Charles E. Brooks Labour Appreciation Night
4:45 PM - 9:00 PM St. Clair College Centre for the Arts 201 Riverside Dr. West Windsor, Ontario
United Way Centraide Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent and the Windsor and District Labour Council invite you to join us for the Charles E. Brooks Labour Appreciation Night on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at St. Clair College of Arts.
This special evening brings our labour community together to honour outstanding contributions to Windsor-Essex, celebrate the strength of labour-community partnerships, and recognize the people whose dedication to service, advocacy and solidarity makes a lasting difference.
This year’s award recipients
Brian Masse | Charles E. Brooks Labour Community Service Award
Recognizing nearly 30 years of service to Windsor-Essex, Brian has been a steadfast ally of organized labour, standing alongside workers on picket lines, championing good-paying jobs and advocating for working families. Through his years of public service, he has helped advance community investment, supported local neighbourhoods and grassroots initiatives, and contributed to major projects, including the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the establishment of Ojibway National Urban Park. His longstanding commitment to workers, families and the broader community reflects the spirit of this award.
Bruce Awad, OSSTF ARM Chapter 9 | Maureen Curtis Community Impact in Retirement Award
Honouring more than 40 years of community service, Bruce has dedicated his life to social justice, strengthening labour-community partnerships and supporting those who need it most. A longtime leader within the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) and the retiree chapter Active Retired Members (ARM), he has championed individuals with autism and their families, helped create meaningful programs and respite opportunities, and continued to advocate for accessible public health care and home care services. Through his ongoing leadership, charitable work and commitment to keeping retirees connected and engaged, Bruce demonstrates how retirement can be an opportunity to deepen community involvement and continue making a lasting difference.
The evening will also feature a virtual keynote address by Jim Stanford, economist and director of the Centre for Future Work, exploring the current state of the Canada–U.S. trade war, Canada’s economic resilience, the importance of protecting and strengthening Canadian manufacturing, and the policy priorities needed to build a stronger economic future for workers and communities.
Event Details
- Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
- Location: St. Clair College Centre for the Arts
- 4:45PM: Doors Open – WDLC Labour History Exhibit
- 5:30PM: Past Brooks Award Recipients Photo
- 6PM: Program Begins * Please note: New format this year—dinner will be served after the full program (approx. 7:20pm)
- Tickets: $65 (includes formal meal) *Tables of 8 or 10 REGISTRATION DEADLINE Friday, November 6
- Virtual keynote: Jim Stanford, Canadian economist
For tickets, please register at www.weareunited.com/labournight
We hope you’ll join us for an evening of recognition, learning and celebration as we honour Brian, Bruce and the labour community! Let’s reconnect with colleagues, renew our solidarity, and celebrate what we can achieve together through collective action for Windsor-Essex.
Reserve your tickets today! REGISTRATION DEADLINE Friday, November 6
For any questions, please contact Leilani at llogronio@weareunited.com or 519.817.2204.
