More than 300 women teachers and educational leaders from across Canada came together not just to talk about leadership in the profession, but to stand in their own power. The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) Women’s Symposium was held May 8–10 in Alberta this year, marking the first time the event was co-hosted by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the largest CTF Women’s Symposium to date.
Open to all CTF members who identify as women, the symposium was a chance for teaching professionals from across the country to share stories and strategies related to the challenges and successes they have experienced—particularly in connection with embracing their own potential as leaders in their profession and in their communities.
“With the under-representation of women in leadership roles within education, this conference served as an important reminder of the power each woman holds,” said Tanya Thiessen, ATA staff officer and secretary to the provincial Women in Leadership Committee. “It was a safe space for participants to reflect on their strengths and network with their colleagues from around Canada.”
Presentations explored such areas as reframing limitations as opportunities, advocating for women’s rights and human rights, working collectively to elevate the teaching profession and each other, maximizing your own potential and recognizing your own value—critical topics as Alberta teachers continue to navigate complexity within the profession. The symposium also challenged participants to rethink what leadership looks like.
“Leadership doesn’t mean one thing, and it doesn’t appear one way,” Thiessen said. “Standing in your power means finding who you are as a leader and owning that.”
The ATA’s lead organizer of the conference, Lisa Everitt, said that the symposium also served as a platform for ATA women in leadership projects in Alberta, as members of local and provincial committees contributed to the event’s success.
“With the ATA co-hosting the CTF Women’s Symposium, Alberta teachers had an opportunity to show off their collective leadership capacity through providing session presentations, helping prepare conference packages, assisting delegates with their questions and moderating presentation sessions,” said Everitt.
With this event now wrapped, plans are already under way for the 2026 iteration of the CTF Women’s Symposium, which will be held in Ontario.
