CUPE @ Your Service

Local 2545 - Executive - Lorna Tollman


 

Lorna Tollman
President, Local 2545

 

A CUPE WOOD BUFFALO PIONEER

Lorna Tollman, currently an Education Assistant in Special Education for the public school district and formerly a Psychiatric Nurse from Weyburn, Sask., has resided in Fort McMurray since 1973.

She joined her husband, Robert, who worked in the oil sands and she worked at both the Bank of Montreal and the Credit Union before joining the school district in 1980.

Her involvement and service to Cupe and her fellow workers includes five years as secretary of Local 2545 and 21 years as President, a total commitment of 21 years.

In addition, Lorna has served as the area area VP at the provincial level for 14 years as well.

During that period with the district and the union, she has witnessed a number of staff reductions.

“For example,” she notes, “we once employed 86 custodians in the schools whereas now we have only 31 custodians even though many schools have been added.

“This is significant not only with regard to clean and well-maintained schools and grounds, but also as a caretaker and advocate of children.  Ask any school student who their favourite person is at school, or who they would go to for help first, they will very often say the custodian.”

Volunteerism and her family are also Lorna’s top priorities.  In addition to raising her two children, she routinely volunteers for the Boys and Girls Club, the Long Term Care facility, Volunteer Wood Buffalo and events such as the Winter Games and the Northern Classic.

The appeal of her lengthy history with the school district, she explains, is that she was always off when her children were out of school.

Widowed a few years ago, Lorna today relishes the time she can spend with her grandson, Daniel Robert.

Unfortunately, Lorna has announced that she is considering retirement this year.

When Lorna Tollman does retire, there will be a pair of very big shoes to fill.