I would like to start by applauding the success of the 2022 AFSA Convention and AGM this past month. The events committee chaired by Tracy McFee and assisted by Shauna Prokopchuk and her team at ManageWise really did an outstanding job in putting everything together for us.
It was so great to see you all in person again and I have to give a huge thank you to all the attendees, the incredible speakers, our generous sponsors, to all the deserving awards recipients and especially to the Executive and members of the AFSA board I have had the privilege of serving with both past and present. Your efforts and hard work are not unnoticed and are greatly appreciated.
This year is shaping up to be another full one for the board and membership. The Board has engaged a lobby group to assist with getting our concerns with the new CSS contract more traction within the higher governmental departments and ministers. We will also be beginning the discussions in regards to the Medical Examiner’s Transfer Contract which comes up in the beginning of 2023 to touch on a couple of the major issues we will be tackling this year.
And last but not least, as we seem to be coming out the other side of the pandemic now to this “new normal” I want to say to all of you: I see you. I see how you made it through these last two years. I see how you kept your head up while you may have had your own struggles and concerns. I see how even though you may have struggled, you may have suffered, you still stood up to serve those in need when called upon and that fills my heart with pride to stand alongside you as colleagues and friends.
Thank you all who have reached out to me with congratulations and kind messages. I look forward to the year ahead. It’s going to be a great year, so, let’s get to work.
Eden C. Tourangeau
President
Alberta Funeral Service Association
