YUFA's new Executive Director, Yolanda B’Dacy, joins us from the Ontario Federation of Labour where she served as Director of Human Rights. In that role she was responsible for managing and advancing the Federation’s equity, human rights, anti-racism, and anti-oppression priorities. Across the province, Yolanda has worked with heads of unions, workers, management, committee members, and colleagues to build diversity and inclusion in workplaces and to promote and protect workers rights. 

Yolanda has extensive experience with collective bargaining, handling grievances, and providing support to a range of union executive boards and federations, having conducted strategic planning and equity trainings for many organizations in the labour sector. Among others, these have included the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), the York University Staff Association (YUSAPUY), the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). She serves on the Executive Boards of community organizations PEACH, the Rexdale Community Legal Clinic, and WomanACT, and volunteers with many other political and community organizations.

Through her work, Yolanda has created and facilitated organizer training to increase union member engagement and build high participation through power analysis, mapping, structured one-on-one conversations and structure tests. As a former elected executive officer of the Toronto local of the Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario, Yolanda has extensive experience advocating for justice and mobilizing workers on public education issues across Ontario. This includes work with union subcommittees on key issues of governance, anti-racism, equity and social justice, 2SLGBTQIA issues and the environment. A trained parliamentarian, Yolanda’s services in the smooth conduct of large meetings and elections are sought by organizations in the labour sector and community across Ontario.

 

Fluently bilingual in French and English, Yolanda is an esteemed alumna of our university! She holds two degrees from York University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in French Studies from Collège Glendon College and a Bachelor of Education.  Our warmest welcome to you, Yolanda.  We look forward to working with you in the years to come!