Stephanie Smith Richmond BC Obituary, Death: The labour movement across British Columbia is mourning the loss of former BCGEU president Stephanie Smith, who passed away on the night of Monday, July 6, 2026. A pioneering union leader, passionate advocate for workers’ rights, and champion of affordable child care, Smith leaves behind a remarkable legacy that shaped one of the province’s largest unions and influenced public policy for more than a decade.
Born in Montreal, Smith proudly embraced New Zealand as her home for many years, often describing herself as a “Kiwi by choice.” She later settled in Richmond, British Columbia, where she built both her family and her career. A devoted mother of two, Smith balanced her personal life with an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of working people across British Columbia.
Smith made history in 2014 when she became the first woman ever elected president of the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), a milestone in the organization’s more than 100-year history. She served as president until 2024, leading the union through a decade marked by significant social, economic, and political change. Under her leadership, the BCGEU expanded its advocacy on workers’ rights, public services, and social justice while strengthening its voice within the provincial labour movement.
Before entering union leadership, Smith trained and worked as an early childhood educator, a profession that deeply influenced her lifelong advocacy. Her commitment to accessible, affordable, and high-quality child care remained one of the defining causes of her career. Drawing on firsthand experience, she tirelessly promoted better wages, improved working conditions, and greater recognition for child care professionals throughout British Columbia and beyond.
Smith’s involvement in organized labour began in 1981 while living in New Zealand. After relocating to British Columbia, she continued her activism through the Children’s Services Employees’ Union, which later merged with the BCGEU during the mid-1990s. She steadily rose through the union’s ranks, serving as a workplace steward, community leader, first vice-chair of the Community Social Services Component, member of the Provincial Executive beginning in 2008, and later as BCGEU treasurer before being elected president.
Those who worked alongside Smith often described her as someone who believed solidarity was more than a slogan. She viewed unions as communities where workers supported one another through collective action, mutual respect, and shared purpose. Her leadership reflected those principles throughout her tenure.
Beyond labour negotiations, Smith became a leading voice for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. During her presidency, she strengthened partnerships with Indigenous organizations and leaders while encouraging the union to embrace meaningful reconciliation initiatives. Her work included supporting the *Choose Children* and *Closing the Circle* reports, participating in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, establishing the Provincial Executive Indigenous Advisory Committee, and promoting the adoption of the principles outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Tributes poured in from colleagues and elected officials following news of her passing.
BCGEU Treasurer Maria Middlemiss reflected on Smith’s influence, describing her as a trailblazer who inspired generations of union members, particularly women, to pursue leadership roles. Middlemiss praised Smith’s determination to confront injustice and acknowledged her lifelong commitment to workers who provide essential care for children, families, and communities throughout the province.
Current BCGEU President Paul Finch also paid tribute, remembering Smith not only as a historic leader but as someone whose warmth, humour, and determination encouraged others to believe meaningful progress was always possible. He extended condolences to Smith’s family, friends, and the many individuals whose lives were touched by her leadership.
British Columbia Premier David Eby likewise expressed his condolences, recalling years of collaboration with Smith on issues affecting workers and public services. He described her as a tireless advocate who combined compassion with unwavering determination, noting that her background in early childhood education shaped her empathy while her leadership made her a fearless defender of workers’ rights.
Throughout her career, Smith helped elevate the voices of frontline workers while strengthening the BCGEU as one of the province’s most influential labour organizations. Today, the union represents more than 100,000 members across approximately 470 bargaining units in both the public and private sectors.
Stephanie Smith’s passing marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in British Columbia’s labour history. Her groundbreaking leadership, dedication to equity, commitment to reconciliation, and lifelong advocacy for working families leave a legacy that will continue to influence the labour movement for generations to come.
The BCGEU has extended its deepest sympathies to Smith’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those who had the privilege of working alongside her. As tributes continue to arrive from across the province, many remember Stephanie Smith not simply as the first woman to lead the BCGEU, but as a compassionate leader whose vision, courage, and commitment transformed lives and strengthened the voice of working people throughout British Columbia.