President of the Evergreen Teachers’ Association and
Current Candidate for Re-Election as a Member-at-Large of the Provincial Executive of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society
Endorsements
RAYA CHARRIER, ETA Vice President
The Evergreen Teachers’ Association is proud to support the candidacy of Jay Ewert for a re-election as a Member-At-Large on The Manitoba Teachers’ Society Provincial Executive. Jay has served on our Local for the past 11 years, 7 years as Collective Bargaining Chair, along with various positions on ad hoc committees, and has proudly served as our President over the past 4 years. He has been instrumental in advocating to access President Release Time to better serve our membership and was successful in securing part-time release for our rural association last year.
He keenly understands the role and influence that a local president holds and whole-heartedly embodies the values that best serve that position.
I have had the privilege of working and learning alongside Jay as we have served our Local for the past 10 years. In my past 2 years as Vice President, I have learned an immeasurable amount of knowledge and skills as we work together for the betterment of our profession. I have also had the privilege of serving as our “president-proxy” during Presidents’ Council as Jay diligently serves on the Provincial Executive Committee with pride and earnestness.
In our years of interaction, I have always admired the fierceness, passion, and professionalism he brings to the table. Jay almost always has an answer to my questions, and if he doesn’t, he finds one.
I have also had the opportunity to see him grow as a union leader and come to be seen as someone our membership can trust. Jay works to engage deeply in his professional relationships and make people feel heard, validated, and valued.
This demeanor extends to his job beyond working for our union and into the classroom, where he currently works as a divisional substitute teacher while he serves our membership. I have experienced Mr. Ewert subbing across the hall many times and he brings the same passion and genuine love for people and learning into classrooms each and every time. This also gives him great insight into what our teachers are currently experiencing, allows him to connect with more teachers frequently, and only enhances his perceptions members’ direct and emergent needs as well as the overarching status of our profession.
More recently, I have seen Jay come forward as a devoted advocate for the voices of all members, but especially those that might identify as a part of equity-deserving groups.
He spearheaded letters of support for Locals around the province and communicated that support to their various school boards promoting the rights and safety of 2SLGBTQ+ people when “book-banning” protests were emerging. He has also actively engaged in peaceful protesting to support marginalized groups. Jay is also always fully engaged in making deep connections to our Land Acknowledgements and always brings reflective thoughts, experiences, insights, and considerations in this regard.
As we head into a new era of Provincial Bargaining, I also know that Jay will be a colleague that has a strong understanding of the historical and potential future impact that our new collective bargaining process entails.
With his experiences as a Collective Bargaining Standing Committee member, Local President, Education Finance Standing Committee Chair, and current Member-at-Large on the Provincial Executive, I have confidence that he would serve as an informed and diligent voice as the Society works to implement a province-wide collective agreement in the coming years.
Jay has been a consistent force of connection, engagement, and progress for our Local and through his work on the Provincial Executive. I am confident these values will greatly benefit our 16,000+ members should he be re-elected to the Provincial Executive. Please consider Jay Ewert for PX.
Please visit jayewert.com to find out more and let him know what you wish to see on PX.
Sincerely,
Raya Charrier - Vice President - Evergreen Teachers’ Association
MIKE URICHUK, MTS & GVTA Member
I have had the privilege of working alongside Jay Ewert on the Collective Bargaining Standing Committee and as a Local president over the years. I have known Jay to be of upstanding character and someone who works diligently, compassionately, and collaboratively. Jay approaches resistance as an opportunity to grow together.
He has a true gift in engaging members and building connections which allows for his teams to conquer difficulties and to come through them stronger than they were before.
Jay is a great mentor who works to inspire and support the development of fellow MTS members. His actions highlight his deep understanding of how our strength comes from one another: our diversity and our solidarity. Jay spends his privilege to raise the voices of those who face systemic barriers because he knows that a just Society is best for all members.
Jay’s conversations and actions center the key values of inclusion, unity, and cooperation. What sets Jay apart is that his actions are highly impactful at achieving their goal.
I look forward to casting my ballot for Jay Ewert so that our 2024-2025 Provincial Executive can benefit from his collaborative approach to building a stronger union.
