Alberta teachers begin historic province-wide strike

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Classes across Alberta remain cancelled as 51,000 teachers continue their strike over classroom sizes, funding and working conditions. Negotiations between the teachers' union and provincial government have resumed, though both sides appeared far apart heading into the weekend. In other news, Calgary Counselling Centre is encouraging Albertans to check in on their mental health this week with a free, anonymous screening quiz.

👀 In today's edition:

• Person injured in LRT incident

• Vigil honours missing and murdered Indigenous women

• Run for the Cure surpasses fundraising goal

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QUICK POLL

Alberta teachers begin historic province-wide strike

Fifty-one thousand teachers across Alberta walked off the job Monday morning, leaving more than 700,000 students without classes for the first time in over two decades. The strike affects 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools, with major boards in Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray and Lethbridge all suspending classes and cancelling extracurricular activities.

The last time Alberta teachers went on strike was in 2002, when then-premier Ralph Klein declared a public emergency and ordered educators back to work after nearly three weeks.

The labour action comes after teachers voted nearly 90 per cent to reject the provincial government's latest contract offer. That offer included a 12 per cent pay raise over four years, a promise to hire 3,000 more teachers and coverage for COVID-19 vaccines. But Alberta Teachers Association president Jason Schilling says the hiring commitment falls short of the 5,000 instructors needed to address classroom sizes and student-teacher ratios.

At rallies held Sunday in Edmonton and Calgary, teachers pointed to underfunding and overcrowded classrooms as major concerns. "Too many students are falling through the cracks, and teachers are tired of watching them fall through the cracks faster every day," Schilling told supporters. Teachers at the rallies described classes with more than 40 students and said they're spending more time managing behaviour and mental health crises than actually teaching.

Premier Danielle Smith said Saturday she was confused about why teachers rejected the government's offer and suggested a disconnect between union leadership and front-line educators. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides has said the province is taking steps to address education challenges, including building schools and hiring staff to accommodate dramatic enrolment growth.

To support families during the strike, the government is offering parents $30 per day for each student aged 12 and under to help with child care costs and tutoring. The province has also posted an online curriculum toolkit and is temporarily lifting credit limits for high school distance education.

Both sides resumed "exploratory conversations" over the weekend, but even if a deal is reached quickly, Schilling said it would take about a week for teachers to vote on any new agreement before returning to classrooms.

Need to know

🏛️ The Calgary Party launched a series of attacks against Premier Danielle Smith and the provincial government over issues including the Green Line delays, police funding cuts, and provincial interference in municipal affairs.

🚇 A person suffered life-changing injuries after falling onto the tracks at Lions Park LRT Station in northwest Calgary early Monday morning and being struck by a train.

🏳️‍⚧️ Students at multiple Calgary high schools walked out of classes to protest Alberta's new laws affecting transgender youth in education, sports, and healthcare, arguing the legislation endangered vulnerable students.

🕯️ Calgarians gathered for the annual Sisters in Spirit vigil to remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people, with survivors and family members sharing stories about violence and calling for greater awareness and systemic change.

🎗️ Calgary's CIBC Run for the Cure raised over $1 million for breast cancer research and support services, surpassing its fundraising goal with five thousand participants.

💔 One person died in an early morning fire at a mobile home in southeast Calgary, with investigators determining the blaze was not connected to a recent arson at the Ogden Legion.

🚊 Communities First candidates proposed installing turnstiles at three Calgary LRT stations as a safety measure, though opponents argued the expensive system wouldn't effectively address crime or fare evasion based on evidence from other cities.

📊 Calgary's rapid population growth toward two million residents presented major challenges for the next city council, with infrastructure, housing, and transit systems struggling to keep pace with the city's expansion.

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Annual mental health check-in returns to Calgary

It's that time of year when Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta remind people to take a moment for their mental health. From October 6 to 12, they're offering a free, anonymous online quiz that helps people assess how they're doing and find support if they need it. The tool is available in six languages at areyoufeelingok.com and works on any device.

One in five Canadians will experience depression in any given year, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. Dr. Robbie Babins-Wagner, CEO of Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta, says the quiz gives people a simple, confidential way to check in with themselves—even if they're not sure something's wrong. It's designed to break down barriers and connect people with help when they need it most.

This week, several free events are happening, including an online program tonight at 6:30 p.m. about understanding the hidden signs of depression in men. On Thursday, October 9, there's an online session at 6:30 p.m. with resources for parents and caregivers supporting kids' mental health, and a lunch event with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce at 11:30 a.m. featuring keynote speaker Joelle Tomlinson. The campaign started in Calgary 20 years ago and has since grown across Alberta.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 L’Olivo: Experience Calgary's first Venetian-inspired cicchetti dining, where you can gather with friends over small plates and drinks in a lively social atmosphere that celebrates the art of sharing good food and conversation.

🍴 Fonda Fora: Discover contemporary Mexican cuisine with a focus on fresh seafood and seasonal corn-based dishes that bring traditional flavors to life throughout the day at this downtown hotel restaurant.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Things to do

🎟️ Creepy Tales & Cocktails: Brave an evening walking tour through Fort Calgary and Inglewood while sipping cocktails and hearing chilling stories about local murders, haunted spirits, and terrifying executions at this adults-only October experience.

🎟️ PD Day Camps: Keep your kids creatively engaged on school break days with single-day art camps featuring unique hands-on projects for ages six and up, available in convenient half-day or full-day options.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

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