UFCW 401 Member Stephannie Leach Wins Disability Rights Award!
We are delighted to congratulate Stephannie Leach, one of our members at Vision Loss Rehabilitation Alberta, on winning the 2025 Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award! As our national office puts it in their post about the award and Stephannie’s win:
“Stephannie is an inspiring leader in our labour movement who has tirelessly advocated for the rights of workers with disabilities in Alberta and in the Northwest Territories. Stephannie’s leadership in this area spanned both her involvement in her workplace and in UFCW 401.
As an employee of Vision Loss Rehabilitation Alberta, and a vision-impaired worker herself, Stephannie travelled across the province and in the Northwest Territories to provide education to remote and rural communities about vision loss and accessibility awareness, as well as education about guide dogs and service animals.”
Stephannie has been a stalwart presence on the bargaining committee at Vision Loss and as health and safety representative for our local in the north of the province.
It is largely thanks to Stephannie’s advocacy that the company incorporated bereavement days for the loss of service animals into VLRA’s collective agreement. And it was Stephannie who took the initiative in translating that same collective agreement into Braille, a first for our local.
“Stephannie is eloquent, knowledgeable, and passionate about her work, commuting to clients’ homes to provide a personal touch that’s essential,” says President Thomas Hesse of UFCW Local 401. “And she’s just as passionate about advocating for the rights of disabled workers. I couldn’t be more proud and delighted at this news.”
“This award is well deserved,” adds Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “Local 401 takes pride in fostering and recognizing the strength and leadership of our members, and it’s great to see Stephannie’s extraordinary contributions recognized on the national stage.”
Congratulations, Stephannie, and thank you for your trailblazing activism and leadership on disability rights and inclusion!
Posted on: December 04,2025