In this episode of the CUSW Spotlight Podcast, 𝗗𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗺𝗮𝗻 heads west for a conversation with 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗻𝘀, 𝗮 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗪-𝗕𝗖 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲.

Ben started his electrical apprenticeship at just 16 years old, signing up on his birthday at the kitchen table with his dad.

From there, he built experience across residential, commercial and industrial work before becoming a licensed electrician and 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗪 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟰.

Since joining CUSW, Ben has taken on a number of roles, including Health and Safety Representative, Union Steward, Sub-Foreman, Foreman and General Foreman.

Each opportunity brought new experiences and a chance to learn more about the union and the people he represents.

The conversation follows Ben’s move from Ontario to Grand Forks, BC, his decision to start his own electrical contracting company, and how he eventually became involved with the CUSW-BC Executive Board and took on the role of Representative.

Dan and Ben talk about the growth of CUSW in British Columbia, the opportunities ahead, the importance of member participation, and what it means to raise your hand even when you’re stepping into something new.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple message: 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱, 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.

Ben also shares what keeps him involved with CUSW and why the union’s family-oriented culture, support for members and commitment to health and safety continue to mean so much to him.

𝗔𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘁, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗽, 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁.

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲? Feel free to reach out to him directly at ⁠𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗻𝘀@𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄-𝗯𝗰.𝗰𝗮⁠

Don’t forget to visit 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄.𝗰𝗮⁠⁠ to explore more opportunities and resources.

🔗 Listen or watch using the links below.

🎧 Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460173/episodes/19818909-raising-your-hand-and-filling-boots-cusw-bc-with-ben-loyens-episode-35.mp3?download=true

📺 YouTube: https://youtu.be/s46XDTDEhNI

🎵 Video on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ASCXVS9dCQFWnniJU59jY?si=tQBPVJXoR1WbrObSy1QnZQ

🌐 Follow the Podcast: https://www.cuswpodcast.ca/

If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email us at ⁠𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁@𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘄.𝗰𝗮⁠⁠. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and colleagues to help shine the spotlight on the incredible work happening at CUSW!

🔻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗪 https://www.cusw.ca/who-we-are
🔻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 https://www.cusw.ca/news
🔻 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 https://www.cusw.ca/contact
🔻 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 https://www.cusw.ca/participation-model
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🎵 Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.

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