In an emotional farewell celebration, Local 1231 bid farewell to Rai Sagar, Chief Steward of York. Rai who has served the Union with dedication and commitment will be sorely missed. We are grateful for her hard work and the long hours she put in to serve the members and the union. She did it in her inimitable style of chutzpah and cheerfulness.
Thank you so much Sister Rai!
On behalf of Local 1231, we wish her the very best for the next chapter of her life. May it be filled with memorable moments, peace and joy, with family and loved ones.
A short letter from Rai :
Hello Everyone,
My wonderful friends, family, brothers, and sisters.
My name is Rai Sagar, and I would like to share a little about my journey. I was born in the Fiji Islands, known by many as the Paradise Islands. In the 1970s, I came to Canada, leaving behind my loving grandma, parents, and siblings in Fiji. Today, I am blessed with a beautiful family of my own — my husband, three children, and one precious grandson.
I spent 28 years working at Noma Industries. After leaving Noma, I decided to go back to college and completed my PSW course. In 2004, I began working as a healthcare provider for Preferred Health, which later became Spectrum Health.
In 2018, we signed the charter rights and officially joined the Union. I first served as a steward and later as a chief steward. Working alongside my brothers and sisters brought me tremendous joy. Through that role, I faced many different situations, and each challenge helped me grow stronger and more level-headed.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ralph Martin for believing in me, giving me opportunities, and teaching me how to confidently handle PIPs. I also cherished every convention, every training — especially the W3 — where I learned so much and had the privilege of meeting wonderful people and building lifelong bonds.
To each and every one of you who supported me throughout this journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
May God bless you all.
Pictures from the day we felicitated our dear Sister Rai.
