Dear friends,
As we enter a new season, we welcome a renewed dedication to our work here at LCS. We invite you to dive deeper with us and explore the lineup of upcoming events and opportunities to become more involved - with leadership training through the LCAT Program, anti-racism work through the Bromley Armstrong Awards Gala and Yes It Matters/Refugee Next Door campaigns, and supporting Labour's charity of choice, United Way Greater Toronto. Our Annual Meeting will be taking place on May 26, and we hope you can join us in recapping 2025 and celebrating our latest Labour Community Advocate graduates.
Always with gratitude,
Labour Community Services
Get your Bromley Armstrong Awards Gala tickets/sponsorship packages by April 20
Thank you to everyone who submitted a Bromley L. Armstrong Awards nomination! We're excited to announce and celebrate the winners at the Awards Gala on June 19. To attend the biggest night in recognizing work being done for human rights, Indigenous rights, equity and social justice, get your tickets/sponsorship packages by April 20. Click here for full ticket/sponsorship package details.
Full event details at: www.labourcommunityservices.ca/bromleygala2026
Annual Meeting and Labour Community Advocates' Graduation on May 26
Join us for the Labour Community Services Annual Meeting and LCAT Graduation on May 26, as we recap 2025 and celebrate our newest Labour Community Advocates. This year, we will also be engaging in a discussion, "Human Powered: The Future of Labour."
DATE: May 26, 2026
TIME: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
WHERE: Online via Zoom
The Zoom link will be shared with you the day before the event.
RSVP BY MAY 22: Click here
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
The spring session of the LCAT Program begins on March 18 and we wish everyone the best as they start this new chapter.
The LCAT Program is designed to train union members to become referral agents in their workplaces. Over 10 weeks, the classes focus on social issues faced by working people, communication, interviewing, referral techniques, and resources available in the community that can assist fellow union members.
If you are interested in becoming a Labour Community Advocate in the fall or would like a customized program for your local, please connect with Najib Soufian at [email protected].
Thank you for supporting Labour's charity of choice: United Way Greater Toronto
United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) holds a special place in our heart. The Toronto & York Region Labour Council were founding parters of UWGT. In 1982, Labour Community Services was established from that partnership to tackle issues of poverty together. Many of you have participted in the annual Labour Presidents' Breakfast and workplace campaigns to help raise funds for the 300 United Way-funded agencies that strengthen the comunities we all live and work in each year.
This year, our Labour United Way Volunteers include:
Campaign Cabinet:
- Jinkie David, Campaign Cabinet Labour Co-Chair, CUPE 4948
- Judith Logan Junop, Campaign Cabinet Labour Co-Chair, IFPTE 160
- Cheryl Peron, Campaign Cabinet Labour Co-Chair, Canadian Labour Congress
UW Board of Trustees:
- Andria Babbington, President, Toronto & York Region Labour Council (ex-officio)
- Ted Aivalis, Executive Vice President, CUPE Local 416
Supporting the United Way is part of the Labour Movement. We encourage you to get in touch with a United Way Labour Liaison (Marcia at [email protected] or Richelle at [email protected]), to get more involved, start a workplace campaign, or schedule an information presentation at your next meeting.
Stay tuned for the new Labour & United Way bulletin this spring with exciting events and info on the 2026 Labour Presidents' Breakfast on October 26. Thank you for supporting Labour's charity of choice - United Way Greater Toronto.
Our fight against racism continues: check out our campaigns
CELEBRATING HERITAGE MONTHS: HIGHLIGHT A COLLEAGUES' WORK
As part of the Yes, It Matters: Addressing Systemic Racism campaign, we highlight the diverse contributions of workers during each heritage month. March is recognized as Bangladeshi, Persian, and Hellenic Heritage Month in Ontario (full list of heritage months in Ontario).
We're looking for submissions of a 100-200 word summary of the work the individual has done as part of their community and workplace, plus their photo. Here are some examples of previous features. We will then share it in our next e-newsletter and online. Submit your profiles of recognition throughout the year to: [email protected].
BOOK US FOR A 'REFUGEE NEXT DOOR' PRESENTATION
We've updated our award-winning Refugees in Canada: Facts and Myths video. This presentation is a useful tool in understanding and standing up for human rights which focuses on refugees in Canada, separating facts from myths. Watch the video below and book a Refugee Next Door presentation for your next union meeting/event by contacting Sharon Simpson at: [email protected].
https://youtu.be/cVWf0zw9S0U
Looking Forward: AI, Automation and Workers
Since 2024, LCS has been engaged in preliminary research and conversations focused on artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and workers, with Professor Asmita Bhutani from York University. A focus group, consisting of members from the Toronto & York Region Labour Council’s Equity Committee, further explored how AI and automation are present in the workplace, and its impact on workers. Ongoing research also focused on workers' voices, what better work means, and equitability all across. This initative aims to continue broadening the conversation on AI and labour. The first delivery of findings will be shared during a workshop at York University this month.
Professor Asmita Bhutani will be joining the discussion Human Powered: The Future of Labour during the LCS Annual Meeting on May 26. To join, the conversation, RSVP by May 22 to attend online.