As soon as the many people impacted by Deborah heard of her passing stories of Deborah’s support and kindness through the years started flooding in.

Stories like how when same sex benefits came to the WCB, Deborah found out some members weren’t ready to stand in a line on the 3^rd floor to ask for forms to update their status. Deborah wanted these members to get the benefits that had been gained so Deborah set the union office up as a safe space that members could come by in the evening to sign up in privacy. And guess who stayed late to do that work?

ADeborah’s accomplishments were many. From fighting for committee’s to fighting for programs and articles in the collective agreement and other rights that built our enviable collective agreement – Deborah and her work remain a pillar that holds up the Compensation Employees Union to this day. When I say I am fortunate to stand on the shoulders of the giants that built the CEU – she is one of the giants I am speaking of.

In fact, Deborah was so well known for her social justice work that she was the recipient of the Joy Langan social justice award at the BC Federation of Labour Convention in 2014.  To win this prestigious award you must be a woman who (like Joy Langan) meets this list of requirements involving deep community and union work with a feminist lens. Nominating Deborah for this was the most natural thing in the world. Her list of accomplishments in the nomination listed just a few things like:

1. Organizing the first CEU women’s committee
2. Assisted in bargaining and implementing an employee and family assistance program
3. Working actively on the diversity committee
4. She lobbied for onsite daycare and elder or family care assistance through the dependant care committee
5. Deborah was central in the formalization of the volunteer return to work program
6. She laid the framework for the first employee drug and alcohol assistance program
7. Deborah was a delegate on the Vancouver and District Labour Council
8. She was on the Board of Directors for the Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association
9. She was a volunteer with the city of surrey emergency social services program
10. She was a volunteer recruiter for City of Surrey programs
11. She was active on a family mentoring program through Surrey Community Services that provided mentorship to single mothers in transition
12. Then in her spare time she was President of the Surrey Female Hockey Association – of course – and while there she implemented a mentorship program for young women with a community service requirement for players
13. Deborah was an active organizing member for the Surrey International women’s day committee
14. Then there is all the political stuff she was active in at the time – from executive member to constituency president to MLA candidate to regional representative – she did it all.
15. She started a public compensation coalition to fight off liberal threats to privatize the WCB
16. She was a speaker and presenter at mental health conferences
17. She was on the board of directors for the Canadian association of disability management coordinators
18. She taught women’s history at the summer institute for union women
19. And She taught at Canadian labour conference winter schools

I will never forget how proud I was to watch Deborah receive the Joy Langan award she deserved so much that November day in 2014.

When I was struggling with what to speak of today I did what we do in the labour community do – I reached out to some other members of Deborah’s CEU family. I would love to now share some of the messages and memories I was privileged to receive:

From Jane Player (who is here) – I always wanted to be more like Deborah. I have suffered from low self esteem all my life, Deborah recognized skills and abilities in me that I didn’t recognize in myself. She made me see myself in a different light, which made it easier for me to take on issues and tasks that I aspired to but didn’t think I would be able to do or was qualified to do. For example. She suggested that I apply to become a CEU return-to-work coordinator at the Board. I was reticent about applying because I worked in prevention and didn’t have any claims experience. She generously spent time with me going through what the job entailed and deepened my understanding of the program. She helped me recognize that the most important qualification for the job was a strong belief and understanding of the principles of the program and helped me acknowledge to myself that I had that and the skills it would take to serve CEU members well in that position.

Deborah was an excellent debater. I loved watching her passionately and forcefully – but always respectfully – presenting her point of view – whether that was in meeting with management, CEU executive board meetings, and shop steward schools. I was very proud of her when she became a candidate in the 2009 provincial election and was up against Kevin Falcon, one of the most powerful cabinet ministers in the Liberal government in the period 2001-2013. I knew she would be able to hold her own out on the hustings with flair and grace. Presenting the vision of a fair and progressive democratic society.

From Colleen Glynn – former CEU Secretary – I always really liked Deborah. She was such a positive force and very smart. Deborah was one of the most articulate women I have ever known. I was totally jealous of her speaking skills. I was so sad when she announced her diagnosis. It was so unfair for it to happen to someone so young and vibrant and still had so much to share with the world. I will always miss her.

From former CEU President Sandy Wright – Deb was a candle that shone brightly and lit the way for many who were on difficult paths. So sad to hear of her passing but she will be remembered fondly by many

From former CEU Treasurer David Farrell – There are regrets you can’t overcome. A great person, a personal hero, has left us and I won’t be there to celebrate her life. I can not let that pass. Deborah Payment was a great person. For all the years I knew and worked with her, she always inspired me. As a person, she was kind. I would be ranting in anger, and she would encourage me to change minds, not yell. She was smart. She could see to the heart of an issue and work towards a solution. She was funny. Her humour and smile were infectious and brought great joy. As a coworker and activist, she stepped up and acted while most of us were only talking about what to do. She helped so many people. I want the world to know that I respect Deb. I am a better person for having known her. She deserves to be honoured. David requests that people find a way to remember and honour Deb. Whether that is donating to the Parkinson’s Foundation, believing in someone that needs someone to believe in them, or being kind and lifting others up, all these things were Deb.

