Alyson Winkelaar is a dedicated advocate for her union with nearly a decade of experience in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) at the City of Edmonton. A CSU 52 member for 13 years, she became a Shop Steward in 2021 and soon moved into the Assistant Chief Shop Steward position in 2023. In this role, Alyson has organized training assemblies for over 150 stewards across five bargaining units, co-delivering engaging sessions and with attendance growing steadily since the beginning of her term. Her expertise in workplace safety, including both physical and  psychological health and safety, adds unique value to the CSU 52 Board of Directors.

With over a decade of experience as an adult educator, Alyson has worked with diverse audiences from business professionals to front-line workers, delivering training and education sessions and always looking for continuous improvement opportunities. She is deeply familiar with Alberta’s OHS legislation and has navigated relationships with provincial regulators, City leadership, and front-line employees.

Alyson’s passion for union activism is matched by her commitment to making union participation accessible. She believes meetings should be productive, respectful, and even fun, encouraging more members to engage without overwhelming time commitments.

A lifelong Edmontonian, Alyson enjoys biking, hiking in the river valley, and preserving homegrown produce. She lives with her partner, two children, and their beloved cat and dog near Millcreek Ravine. When not organizing for CSU 52, you might find her enjoying a local craft beer or perfecting a new jam recipe. 

Alyson’s combination of OHS expertise, leadership experience, and passion for worker advocacy make her a strong candidate for Chief Shop Steward.

Contact Alyson: alyson.winkelaar@gmail.com

Anna Vesala has been a CSU 52 member for over 18 years, working in community outreach and education in three departments at the City of Edmonton. 

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  -3 years as a temporary employee with Community Services in seasonal recreation programs (Green Shack, summer camps, river valley programs);

• -4 years as a provisional employee with Waste Services in Education & Outreach;

• -10 years as a permanent employee with Community Services in Neighbourhood Services;

  • As a Neighbourhood Resource Coordinator, she worked directly with non-profit and community organizations in board governance, public park developments/redevelopments, public space animation, and civic leadership/engagement.

• -1.5 years (so far) as a permanent employee with City Operations in Safe Mobility.

  • Currently, as a Community Activator for the Safe Mobility Strategy, she leads public engagement for neighbourhood traffic safety programs; coordinates engineering and construction project teams; provides plain language education and information to residents, community organizations, businesses, and institutions; and develops program evaluation & monitoring plans. 
    
    

Union & Labour Movement

Anna previously served as 2nd Vice President and Secretary of the board, where she championed transparency, policy improvements, and the creation of the Anti-Racism & Discrimination Committee.

Anna actively seeks out opportunities to support members and understand their perspectives, currently serving on the Members & Community Support and Labour Advocacy Committees. As a Shop Steward for 5 years, she helped create open channels between members and management to address issues beyond bargaining. She has taken steps to learn better practices as a union member by attending the biannual Labour School conference since 2017, completing the Basic Shop Steward course, Advanced Shop Steward, Unions in the Age of Austerity, Building Solidarity in Polarizing Times, Member Engagement & Mobilization, and is again registered to attend later this month. She has the great fortune to participate in the international online Organizing For Power six week training program with the late Jane McAlevey and the Rosa Luxemberg Foundation in May-June 2021, bringing the lessons and practices of successful union bargaining to CSU 52 from the ground up.

With a core value of building solidarity across communities, Anna has attended the Edmonton & District Labour Council general meetings as a guest since 2021. The opportunity to meet and collaborate with members from diverse unions in Edmonton has enabled her to build meaningful relationships and appreciation for the local labour movement and our many common struggles.

With her wealth of experience and deep commitment to member engagement, Anna is ready to build a union that works for all of us—driven by members, built on transparency, and focused on real progress.

If you have ideas, questions, or feedback for Anna during the election, please reach out!

Email: anna4csu52@gmail.com

Berchman Parcon brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his candidacy for Chief Trustee on the CSU 52 Board of Directors. With 27 years of accounting expertise, Berchman has worked for the City of Edmonton, Finning Canada, and currently serves as an Accounting Assistant with Edmonton Public Library. His detailed work includes managing corporate credit cards, reconciling accounts, and overseeing invoice processing, making him a highly skilled financial professional.

In addition to his accounting background, Berchman has been an active member of CSU 52 since 2018, recently stepping up as a Shop Steward and serving as a member of the Community Relations Committee. His union involvement also includes acting as a Strike Captain last March and participating in the Organizing for Power Core Fundamentals training. Berchman is committed to creating a fair and supportive workplace for all members and has proven himself a strong advocate.

Beyond his union work, Berchman is deeply involved in his community, serving as Secretary for the Rosenthal Community League and volunteering at local events. He is also a dedicated family man, married with three children, and takes pride in balancing his professional, union, and personal responsibilities. Berchman values diversity and believes in the power of community to foster inclusivity.

With Berchman as Chief Trustee, members can trust that their financial interests are in capable hands, and that he will continue to advocate for fairness, transparency, and protection against workplace issues like bullying and retaliation.

Get in touch: berchmanjr@gmail.com