Stewards
We have members who serve as union Stewards at most workplaces.
A union steward, also known as a union representative or shop steward, is your direct line to the Executive. They have been trained to support members in the workplace. Stewards know the contract, they can help with questions or concerns in the workplace. They help defend the right of the membership. The position is a voluntary position, if necessary the Stewards can be booked off to meet with members and their supervisors.
Shelanie Braganza
CEC
Board Office
ST. PAUL FAMILY
St. Paul HS, Our Lady of Peace, Our Lady of Victory, St. John the Apostle, St. Rose of Lima
CON ED ADULT SCHOOLS
St. Joseph, St. Nicholas (West), St. Nicholas (Central)
HOLY TRINITY
Holy Trinity HS, Holy Redeemer, St. Anne, St. James, St. Martin De Porres
VIRTUAL ACADEMY
St. Josephine (High School)
Jaime De Marchi
ST. MATTHEW FAMILY
St. Matthew HS, Chapel Hill, Convent Glen, Divine Infant, St. Kateri Tekakwitha
ST. JOSEPH FAMILY
St. Joseph HS, St. Cecilia, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Emily, St. Patrick, St. Benedict
NOTRE DAME FAMILY
Norte Dame HS, Dr. FJ McDonald, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Anthony, St. Daniel, St. Elizabeth, St. George
Tori Murray
SACRED HEART FAMILY
Sacred Heart HS, Guardian Angels, Holy Spirit, St. Philip, St. Stephen
ALL SAINTS FAMILY
All Saints HS, George Vanier, St. Gabriel, St. Isabel, St. Isidore, St. Michael Corkery, St. Michael Fitzroy
ST. MARK FAMILY
St. Mark HS, St. Catherine, St. Leonard, St. Mary
Nicole Lavigne
ST. PETER FAMILY
St. Peter HS, Our Lady of Wisdom, St. Clare, St. Dominic, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Theresa
ST. MOTHER TERESA FAMILY
St. Mother Teresa HS, Monsignor Paul Baxter, St. Andrew, St. Luke (Nepean)
IMMACULATA FAMILY
Immaculata HS, Assumption, Corpus Christi, St. Brigid, St. Michael (Ottawa), McHugh
Jess Oakman
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER FAMILY
St. Francis Xavier HS, St. Bernard, St. Jerome
ST. PATRICK FAMILY
St. Patrick HS, Holy Cross, Holy Family, Prince of Peace, St. Gemma, St. Luke (Ottawa), St. Marguerite d’Youville, St. Thomas Moore
Pattie Kazadi
ST. PIUS FAMILY
St. Pius HS, Frank Ryan, St. Augustine, St. Gregory, St. John XXII, St. Monica, St. Rita
LESTER B. PEARSON FAMILY
Lester B. Pearson HS, Good Shepherd, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Brother Andre, St. John Paul II, Thomas D’Arcy McGee
Site Leads
Site Leads are the communication link between the executive board/stewards and the members in the worksite. Site Leads help to ensure all CUPE members at their worksite are receiving the CUPE 2357 emails.
Site Leads post information from executive board on the worksite’s CUPE board, or place information in member’s workplace mailbox.
Site leads direct member’s questions and concerns to the assigned steward.
Site Leads direct members to the CUPE 2357 website to find the Collective Agreement, Steward info, benefits info/links, CUPE newsletters, upcoming meeting dates, GMM Minutes and much more.
Site Leads are not to be sitting in on meetings with members and administrators. If Union representation is requested by your admin for a meeting – please call the CUPE 2357 office at 613-321-3667
Ideally, there should be one Site Lead per worksite/school. If your school/worksite does not have a Site Lead and you would like to take on this role, please contact the
Executive@cupe2357.com
Executive Board
Cynthia Steeves
President
Cynthia Steeves is the President of CUPE 2357. She joined the Executive Board in 2015 and has held various positions over the past 7 years, including Secretary Treasurer as well as 1st and 2nd Vice President.
In the preceding years before joining the Executive board, she worked as an Educational Assistant for 17 years, supporting and caring for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Cynthia is currently working on her Labour Studies through York University. She has also completed various courses in Labour Law, Human Resources and Disability Management.
Her passion for advocacy and volunteerism helps to guide her in having a confident and empathetic approach to finding opportunity and solutions in adverse situations.
When Cynthia is not in the office you can probably find her cruising the high seas discovering new and great ports of call and she is also a busy Mom navigating the toddler years with her daughter.
Joanne Howell
1st Vice President
Joanne Howell is the 1st VP of CUPE 2357. Over the last five years she has held her current position on the Executive board as well as Secretary Treasurer for the local.
Joanne’s portfolio in her VP role includes overseeing Health and Safety, Steward training, and representing CUPE 2357 on various committees. Before joining the Executive board, she had been a Steward and an actively engaged member with the local for most of her career.
Joanne has been an Educational Assistant for the past 29 years and has participated in all aspects of the school community, be it working with students, coaching sports teams or helping to plan special events for students and staff.
When she is not busy with her union duties, you can find her enjoying game nights with her daughters and friends. She also enjoys watching the latest Marvel movies.
Francine Meledoro
2nd Vice President
Francine Meledoro has been the 2nd Vice president of CUPE 2357 since 2022. Previously, she has been the Cupe 2357 Secretary Treasurer since 2019. Before joining the Executive Board, she was a Steward for two years and has served on the Elections Committee. Francine has been an active member within the local and continues to inform, support, and advocate for fellow CUPE 2357 members.
Upon graduating from the Developmental Services Worker program she has held various positions over the last 14 years, including in the Developmental Education Classroom. Francine currently splits her duties between CUPE 2357 and in the classroom as an Educational Assistant.
When she’s not working, she loves spending time with her husband and two children camping, fishing and being outdoors. She also has a passion for sewing.
Erin Grant
Recording Secretary
Erin Grant is the Recording Secretary for CUPE 2357. She joined the Executive Board in January 2022. Currently, Erin is the Chair of the Mobilization Committee and has a seat on the Bargaining Committee. Before joining the Executive Board, Erin held a Steward position for 7 years, as well as, serving on several committees: the worksite Health and Safety Committees, the Bylaw Committees, the Action Committee, and the Member Engagement Committee.
After completing a Child and Youth Studies Degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, NS, Erin began her career as an Educational Assistant with the OCSB and has been supporting students since 2003.
When Erin is not supporting students or aiding CUPE members with their concerns, you can find Erin doing something creative like, painting, quilting, crocheting, gardening, or nourishing her family with her love of cooking.
Nicole Holmes
Secretary Treasurer
Nicole Holmes is the Secretary Treasurer for CUPE 2357. She was elected into the position two days before giving birth to her daughter in September 2023.
Before becoming an executive member, Nicole was a mobilizer and worked with the Strike Committee in 2022.
Nicole completed the Developmental Services Worker program at Algonquin College in 2014. Since then she has worked with the Ottawa Catholic School Board as an Educational Assistant.
When Nicole isn’t working as an executive member or an educator, she is busy with her two young children.
Please note, the Executive Board can be reached solely via email. All other inquiries should be made directly through your Steward, or via the form below.
