I am an active volunteer with Generously Giving Back (GGB), a Canadian registered charity founded by everyday people with big hearts who have come together with one common purpose: To make a difference in the world, as there are no boundaries in kindness and giving. Generously Giving Back has two annual fundraisers, a golf tournament in June and a gala dinner and silent auction in November. These, along with private donations, raise about $50,000 each year.…

It’s government’s #1 job: making sure you can count on health care when you and your family need it. After years of cuts, neglect and privatization, Alberta’s health care system is stretched pretty thin. But the good news is, we’re finally seeing long-overdue investments and improvements in our hospitals and health care. The bad news is, politicians and the UCP are talking about more cuts and privatization. Cuts are too risky. We know the kind of…

Media Advisory May 4, 2018 Alberta’s union of health-care professionals will launch a campaign on Monday, May 7, to raise health care as a provincial election issue in light of recent threats from the United Conservative Party (UCP). “For some time now, we’ve been seeing frightening comments from the UCP about the future of health care, including talk of wanting to cut spending by 20 per cent,” says Mike Parker, president of HSAA, which represents more…

Above: Members of the CAMTA team pose with patient Maria Rosa while she takes her first steps. In February 2018, HSAA members Mark Rintoul, Barb Furler, Dedra Scott, Anna Hebert, Erik Soriano, and Krystle Chilibecki ventured to Quito, Ecuador with the organization CAMTA. The Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad (CAMTA) is a non-profit organization that annually sends a team of medical and non-medical volunteers to Quito to perform life-changing orthopedic surgeries for people in need.…

As maternal child social workers at Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC), we provide care to post-partum, pediatrics, neonatal intensive care and labor and delivery units. We work with new parents regarding concerns of mental health, domestic violence, addictions and social economic issues and how these dynamics may impact their ability to parent. Part of our role is help patients connect with supports and resources upon discharge from hospital. Sometimes we find ourselves needing to provide a…

For Immediate Release March 23, 2018 HSAA members employed by Alberta Health Services (AHS) have voted to ratify the tentative agreement (TA) that was reached on Saturday, February 24. Members had prioritized improvements to benefits as well as work/life balance and the HSAA bargaining committee was proud of the achievements gained in these areas. Additionally, significant improvements to working conditions and union language were successfully negotiated. Highlights of this TA include 100% coverage of CPAP machines…

Rob Breakenridge interviews HSAA president Mike Parker on Code Red issues in Calgary (March 16, 2018). https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/UVbdCXDnmjTByPPtkkKah