Alberta teachers rally for public education at legislature

Alberta teachers gathered at the legislature grounds in Edmonton Saturday in support of public education.

Teachers, parents and education advocates bundled up to brave the cold October afternoon.

The roads around the legislature were closed as a result of the demonstration.

Teachers are asking that public education be a top priority for current and future elected officials.

Today we #rally4ed #yeg pic.twitter.com/HaK4A9Ubdl

— Alberta Teachers' Association (@albertateachers) October 22, 2022

The rally was organized by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA).

Organizers are calling it “the first leg of a seven-month advocacy campaign leading up to the spring election.”

The ATA estimates 4,000 educators showed up to protest.

“Alberta’s teachers have faced immense challenges over the past three and a half years, yet they’ve witnessed a slow disintegration of respect and support for their profession from those in power,” ATA president Jason Schilling said in a statement.

“It’s important we send a clear message to all of Alberta’s political parties that they need to make concrete commitments in their platforms to build and maintain a strong public education system for our province.”

Wow! What a performance from Chubby Cree! ????#Rally4Ed #abed #yeg pic.twitter.com/G7pOskWL5Y

— Alberta Teachers' Association (@albertateachers) October 22, 2022

Schilling was one of the speakers at Saturday’s event, along with award-winning poet laureate Ahmed Ali and other figures in Alberta’s education system.

Performances by rapper and poet Cadence Weapon and Edmonton band Melafrique were on the schedule.