IN LOVING MEMORY

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Brett Dale Cross of Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the young age of 42. After a long and courageous battle with an aggressive brain tumour, Brett was surrounded by his loving family in his final moments.

Brett was born on August 17, 1982, in Wolseley, Saskatchewan, to Dale and Lillian Cross. He was the first of two children, and raised in Glenavon, Saskatchewan. Brett is survived by his loving wife and soulmate, Jessica Cross; his two dogs, Gus and Ivy, and cat, Sugar; mother, Lillian Cross; sister, Brittany Knoll (Richard); father and mother-in-law, Mark and Lisa Schremp; brothers-in-law, Tyler Schremp (Amanda) and Rob Schremp (Marta); sister-in-law, Chelsey Vant (Joe); nieces and nephews, Lauren, Hunter, Presley, and Drew Knoll, Tyller, Elwin, Sonny, Sawyer, and Stella Schremp, and Joey and Hunter Vant, whom he loved very much; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Cross; paternal grandparents, Jerry and Olga Cross; and maternal grandparents, Leo and Anita Dureault.

After graduating from high school in 2000, Brett continued on to pursue his hockey dream, and played junior hockey in the MJHL in the winters, and in the summer he worked the oil patch. When an opportunity arose in 2004 to head south of the border to play in the Southern Professional Hockey League, Brett didn’t hesitate. He headed south and played for several different teams throughout his SPHL Career, where he met many lifelong friends. While playing in Richmond, Virginia, Brett met his soulmate Jessica in 2007, and they married in 2009. They decided that it was time to hang up the skates and begin their life together, so headed back to southeast Saskatchewan to settle down. In 2010, Brett started his career at the Co-op Refinery as a Process Operator, where he earned his 4th Class Power Engineer ticket, and has been working there ever since. He loved his job and “The Boys,” as he called them, who were like family.

Brett was a rare gem of a person, a different breed - he was a once-in-a-lifetime guy, and lit up every room he entered. He had a heart of gold, and would give the shirt off his back to a complete stranger, and in fact he did do that many times. Brett was a proud man that loved his family with every ounce of his being, and wasn’t afraid to show it; in fact, he would shout it from the rooftops! He loved life, animals, people, sports, golf. Let’s face it, Brett loved everyone and everything! He was a natural-born talent. Brett was good at anything and everything that he did. He was the most positive, upbeat person, even when going through the most difficult times. Brett was everyone's biggest fan and cheerleader. It genuinely made him happy to see people succeed in life. He was someone that many looked up to and desired to emulate. Brett is an unforgettable man, and to say that he will be deeply missed is an utter and complete understatement.

Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the Conexus Art Centre, 200 Lakeshore Drive, Regina, Saskatchewan.

CELEBRATING 90 YEARS

On June 26th, our 594 President Richard Exner was invited to speak at the Co-op Refinery's 90th Anniversary celebration. A throng of past and present employees, contractors and special guests gathered at a massive tent near Gate 7 to hear not just Exner speak, but also FCL CEO Heather Ryan, City of Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.

It was a tremendous opportunity to showcase the work that has gone into repairing the relationship between workers and employers. To be included in an event like this demonstrates the positive efforts of both sides to bring the lustre back to FCL's crown jewel. 

All the speakers emphasized the storied history of the refinery, the men & women who contributed to its success over the years, and the value the refinery brings to the community. We wanted to highlight a few excerpts from the speech given on 594's behalf.

• "The refinery started with only 20 employees and a bold idea. Today, we are nearly 1000 strong. That growth wasn’t guaranteed; it came from a commitment to people and from generations of workers who take pride in their craft."

• "And yet, for all our technical advancements and increased capacity, the refinery is still very much what it was always meant to be: a community project, built by the people, for the people."

• "Our union — Unifor 594 — has walked side by side with this refinery for 83 of those 90 years. From our roots as the Oil Workers’ Industrial Union, Local #1 back in 1942, to today, we've weathered every storm. We've seen inflation, recession, expansion, and transition. Through it all, we've adapted, persevered, and, most importantly, we've shown up — together." 

• "Make no mistake — oil refining is serious work. It comes with risks. But our members meet those challenges with professionalism, with their training, and with heart. There is no one — and I mean no one — who puts more care into career than the people of Local 594. And that care keeps this facility — and the people around it — safe."

• "I often say that a cooperative is not all that different from a union. They’re both built on the same foundation: people working together toward a common goal, looking out for each other, and sharing the rewards of their labour. That’s why, despite our differences over the years, our partnership with the refinery has endured. It’s why we’re both still standing strong, nine decades later." 

• "So to all the workers — past and present — who’ve put on coveralls, punched the clock, and built a life here: thank you. Be proud of what you've done. Be proud of what you've built."

Once again, it was a pleasure for 594 to be included in such a significant milestone event and we look forward to the 100th celebration in only a decade's time!

594 Comms Committee