The Social Delegate Network is a support program developed by the FTQ and financially supported by Centraide. Thanks to the commitment of nearly 2,500 volunteer workers across the province, the network offers compassionate, confidential listening to members experiencing difficulties, whether professional or personal.
To mark the Social Delegates Recognition Day, we spoke with Marc Champagne, Coordinator of the Social Delegates Network for the Montérégie Region, to learn more about this essential work.
CRY : Marc, can you tell us how long you’ve been involved with the Social Delegate Network and what first sparked your commitment?
MC : I had to consult my union’s social delegate after struggling with substance‑use issues. A few years later, in 1998, I was invited to ‘pay forward’ the support I had received — and that became the main reason I chose to get involved in this union committee.
CRY : On a day‑to‑day basis, what does a social delegate actually do to support their colleagues, and where does their role stop?
MC : A social delegate provides prevention, listening, referrals, and follow‑ups for colleagues who need support. Because they are not professionals, they cannot issue diagnoses.
CRY : When a worker is going through a difficult time, how can the presence of a social delegate make a difference?
MC : Our presence can make all the difference, because our relationship with workers is built on an equal‑to‑equal basis, which greatly increases the sense of trust.
CRY : Has there been a situation, an encounter, or a moment that particularly stayed with you and that, in your view, captures the importance of the Social Delegate Network?
MC : A worker struggling with mental‑health issues was suspended without pay for six months for disciplinary reasons linked to his condition. We organized a fundraiser and collected enough to provide him with the equivalent of disability insurance. Every week, I would bring him a cheque and gradually got to know him. We later accompanied him to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and to his medical follow‑ups. With this new way of life, he returned to work, won his case in arbitration, and was able to reach retirement.
CRY : To wrap up, if someone wanted to become a social delegate in their workplace, what steps would they need to take?”
MC : Anyone interested must submit the request to their union executive, who will then register them for the Social Delegate Training.”
Every day, thanks to the commitment of social delegates, workers find a listening ear, human support, and a first step toward solutions. The Network plays a vital role in improving well‑being in the workplace and contributes in concrete ways to breaking isolation and strengthening solidarity. Our thanks go to all social delegates who, through their presence, make a real difference in the lives of their colleagues.
We are also very proud to have Marc as part of the Centraide Richelieu‑Yamaska team for several years now. In addition to his role at FTQ Montérégie, he is actively involved in our Committee for Analysis and Relations with Organizations (CARO), where his deep knowledge of the field greatly helps strengthen our ties with the community. Thank you, Marc! ♥️
