18 October 2004

TNG Canada
creates award
in memory of
John Belcarz,
Montreal Guild activist

TNG Canada is creating a meritorious service award to honour the memory of John Belcarz, a long-time Guild activist who, until his death a year ago this month, was president of the Montreal Newspaper Guild.

The award was announced Oct. 16, during a special tribute to John in Montreal in conjunction with TNG Canada's fall meeting of the National Representative Council.

TNG/CWA's Canadian Director, Arnold Amber, assured the 100 people attending the evening tribute that the contribution John had made to the Montreal Local, TNG Canada and to The Newspaper Guild would never be forgotten.

A committee comprising members of the Belcarz family, the Montreal Local and TNG Canada's executive will investigate a design for the award, develop the criteria, and set in place the process by which nominations will be encouraged, received and adjudicated.

Originally a representative of the Montreal Gazette circulation department, John continued on as Local president even after becoming an independent contractor for the newspaper. He passed away at the age of 51 after a heroic battle with cancer.

Members of the Belcarz family, including his wife Mary and sons Mark and Paul, were on hand for the announcement. Earlier in the day, the Representative Council had voted unanimously to set aside $5,000 to establish the award.

Various options to honour John had been considered. His family determined an annual award in his name, recognizing a Canadian Guild member who best embodied the attributes associated with John — fairness, hard work, and an unselfish determination to further the cause of the Canadian labour movement — would be most fitting.

TNG/CWA President Linda Foley and Secretary-Treasurer Bernie Lunzer were present at the tribute, as were Gerry Minkkinen, Executive Director of the Chicago Newspaper Guild, and former TNG/CWA Vice-President Tom Thibeault, who drove to Montreal from Manchester with his wife, Barbara.

Guild members were pleased to note the presence of J.-P. Tremblay and Mme. Tremblay. Tremblay, the Vice-President of Human Resources at the Montreal Gazette, had faced John across the bargaining and grievance tables for more than 20 years, but they shared a mutual respect and admiration for the way each handled such confrontations.

The goal for the Award Committee now is to have everything in place and a recipient selected in 2005.

Locals from across Canada and the United States will be apprised of the John Belcarz Memorial Award and the committee will be accepting funds from locals and individual members to ensure its sustainability.