Ed Lavalle

Ed Lavalle | b. in Netherlands 1941; d. August 7, 2020 in Vancouver (age 79)

Academic & Work History

  • Bachelor of Commerce & Business Administration (UBC 1959-1965)
    • Ubyssey staff reporter, then features editor
    • Alma Mater Society 2nd Vice-President
    • Canadian Union of Students, UBC rep & Western Regional rep
  • Bachelor of Laws (UBC 1966)
  • Golden Secondary School, Golden BC (1966-67) - directed (& set designed) several plays with the Golden Players, a high school drama club 
  • Africa (1967-68)
  • Ph.D. in Comparative Government (Duke University, 1968-73) - ABD - Master of Arts (Duke University, 1971)
    • Durham, North Carolina - Ed was one of the founders of the Student Liberation Front, and Praxis, and involved in anti-military, anti-Vietnam War and black rights protests
    • he was detained in NYC (because of his radical background) re-entering the US to take his Ph.D. orals, the Duke Chronicle, a student daily newspaper, reported on his detention from Sept 13 to 24, 1970, and published a "Free Ed Lavalle" article on the 24th; he returned the next day.) 
  • International Studies Instructor, Capilano (1973-2016)
  • Labour Studies Program (1973-89; 1992-5; 1999-2003)
  • Director, European Union Study Tour & Internship Program (2003 – 2016)

Union Work

  • Capilano College Faculty Association (CFA after 2008) - Secretary (1973, 2005), Chair of Working Conditions Committee (1975-79), Chief Steward (1980-83, 1988-89), Member-at-Large (1984), President (1985-6), Past President (1987), Trade Union Practices & Ethics Committee (1993-94), Professional Affairs Committee (1995) 
  • CCFA Chief Negotiator for the following contracts (April 1, 1982-March 31, 1984; April 1, 1984-March 31, 1989; April 1, 2004-March 31, 2007; April 1, 2007-March 31, 2010; April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2014)
  • CFF Director (1978-79)
  • Chair, Lower Mainland Solidarity Coalition (1983-84)
  • Vice-President, College-Institute Educators Association, 1987-89
  • President, CIEA (1989-1992, 1995-99)

Political Work

  • Ed ran for the NDP in Point Grey in 1966
  • Provincial Secretary, BC NDP (2000-2003)

Ed to George Davison email, Mar 18, 2018 -

The passing of Donald C. Savage, former CAUT head, is told in a rich history by CAUT Executive Director David Robinson.  In this memory, CIEA  (now FPSE) adds substantial contributions from Donald Savage through his assistance and support for CIEA’s entry into CAUT and a useful access to the issues of the advanced education world.  I had the privilege of working with CIEA executive members in becoming participants in CAUT, giving us a significant involvement in CAUT’s advocacy for universities and post-secondary education as well as new levels of solidarity between University faculty and Colleges & Institutes.  This relationship also opened co-operation in post-secondary education for the organizations of students, opportunities to benefits of lobbying efforts, and the benefit of connecting to and working with our contacts in Canada. Our thanks to the contribution Don made to our organization and the knowledge and activity we valued. 

Regards, thanks Donald, Eduard Lavalle, former President, CIEA.

From former AWU President, Rocque Berthiaume, Aug. 13, 2020 - 

My spouse who gets messages from BCFED just informed me about your notice of Ed's death. I recall your writing that he was in failing health. His passing certainly represents the end of an era. When I first got involved with CIEA in 1987, Paul Ramsey was President and Ed was VP and the one and only employee was Tom Beardsley! My favourite line from Ed was at an AGM when we adopted a labour and environmentally friendly resolution about NAFTA and Ed quipped, '' the American Bald Eagle and striking Nissan workers in Mexico salute you.'' On a more sombre note, on a drive from Terrace to Rupert Ed told me the story of how a Dutchman got a French surname. In WW 2 his mother got pregnant by a guy she never had a chance to marry because he was in the Dutch underground and was executed along with his entire family by the Nazis. His mother married a Canadian serviceman named Lavalle whom she met during the liberation.
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