Labour Appreciation Night

Tracey Ramsey is the Director of the Women’s Department of Unifor where she coordinates with Local Union and Regional Council Women’s Committees to engage members on equity issues and other union priorities. Tracey is a Unifor Local 200 member and strong trade union activist. She is an autoworker and has worked at Ford engine plants in Windsor since 1996. Tracey is a grassroots activist with a strong focus on social justice. She is a former union Discussion Leader and Women’s Committee Chairperson. She currently serves as a member of the UNI Global Americas Women’s Committee, Co-Chair of the Windsor-Essex Health Coalition and is currently serving on the Board of Child Care Now, a National Child Care Advocacy organization. While laid off in 2008, she graduated from Practical Nursing at St. Clair College. Tracey is also a former Member of Parliament for the Riding of Essex, where she served as the NDP Trade, Justice and Deputy Labour Critic. She describes herself as a passionate working class feminist, policy wonk, and community advocate.

On the 10th of May 2024, our community experienced the loss of one its most prominent pillars with the passing of Brother Gary L. Parent.

Succeeding Charles Brooks, there was the age of Gary. Charlie was Gary’s mentor, he taught Gary that their job as a union rep “wasn’t” just a 9 to 5 job type of thing, it really had to spread out into the community.” Gary was always the first to speak about Charlie’s leadership, dedication and impact, where Gary himself embodied these same qualities. Gary, the 1993 Brooks Labour Community Service Award recipient, was instrumental in advancing the partnership between Labour and United Way, both locally and across the country.

As a trade unionist, Gary served as the Windsor and District Labour Council President and concurrently as the Secretary-Treasurer of CAW Local 444 for many years. Over the decades, he continued to represent the union throughout his retirement along with being a Board of Director for United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County until his passing.

Gary was “about doing the right thing”. Known to many as a kind, compassionate, caring leader, who held strongly to his morals and acted as champion of the downtrodden. He motivated and inspired generations to work together to build a better community for all. In honour of Gary and his incredible legacy a tribute will be included in the program.