Due to severe flooding in July, Barnett House will remain closed until early 2027.
The ATA Library is still open and providing resources to members.
Staff are working from home and continue to serve members online and by phone.
The Southern Alberta Regional Office (SARO) in Calgary is unaffected and conducts business per usual.
Local initiatives boost engagement
Once again, several Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) locals stepped into the spotlight at Summer Conference as part of the “Stars of the ATA Showcase,” which highlights the work locals have done over the past school year in the areas of
This year, 11 locals took part in the showcase. Projects undertaken by these locals are summarized here.
The local DEHR Committee’s microgrant program approved 10 innovative projects across various schools. These initiatives focused on fostering inclusion, celebrating cultural diversity, supporting neurodiversity and building community connections. Each project was awarded up to $250. The local also called on the membership to nominate a woman who shines in their school. Twenty-five names were drawn from the 114 nominations, with each winner receiving a pair of Hillberg & Berk earrings.
The local held two online public engagement forums. The first was held just before the Calgary Board of Education trustee elections, and the second was held during April’s Constituency Week, where several MLAs were invited to discuss classroom challenges. A billboard campaign was also launched outlining the challenges facing public education.
Local No. 38 also participated in the Centre for Sexuality’s Pride Brunch for Camp fYerfly, and representatives acted as marshals for the Calgary Pride parade. Local No. 38’s DEHR committee hosted an Authentically Indigenous learning series at the Brown Bear Woman Events Centre and launched their very first DEHR conference, welcoming members from locals No. 38, 35 and 37. Drag bingo nights and a trivia brunch were held to boost member connection and engagement.
The two locals organized a variety of wellness and community-building activities to help support their members throughout the strike: community walks, yoga, Zumba, salsa lessons, therapy dogs, volunteering with Hope Mission, blood donations and two large rallies at the Alberta legislature. They also teamed up with ATA’s Professional Development (PD) program area and hosted several PD opportunities to learn and connect.
The local hosted a two-day Women in Leadership retreat, providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where participants could learn, connect and grow together while advancing their understanding of gender equality. The event strengthened community connections by engaging local women as presenters and showcasing women-owned and women-led businesses.
During the 2025 teachers’ strike, the local created and operated a highly successful mobile strike centre initiative, designed to bring member support, advocacy and engagement directly into local communities across the region.
Le 2 mai 2026, l’AEEFA a contribué au premier Sommet sur la transmission linguistique, culturelle et identitaire de l’Alberta, un évènement majeur ayant réuni plus de 240 participantes et participants engagés dans la vitalité du français en contexte minoritaire.
The local proudly supported the Bring Dignity Home campaign. School representatives across the local organized donation centres in their schools, encouraging staff to contribute items such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine hygiene products and other personal care essentials. The campaign aimed to address an often-overlooked barrier faced by some students and families by collecting essential hygiene products for those in need.
Local No. 60 wrote over 250 letters that were personally delivered to MLAs all over central Alberta. Local No. 60 and Local No. 80 joined forces to hold a “pints and politics” event, allowing members to connect with local political leaders in a relaxed, informal setting. The two locals also hosted a rally during the 2025 strike. Several other activities, such as trivia nights, food security support and barbecues were planned to encourage engagement and support for their fellow teachers.
The local once again hosted their Fine Art Walk, an outdoor student art exhibition that runs concurrently with the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week. The project targets two core objectives: promoting public fine arts education by showcasing local student artwork and encouraging community members to experience the physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors and exercising.
Locals are encouraged to shine the spotlight on their initiatives through the “Stars of the ATA” program. The deadline for locals to submit entries for next year’s showcase is June 2027. Additional information, including on grants that can support local projects, is available at https://teachers.ab.ca/events/stars-ata-local-showcase.
