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UNW Executive

The Union of Northern Workers is lead by its Executive, which governs the UNW between conventions. The Executive is elected at the UNW Triennial Convention, where delegates meet to decide issues of policy and set the direction for the UNW.

If a Regional Vice President (RVP) or Equity Vice President has to step down during the three year cycle, an election is run by mail ballot to all signed members of that Region.

Current elections:

RVP Kimberlite - Deadline for nominations is March 3, 2025 at 3:00pm

UNW Full Executive

(updated January 31, 2024)

President - Gayla Thunstrom
First Vice President - Melvin Larocque
​​​​Second Vice President - Annette Thompson
RVP Beaufort Delta/Sahtu - Maria Amestoy
RVP Deh Cho - Dawn Bell
RVP Fort Smith - Lauraine Armstrong
RVP Hay River - Jeff Groenewegan 
RVP Kimberlite - vacant - as per Section 5.2 of the UNW Bylaws, the President of Local 3050 will serve as interim RVP until the position is filled.
RVP North Great Slave - Todd Parsons 
RVP Somba K'e - Randy Thompson 
Equity Vice President - Valerie Salmon-Laylor

President - Gayla Thunstrom
First Vice President - Melvin Larocque
​​​​Second Vice President - Annette Thompson
RVP Beaufort Delta/Sahtu - Maria Amestoy
RVP Deh Cho - VACANT
RVP Fort Smith - Lauraine Armstrong
RVP Hay River - Jeff Groenewegan 
RVP Kimberlite - Michael Critch 
RVP North Great Slave - Todd Parsons 
RVP Somba K'e - Randy Thompson 
Equity Vice President - Brad Brake  

photo of u-n-w full executive being sworn in at Convention

President - Gayla Thunstrom
First Vice President - Melvin Larocque
​​​​Second Vice President - Josée-Anne Spirito
RVP Beaufort Delta/Sahtu - Kenzie MacDonald
RVP Deh Cho - Dennis Nelner
RVP Fort Smith - Lauraine Armstrong
RVP Hay River - Ray Levesque
RVP Kimberlite - Gerry Mainville* 
RVP North Great Slave - Kevin Butt
RVP Somba K'e - VACANT
Equity Vice President - Brad Brake  

*As per Resolution BG9, which was passed at the UNW 18th Triennial Convention in October 2021, the President of Local 3050 will represent the members of the Kimberlite region at the UNW Executive table so long as the position is vacant. 

President - Todd Parsons
First Vice President - Gayla Thunstrom
Second Vice President - Marie Buchanan
RVP Beaufort Delta/Sahtu - David Bob
RVP Deh Cho - Christina Holman
RVP Fort Smith - Lauraine Armstrong
RVP Hay River - Dawna O'Brien
RVP Kimberlite - Ivan Landry
RVP North Great Slave - Jason Card
RVP Somba K'e - Susan Harrison
Equity Vice President - Rashmi Patel

photo of the UNW executive elected at the 2017 UNW Triennial Convention

President - Todd Parsons
First Vice President - Gayla Thunstrom
Second Vice President - Marie Buchanan
RVP Beaufort Delta/Sahtu -  Val Robertson
RVP Deh Cho - Christina Holman
RVP Fort Smith - Lauraine Armstrong
RVP Hay River - Dawna O'Brien
RVP Kimberlite - Ivan Landry
RVP North Great Slave - Chris Potyok
RVP Somba K'e - Alex Lambrecht
Equity Vice President - Miriam Gordon

photo of the UNW executive elected at the 2014 UNW Triennial Convention