Executive Board
AT WORK FOR
you
LOCAL 247 - EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
PRESIDENT –
DAN GOODMAN
Dan served as Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW 247 for 10 years before assuming the responsibilities of President in May 2021. He started his career in the grocery industry in 1984 working for Safeway in Winnipeg and got involved in his union (UFCW 832) shortly after, as a Shop Steward and Executive Board member. Dan was hired by UFCW Canada as a National Representative and after a stint at the National Office in Toronto, joined UFCW 777 in 2001 as Assistant to the President. Dan lives in Coquitlam with his wife and two children and when not busy with union work, he is busy with his family and their many sporting activities.
SECRETARY-TREASURER –
CHARLES PRATT
Charles lives in Coquitlam and started serving as Secretary-Treasurer in 2021, after holding the duties of Assistant to the President since 2011. Charles started working for Superstore as a baker in 1989 at Metrotown when it opened and was hired as a Union Representative in 1995. He served members as a Shop Steward and Recording Secretary on the Executive Board. He has continuosly assisted members with their WorkSafeBC appeals and oversees the Loblaw servicing staff.
RECORDER –
BRIAN TAYLOR
Brian lives in Coquitlam and has worked as a meat cutter for Safeway since 1994. Brian has been a Shop Steward since 2005, and served on the Union Negotiating Committee in 2008 and 2013. A member of the UFCW 247 Executive Board since 2009, Brian is familiar to many members as a temporary Union Rep. He lives in Coquitlam with his wife, has two daughters, and enjoys mountain biking, hockey, and the gym.
VP 1 –
MARGARET ROBINS
Margaret lives in Richmond (where she also grew up), and like her Mother and Grandmother did, she works at Safeway. In her 38-year career, Margaret has worked in 8 stores as a Cashier, Department manager, deli clerk, and meat wrapper. She participated in the 2013 proposals as a Shop Steward, and served on the most recent Union Negotiating Committee for negotiations with Safeway. Margaret has enjoyed years of volunteering with various school PAC’s, Richmond girls’ softball as team manager, and a leader with the Girl Guides of Canada. In her spare time, she loves to cook and garden, but her true passion is dogs! Margaret has bred and shown quality English Springer Spaniel dogs at conformation and obedience dog shows in the US and Canada for over 35 years.
VP 2 –
ALICIA WHITEHEAD
Alicia lives in Surrey and has worked at Safeway’s Ocean Park store since 2014. Alicia took a meat-cutting course and shortly after became involved with her Union’s Negotiating Committee. She enjoys arts and crafts, has volunteered with charities that support the Surrey Food Bank, and as a former trained Aesthetician, did medical pedicures for the elderly at two local facilities.
VP 3 –
SUSAN ESPIN
Susan lives and works in North Vancouver, where she has been employed with Superstore since 1998. Not long after she became interested in the union and became a Shop Steward. Susan has been on the Union Negotiating Committee three times, and joined the Executive Board in 2009. In addition to caring deeply about chocolate and snow, Susan likes movies, TV and home improvement shows, and playing board and video games.
VP 4 –
SANDRA PETERS
Sandra lives in Surrey, and works at Delta Superstore. She has been with Supestore since 1993, been a Shop Steward since 2007. Sandra enjoys volunteering, and has helped out with fundraising for Bright Lights, and is involved with the Shoe Memorial. Sandra has a 19 year old son, and a very busy Shitzu who expects to be treated like a second child.
VP 5 –
DINO CASTELLARIN
Dino lives in Burnaby, and has worked at Western Grocers DC 1908 (warehouse) since 1989. Dino worked in many roles at DC 1908 , including as a Health & Safety committee rep, and in 2001 transferred to maintenance and trained as a mechanic.
Dino became a Shop Steward in 1989, served on his Union Negotiating Committee, and is in his third term as a member of the UFCW Local 247 Executive Board. He has been involved in the UFCW 247 New Westminster Training Centre, and also served as a (temporary) coordinator for the Training Centre courses for members.
VP 6 –
JOHN LEWINSKI
John lives in Langford and has worked at the Langford Superstore since 2002. He has been a Shop Steward since 2001 and been on the Union Negotiating Committee since 2015. John has been a member of the NDP since 1984, and since moving to BC in 1992 has volunteered on every Federal and Provincial election since. After working graveyard shifts for 15 years, John is still getting used to being up during the day, and is extremely proud of his four children and five grandchildren.
VP 7 –
SANDRA GELDART
Sandra has worked for Superstore for 20 years, currently in Campbell River. A Shop Steward since 2010, Sandra assisted with putting together the first Cheers for a Cause fundraiser on Vancouver Island and is working to make it an annual event in Campbell River.
VP 8 –
Peter Parmar
Peter Parmar has been with the Real Canadian Superstore in Prince George since its grand opening in 1995. He started off as a cashier and was then trained in customer service and the cash office. He then proceeded to learn how to open and close the store and became a full-time front-end administrator. When not at work, Peter enjoys running and working out, travelling and spending time with his family.
VP 9 –
GORDEN MCDONALD
Gorden has been with Safeway since 1980. He lives and works in Dawson Creek, where he is a meat cutter and department head. A Shop Steward since 1987, Gorden has a teenage son, along with five adult children.
VP 10 –
KIRSTE HAWGOOD
Kirste has worked for Safeway in Kamloops since 2011, where she’s been an active steward in the Seafood Department for the majority of that time. In 2023, she took on the responsibility of being part of the bargaining committee to represent her fellow union members. Kirste is an avid golfer, has three amazing adult children, and recently became a “Nani”. She has been involved with the Heart & Stroke Foundation for 25 years and is a proud supporter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, as well as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
VP 11 –
DOUG INSLEY
Doug lives in Kelowna with his wife and two children. He has worked at the Downtown Kelowna Safeway since 1986, where he also serves a Shop Steward. Doug has been part of the Union Negotiating Committee and enjoys the outdoors, as well as garage time tinkering on cars and trucks.
VP 12 –
DAWN STEVENSON
Dawn is from Surrey and works at the Newton Superstore. She has been with Superstore for over 25 years, serves as a Shop Steward and has been on the Union Negotiating Committee since 2010. Dawn is a member of and volunteers with the UFCW 247 Women’s Committee. Married with two children, Dawn also loves to travel.
VP 13 –
DALE JUVELIN
Dale lives in Chilliwack, where he works at Five Corner Meats. He first became active in the union as a member of the Union Negotiating Committee when a transition in company ownership took place; shortly after that he began serving as a Shop Steward. Dale enjoys playing sports and board games.
VP 14 –
CATHY SHANNON
Cathy lives in Richmond. She serves as Union Representative and Assistant to the President for UFCW Local 247, following a 20-year career working in Safeway meat, deli, and seafood departments.
While working at Safeway, Cathy became a Shop Steward, and been a member of her Union Bargaining Committee since the 1990s. Cathy became interested in the collective bargaining process after having a personal family experience with the benefits that members received when off work on a disability claim.
Cathy actively supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada as well as the Heart and Stroke Foundation. A sports fan, Cathy played baseball for many years in the Safeway baseball league, and is a fan of the Vancouver Canucks.