In Solidarity,
Mike Urichuk
MTS & GVTA Member
MARLEY DEWAR, MTS & SWTA Member
Supporting Jay in his bid for re-election as a Member-at-Large is an easy choice for me to make. I had the privilege of meeting and getting to know Jay during our time in MTS’s first round of Labour School back in 2021-2022. During this time, I witnessed firsthand his unparalleled dedication, problem-solving skills, and most notably, his unwavering commitment to engaging with and listening to members
Jay embodies the qualities of a true advocate, always putting our members' needs and concerns at the forefront. With Jay, we have someone who understands our challenges and actively works towards effective solutions.
Moreover, Jay’s remarkable ability to bring people together is truly commendable. In a time where unity is paramount, Jay has demonstrated his knack for fostering collaboration and building consensus among members with diverse perspectives. This ability is something we need now more than ever as we face new challenges such as provincial bargaining.
Moreover, Jay’s remarkable ability to bring people together is truly commendable. In a time where unity is paramount, Jay has demonstrated his knack for fostering collaboration and building consensus among members with diverse perspectives. This ability is something we need now more than ever as we face new challenges such as provincial bargaining.
His inclusive approach ensures that every voice is heard and valued, resulting in decisions that reflect the collective interests of MTS and its members.
With Jay on Provincial Executive, we can trust in his leadership, collaborative skills, and ability to navigate challenges and forge a path forward that uplifts us all.
Jay Ewert represents what solidarity and progress mean and is not afraid to speak up when issues such as equity or teachers’ well-being are being targeted or under attack.
I proudly endorse Jay Ewert for re-election, confident that he will continue to serve our union and its members with integrity, passion, and a tireless spirit.
KRISTEN RUDYK, Former ETA Vice President and Current Exec.
The Evergreen Teachers’ Association is proud to announce the candidacy of Jay Ewert for a Member-At-Large on The Manitoba Teachers’ Society Provincial Executive. Jay has served on our Local for the past 9 years as Collective Bargaining Chair, various positions on ad hoc committees, and most importantly, has served as our President over the past 2 years.
The moment Jay took up the role of President he reinvigorated the Evergreen Teachers’ Society with diligent, creative, and compassionate involvement. His direct interactions with members have brought about a new era of member engagement where members are heard, motivated, and encouraged.
As a connector and motivator, Jay focuses on utilizing those around him to positively engage our membership. Our Association was in need of a change for the better in terms of new governing documents, larger goals within the society, and first-hand personal engagement of front-line members. Jay has met these challenges by seeing Local and MTS work as a vehicle for collaboration to rejuvenate the passion from within the Executive itself. In response to the needs of the ETA, Jay has spearheaded both Local and provincial ad hoc committees as he understands that the true strength of all union movements comes from the connection and common goals of members.
In addition to Jay’s roles as a full-time teacher and Local President, he is also serving his third consecutive year on the Collective Bargaining Standing Committee and 2nd year as Regional coordinator of the Lakewood Region. He actively participated in and strongly endorses the Labour Leadership School Cohort as a way for members to achieve self-advocacy through union learning. He continually strives to achieve a place at the table in hopes of bringing a voice and increasing opportunity for others to do the same.
Jay’s focus on the “rule of voice” is present not only in his work within our Local and that of the Society, but also through his various work with young people. As a member trained in K-8, who has also taught grades 4-12, Jay understands the working conditions and needs of our members, and is ready to speak up when it is necessary as silence is never a democracy.
His passion for positively enabling people in their work is evident in both his union and classroom endeavours. His work with the Social Justice League (Riverton Collegiate) and Students Against Plastic (Arborg Early Middle) is evidence of how he helps others put their best foot forward to support their ideals. Jay believes that people are ready to help themselves, they just need the connections and the ability to try.
Jay has been a consistent force of connection, engagement, and progress for our Local. I am confident these values will greatly benefit our 16,000+ members should he gain the honour to serve on the Provincial Executive. Please consider Jay Ewert for PX.
Please visit jayewert.com to find out more and let him know what you wish to see on PX.
Thank you,
Kristen Rudyk
Vice President (2021-2022), current Public Relations Chair (ETA)