Solidarity, Sisterhood, Commitment, Caring
Sister Shirley Lord truly lives those words.
At the early age of 24, Sister Shirley Lord began her career with the City of Winnipeg and soon become involved both in her union and municipal affairs. When wrongs were being done, Shirley immediately went to work to correct them.
Active in her union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Shirley worked to improve the rights of working people by participating in numerous committees and coalitions at the local and national level. First active in the Municipal Hospital Unit of CUPE 500, she quickly became involved in a struggle over pay equity between aids and orderlies at the hospital.
It quickly became evident that the route for change involved the union, but also strong legislation. She participated in all levels of political action including chairing the CUPE Manitoba and the MFL political Action Committees. She loved organizing elections and was the campaign manager for Bill Blaikie's first election. From then on she was engaged in more campaign's than she can remember.
CUPE hired her full time in 1991, but quickly seconded her to be the coordinator of CHO!CES, a Coalition for Social Justice. Building a strong network of labour and community activists, the struggle to prevent the worst of the Filmon Conservative agenda was the agenda.
Shirley held many leadership positions within her local, the Federation of Labour and the NDP. Secretary of CUPE 500, Winnipeg Labour Council Executive Member, MFL Executive Member, and finally President of the NDP were just a few of the positions she held. She also knew the importance of labour activists taking a role in the community at large and served on the Board of Deer Lodge Hospital, chair of the Inner City Voice, chairperson of CEDA and chairperson of Village Clinic.
When Shirley retired from CUPE her work did not end there. Rather she decided that her work had just begun in another chapter of her life.
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In February 2004, Sister Lord and her partner George packed up their belongings leaving Winnipeg in minus -40 degree weather to take up a new life in Kampala, Uganda. In Uganda, Shirley began fundraising for orphans and working with the National Union of Persons with Disabilities through her work for Volunteer Services Oversees (VSO). VSO is an international development agency that works through volunteers to fight global poverty, by supporting people to share skills, creativity and learning with communities around the world. Through personal commitment and practical action, volunteers help build a fairer world.
Sister Lord described her experience when working with the school as "The walls are made of mud. The roof was held in place with girders that threaten to fall down at any time and there were no enclosed classrooms. The few books that they had were from donations and there were no story books or readers. The children ranged from nursery to primary 7."
At the National Union of Persons with Disabilities she worked to learn sign language in order to communicate. As part of the team Shirley travelled into a several rural villages to participate in a research project focused on the needs of people with disabilities.
Sister Lord says her biggest challenge was "learning to stay out of the politics of the country." Especially when it came to women and their rights.
"As far as the lives of women in this country - there is a long way to go."
Marriage ceremonies focus on the women and their role as subservient to their husbands. A bride price is paid, and the woman is owned. Women and young girls often kneel before their superiors and men often have more than one wife.
After returning to Winnipeg for a short visit during Christmas 2007, Shirley and George were off again for a six-month Volunteer Services Overseas placement with the Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.
"We are looking forward to our next adventure, but as always will miss friends and family," Shirley said.