Bernice Kirk
Interviewed by Ken Novakowski and Blair Redlin
September 20, 2017
Bernice Kirk began her union career at the Coquitlam School Board, and became the Secretary-Treasurer and President of CUPE BC, as well as a Vice President of the National CUPE Board. She was a leader in the fight for pay equity for women workers and worked full-time for the union for 20 years. “It was a big part of my life, but I really liked what I was doing. I liked helping people. I appreciated the work that everyone did.” Bernice Kirk passed away on May 5, 2022.
Keywords: CUPE, CCF, Rae Eddie, Muriel Odegaard, Coquitlam schools, pay equity, Colleen Jordan, Operation Solidarity, BCTF, Larry Kuehn, Bills 19 and 20