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Today, Unifor mourns the loss of Gary Parent, an exceptional member and fierce advocate whose legacy of devout trade unionism, humble leadership, and dedication to community will inspire and support generations of workers for many years to come.
“Gary Parent exemplified the kind of leader and trade unionist we all aspire to be. He was kind and generous. He was relentless in his pursuit of economic and social justice for workers and he knew a strong union meant being a social and community union,” says Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Personally, I will always be grateful for Gary's support and solidarity. He was a true champion for workers everywhere.”
Gary’s passing marks an incredible loss for Unifor Local 444 and to the countless others who’ve been impacted by his significant advocacy, bargaining, and community work.
As a man of great humbleness and calm, Gary offered strong, inspiring guidance and action on issues most important to our union.
Gary’s contributions to the labour movement range from his tenure as Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Unifor Local 444 from 1987 to 2009, his active role as member of the Retired Workers Council Executive since 2016, in his role as President of Windsor and District Labour Council that he held for 17 years, and the various union and volunteer roles he’s championed in his decorated career as a trade unionist and community leader.
His work has touched the lives of many. Gary’s steadfast dedication to bargaining health care and retirement improvements has and will continue to significantly support the well-being of thousands of workers.
His unwavering commitment to helping others is widely recognized in the numerous awards he’s received over the years, including an honorary diploma from St. Clair College and a Doctor of Law from the University of Windsor, Unifor’s Bud Jimmerfield Award recognizing outstanding contribution to workplace safety, the 2019 Outstanding Retired Worker of the Year Award, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, and many more.
As we say goodbye, we share our deep gratitude to Gary Parent for a remarkable life of service and solidarity.
Unifor members are encouraged to share their condolences, stories, and messages of thanks on this Unifor Local 444 post.
Rest in power, Gary.
