“The Unions are there for a lot of good reasons, the biggest is probably to have proper representation. The role politics plays is major. I don’t know what is going on out there. I used to go to the Labour Board for a member, I used to write my own submission. LARRY LEBOLD But, now everything goes to a hearing. Legislation works against us. It works against the working LABOURER, UNION LEADER, ADVOCATE people.” AND ETERNAL OPTIMIST “We won’t give up though. We will have a break by Kelly Fredrick - Tri-Fund Field Coordinator through, I can’t tell you when, but we will. The Métis people and Indigenous communities, you can’t give Larry Lebold, very well known around Edmonton in up, we need to keep pushing for change, to defend the construction industry and definitely known by workers.” members of Local 92. He currently serves as the President to the Local, and has been in the Union I’ve always advocated for Indigenous people because going on over 47 years. of my dad and my heritage. He would say “One of the most important things for the Union is to work with His roots in Edmonton run deep and he likes to recall the Indigenous people.” He felt it was important the days gone by, reminiscing about the old Rolland because when they were doing the oil sands, it was Family and the farmhouse that still stands. their land, it was something that was a part of him. He brought a lot of Indigenous workers in and Larry is a Red River Settlement Métis from his organized over the years. He was the key factor in mother’s side, his family like so many, suffered loss, organizing Alberta. He knew every back road. He abandonment and has had to overcome barriers. would know if there was a gas plant on which side road. He was on top of everything,” Larry explained. Larry’s father Fred Lebold was Secretary-Treasurer for the Union for over 30 years, Union is part of Larry and is all he has known. Originally starting at the Local “One of the most important things for the in 1978, he went to Ontario in 1985 to work, but Union is to work with the Indigenous people.” would transfer back in 1987 to be close to his ailing father. Fred would retire and sadly pass away only He felt it was important because when they months later. were doing the oil sands, it was their land, it “I would work on pipeline, refractory, maintenance was something that was a part of him. when the work was there. But, we hit a bad recession and I had time to go to the Union meetings, I was in Years ago, it became apparent that we needed a town and wasn’t working. I went to the meeting to more dedicated individual to make the connections nominate a guy, instead somebody nominated me. I in the communities. We were getting training and was talked into running for my dad’s position. In the they were having to bring the people to the training 1990 election - I didn’t win. However, I didn’t let that hall to get trained and then we decided that we had discourage me, I continued to go to meetings and to go to the people, to the settlements and showed compassion and I was nominated a second reserves. As a Trustee on the Training Fund, I knew time.” this had to happen and it was approved.” Larry continued; “I was elected Vice-President, then “The biggest barriers I’ve experienced, a lot of President for about 12 years and then I took the people stereotype Indigenous people. They didn’t position as Secretary-Treasurer. Ran again, didn’t win, 27 know I was Métis. When I was a kid some people Johnny brought me in as a Business Agent.” 2 didn’t let us play together with Indigenous kids. 0 People looked at them like they were dirty. People often ask him; “Larry, are you ever going to get E U I hated that. We all got to get along. My dad was married?” Larry is quick to reply; “ I am .. I am married S S I strict that all the kids in the neighbourhood play to Local 92. 92 is my life. We always have to fight for | 4 together, no matter where you came from and our livelihood, fight for the members. The greatest 2 0 my mom always had sandwiches for everyone. purpose of a Union and the Labour Movement - is the 2 R That is how I was raised and that’s how I live.” strength in numbers, unification, solidarity. We have E B to stick together.” M E T P E S