May 31, 2019 (FREDERICTON, NB) – A leading authority on technological transformations in health care, the president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, experts in the growing worldwide shortage of nursing professionals, and the president of the Canadian Labour Congress are among the speakers on the agenda, as more than 900 nurses from across Canada gather in New Brunswick’s capital June 3-7 for the biennial convention of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.
The 2019 biennium will be a homecoming for CFNU President Linda Silas, who from 1990 to 2000 was president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union, the host of the biennial convention.
With the theme of Lead – emphasizing the leadership of nurses in patient advocacy and the promotion of public health care – formal activities are scheduled to get under way at 8:30 a.m. sharp on Tuesday June 4 at the Fredericton Convention Centre, 670 Queen Street, with two days devoted to educational sessions, followed by two days of CFNU business.
On Monday afternoon, most convention delegates are expected to participate in a Healthy Walk through the streets of Fredericton before they register and are welcomed by CLC President Hassan Yussuff at an opening night reception.
In addition, at noon Tuesday, nurse leaders from across the country will take part in a press conference to end the epidemic of violence in Canada’s health care worksites.
Tuesday’s plenary session will open with a discussion of climate change and health by Dr. Courtney Howard, President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, and Dr. Wanda Martin of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Nursing. Media are welcome to attend.
A dozen workshops for convention delegates on topics ranging from violence in the workplace, the social determinants of health, political activism and reconciliation are scheduled throughout the afternoon.
Wednesday’s educational sessions will open with a discussion by experts from Canada, Belgium, California, Ireland and Australia on the growing worldwide shortage of regulated professional nurses, followed by another afternoon of workshops.
The business of the Biennium commences at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday June 6, followed an hour later by remarks from President Silas, committee reports, member resolutions and award presentations.
Friday finishes off with CFNU union business, a massive rally to prepare nurses for the next federal election under the banner “Choose care, not cuts.” Finally, delegates will hear from digital transformation expert Andrew Au who will address the closing session of the convention on the future of digitization in health care.
A full agenda is posted on CFNU’s website, nursesunions.ca. Media are welcome to attend select panels during the plenary sessions.
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Journalists who wish to arrange an interview with CFNU President Linda Silas or other conference participants should contact:
Ben René, CFNU Communications Officer, 613-406-5962, brene@nursesunions.ca
Lauren Snowball, CFNU Communications Officer, 613-868-5702, lsnowball@nursesunions.ca