BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND CLiFF
DEREK BLACKADDER
Board Member
Derek Blackadder is a retired trade union official, the Canadian Co-ordinator for LabourStart, writes the Webwork column for Our Times magazine and is a regular contributor to the Canadian and global editions of RadioLabour. He is Co-Chair of the Northumberland Coalition for Social Justice and volunteers with several social justice and film-related organizations in Cobourg, Ontario.
FRANK SAPTEL
Board Member
Frank Saptel is the national communications trainer with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Canada) in Canada. Frank is involved in trade union activism, as well as human rights and social justice. He is also a Board member of Our Times Magazine, Toronto Workers' History Project and the Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians. Frank is the founder of CLiFF.
LORENE OIKAWA
Board Member
Lorene Oikawa is an activist who speaks and writes about her passions including human rights. She is co-editor of the book, Honouring Our People: Breaking the Silence. She is the president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC). She is a director on the board of West Coast Environmental Law. She was the first Asian Canadian Executive Vice President for the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU).
MICHELLE LeBLANC
Board Member
Michelle LeBlanc is a union organizer currently working for the Society of United Professionals in Toronto, Ontario. Michelle is a transplanted East Coaster who has had the privilege of working with teams all over the country during her career as an organizer in both the student and labour movements.
STANLEY HO
Board Member
Stanley Ho is a passionate Hongkonger deeply involved in Hong Kong's independent labour movement. He served as an organizer for the dockworkers' union and was responsible for union education in Hong Kong. He previously worked as a Policy and Communication Officer at Wales TUC. Stanley holds a master’s degree in Labour Studies from McMaster University. He is a passionate admirer of Ken Loach films and is keenly interested in the development of global unions.
DEEDEE SLYE
Board Member
Deedee Slye is a Communications Officer at the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union and lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has her Masters in Film Production and an undergraduate degree in Cinema Studies and Anthropology. She is passionate about film & video making and telling stories about our collective and individual struggles for equality and justice in the workplace and in our communities. There is much work to be done.
MIKE YAM
Board Member
Mike Yam is a National Representative at Unifor, working in the Research Department. Mike was previously involved in the student movement, anti-poverty advocacy, not-for-profit and union work for a number of years prior to joining Unifor in 2014. He remains optimistic that late stage capitalism will end sooner rather than later. In the meantime, he is committed to honing valuable survival skills through gardening, open water activities, martial arts, and biking among other things.
PATRICK FRY-SMITH
Board Member
Patrick Fry-Smith is a tireless advocate for Ontario's workers, He brings nearly three decades of experience as a 911 dispatcher to his current role as a Staff Representative at the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Based in Hamilton, Patrick is a proud member of the queer community and a passionate ally who champions inclusivity in the workplace. He is excited to merge his dedication to the labour movement with his love of film, using this festival as a platform to amplify workers' voices and stories.
ROHIT GILL
Board Member
Rohit Gill is a labour relations officer with the United Nurses of Alberta, and a lawyer who has worked for a union-side labour law firm, and continues to volunteer with a low-income legal clinic. Rohit attributes his passion for the labour movement to his immigrant parents, whose efforts often went unrecognized by employers. He is passionate about art and film as well, and is excited to converge his passions through this festival. In his free time, Rohit enjoys hiking, watching movies, listening to podcasts, producing music, and spending time with his friends and family.
