Kilgour making inroads in labour community

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When Karen Kilgour graduated from the Labour College of Canada this year, she had accomplished more than just successfully completing the national school's graduate program. She also became the first -ver Aboriginal person from Saskatchewan to graduate from the program, and the first woman from the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union (SGEU) to do so in 40 years.

Sponsored by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Labour College of Canada works to develop leadership skills among union members by helping them to understand, examine and deal with everyday problems and issues that may arise in the workplace, within the unions, and within the community at large. The graduate program consists of four weeks of studies at the Labour College in Ottawa, and one week in one of the CLC regions, studying economics, political science, labour sociology and labour history.

Kilgour is quite proud of her accomplishment, and said it has made her a stronger person.

"In taking this course, I've gone through a lot of personal struggles myself."

Three-and-a-half years ago, Kilgour began working at Northlands College, where she is a receptionist. Through her work and membership in SGEU Local 4253, she heard about the graduate program offered by the Labour College.

At her first local union meeting, she was elected to be the occupational health and safety representative for Northlands College. Then, when she went to SGEU's annual general meeting in Prince Albert, she was elected as an alternate to the FAIR (Friends Against Indigenous Racism) committee.

Kilgour was later elected to go to the SGEU convention, which was another first for her. A man whom she only remembers as Albert encouraged her to stay involved with the organization. At the time, Kilgour felt she didn't know a lot about the union and how it worked, but was optimistic.

"He told me, regardless of the struggles, hurdles in life, don't give up."

At the SGEU convention a year later, Colin Bias was honoured for being the first person in Saskatchewan to complete the Labour College of Canada graduate program since 1977. It gave Kilgour the drive to go for it.

"I thought, if he could do it, so can I."

Kilgour used her own time to learn about unions and the labour movement, using weekends, days off and holidays to take courses to prepare herself for the college. It took her two years.

There are no academic requirements for entry into the Labour College programs. Candidates must be union members, and acceptance is based on practical experience in the labour movement and the motivation to want to complete the course.

Kilgour wrote two required essays for her application, one on why she wanted to attend, the other on what problem she sees in society and how it can be changed. Kilgour chose to write the second essay on discrimination through body language.

Kilgour completed her one week of study at the regional level in Brandon, Man. this past April, then completed the four weeks at the Labour College in May and June.

Kilgour said the course didn't teach her how to be a better union activist, but instead taught her how to better understand the labour movement in general. In her economics class she learned how to read the gross domestic product and stock market listings, and her political science class taught her how government implements its policies on labour.

Now that she's finished the course, Kilgour says her goal is to eventually get into law. She would like to specialize in labour, specifically arbitration. For now, it's given her more self-esteem and confidence, and it has taught her to be tolerant of other people's views and to think critically.

She said her personal goal will be met if other people look into taking this course. "It took one person to encourage me, and if I could encourage one person, then the circle won't be broken."