The Road to Activism: Grimmsley Feng’s cross-continent journey to becoming a Canadian labour activist

September 20, 2024

By Crystal Mason, MoveUP Member Journalist

Growing up in Canada, particularly as a white woman, I’ve often taken for granted the stability, education, healthcare, and freedom that come with living here. Many Canadians, including myself, overlook how these privileges shape our daily lives and the invisible systems that ease our paths. This often leads to a limited understanding of the immigrant experience, which requires stepping outside our own perspectives and appreciating the resilience needed to build a new life in a foreign country.

For immigrants like Grimmsley Feng, Canada represents hope and a fresh start. Born in Guangdong, China, Grimmsley’s journey to Canada was driven by the desire for better opportunities.

After dropping out of high school and working as a barista, he realized he needed more than just a job to sustain himself. At 17, he left his family to pursue education abroad, eventually landing in Winnipeg. His first Canadian winter was a stark introduction to snow, and his time at the University of Manitoba opened doors to various career paths before he chose kinesiology, aligning with his passion for sports and helping others.

However, his experience was also layered with challenges, from adjusting to a new culture and climate to navigating the complexities of building a new life away from family and familiar support systems.

Grimmsley’s career took him from coaching athletes in Winnipeg to a startup gym in Vancouver. After a series of career changes, he found himself working at ICBC as a Senior Support and Recovery Specialist. His work experience exposed him to the frustrations of dealing with insurance systems, sparking his desire to improve working conditions while supporting others. A significant turning point came when he had a personal accident, and our union helped him secure return to work accommodations for his recovery.

Inspired by his recovery and MoveUP’s support, Grimmsley got involved with the labour movement. He first became a job steward and, later, an executive councillor. His participation in the Constitution & Bylaws and Youth Action Committees, respectively, deepened his engagement and allowed him to connect with like-minded activists. These experiences, including attending the BC Federation of Labour Convention, exposed him to passionate debates and advocacy work, where he witnessed first-hand how resolutions aligned with workers’ values were fiercely defended.

Grimmsley’s passion for supporting workers has grown, and he envisions himself taking on a more active role as a MoveUP union representative in the future. He has already begun sharpening his skills by handling grievances and advocating for his fellow workers, and he aims to further develop his ability to represent union members in negotiations and legal matters by pursuing arbitration training with the goal of becoming a qualified arbitrator in British Columbia.

This new path aligns with the skills and interests he discovered while working at ICBC, where he became fascinated by law, insurance policies, and the art of advocacy.

Mentorship remains a priority for Grimmsley. He values the support he received and wants to guide newer union members. His dedication to justice and fair treatment promises a future of continued activism, leadership, and advocacy for workers’ rights. His evolving role, from job steward to executive councillor and aspiring arbitrator, reflects his dedication to justice and meaningful change within the labour movement.

Grimmsley’s journey from a struggling barista in China to a labour activist in Canada offers valuable lessons for those of us born and raised here. It enhances our understanding of the immigrant experience and highlights the importance of appreciating our privileges while advocating for fairness and community growth. His story is an inspiration for personal and collective development, emphasizing the power of resilience, advocacy, and mentorship.

Photo: Grimmsley (left) poses with BC Premier David Eby (centre) and Crystal Mason (right, story author) at MoveUP’s 2024 Convention.