ee IWA PEOPLE AND PLACES ‘A true trade unionist in every sense of the word’ IWA members across Canada were saddened to receive the news that former Region 2 vice-president Daniel (Danny) Chiasson passed away on May 30 at the age of 76. “He was a true trade union- i? ist in every i‘ d sense of the 2 word,” said = DanielChiasson former national vice president and Region 2 president Bill Pointon, who said that Brother Chiasson, also an ex-international board member, “worked tirelessly” to bring about the merger of Region 2 and Region 1 of the former International Woodworkers of America prior to the formation of IWA Canada in 1987. “He was a devoted trooper in advocating the interests of the membership he represented,” said Brother Pointon in a eulogy. Born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Danny moved his family to Ontario in 1956. He secured a job at the Bathurst Container Paper Box plant in Hamilton and became involved in the activities of Local 2-69 of the IW of A, and sat on the Region 2 (Eastern Canada) Executive Board. In 1975 he was hired on as a staff member at the regional office in Toronto where he initially served as an organizer the majority of time. Then he became a regional vice president, where in addition to his administrative duties, he serviced a number of local unions primarily in the role of negotiator. Brother Chiasson served under three Region Two vice-presidents: Jean-Marie Bédard, Ear! Patterson and Bill Pointon. He is survived by his wife Jean, daughter Donna Madden, and grandchildren Melissa and Caitlen. Wade gets a multi-colour mop top for a good cause A punk rock guy Local 1-425 presi- dent Wade Fisher is not. He lives up in the redneck Cariboo. But he and nine other individuals went to the hairdresser this summer to get pink and blue hairdoes to raise money 3 for a good cause - Childhood (Type 1) Diabetes research and awareness. Kids who have Type 1 Diabetes must take daily = insulin shot just & Wade Fisher to survive. Wade and others collected some $20,000 in pledges in the Williams Lake, B.C. area. The funds will be use for research purposes and sup- port services in the local area. We can only present you with a black and white version of Wade's hair. For a full-colour version of his pink and blue style please visit the local union’s website at: http://www.iwa425.be.ca PHOTO BY PRESTON YIP = The Whitecaps’ Bob Lenarduzzi, Simon, team mascot, Jordan Whitehead, and Lui Passaglia (I. tor.) . MILL WORKER CHAMPIONS FUND RAISING FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ~ Going the distance! “SIMON (ZURAK) NEVER CEASES to amaze us,” says IWA Local 1-425 president Wade Fisher. “You just never know what idea he’s going to come up with next.” Brother Zurak is a 54 year old plywood mill pro- duction worker at the Weldwood plywood plant in Williams Lake who has helped raise over $80,000 for the worthy cause of fighting Muscular Dystrophy since 1995. This past July 24, Simon rode his bike from Williams Lake to Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, over a gruelling 34.5 hours. At the stadium, 1o year old Jordan Whitehead, who accompanied Simon on the trip, road the last lap around a soccer field prior to a Vancouver Whitecaps game. Joining Jordan and Simon on the last lap was former B.C. Lions star Lui Passaglia. Whitecaps manager Bob Lenarduzzi, a soccer star from the late 70s into 2000, was on hand to witness Simon do the honorary kick-off. “Lui and Bob and the whole Whitecaps organiza- tion were super,” says Simon. “It help us raise about $10,500 in pledges.” A big thanks goes out to the crew which accompanied Simon with a pick-up and a van especially massage therapist Colinda Fehr, from Williams Lake. “Without her there’s not a chance I could have made it,” said Simon. And that’s a pretty big compli- ment from a man who is used to endurance events. Since 1995, Simon has biked from Williams Lake to 100 Mile House and back (the first time he was run off the road by a transport truck), swam the length of Williams Lake, run a full-length 42 kilometer marathon, dog sled 72 miles in very cold tempera- tures, and waterskiied 80 km along Lac La Hache. In between, he has made time to help coordinate a “Fun Ball” slow-pitch tournament in Williams Lake, held for each of the last five years. “I’d have to say the swim (in Williams Lake) was the toughest,” says Simon. “When you swim, you use every muscle in your body.” Simon thanks every supporter from the Williams Lake and surrounding areas. He says workers at the five mills in town have been very generous and have donated to every funding-raising effort he has tried. The local union has also been generous. It donated $500 for the bike ride to the Whitecaps game. Also particularly helpful have been local firefighters, the Williams Lake RCMP and local businesses. With three healthy children of his own, Simon has decided to use his talents, as a natural-born runner, swimmer and biker to raise both awareness and funds for Muscular Dystrophy research and equip- ment to assist MD victims. Much of the funding raised has gone to assist MD patients right in the Williams Lake area with items like wheelchairs, specialized lifts, transportation to and from medical care and nursing care, etc. MD is actually “a group of muscle disorders that are characterized by progressive weakness and wast- ing of the voluntary muscles that control body move- ment,” according to the MD Association of Canada. The disorders are genetic. Any one of any age can be affected, The MD asso- “SIMON NEVER ciation, with regional CEASES TO offices across the country, offers client services to AMAZE US.” assist people in dealing es with medical, emotional WADE FISHER and social issues related to LOCAL 1-425 the disease, as well as pro- viding referral services for individuals and families. Physiotherapy and occupa- tional therapy can help individuals with various forms of the disease but there are no known cures yet. In northern B.C. alone there are more than 1000 people with various forms of MD, including over 88 young persons in the age 5-20 bracket, who have a childhood form of the disease (Duchenne’s disease). Simon, who moved to Canada from Yugoslavia at age 13, is grateful to be an able-bodied person. When he was riding a passenger train years ago in Ontario, an individual with an apparent muscular disease fell on him. That experience stuck with Simon and years later he became involved in the cause. To send help send thanks to all of Simon’s sup- porters this year, the Toronto Blue Jays baseball organization graciously donated some equipment, which was raffled off in early August to the group of volunteers that has assisted Simon on his fundraisi adventures. The Blue Jays donations included a photo, bat and ball signed by Carlos Delgado. There were also raffles from local business spon- sors for the over 300 names who helped Simon with pledges including many IWA members in the Weldwood plant in Williams Lake. “The crew is proud of what Simon has accomplished,” said Brother Fisher. “They have supported him all the way.” 20 ] THE ALLIED WORKER SEPTEMBER 2002