Labour - Labour Board

Board members: Employer Representatives



James (Jim) H. Bakerclick to open

Appointed in 2000, Jim Baker has served on several not for profit boards and government agencies during and following a career spanning partnership in a regional chartered accountancy firm; and as President and CEO of the Manitoba Hotel Association. He was co-chair of the Athletes Villages committee for the 1999 Pan Am games and has been on the mission staff at the Canada and Western Canada Games. Mr. Baker is also a past director of the Winnipeg Convention Centre. He was a term lecturer at Red River College on industrial relations and human resource management, and is past chair and current treasurer of the Friends of Elmwood Cemetery.




Michael Bereziakclick to open

Appointed in 2023, he is currently the Director, Human Resource Services of Shared Health Manitoba. Previously, he was employed in a number of senior Human Resource and Labour Relations roles at the City of Winnipeg, and also served on the Board of Directors at the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.




Elizabeth (Betty) M. Black click to open

Appointed in 1985, Betty Black is a Fellow Certified Professional Human Resource Professional (FCPHR) and holds a certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of Manitoba. She has spent over 30 years in senior human resource management roles in the private and public sectors in both union and non-union environments in the areas of manufacturing, hospitality, financial services and consulting. She is a member and past president of the Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba and has instructed in the Human Resource Management Certificate program at the University of Manitoba. She has served in voluntary leadership roles with the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg, the United Way of Winnipeg and numerous other community organizations.




Christiane Y. Devlin click to open

Appointed in 2002, Christiane Devlin has held senior management positions in human resources, integrating human resources within the business needs of companies in the transportation, communication and printing, agriculture, manufacturing, health care, and retail co-operatives. She is currently the manager, Human Resources with the Kleysen Group. Ms. Devlin is bilingual and her human resource management experience includes unionized and non-unionized workplaces.




Scott Jocelynclick to open

Appointed in 2022, he is currently the President & CEO of Manitoba Hotel Association, representing the concerns of hoteliers all across the province. Previously, he worked for over 30 in the hospitality industry. Mr. Jocelyn is an appointed member of the provincial Accessibility Advisory Council and sits on hospitality advisory boards for Red River College Polytechnic and Assiniboine Community College.




Paul J. LaBossiere click to open

Appointed in 1999, Paul LaBossiere retired from the position of president and CEO of P.M.L. Maintenance Ltd. He is past co-chairperson of the Employers Task Force on Workers Compensation, a past executive member of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, past president, parliamentarian, and government affairs advisor of the Building Owners and Managers Association, a member of the Manitoba Employers Council and is a frequent international speaker on issues pertaining to the maintenance and service industries. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Building Services Contractors Association International (37 countries). He is the past board president of the Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE) and a past trustee of the PTE Foundation Trust. His past affiliations include vice-chairperson and treasurer of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and on the Advisory Committee for the Continuing Education Department at the University of Manitoba. He is a past trustee of Opimian Vineyard Trust and past vice-president of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.




Christopher (Chris) W. Lorencclick to open

Chris Lorenc was re-appointed in 2022 (employer representative on the Manitoba Labour Board [2008-2018]) is a lawyer by background. Mr. Lorenc has been president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA) since 1991, and president of the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association since 1995. In these roles he is active with the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and serves on several of its standing committees




Yvette Milner click to open

Appointed in 1996, Yvette Milner is president of Merit Contractors Association, an industry association providing services to open shop contractors in Manitoba. She also owns a consulting company specializing in assisting companies to manage injury and illness in the workplace. Ms. Milner’s background is in human resources, safety and disability management. Active in the Manitoba business community, she is involved with the Manitoba Employers Council, and the Manitoba and Winnipeg Chambers of Commerce.




Sean Naldrett click to open

Appointed in 2023, he is currently the Director of Labour Relations for Sobeys Incorporated based in Winnipeg. Mr. Naldrett represents the Employer throughout Manitoba and the rest of Canada in collective bargaining and other labour relations matters. Mr. Naldrett is a member of the Manitoba Labour Management Review Committee, Manitoba Employers Council, and an Employer Trustee on several multi-employer health and welfare, dental and pension trust funds based in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.




René Ouellette click to open

Appointed in 2020, René Ouellette is currently the Vice President Human, Resources for Southern Health-Santé Sud and has experience in labour relations including collective bargaining, collective agreement interpretation, investigations and other labour relations matters. He was previously employed with the Province of Manitoba in various human resource roles and with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. His educational background is from Brandon University and the University of Manitoba.




Darcy Strutinsky click to open

Appointed in 2008, Darcy Strutinsky concluded a lengthy career in senior healthcare human resource leadership positions in 2012. He now provides independent human resource, labour relations and respectful workplace consulting services to employers in the private and public sectors. He is also a Commissioner for the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.




Denis E. Suttonclick to open

Denis Sutton was first appointed in 1983 with his latest term expiring on December 31, 2018, having served on the Board for 35 consecutive years. Denis has been reappointed in 2022. He has extensive background and education in business administration and human resources management, with broad experience in labour relations, and as chief spokesperson on behalf of the employer, both in the private and public sectors. He is presently employed as vice-president Labour & Employee Relations with NFI Group.




Andrea Thomson click to open

Appointed in 2019, Andrea Thomson is a director of human resources and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Ms. Thomson has been working in Human Resources for over 13 years and has extensive experience in labour/management relations, including collective bargaining negotiations, strategic planning, employment policy, health and safety and employment training. She has experience working in construction, manufacturing and non-profit industries and is a member of Client Advisory Council with Manitoba Blue Cross.




Peter Wightman click to open

Appointed in 2013, Peter Wightman is the executive director of the Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba, a position he has held since 1996. Previously, he was Manitoba Health Organization's senior labour relations negotiator/consultant providing collective bargaining and other labour relations services to all of Manitoba's health care employers and prior to that was a senior labour relations officer at the corporate headquarters of the Canada Post Corporation in Ottawa. Mr. Wightman chairs the employer caucus of the Manitoba Labour Management Review Committee, is a founding member of the Government of Manitoba's ongoing Construction Industry Wages Act Review Committee, and has recently been appointed as the first Chairman of the Manitoba Apprenticeship’s Construction Sector Committee. Mr. Wightman is also Chairman of four Manitoba Construction Industry Pension and five Health and Welfare Benefit Trust Funds and is a Canadian Director on the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Board of Directors. A graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Law and has been engaged in the field of labour relations for over 35 years.




James (Jim) Witiuk click to open

Appointed in 2004, Jim Witiuk is the former director of labour relations for Sobeys West Inc. with responsibility for labour relations matters in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario. He retired in 2016. He is a past member of the Employment and Immigration Board of Referees as well as the Labour Management Review Committee. He is a graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa.


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