Labour Update

Labour Action Update

(October 31, 2025)

NEW Our schools resumed classes for students on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

We recognize that this time has brought uncertainty for many. Yet, through it all, our Evergreen Catholic community has remained steadfast—grounded in faith and committed to the well-being of our students. As we welcome our children and teachers back into their classrooms, we do so with hearts full of hope. These are spaces where students grow not only in knowledge, but also in faith, friendship, and love.

We are deeply grateful for your patience, understanding, and support. Our focus now is on ensuring a smooth and caring transition for all students. As we move forward, let us remain united in our Catholic mission—We are Called to Witness.

We recognize that this period may have raised questions and concerns. Below are some important updates to help guide our shared path forward.

For the latest updates, continue to visit this page.

What's Happening Now (click to expand)

Our Role in the Bargaining Process (click to expand)

In Alberta, teacher bargaining is currently happening centrally at the provincial level. It is a process between:

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA): representing Alberta’s teachers, and
The Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA): representing the Government of Alberta and all public, separate, and Francophone school divisions.

A central bargaining process means that items such as teacher salaries and benefits are determined through the provincial collective agreement, rather than through individual school boards. Local bargaining can only begin once this process has been completed.

Frequently Asked Questions (click to expand)

Will some school activities/events be rescheduled or cancelled? Some school-based activities - including athletics, extracurricular, parent-teacher interviews, field trips, school council events, etc. - may need to be rescheduled or cancelled. Your child's school will communicate directly with you on any changes in the near future.

Will some of our school fees be returned? Some families may have questions about fees related to school programs, extracurricular activities, option classes,or transportation services impacted by the strike. Once staff have resumed regular duties, each affected program or service will be carefully reviewed to determine whether participation, instructional time, or service levels were reduced or rescheduled. If adjustments or refunds are warranted, school will communicate those details. We appreciate your understanding as this process unfolds.

Will students be writing the January Diploma Exams and Provincial Achievement Tests? NEW January Grade 9 PATs and Grade 12 Diploma exams have been cancelled for students. With the January diploma exams cancelled, Grade 12 students will receive the school-awarded mark as their final mark. They will also receive a notation on their transcript to ensure there is no impact on their ability to graduate or transition into post-secondary.

Will November PD Days and Fall Break (November 10-14, 2025) continue as planned? At this time, there have been no changes to the school calendar, including Fall Break. We will consider all of the options that Alberta makes available to us to ensure our students have the opportunity to meet their learning outcomes in collaboration with our transportation partners. Should the provincial government provide additional direction - such as timelines, conditions, or phased implementation - ECSSD will update families promptly. If any changes to the school calendar are required, we will notify parents immediately.

Premier Smith Letter to Parents