Heather Kelley accomplished many firsts in her long and storied career as an IAM member, none the least of which is that was was the first female Grand Lodge Representative (GLR) in Canada.
Heather became a member on February 1, 1979, after starting work at Fleet Industries in Fort Erie. Heather worked her way up from the ranks as a member of IAM Local 171 in Fort Erie. Her activism included serving as a Steward, Chief Steward, Health and Safety, Negotiations, right up to President of her local. She quickly became involved in her Local and the Ontario Provincial Council before becoming an IAM Representative in 1997. She represented the IAM as a Grand Lodge Represented (GLR) for more than 20 years before retiring in 2020.
Heather has worked tirelessly as an advocate for all workers, fighting for social justice and worker’s rights in every jurisdiction where the IAM has members. No IAM members can remember a time when Sister Heather Kelley wasn’t playing an active role within the union and the greater labour movement.
