Good Afternoon Folks,

CUPE Local 40 passed a motion a couple years ago to create a memorial scholarship for our brother Darren Reid and I’m pleased to announce we will finally be awarding a scholarship this year.

From Local 40’s *Proposed* Bylaws

SECTION 21 – CUPE LOCAL 40 SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Darren Reid Education Scholarship

(a)     One (1) scholarship not exceeding$1000.00, maintained from General        Funds – Chequing, may be awarded each calendar year for a member of CUPE Local 40 in good standing or a member of their immediate family who is pursuing post-secondary studies. Immediate family will be limited to spouse/common-law spouse and children/step-children.

(b)     The name of the member or their immediate family member who is eligible must be submitted to CUPE Local 40. If the applicant is an immediate family member of the Member, a letter of endorsement from the Member must accompany the application.

(c)     Any individual who has previously received this scholarship from CUPE Local 40 is exempt.

(d)     Applications will be submitted to the Vice-President of CUPE Local 40 by September 1^st of each year and the scholarship will be awarded by December 31^st of each year.

(e)     Successful applicants will be required to provide proof of registration from an accredited post-secondary institution.

(f)       The amount of any financial assistance for the recipient shall be decided by the CUPE Local 40 Executive Board and all decisions will be final.

(g)     The scholarship recipient will be decided by the CUPE Local 40 Executive Board.

All applicants must submit an essay of approximately 1000 words on one of the following topics:

(1)     Why unions?

(2)     What Union membership means to me.

(3)     The importance of youth involvement in today’s unions.

(4)     CUPE’s contribution to education in Alberta.

(5)     Other, as determined by the CUPE Local 40 Executive Board.

CUPE Local 40 assumes no responsibility for any applications or supporting documentation lost, misdirected, or otherwise not received by the deadline. It is the applicant’s sole responsibility to ensure that the application is made correctly, legibly, and in a timely manner.

The name of the successful applicant and their essay will be published in official publications and/or on CUPE Local 40’s website and a photo of the winner may be obtained by CUPE Local 40 for this purpose.

What you need to apply:

• Scholarship Application Form (Click Link)
• Proof of Enrolment
• A letter of endorsement from the member, if it’s an immediate family member applying
• Essay

For the application to be complete, all the above documents must be emailed to cupevp40@gmail.com, mailed to CUPE Local 40 105 811 Manning Road NE Calgary, AB T2E 7L4, or dropped off at the office by September 1, 2025.

CUPE Alberta also has a similar scholarship, please click here.

Doctor Note Reimbursement

If the CBE requests a doctor’s note from you, they must reimburse the cost of the note, but we are finding situations where the EHRC is refusing to reimburse.

If you are asked to provide a note, please ask (in writing) if you will be reimbursed. Do not provide a note unless you are asked, but if you want to provide a note, you must provide a Calgary Board of Education Certificate of Illness (Click Link), otherwise they could deny reimbursement.

From the Collective Agreement:

12.06 A Calgary Board of Education Certificate of Illness completed by a qualified medical or dental practitioner is required by the Board for sick leave, where the absence is for a period in excess of five (5) working days. The information required on the completed Certificate of Illness shall include:

(a) that the Employee has a medical condition which renders them unfit for work;

(b) that the Employee is under the care of a doctor and receiving and participating in all appropriate treatment for that condition;

(c) whether the Employee is capable of performing modified work;

(d) the date when the doctor will reassess the Employee’s condition and/or the expected return to work date.

Upon submission of a receipt for the cost of completing the certificate along with the completed Certificate of Illness, the Calgary Board of Education shall pay an amount up to the maximum specified in the Alberta Medical Association guidelines.

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