On November 15, 2025, hundreds of members, supporters, alumni, and friends gathered in Toronto to celebrate a milestone few unions achieve with such strength and pride: the 50th anniversary of the York University Staff Association (YUSA). The Gala was far more than an evening of dinner and entertainment. It was a tribute to half a century of courage, perseverance, and the extraordinary individuals who built and sustained a union where everyone matters.
Guests were welcomed with a lively cocktail hour, and the room quickly filled with longtime activists, retirees, and new members alike, many greeting one another as though no time had passed. Representatives from fellow unions such as YUFA, OHFA, CUPE 3903, and CUPE 1356—longtime partners in campus solidarity—were also in attendance, underscoring the unity of York University’s broader labour community.
The evening officially opened with remarks from YUSA President Sonny Day, whose journey through the university—from undergraduate student to work-study employee to member of both YUSA Units 1 and 2—served as a testament to YUSA’s deep presence in campus life. Now in his eighth year as president, Day reflected on the union’s enduring resilience. He highlighted the many battles YUSA has fought: from challenging unconstitutional legislation like Bill 124, to confronting managerial overreach, to filing hundreds of grievances to ensure members receive the fairness and dignity they are owed. But most importantly, he reminded everyone that YUSA’s strength has always come from its members—those who rallied, voted, served, volunteered, and stood shoulder to shoulder in moments of struggle.
Day also paid heartfelt tribute to the trailblazers of the 1970s, a group whose bravery and tenacity lit the spark that would eventually become YUSA. Among them were Gabriele Hardt, John Lang, and Judy Steed, whose names were spoken often throughout the night. In the early 1970s, York University staff faced poor working conditions and a culture of administrative discrimination, particularly affecting women. Hardt and her allies believed that a union was not just a solution—but a necessity. Working through lunches, evenings, and weekends, they organized tirelessly, often at personal risk, to build a democratic, independent voice for staff.
That effort culminated on December 10, 1975—International Human Rights Day—when YUSA was officially certified as a union. Hardt, elected the first president, performed union duties without an office and with little institutional support, but with determination that would come to define the spirit of YUSA for generations.
Appropriately, Hardt herself was a featured guest speaker at the Gala. Her reflections on living, studying, and working at York University while helping build the union from the ground up resonated deeply with the room. She described an environment where her work life and personal life became inseparable, where witnessing injustice compelled her into what she called “politics”—not the politics of partisanship, but of empowerment and collective action. The audience responded with admiration for her profound contributions and her role in shaping YUSA’s identity.
Guest speaker Judy Steed, another key organizer from the union’s earliest days, also addressed the crowd, honouring the collective resolve of those who recognized that staff deserved dignity and fairness—and were willing to fight for it. Their stories served as powerful reminders that YUSA’s history is not abstract; it is lived experience, rooted in the people who took risks so that future workers wouldn’t have to face the same conditions.
One of the evening’s most touching moments came during the Leadership Legacy Awards, which honoured former YUSA presidents who demonstrated exceptional leadership over the past five decades. Recipients included Gabriele Hardt, Jim Streb, Al Scragg, Joanie Cameron Pritchett, Giulio Malfatti, Sandra Bell, and Sonny Day himself. Unfortunately, some former YUSA presidents could not be in attendance, but they were there in spirit.
Each name represented a chapter of determined advocacy—fighting wage freezes during the Bob Rae and Mike Harris eras, securing LGBTQ rights and benefits ahead of most unions in Canada, challenging pay inequity, resisting concessions, and navigating the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ceremony also included a special video remembrance of Jim Streb, who served as YUSA President from 1993 to 2000 and remained a beloved figure across the university. His unwavering commitment to protecting workers during some of Ontario’s most politically challenging years earned him deep respect, and the tribute was met with heartfelt applause. Also in attendance was his family, including his partner, daughter and son.
After the formal program, the celebration continued with raffle prizes—including an iPhone 17 Pro Max, Air Canada gift cards, a crystal vase, and gift baskets—sponsored by organizations such as BelairDirect, Dewart Gleason LLP, Cavalluzzo LLP, Cavan Advertising, and DPS Group. The evening concluded with rhythmic energy as The Tropicana Queens took the stage, drawing members onto the dance floor and filling the room with laughter and movement.
Beyond the festivities, the Gala stood as a reminder of what YUSA represents. For fifty years, it has defended workers’ rights, championed equity, and fostered a community grounded in solidarity. It has survived strikes, legislative attacks, economic upheaval, and profound technological change. Through it all, YUSA has remained steadfast, principled, and fiercely democratic.
The union’s journey from a small group of courageous organizers to a powerful, long-standing advocate for thousands of employees is nothing short of remarkable. As President Sonny Day affirmed, YUSA’s legacy is built not just on victories, but on people—“a union where everyone matters.”
At 50 years strong, YUSA’s future is bright. And its history continues to inspire.
