Racial Justice Summit

The summit is open to all USW members in District 3 (Western Canada and the Territories); however, local unions are strongly encouraged to select Steelworkers who identify as Black, racialized or Indigenous to register and attend this event.

USW local unions can help us with this important work by reaching out to and sending Black, racialized and Indigenous members to this educational event. There is no limit to the number of delegates a local union can send.

Bursaries are available to help cover costs for local union members to attend. Please see the USW Family and Community Education Fund (FCEF) bursary section for more information on bursaries.

Hotel

The USW has a limited number of rooms for this event, at a preferred rate of $193 + taxes, per night at:

Sandman Signature Hotel
8828 201 St., Langley, B.C. V2Y 0C8

(The hotel is approximately a 10-minute drive from USW Local 2009 office).

To reserve a room in the USW block, please register by Sept. 20, 2026, and answer ‘Yes’ in the registration form. The participant’s name will be included in the rooming block. The participant will need to pay for the room at check-in using a major credit card. To arrange payment for a participant in advance, please contact Dani Mahmoidi at dmahmoudi@usw.ca.

Travel

Those who reside outside of the Greater Vancouver area and require air travel may contact WE Travel: 1-800-667-4703

Note: WE Travel will book air travel for this conference for a flat fee of $62.50 + tax in addition to the cost of the ticket. All travel costs are the responsibility of the participant/local but can be offset using the USW Family and Community Education Fund (FCEF) bursary.

The USW Family and Community Education Fund (FCEF) has up to 50 bursaries available of up to $1,000 each for equity-deserving delegates – members who identify as Black, racialized or Indigenous. An additional $300 will be provided for the qualified members who live more than 300 km from the venue (Greater Vancouver area).

Local unions will be reimbursed up to a maximum amount of $1,000 per delegate (or $1,300 for those living more than 300 km from the Greater Vancouver area) for the actual amount of receipts for the following eligible items: salary and benefits reimbursement, transportation costs including airfare, mileage, parking, accommodations, per diem.

All costs must be paid by the local and receipts submitted to the FCEF for reimbursement after the conclusion of the event. After the summit, locals must submit hotel receipts showing the name(s) of delegate(s), arrival and departure dates, event registration and transportation receipts showing name(s) of delegate(s), itinerary and cost for any air, bus or train travel, as well as any taxi receipts between home and airport/station and between airport/station and hotel. Those driving will be reimbursed mileage at 73 cents/km, up to a maximum equivalent to the cost of economy airfare. Gas receipts must be submitted as backup, and the mileage travelled each way must be clearly indicated.

Click here to download the reimbursement form. This must be submitted post-event and be signed by the delegate and a local union officer. No reimbursement will be made to individuals.

After the event, please send the completed and signed form, along with any receipts to fcef@usw.ca or by mail to:

USW Canadian National Office
Attention: FCEF
800-234 Eglinton Ave. E.
Toronto, ON M4P 1K7

The FCEF also has a family care reimbursement program available for members attending authorized union events, such as the Racial Justice Summit. This program is open to members from contributing locals. To find out if your local contributes to the FCEF, email fcef@usw.ca.

Members can claim caregiving fees for the following dependents who reside with them:

a) A child aged 12 or under for daytime and/or overnight care;

b) A child aged 15 or under for overnight care, where the authorized union event requires your absence overnight;

c) A child or adult with a disability for daytime and/or overnight care;

d) An adult who is dependent and requires care during the daytime and/or overnight.

Family care costs that would normally occur had you been at your workplace, or care provided by your spouse, partner or your child’s other parent will not be reimbursed.

Please visit the FCEF Family care reimbursement page for detailed information and eligibility: usw.ca/resources/family-care-reimbursement-form/

Please contact the following individuals for questions concerning each topic:

Racial Justice Summit, including registration
Lorei De Los Reyes, ldelosreyes@usw.ca

Travel and accommodations
Dani Mahmoudi, dmahmoudi@usw.ca

FCEF bursaries and family care
Gabriele Simmons, fcef@usw.ca

To be included in the hotel block – register by Sept. 20, 2026
General registration (no hotel) – register by Oct. 1, 2026.