The CCU-CSC Labour School and Executive Board (EB) meeting is being held in Ottawa, Ontario on February 11 & 12, 2023 at the Lord Elgin Hotel, featuring guest speakers Rebecca Zagozewski and Deon Hassler (see below).

Please be sure to confirm your reservation on or before the cut-off date of January 10th, 2023. Please do not use third-party internet booking sites as the booking will not appear on our reservation lists.

Meeting location: Lord Elgin Hotel
100 Elgin Street
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5K8
(613) 235-3333
lordelginhotel.ca

The reservation booking link is https://reservations.travelclick.com/12200?groupID=3667244. Delegates can also phone toll free at 1-800-267-4298 or email groups@lordelgin.ca. 

Please note that there is a 7 day cancellation policy for all reservations made under this group block. Any reservation that is changed or modified within 7 days of the arrival date will be charged the full cost of the original booking.

N.B. Unless alternate arrangements are made PRIOR TO THE MEETING, ALL delegates and guests are responsible for their own room rental fees and/or ancillary charges.

Once your reservation has been confirmed, please notify Dawn Burns (secretary@ccu-csc.ca) and Scarlett Farquhar (ccucsctreasurer@gmail.com) this information is needed for catering and appropriate meeting kits.

Anyone with food intolerances and/or allergies is also advised to contact Scarlett directly on or before January 4th, 2023.

Labour School – Clean Drinking Water for First Nations Communities

Rebecca Zagozewski

Rebecca Zagozewski serves as the Executive Director for the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association (SFNWA). She brings a multidisciplinary background with both undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Sociology (University of Saskatchewan), but her primary focus has been research and policy development for First Nations water. Rebecca is an uninvited settler to these lands. Originally born on Robinson-Huron Territory, now known as Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, she has spent most of her life on Treaty 6 territory in both Prince Albert and Saskatoon, SK.

Following multiple years of developing research relationships with First Nations communities in SK, Rebecca facilitated the Healthy Water Working Group (HWWG), a subgroup of the Environmental Health Working Group, under the direction of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, SK. The HWWG was mandated to develop multiple regulations and standards documents to support the care and control of drinking water and wastewater in SK First Nations. Rebecca has assisted with the creation, incorporation and development of the SFNWA since August 2018.

Deon Hassler

Deon Hassler is from Carry the Kettle Nako’da First Nations on the Saskatchewan prairies and is a former water plant operator and Military Veteran. He volunteers as the Executive Director/President of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association, Ambassador/Board Director of the Water Movement, and Board Member of the Safe Drinking Water Team. Deon completed 3 years of architectural and industrial arts training while attending high school in the U.S. Deon joined the U.S. Navy upon completing high school and was employed as a machinist and water plant operator aboard large aircraft carriers. After leaving the Navy he worked constructing skyrise office buildings in California. Deon relocated to Canada where he attended SIAST in Moose Jaw in the Instrumentation program. After his time at SIAST Deon worked as a construction contractor performing all aspects of trades related to the design and construction of commercial and residential buildings. Deon also worked in a pharmaceutical facility manufacturing insulin bags as a member of the maintenance crew. Always industrious, Deon owned and operated a used furniture store in Indian Head. In 2005 Deon took his Level 1 Water and Wastewater Treatment Training with Garry Tenaschuck sponsored by the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council in Lebret.

In 2010, Deon began working part-time as a water treatment operator in his home community. In 2013, he started his career as a Circuit Rider for the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council. He now mentors approximately 25 operators in 11 First Nation Communities. Deon has been a member of the SWWA and is a founding member of the Board of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association (SFNWA). Deon is also an active member of the Safe Drinking Water Foundation’s Team. Because of his commitment to providing safe drinking water to First Nation communities Deon was invited to participate in the Healthy Drinking Water Working Group for the FSIN (Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations). In 2019, he was recognized for that work with the National First Nations Leadership Award by the Indigenous Services Canada.Outside of his water and wastewater volunteer commitments, Deon is involved in the Saskatchewan First Nations Veteran’s Association and served as the South Branch President for several years.