CUPE BC is pleased to be hosting Super Conference from June 9-11, 2026 in Nanaimo, British Columbia.  This event is open to all CUPE BC members.  Locals are encouraged to consider sending a member who self-identifies as belonging to an equity-seeking group, including, but not limited to: Indigenous, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+, racialized workers, women, and young workers.

Online registration will be open until Thursday, May 7 (end of day), and Locals and District Councils can register up to 10 participants at a time.

Registration Link:  Click here

Registration Deadline:  Thursday, May 7, 2026 (end of day)

Due to venue capacity, registration will be limited to 200 people. Early registration is advised. 

EVENT INFORMATION

CUPE BC Super Conference

Dates:  June 9-11, 2026 (3 days)

Location:  Vancouver Island Conference Centre (101 Gordon St., Nanaimo)

Format:  In-Person 

Cost:  $275 per delegate

Workshop Agenda: Click here

Payment Invoice: CUPE BC will issue invoices to participating Locals and District Councils post-event. Cheque payments or EFTs will be accepted.

CHILDCARE INFORMATION

CUPE will provide childcare for children aged 12 and under at a rate of $10 per child per day. To opt in for childcare services, please complete the form linked below by Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Childcare Request Form: Click here 
Childcare Request Deadline: Thursday, May 7, 2026

Please note that childcare service requests received after the deadline cannot be accommodated.

ACCESSIBILITY REQUESTS

If you have any accessibility needs and/ other special requirements, please submit an Accessibility Request using the form linked below by Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Accessibility Request Form: Click here

Accessibility Request Deadline: Thursday, May 7, 2026

CUPE BC will endeavor to accommodate the needs of all participants. Please note, however, that we may be limited by 3^rd party equipment providers.

Please also note that ergonomic chairs will not be available for this event. Delegates who foresee physical discomfort after prolonged sitting are encouraged to bring a small cushion for their seat.

Members with mobility issues may prefer to book accommodations at the Coast Bastion Hotel, as it connects to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre via parkade.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS

To book accommodations for this event, please visit the W.E. Travel booking site (click here). For travel booking assistance, please contact W.E. Travel directly at (604)-969-5585 or toll-free at 1-800-663-4703.

Inventory & Advisory Notes:

• The online hotel booking site is integrated with hotel room inventory. It will only show rooms available under the CUPE BC room block.
• If the hotel booking site shows that no rooms are available at a given hotel, you will be prompted to place yourself on the waitlist.
• If you book a hotel room directly with the hotel, please note that the room cannot be added to the CUPE BC Room block. Reallocation of rooms to the CUPE BC block will not be permitted at the designated hotels.
• The Courtyard by Marriott hotel is not a pet-friendly facility.  If you intend on bringing your pet, please book accommodations at the Coast Bastion Hotel.
• If you require an earlier check-in date (i.e., June 8^th) for travel reasons, please proceed with booking your hotel room based on the available date options.  After completing your booking, please contact W.E. Travel and request to extend your stay. You will be asked to provide your booking confirmation number to proceed with changes to your existing booking.

Should you have any questions regarding this update, please email events@cupe.bc.ca for additional information.

In solidarity,

CUPE British Columbia

#410-6222 Willingdon Avenue

Burnaby, British Columbia

V5H 0G3

P: 604.291.9119

www.cupe.bc.ca

Headquartered on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Tsleil-Waututh and Qayqayt First Nations. CUPE BC acknowledges that the province of British Columbia is located on the homelands of 203 distinct Indigenous nations and cultures; with more than 30 different languages and close to 60 unique dialects spoken in the province. We ask all CUPE members to reflect, acknowledge and honour in their own way the First Nation land on which they live, work and play.

Hello,

Local government elections are coming to British Columbia in October 2026.

As part of our readiness plans, CUPE BC is partnering with the CLC to deliver one-day interactive workshops in communities around the province. The course, titled Building Worker Power Through Local Government, is a great introduction for members on the importance of local governments and how we, as workers, can have an impact on the upcoming elections. This course won’t be interesting to members who have already received extensive political action training at CUPE.

Any members that your Local would like to have registered can use this form to submit an application to attend.

CUPE BC and CUPE have set aside funds to cover the costs of several members to attend these trainings, but funds are limited. We will only be able to cover training expenses for a small number of members for each training session. Completing the above form does not guarantee that your member will be registered by CUPE BC. You will receive confirmation from Neal Adolph, Political Action Coordinator for CUPE, once the member has been registered for the training.

For those registered by CUPE BC, all costs, including book off, travel, accommodation (if necessary) and per diems will be covered as per CUPE BC’s Expense Policy.

If there is more interest in attending the course than there is CUPE BC funding available, Locals can register members through the CLC and directly cover their costs. Please contact Neal Adolph at nadolph@cupe.ca for CLC registration links.

Below is a description of this one-day course:

Building Worker Power Through Local Government is a one-day interactive workshop for union members who want to understand—and influence—local elections in BC this fall.

Participants will learn how municipalities and school districts work and why it’s crucial to elect worker-focused candidates.

Through hands-on activities and group discussion, workers will connect everyday experiences with issues like local budgets, public services, and privatization. Participants will leave with practical tools for engagement and a clearer sense of how to turn worker power into political power that shapes municipal and school district elections in the years to come.

Training will be taking place on the following dates in communities around the province:

• April 1 – Victoria
• April 8 – Kelowna
• April 9 – Kamloops
• April 17 – Nanaimo
• April 21 – Surrey
• April 22 – Vancouver
• April 24 – Comox
• June 1 – Prince George

CUPE BC is also working with the Region on developing a series of virtual Presidents’ Information Sessions, to take place in evenings this spring, with the aim of helping presidents and political activists in our union prepare for the coming elections. More information on this will be coming soon.

If you have any questions about any of the above programming, or if your Local needs any specific support to help you prepare for the upcoming local government elections, please do not hesitate to reach out to me through your National Rep.

In solidarity,

Neal Adolph | Political Action Coordinator (he/him)

Political Action Coordinator

Strong Communities Working Group

Canadian Union of Public Employees

NA:cc/cope491

Headquartered on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Tsleil-Waututh and Qayqayt First Nations. CUPE BC acknowledges that the province of British Columbia is located on the homelands of 203 distinct Indigenous nations and cultures; with more than 30 different languages and close to 60 unique dialects spoken in the province. We ask all CUPE members to reflect, acknowledge and honour in their own way the First Nation land on which they live, work and play.