Susanne Lester Award in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice

Award descriptionAwards totalling $2,400 have been made available through an endowment established by CUPE 2950 in memory of Susanne Lester (1949-2020), for outstanding fourth-year Bachelor of Arts students majoring in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice who have demonstrated an interest in labour movements, womens history, Indigenous rights, or intersectional feminisms. Susanne was one of UBCs longest-standing employees with fifty years of service, and began her career in 1969 as a reference assistant in Koerner Library. Susanne was passionate about womens rights, social justice, and equality and was one of the founding organizing committee members instrumental in creating the Association of University and College Employees (AUCE) Local 1. Susanne played an integral part in the first collective agreement negotiations by AUCE Local 1 that resulted in the first fully-funded maternity leave top-up in Canada, setting a precedent across the country. AUCE Local 1 later joined CUPE and became CUPE 2950. Susanne worked closely with the CUPE 2950 executive while raising her three children, and served in multiple leadership positions over several decades. She canvassed, campaigned, protested and marched for many worthy causes and was always committed to stand-up for and work towards social justice for all. The awards are made on the recommendation of the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice.