BC FORUM News

Outgoing BC Fed Secretary Treasurer Angela Schira
receives first Joy Langan Award

January, 2011 - Sister Angie Schira, the longest serving officer in the history of the BC Federation of Labour, became the first recipient of the "Joy Langan Award" at the BC Fed's annual convention that took place in Vancouver in November, 2010.

The Joy Langan Award, named after the late labour pioneer and former politician Joy Langan, who was also a president of the BC Federation of Retired Union Members, was presented to Sister Schira who accepted via a prepared speech to convention delegates that was read aloud by Brother Stan Pickthall, IAMAW District 250 Directing Business Representative. She was unable to attend the convention as a result of suffering serious injuries in an automobile accident last summer.

Angie's significant role as a labour activist includes many firsts – she was the first woman elected to an international office in her union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers when she became the first woman Vice-President in 1982 and then President of the BC Provincial Council of Machinists' in 1984, and formed and chaired the first Women's Rights Committee in her union.

Sister Schira comes from a strong working class family and her interest and involvement in the union movement has been matched by her commitment to women's issues, social change and justice for all working people.

Angie is well known by labour activists throughout the province and has served on a wide variety of boards and committees that demonstrate the range of her abilities, including the Federal New Democratic Party National Council; Canadian Labour Congress' National Political Action Committee; the Working Opportunity Fund; the Canadian Council on Learning; BC Workers' Compensation Board; BC Hydro Corporation; United Way's Labour Committee and she served as a member of the United Way "Campaign Cabinet".

She was first elected as Secretary-Treasurer of the BC Federation of Labour in 1989, a position she held until 2010, making her the longest serving officer in the history of the Federation. It is fitting that she is the first recipient of this award for women activists.