$1 including gst
The Community
Press
TEXT ‘ABFIRES’ to 45678 to donate $10 to Red Cross for Jasper wildfire relie Volume 118 Issue 13
www.thecommunitypress.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 s
TEACHERS ON STRIKE Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Alberta Teachers officially walked off the job on Monday, the official start of the Alberta Teacher’s Association (ATA) strike action, after a huge rally was held in Edmonton on Sunday, Oct. 5, on the steps of the Alberta Legislature. There, teachers and their supporters wore red, with thousands of people joining in. During the rally, some teachers told stories of purchasing classroom supplies out of their own pockets, with one saying she visited thrift stores through the summer for calculators and geometry sets. ATA President Jason Schilling said in an interview with Global News on Sunday that “we are back at the table in an exploratory way right now, just letting those talks happen at the table outside of the media eye so that we can try to find a solution to issues teachers are seeing, and that will be real, concrete solu-
tions that will make a difference in their classroom.” Over 51,000 teachers are participating in the strike, that includes public and catholic schools, but not some charter schools, as they may have different agreements with their teachers. The Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association issued a lockout notice for teachers commencing Thursday, Oct. 9, so even if teachers had not voted to strike on Monday, Oct. 6, they would find themselves locked out on Thursday, which Schilling says was expected, and
a response to teachers going on strike. He reiterates that the ATA and government officials remain in talks. Premier Danielle Smith mentioned the strike from Quebec Monday, saying, “The teachers set this arbitrary deadline of Oct. 6, and we’ve asked them to call off the strike and to come back to negotiating. “We don’t think we’re that far apart. We think our wage offer is very fair. “They were the ones who have unfortunately made the decision to walk off the job and we’d like them to come
back.” During the strike, teachers are not planning to walk picket lines, the ATA says, but rather hold more rallies like those held in Edmonton and Calgary over the weekend. Closer to home, a rally was held in Camrose, on Sunday, Oct. 4, as well, at the Mirror Lake Gazebo, with support from local United Nurses Association members. That rally attracted a few hundred people, who showed up wearing red and waving signs of support for the striking teachers.
Wheat Kings lose high-scoring game against the Tigers
The Community Press office will be CLOSED Monday, August 5 for the Civic Holiday. We will reopen Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. and our next edition ETHAN NEUFELD PHOTO stillonbe published Wedneday. Aug. 7 The Killam Jr. B Wheat Kings played back-to-back games against the Vermilion Tigers this weekend, hosting themwill at home Friday in the Killam Arena before hitting the road Saturday. Above: #8, Cade Schatschneider, #24, Ethan Allan, and #15, Keegan McArthur, fight to keep theAd puck away from King’s net,Aug. with6new deadlines willthe beWheat noon Tuesday, goalie #1, Valentino Harson, who hails from Austria, keeps his eyes on the play. See more inside!