Year: 2014
Location: Jasper
Profile: Siobhan Vipond was born of Irish heritage to a family of union supporters who provided her with a deep appreciation of the importance of trade unions to the welfare of working people. After studying theatre production in arts schools, she began work in the wardrobe department at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, later moving on to work as a stage carpenter and stage electrician. When she qualified for membership in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 210, Vipond became a union steward as well as serving on negotiation committees for seven rounds of bargaining. She later became a vice-president of IATSE and sat on the Executive Council of the Alberta Federation of Labour. After attending the annual labour schools in Jasper, Vipond was elected secretary treasurer of the AFL in 2013, serving until 2021, when she was elected vice-president at the 29th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress. Vipond currently chairs the CLC Women’s Advisory Committee, is vice-chair of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Women’s Committee, and sits on the board of the Canadian Health Coalition. She also serves on the Executive Council of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUAC).
Keywords: AFL Executive Council; AFL Labour School; Canadian Health Coalition; Citadel Theatre wardrobe department; CLC Women’s Advisory Committee; International Trade Union Confederation of the Americas; Stage carpenter; Stage electrician; Trade Union Confederation of the Americas; Union steward.
Transcript: Download PDF
See also: Alberta Federation of Labour; Canadian Labour Congress; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees; Women and Work in Alberta