In Thunder Bay on the shores of Lake Superior (or Gitchi-gami in Ojibwe) COPE delegates from across the land met for reflection, planning and fun at our 2026 Annual General Meeting.
Elder Sheila De Corte began the gathering in a good way with an outdoor smudge near the water as the morning sun kept us warm.
Delegates then participated in the Kairos Blanket Exercise, a powerful experiential learning experience about the history and continuing impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. Thank you to Clifford Mushquash and Robin Sutherland for gently guiding us through a deeply emotional and sometimes painful three hours.
Former MP and now Resistance leader and podcaster Charlie Angus revved up the room on Saturday afternoon with a passionate call for Canadian unity amid the rise of fascism along the southern border, and a recognition of the historic coming together of our country in a devastating economic boycott of the United States – the significance of which has largely been missed by the mainstream media.
Delegates also shared learning at our educational sessions, enjoyed ourselves at the rocking hospitality suite and feasted on a delicious Saturday night dinner.
It was a blast. Thanks for the warm welcome, Thunder Bay!
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Last week, members of COPE Ontario joined thousands of delegates from across Canada at the 31st Canadian Labour Congress Convention (CLC) in Winnipeg.
This was a chance to show the power of workers coming together and to work towards building a better future - one that protects Canadian workers and jobs.
Speakers at the convention included CLC President Bea Bruske who spoke to the challenges of unemployment, tariffs and wealth disparity within the workforce.
“Canadian workers are being squeezed from every direction,” said Bruske. “Donald Trump’s trade war is putting jobs and industries at risk. Austerity and cuts to public services are weakening the supports workers and families rely on. At the same time, employers are using automation, AI, and algorithms to increase insecurity and weaken protections on the job. Workers are standing together to fight back".
COPE Ontario is so proud of it's members who represented us at the convention!
