Follows: 3 - The CFF Grows in the 1970s

4 - CIEA's Founding Convention

After a morning session wrapped up the CFF (ending with the singing of "Oh God Our Help in Ages Past"), the afternoon got CIEA off on the right foot.

Interim President Jan Cioe (CNC) reported on the planning process, the hiring of the General Secretary, Tom Beardsley, and locating office premises. Tom had spent 20 years in the Royal Canadian Navy before getting a teaching degree at SFU. He was a high school teacher in Coquitlam, and a school board trustee in the late 70s and through the 80s in Coquitlam and New Westminster. Trustees sat on college boards in those years, so he was somewhat familiar with Douglas College. A former commanding officer who taught at Douglas drew his attention to the General Secretary position at CIEA, so Tom applied. He was interviewed by Dave Mitton, Gordon Bryenton and Ernie Livesey, and, to his surprise, he got he job and held it for 11 tumultuous years. (Interview with George Davison, Sooke, July 25, 2019)   

There were 39 voting delegates from 9 locals (Camosun, Cariboo, Douglas, East Kootenay, Malaspina, New Caledonia, Okanagan, Selkirk, and VCC (Langara).

Executive motions were introduced outlining fees (annual membership would be $105/FTE, associate $35 and no vote, and provincial membership $10); and initiation fees ($2). These numbers would create a budget of $150,000 per year, up from the CFF's roughly $40,000.

Motions from the floor encouraged cooperation with other public service employees on proposed changes to pension plans; expressed “deep disappointment” that Minister of Education Brian Smith sent a substitute to the CIEA convention; opposed National Film Board cutbacks, and urged the NFB to increase its budget in BC.

Gordon Bryenton (VCC/Langara) was elected CIEA's first President, and CNC's Jan Cioe Vice-President. (see the picture of Dave Mitton handing a cheque from the College Faculties Federation to Gordon Bryenton to get CIEA going in article 3).

Then the work began to put together the new organization, create a new constitution and bylaws, get the office up and running with the new General Secretary and one office staffer, as well as coordinating executive, Presidents' Council, committees, building members and lobbying.

All of this was done in the context of continuing government restraint and restructuring. 

Next: 5 - CIEA Weathers the '80s