Frank O'Reilly

Long-time Toronto 500M Executive Vice Pres. Frank O'Reilly retired from his post in December.

O'Reilly, who chaired the GCIU Board of Electors during the past election cycle, had been executive vice president of the local since 1987.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, O'Reilly joined the Irish Bookbinder and Allied Trades Union at the age of 17 as an apprentice bookbinder. In 1963, he became a journeyman. That same year, he left Ireland to work the trade in Oxford and London, England. He returned to Ireland in 1964 with his family.

In 1968, O'Reilly and his family moved to Canada, where he joined the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders. He worked at P.E.& E, now Quebecor World Islington, Canada Law Book, and Carswell.

In 1977, O'Reilly became an organizer and full-time officer of Bookbinders Local 28. When Local 211 and Local 28 merged to become 500M, he became a vice president of the newly merged local.

The O'Reillys are a strong Local 500M family. Frank's wife Anne works at Canada Law Book, and his son Michael works at McLaren Morris and Todd.

In a statement in Local 500M's newsletter, O'Reilly's fellow officers and staff wished him a very well-deserved retirement that will give him more time with his family, including two grandchildren by his daughter Suzanne.

"His dedication to the labor movement and to this local are second to none," the statement said. ". . . [T]he time has come for the O'Reilly family to enjoy each other's company full-time. He will most certainly have more time to devote to them in retirement. This time is well deserved by his family because of the sacrifices they made while Frank was servicing this local and the labour movement. The union office will certainly miss Frank's knowledge and twisted sense of humor, where he has not only been a leader but also a friend."