From James Morrison – current CEU Executive Director – I knew Deborah for a short time when she was an Executive member but much longer when she was a Business Rep covering Vancouver Island for the CEU. I admired her free spirit and humour when faced with adversity, and was in awe of her strength and tenacity in getting things accomplished

From Kerry-Ann Herron – current CEU Executive Director – I will always remember Deborah dressed to the 9’s and wearing her high heels. She also had a smile that would light up a room and was contagious. She was a force to be reckoned with but also shared in her knowledge and passion for all things union.

And with that I will read the last statement – from Frank – whom she worked with for many years.

My name is Frank Lanzarotta and I served as a CEU representative from 1986 -2017. During that time, I was fortunate enough to work with Deborah in her capacity as Shop Steward, executive member, Bargaining Committee and Team member, committee member, and CEU Staff Union representative, from 1988 -2015. It is almost impossible to capture in adequate language the mark she left on the culture of the CEU and the WCB. You have heard and read so many wonderful quotes about Deb’s character and I assure you, everything is accurate. She was the ultimate professional—calm, prepared, logical, a wonderful speaker and writer, compassionate and had an incredibly strong sense of social justice. She could be self deprecating at times and never sought recognition for her work; rather she constantly sought justice for others. In the years 1986-88 the Union was seeking to change the culture of the WCB. We wanted to make the Union relevant to its membership and to remind the WCB there was a collective agreement in place. We were very lucky that a class of new Claims Adjudicator trainees had been hired and some of them shared our interests. Deb came to our attention in 1988 following very positive comments from the Training Unit. I met with Deb and asked if she was interested in becoming a shop steward. We talked about the Steward role and then Deb said to me “Well, if the employer does something to an employee, then the employee must have done something wrong! “Deb had an insatiable curiosity though, and after more talks she agreed to become a Steward. And what a force she became. We used to watch expectantly in those days when she and Nancy Andrews went into a grievance meeting. We expected the earth to shake, and it did. The Senior Board group were not used to being challenged, especially by women. But they quickly learned never to take either person lightly. I would say Deb also had a competitive streak, although not in a bad way. A group of us had monthly Hearts tournaments for about a year or two, The evenings would consist of ordering Chinese food, drinking beer —or in Deb’s case White Russians-and playing Hearts. We rarely won because Deb won most of the time. I used to think maybe she would have some sympathy for fellow Union members, but we played for penny a point and sympathy never entered the equation. She was simply better than we were! Deb was part of so many efforts at the Board to improve membership rights—the Women’s Committee, EFAP, the Diversity Committee, the Dependent Care Committee, the Drug and Alcohol Assistance Program, numerous Technological Change Committees, and bargaining committees. Additionally, she was a very active Shop Steward and became an expert in recruitment and discipline grievances. But, in my mind, the two areas where Deb had the largest impact were the Return-to-Work Program and the Harassment Committee. The first Harassment Policy was created in 1993. Most of the senior officer positions at the Board were male dominated and there was a sense that anything could be said to anyone—after all it was just ‘good old-fashioned humour’, wasn’t it? That was the environment we tried to change—and we did. Deb was a long-time committee member and as such became part of the face of the policy. During the first few years of the program, Deb took over 100 calls per year—she dealt with everything from educating members, to solving problems to referring serious matters for formal investigation. But it was her ability to talk to members and to develop trust that solidified the program. Similarly, Deb was the driver for the development of a successful Return to Work and Stay at work program. The nature of the job meant she learned a lot of very personal information about members and her ability to keep confidentiality and to absolutely refuse any management queries about a member led to an incredibly successful program. It is no wonder she is spoken of with such reverence. I have not even touched on Deb’s work or life outside the WCB. I will leave that for others. I will say the world needs more Deborah’s. She will be sorely missed.

All these words are such a beautiful slice of life with Deborah – She will be missed – she made things happen

The biggest thing she made happen though, what she called her biggest accomplishment was her daughter Jaclyn and I feel kind of like Jaclyn was the honorary CEU kid. There are pictures in the office of her on picket lines, meetings and votes. You are both part of the CEU story too Jaclyn. Thanks for sharing your mom all those years.

Deborah was an inspiration to many who lifted others up on her journey to leadership, never stepping on anyone but instead steering the ship on a tide rising for all. She always had room for you. She always said the CEU punched above our weight – that we accomplished more as a small union than most expected of us. While true, it is also largely because of her. Deborah inspired greatness in those around her just by being that amazingness she was. AND that I hope she can dance somewhere else now and she is back in those high heels she rocked so hard.

Laura closed with a poem that makes her think of Deborah every single time she hears it.

Bread and Roses

As we come marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill-lofts gray
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing, “Bread and Roses, Bread and Roses.”

As we come marching, marching, we battle, too, for men—
For they are women’s children and we mother them again.
Our days shall not be sweated from birth until life closes—
Hearts starve as well as bodies: Give us Bread, but give us Roses.

As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient song of Bread;
Small art and love and beauty their trudging spirits knew—
Yes, it is Bread we fight for—but we fight for Roses, too.

As we come marching, marching, we bring the Greater Days—
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler—ten that toil where one reposes—
But a sharing of life’s glories: Bread and Roses, Bread and Roses.