Brian Duplessis, 2025 recipient of Owen MacLennan Trade Unionist of the Year Award

Brian Duplessis is being recognized by the New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL), in collaboration with Argus Audiology, as the 2025 recipient of the Owen MacLennan Trade Unionist of the Year Award. Argus Audiology donated $1,000, in the name of Brian Duplessis, to the NBFL Blair Doucet Youth Summer Camp.

“It is such a pleasure to recognize Brian Duplessis’s longstanding involvement and achievement in the labour movement. He recently retired as the Secretary-Treasurer of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour, a position he has held for the past 7 years,” says Chris Watson, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour.

“Brother Duplessis consistently shows his leadership skills and through his guidance, he has fostered leadership qualities in many of us. His is a strong advocate, unafraid to challenge the status quo and always supporting union brothers and sisters.”

Brian Duplessis has been involved in the labour movement, in various capacities, for over 45 years at the local, provincial, and national level. He started his union activism soon after beginning his career as a dockworker at the Port of Saint John. He has held many positions within his union, International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) local 273, including President/Business Agent, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer/Business Agent. He has also served as the co-chair of the workplace joint health and safety committee. Brother Duplessis is also a longstanding activist with both the Saint John and District Labour, as the Secretary-Treasurer and within the New Brunswick Federation of Labour, where he held the role of Vice-President representing small unions and most recently as the organization’s Secretary-Treasurer.

On the national scene, Duplessis held the position of Vice-President of the Canadian Maritime Workers’ Council. Duplessis also found time to volunteer in his community as past Director at both the United Way of Greater Saint John and at the Saint John Community Loan Fund, now known as Kaleidoscope.

“Argus Audiology is proud to recognize Brian Duplessis’s leadership capabilities, his years of labour and social activism and his ongoing passion,” says Norma Eaton, Co-owner of Argus Audiology and daughter of Owen MacLennan. “Argus Audiology is proud to recognize Brian Duplessis’s longstanding contributions to the labour movement,” commented Bill Eaton, co-owner and son-in-law.

Argus Audiology collaborated with the NBFL to create the annual Owen MacLennan Trade Unionist of the Year Award. It recognizes individual trade unionists who have made a significant and/or ongoing contribution to the labour movement. This award was created in the loving memory of Owen MacLennan who worked at Eastern Bakeries from 1951 to 1994. He had a strong work ethic and was an active member of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union (BCTGM) local 406 in Moncton. Brother MacLennan passed away in 2010.