The Federation's second president was a railway machinist from Moncton who was one of the first Acadians to rise to prominence in the New Brunswick labour movement. When they chose Célime A. Melanson as president, the delegates were acknowledging the importance of Moncton and its railway workers within the labour movement. Although there were still few French-speaking delegates in attendance, they were also showing that they could welcome an Acadian as leader of the provincial labour organization. Moreover, in electing Melanson, they were choosing a hardworking skilled worker who had already served several terms as an executive officer of the Federation.