Mug shot

So fitting, in fact, Kay sees it every time she drinks her morning coffee (and was only too happy to share with Ariss for this photo)!  

The tongue-in-cheek “fifty is the ultimate f-word” mug, available from a popular online store, alludes to the fact that both ONA leaders turned The Big 5-0 this year - their birthdays are only one month and one day apart – and have some very strong feelings about it!  

“Since ONA’s brand unleashed a tidal wave of f-words to describe our members and union, I have been finding them everywhere and for every occasion in my professional and personal life,” notes Ariss.   

“I’m embracing this next decade of my life, and can’t wait to see what we all, as ONA members, achieve together!”  

Adds Kay, “Erin and I are in good company with our milestone birthdays, as ONA is also in her fifties – 52 this year to be exact. And with everything we have accomplished over those five decades, that’s definitely something worth celebrating!”  

Unplanned coordination 

But a milestone birthday is just one of many things these two leaders have in common, and why they work so well together leading our organization.   

“We’re both ER nurses from smaller hospital settings where nurses take on many ONA roles and don’t have as many opportunities to engage with the provincial office," Ariss and Kay explain. “Traditionally, ONA leaders in our positions came from large to medium-sized hospitals and had more exposure, so we fought in different ways.  

“We called ourselves 'little BUPs' [Bargaining Unit Presidents] and are both committed to not losing sight of where we came from and reinforcing that success can be achieved no matter the size of your Bargaining Unit. We know the challenges that smaller Bargaining Units face.”  

On a lighter note, Ariss and Kay are both also left-handed, and if you think they’re wearing coordinating outfits some days, you’re not wrong. It’s just not a planned coordination, they joke, but another demonstration of how in sync they are.  

“When we text each other the exact same thing at the exact same time, we just say ‘here we go again!’” they laugh. “We’re proud to be in this f-word era together.”

Your turn 

Displaying your f-word on a mug is part of a trend of some playful ways we’re seeing “F-Word in the wild” as members and the public embrace it. Here are two other examples: Here, there, everywhere an F-Word! and Fabric of our union.  

We encourage all members to find your own f-words wherever and whenever you can and share with us.