The ATA News , January 13, 2026 ❚ 11
Teachers’conventions enhance professional practice by providing teachers and school leaders with opportunities to connect and
share innovative practices, collaborate on professional issues and find inspiration as they meet the learning goals identified in their professional growth plans.
North Central Teachers’ Convention Dates: Feb. 5–6, 2026
New year, renewed resolve
Location: Edmonton Convention Centre, Edmonton Contact: Carryl Bennett, president, president@nctca.ca Website: http://mynctca.com Calgary City Teachers’ Convention Dates: Feb. 12–13, 2026 Location: Calgary Telus Convention Centre Contact: Shae Frisby, president, cctcapresident@gmail.com Website: www.cctca.com Endless Skies Teachers’ Convention Dates: Feb. 12–13, 2026 Location: Edmonton Convention Centre, Edmonton Contact: Melissa Petruk, president, estcapresident@gmail.com Website: https://sites.google.com/view/estca/ home?authuser=1 Central Alberta Teachers’ Convention Dates: Feb. 19–20, 2026 Location: Red Deer Polytechnic, Red Deer Contact: Brenda Lewis, president, teacher.brendalewis@gmail.com Website: https://mycatca.com/ Palliser District Teachers’ Convention Dates: Feb. 19–20, 2026 Location: Calgary Telus Convention Centre, Calgary Contact: Jennifer Munton, president, president@pdtca.org Website: www.pdtca.org South Western Alberta Teachers’ Convention Dates: Feb. 19–20, 2026 Location: University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge Contact: Kevin Sheen, president, president@swatca.ca Website: www.swatca.ca Southeastern Alberta Teachers’ Convention Dates: Feb. 19–20, 2026 Location: Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat Contact: Cam Bernhard, president, cam.bernhard@gmail.com Website: https://seatca.atapd.ca Greater Edmonton Teachers’ Convention Dates: Feb. 26–27, 2026 Location: Edmonton Convention Centre, Edmonton Contact: Karen Sucie, president, president@getca.com Website: www.getca.com Mighty Peace Teachers’ Convention Dates: Mar. 5–6, 2026 Locations: Charles Spencer High School, Grande Prairie St. Joseph Catholic High School, Grande Prairie Contact: Sue Hauser, president, mptcpresident@gmail.com Website: http://mptca.teachers.ab.ca
H appy New Year, colleagues. I recently saw a comment suggesting that teachers are fortunate to celebrate the “new year” twice, once in September and again in January. There’s some truth to this. Each of these times offers us a moment to pause, reflect and reset. And though I am not a big believer in New Year’s resolutions, I am a fan of renewed resolve. Many of us are likely relieved to see the calendar turn from 2025 to 2026. It has been a difficult year for public education, marked by extraordinary challenges but also moments of real strength and solidarity. And while a new year brings hope, we also know that many of the pressures facing our classrooms will not disappear simply because the date has changed. For me, the new year presents two important opportunities. The first is reflection: taking stock of where we have been, what has tested us and what we have achieved together. Often, our greatest challenges are also our greatest successes. The strike is a clear example of this. It tested us all, but also put a spotlight on public education. The second opportunity is to look ahead. We know what lies before us, because many of the challenges we faced last year remain unresolved. Classroom complexity continues to grow, and teachers, school leaders, students and parents will be watching closely to see whether the government takes meaningful action. At the same
time, we must remain vigilant about emerging issues, including potential changes to teacher certification that risk undermining our profession in unprecedented ways. Our advocacy will also continue when it comes to curriculum implementation. Even as the government quietly slowed the rollout of several junior high courses, it also quietly released the latest Provincial Achievement Test results. Grade 6 math scores were deeply concerning, as teachers and school leaders predicted. Along with the Association, you raised red flags about the new curriculum, and now there is clear evidence that it is not serving students well. The government also quietly released the results of the early years literacy and numeracy screeners survey. And guess what? Those results echoed the concerns teachers and school leaders had expressed earlier in the year. It is striking how often new initiatives are announced with great fanfare, while reversals and corrections happen quietly, sometimes on Friday afternoons or school breaks.That is not accidental, and we will continue to use our voices, advocate forcefully and stand together with renewed resolve in the year ahead. And, as the new year arrives with fireworks and bright displays meant to mark a fresh beginning, we know that real change is not found in the spectacle of the “new,” but in thoughtful, collective work in support of public education.
I welcome your comments. Contact me at jason.schilling@ata.ab.ca.
Council authorizes strategy for post-strike period
PEC POINTS Audrey Dutka ATA News Staff Highlights of the emergent Provincial Executive Council meetings held 2025 10 27–28 and 2025 11 12 1. Approved that the Association take the position and announce that it will pursue all legal alternatives to challenge Bill 2’s egregious assault on the collective bargaining rights of teachers and, by extension, all workers. 2. Approved that a communication be sent out on 2025 10 27 advising members of the Association’s position on Bill 2. 3. Authorized the Association to draft for the use of teachers a letter to their employer, copied to the minister of finance, the minister of education and childcare, and the premier explaining that they are returning to work under protest and while they will abide by the law, they will do nothing more until teachers’ legitimate grievances and aspirations are addressed. 4. Approved that the Association direct its legal team to seek an injunction and report to local presidents that the Association is pursuing that avenue. 5. Authorized Finance staff to take the necessary steps to liquidate $15,000,000 from the Special Emergency Fund and allocate the proceeds for the
reimbursement to school divisions for the payment of teachers’health and benefit premiums incurred during the October 2025 work stoppage. 6. Authorized the Association’s strategy for the poststrike period to include the following elements: a. Strategic engagement with government to advance teachers’ interests on class size and complexity b. Legal challenge of the Back to School Act and, specifically, the use of the notwithstanding clause c. Advocacy in concert with civil society and other unions in opposition to the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause d. Promotion and participation in the citizens’ initiative initiated to restrict the use of public funds to public education e. Vigorous contract enforcement f. Review and revitalization of local communications officer and local political engagement officer programs g. Ongoing, refocused media public relations and advocacy campaigns h. Review and assess the role of local bargaining units and teacher welfare committees, providing support and direction as appropriate 7. Approved the proposed advertising and application timelines for recruitment for the position of ESO1/26, Coordinator, Professional Development. 8. Approved to have the official photographs of Provincial Executive Council members redone.
DID YOU KNOW? Some convention-related travel expenses are tax deductible.
Convention attendance is a condition of employment; therefore, reasonable expenses to attend convention (mileage, accommodation and meals) are eligible tax deductions. Teachers must retain appropriate supporting documentation of their expenditures and will have to request that their employer complete a T2200 form that outlines certain aspects of the conditions of employment. The T2200 does not have to be included with the tax return. However, the CRA can request it any time after you file the tax return. If you are having difficulty obtaining a completed T2200 from your employer, you can show the request from CRA and inform them that they are obligated to certify the T2200. For more information, you may wish to consult your accountant, visit the CRA website or contact your ATA local office. MORE INFORMATION on teachers’ conventions For the latest updates on your convention, please visit its website, noted above. If you have general questions, visit ataconventions.ca. Further questions can be directed to ATA executive staff officer Danny Maas at daniel.maas@ata.ab.ca.
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