More than 20,000 Albertans gathered in Edmonton and Calgary on Sunday, demonstrating for stronger government support for public education. The rallies come a day before the province’s 51,000 teachers are set to strike, potentially marking Alberta’s first provincewide teachers’ strike in history.
Heather Quinn, president of ATA Local 37, which represents Edmonton public school teachers, addressed the crowd at the Legislature. She told CBC News, “We ask everyone in Alberta to not only speak up, stand up, but now fight for the future of public education, so our children, our families and future generations will have equitable access to education in Alberta.”
Stalled negotiations and key disputes
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the provincial government have been negotiating a new collective agreement for over a month, with key issues including salaries, growing class sizes, and the need for additional staff to support diverse classroom needs. The previous contract expired in August 2024.
Premier Danielle Smith, in her bi-weekly radio program on Saturday, called the potential strike a “lose-lose-lose situation” for teachers, parents, and students, urging the union to return to negotiations. According to Finance Minister Nate Horner’s office, the government remains ready to resume talks, but the ATA leadership was unavailable over the weekend.
Despite this, ATA president Jason Schilling indicated that a strike is imminent. He told CBC News, “There are conversations going on between ourselves and government, but we'll have to see what comes of that.”
A provincial issue, not a local one
Rallies in Edmonton and Calgary drew 18,000 and 3,000 participants respectively, including teachers, parents, and students. Many attendees traveled long distances to make their voices heard. A teacher from High Level drove 600 kilometres to join the Edmonton rally and told CBC News, “Edmonton is where the decisions are made. This is where they need to see us, and not forget us.”
Educators at the rallies emphasized that challenges are widespread across the province. A teacher at Chestermere High School, described the rallies as “empowering” and stressed the need to advocate for students. A junior high teacher in Calgary, said to CBC News, “Every single school across this province is facing all of the same issues. It is a provincial-wide issue.”
Class sizes and student impact
Classroom sizes are a major concern. Edmonton principal Jill Kwasniewski reported to CBC News that her daughter’s class had 43 students. Many teachers described the challenges of meeting diverse learning needs in crowded classrooms. A Grade 1 teacher, told CBC News, “It’s crumbling. We’re watching it happen.”
Students also voiced support for teachers while acknowledging the disruption a strike would cause. A Grade 11 student told CBC News that he is preparing to self-study if needed, adding, “The sooner it ends, the sooner I can get back to school without interruption.”
Government and civic response
Calgary mayoral candidate Jyoti Gondek highlighted the broader impact on families, particularly those balancing work and childcare. She told CBC News that students preparing for graduation and diploma exams face added stress. “It is a severe disruption. We cannot be in a strike situation; this can be avoided.”
With talks yet to resume and the strike looming, Alberta’s public education system stands at a critical juncture. For educators, students, and families, the outcome will shape classroom conditions, access to resources, and the broader landscape of education in the province.
Heather Quinn, president of ATA Local 37, which represents Edmonton public school teachers, addressed the crowd at the Legislature. She told CBC News, “We ask everyone in Alberta to not only speak up, stand up, but now fight for the future of public education, so our children, our families and future generations will have equitable access to education in Alberta.”
Stalled negotiations and key disputes
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the provincial government have been negotiating a new collective agreement for over a month, with key issues including salaries, growing class sizes, and the need for additional staff to support diverse classroom needs. The previous contract expired in August 2024.
Premier Danielle Smith, in her bi-weekly radio program on Saturday, called the potential strike a “lose-lose-lose situation” for teachers, parents, and students, urging the union to return to negotiations. According to Finance Minister Nate Horner’s office, the government remains ready to resume talks, but the ATA leadership was unavailable over the weekend.
Despite this, ATA president Jason Schilling indicated that a strike is imminent. He told CBC News, “There are conversations going on between ourselves and government, but we'll have to see what comes of that.”
A provincial issue, not a local one
Rallies in Edmonton and Calgary drew 18,000 and 3,000 participants respectively, including teachers, parents, and students. Many attendees traveled long distances to make their voices heard. A teacher from High Level drove 600 kilometres to join the Edmonton rally and told CBC News, “Edmonton is where the decisions are made. This is where they need to see us, and not forget us.”
Educators at the rallies emphasized that challenges are widespread across the province. A teacher at Chestermere High School, described the rallies as “empowering” and stressed the need to advocate for students. A junior high teacher in Calgary, said to CBC News, “Every single school across this province is facing all of the same issues. It is a provincial-wide issue.”
Class sizes and student impact
Classroom sizes are a major concern. Edmonton principal Jill Kwasniewski reported to CBC News that her daughter’s class had 43 students. Many teachers described the challenges of meeting diverse learning needs in crowded classrooms. A Grade 1 teacher, told CBC News, “It’s crumbling. We’re watching it happen.”
Students also voiced support for teachers while acknowledging the disruption a strike would cause. A Grade 11 student told CBC News that he is preparing to self-study if needed, adding, “The sooner it ends, the sooner I can get back to school without interruption.”
Government and civic response
Calgary mayoral candidate Jyoti Gondek highlighted the broader impact on families, particularly those balancing work and childcare. She told CBC News that students preparing for graduation and diploma exams face added stress. “It is a severe disruption. We cannot be in a strike situation; this can be avoided.”
With talks yet to resume and the strike looming, Alberta’s public education system stands at a critical juncture. For educators, students, and families, the outcome will shape classroom conditions, access to resources, and the broader landscape of education in the province.
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