Jack White began his career in the 1980s, serving as the Business Representative for the Painters Union in British Columbia. The union eventually formed a council whereby Jack was elected as the Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer for the Glazer, Drywall Finishers, Painters Union for BC.
In 2000, he became the Assistant to the General President for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAI), a position that he has held for over 20 years. He regularly attended GPMC | NMC meetings, quickly rising through the ranks within the Committee to become the Chairman of the GPMC | NMC, a position he still holds today.
The Benefits of Unionized Labour & GPMC | NMC
Security, camaraderie, a sense of belonging, and collective agreements are just a few of the benefits that he identified. Jack sees GPMC | NMC as providing sound, stable and well-paying maintenance jobs. The best part of his job is building solid relationships with members, clients, and contractors across the country.
Service to Others
Jack has been married to his beautiful wife, Renee, for over 47 years. They have two grown children, Cierra and Brent.
Jack spent several years traveling and volunteering in Uganda, working with locals on clean water projects that included installing water tanks and drilling wells in rural communities. Service to others has been woven into the fabric of his own family, as his son, Brent, currently lives with his family in Northern Iraq providing humanitarian relief and community initiatives.
The Bonsai Connection
Inspired by nature, Jack’s free time is spent cultivating and caring for his bonsai tree collection. Although commonly associated with Japan, bonsai originated in China, where it was known as “penjing”, meaning potted landscape. Today, bonsai are considered sacred, representing the attributes of balance, harmony, and simplicity in life. Bonsai trees are grown from seeds of traditional-sized trees, so each one starts like any other tree, but transforms into a miniature through selection, special cultivation, and pruning. This makes each bonsai tree unique.
A Stroke of Luck
In November 2022, while at home, Jack suffered a stroke, also known as a brain attack, which occurs when blood flow to the brain stops, and the brain cells in the area begin to die. Thankfully, his wife, Renee, knew the signs to look for, and her quick actions to call 911 saved Jack’s life. Stroke symptoms are unique because they come on suddenly, and often without warning. Stroke patients have a greater chance of survival and avoiding long-term brain damage if they arrive at a hospital to receive treatment within the first hour. Using the acronym “BEFAST”, these signs help to identify common symptoms of a stroke.
Today, Jack is committed to promoting stroke awareness and prevention, as it is the leading cause of adult disability in Canada and the third leading cause of death. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the signs of a stroke. The life you save might be you or someone you love.
