Neruson Murugesamoorthy
Hello! I am Neruson, your President for Local 541.
My goals as President are to continue expanding our membership list (it has grown by 70 members from November 2023 to November 2024), be more transparent and have a stronger union presence in the workplace. My other goal is to ensure that members' concerns are heard and action is taken. If you have ideas or suggestions for the Local Executive, reach out to me, and I will make sure they are discussed among the Executive team. It is important to the Local to know how the members want their local union dues to be spent, and I am happy to hear all ideas.
I have served the Local in a variety of roles such as Secretary, and stepping up and acting as the Head Steward when it was vacant and filed several grievances against management. I am happy to assist with any grievances or Duty to Accommodate issues. If you send us an email at local541.pdoc@gmail.com, I can also direct your concerns and questions to any of the executives and stewards on our team if appropriate.
If you want to sit and have a chat with me, please talk about the following topics:
- rock climbing, specifically bouldering since I am terrified of heights
- BBQing/Smoking. Please see showcases 1 and 2.
- Food in general (please refer to the above bullet point)
- I also like my teas and yerba mates (imagine Arizona Ice Tea but with 160mg of caffeine. Something has to fuel the documentation and the rock climbing)
Showcase 1
Showcase 2
Elisa Patel
Hello everyone ! My name is Elisa and I am your 541 Union VP, and an executive member of the Social Committee. My newest role will be helping to implement a Women’s Committee right here at our office! You can find me Mondays on the 2nd floor and Tuesdays biweekly on the 4th floor or mailroom.
I wasn’t always this extroverted, believe it or not. I remember teachers accidentally marking me absent in school. Outside of my work duties, I am an avid volunteer with GlobalMedic, TNG community services, I run my own tutoring business, I am an alumni mentor and finally a content creator for start ups/self-care businesses.
In my personal time I enjoy cooking, getting outdoors, dancing, painting, karaoke battles, travelling, and visiting city pop-ups or galleries.
Thusi Sivasubramaniam
Jo Marie Ortega
Hi Local 541! I'm Jo, your Secretary 👩🏻💻 — which means, yes, I'm the one who floods your inbox. I also designed and edited this website, put together the Newsletter you get every month (subscribe to it here!), and make those event posters to invite you to fun things happening at PDOC!
I am also the Co-Chair of the Women's Committee.
The most important part of my role is making sure you get the help you need. Whether that be support, information, forms, resources, or reading the emails you send us—I am here to support my fellow union members and want you to feel less alone navigating this system. I got your back. And your email, I promise.
TRAINED IN: Duty to Accommodate, Disciplinary Actions, Grievance handling, Federal Disability, Strike readiness.
ABOUT ME: I spend most of my time hanging out with my cat, reading, or playing games. You can find me on the 3rd Floor at PDOC!
Nicole McClymont
Deneka Green
Michelle Mascarenhas
Hello,
My name is Michelle Mascarenhas and I am your local 541 and GTA Youth Representative!
I am proud to be a member to help ensure that the wants and needs of youth are heard and are being addressed. I am also currently on the TFWP Social Committee so if you have any questions about that feel free to reach out to me!
On my free time, I volunteer with youth, and I enjoy spending my time providing advice and guidance and writing my own mental health blogs to help support those who are going through a difficult time.
How would you describe me? I am a friendly extrovert and I love meeting new people. Some hobbies of mine include: cooking, playing sports, playing the piano, swimming, writing, dancing, I love nature and finding new hiking spots with my dog, painting and I am always looking for my next adventure by traveling and seeing the world!
My onsite days are Wednesdays and Thursdays and I work for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program on the 4th floor.
Just know that I am your listening ear. I enjoy providing advice and guidance and helping in any way that I can.
The motto that I follow in my life is: Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Keetrie Moosa
Hey Local 541,
I am Keetrie Moosa, "Your friendly neighbourhood - 4th Floor Representative".
I am a Social Butterfly and here to help my fellow members. I am at the office on Monday's and Tuesday's.
About me:
I am an outgoing and family oriented person that loves music, dancing, going to concerts and likes to travel.
My motto is "Teamwork, makes the Dream work"... I try not to dream alot during the day, lol.
I am your representative to help you answer any questions you may have and if I don't have the answer, I will definitely seek to find it.
"Unity is strength…when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." – Mattie Stepanek
Sarah Sookwa
Hello 541 family!
My name is Sarah Sookwa and I’m the Third Floor Rep for our building. I’m a PO for the CSJ program and have been with PDOC since November 2022.
Prior to my career with Service Canada, I worked for The Region of Peel in Accounts Payable and Public Health, while volunteering as a talent acquisitionist for a start up NFP. I also spent some time working in the medicinal cannabis industry as a cannabis educator!
As of recently, I am Chair of Local 541’s first ever Women’s Committee! 🎉
Outside of work, I like to spend my time outdoors, hanging out with my cat and dog, trying to complete my Goodreads challenge on time and avoiding wedding planning (I’m a 2024 bride to be.) I love meeting new people and collaborating, so please feel free to reach out to me anytime - let’s be friends!
I’m passionate about the work we do and look forward to all of the wonderful things we will achieve together!!!
Mohammed Shamim Mia
Sunil Deonaraine
Read Sunil's goodbye post here.
Former President
Hey there! I'm thrilled to be stepping into the role of your President! Now, if I were to list my entire resume, we might be here all day – it's about 14 pages long at my age!
I have been a dedicated professional with a rich background in corporate work, entrepreneurship, and sales. Originally from a small town in Quebec, I grew up navigating the challenges of being an immigrant while embracing a passion for thrill-seeking activities like skiing, hockey, and ballroom dancing. My journey has taught me the importance of hard work, preparation, and the power of solidarity.
Beyond my career, I find joy in the simple pleasures of life, particularly in spending time outdoors with my five-year-old daughter. I am a nature enthusiast, and I cherish the moments I shares with her exploring the woods and hiking trails, creating a deep and lasting connection. I may be known for my humor and love of storytelling (in both official languages). I am on a mission to share my experiences and insights with others, and help them navigate the system more easily than I did.
Let's talk about management, shall we? Ever ask them about production KPIs? You'll likely hear a standard answer "10 a day", even for new programs where there's no existing data. But throw a question about ESDC tuition reimbursement their way, and suddenly they're stumped. When's the last time they gave recognition to an employee in writing? Or simply said, "good work"?
They're managers of people, and I'm going to make sure they remember that.
As someone deeply involved in community activism, I’ve seen firsthand the power of collective action. Whether it’s advocating for better working conditions or pushing for fair policies, I believe that when we stand together, we can make real change.
On a personal note, I'm not just your President; I'm also a son, husband, father, and someone with a mortgage. I get it – life happens, and it's not always smooth sailing. Whether it's bereavement leave, sick days, or compassionate care leave, I've been there. I understand what you're going through, and I'm here to support you through it all.
Together, we’re going to ensure that every voice is heard, every effort is recognized, and every member is valued.
after work study group
with the outstanding work sharing team on 4th floor
Khalid Usman
Alex (Minsung) Kim
John Ghaly
Neha Choudhary
Christopher Fitzpatrick