September 3, 2008 - Sandi Mowat is now the President of the 11,000 member Manitoba Nurses' Union having officially assumed office September 2nd, 2008. She was elected by convention delegates in April of this year.

Mowat spent the majority of her nursing career in the E.R. department at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre as a Clinical Resource Nurse and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. In recent years she worked as a General Duty Nurse in the HSC Hemodialysis Unit. She has been the recipient of the HSC Nursing Excellence Award.

The MNU is pleased to welcome our newest local, Meadowood Manor Nurses Local 140. The Manitoba Nurses' Union was certified as the official bargaining agent for all nurses at Meadowood Manor, both RN and LPN, on July 3rd, 2008.

St. Boniface Local 5 has reached an agreement with St. Boniface General Hospital regarding the designation of bilingual nursing positions within the hospital. The agreement preserves and strengthens the seniority rights held by the current membership and recognizes the value of promoting the French language culture at St. Boniface General Hospital.

Nurses attended an inspiring MNU Education Day at the 2008 AGM on April 30, 2008. Education Day is designed to help rejuvenate members in the enjoyment of both their personal and professional lives. Set with a positive tone, presenter Barb Fry offered insight into taking care of oneself within a challenging and changing profession.

Delegates at the Annual General Meeting elected Sandi Mowat as the new President of the MNU. Sandi will assume this position September 1, 2008, when current MNU President Maureen Hancharyk retires.

Yellow Ribbon Awards were presented on Tuesday, April 29th at the MNU 2008 AGM to active grassroots members who have made outstanding contributions to the healthcare system, to their union and their communities.

The second day of the 33rd Annual General Meeting of the Manitoba Nurses' Union reconvened at 9:00am.