43 (Coquitlam).
Our local supports over 1900 members encompassing work sites from Hope to Burnaby.
Equality statement
Union solidarity is based on the principle that union members are equal and deserve mutual respect at all levels. Any behaviour that creates conflict prevents us from working together to strengthen our union.
As unionists, mutual respect, cooperation and understanding are our goals. We should neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
Discriminatory speech or conduct which is racist, sexist, transphobic or homophobic hurts and thereby divides us. So too, does discrimination on the basis of ability, age, class, religion, language and ethnic origin.
Sometimes discrimination takes the form of harassment. Harassment means using real or perceived power to abuse, devalue or humiliate. Harassment should not be treated as a joke. The uneasiness and resentment that it creates are not feelings that help us grow as a union.
Discrimination and harassment focus on characteristics that make us different; and they reduce our capacity to work together on shared concerns such as decent wages, safe working conditions, and justice in the workplace, society and in our union.
CUPE’s policies and practices must reflect our commitment to equality. Members, staff and elected officers must be mindful that all persons deserve dignity, equality and respect.