More than 20,000 Albertans rallied across Calgary and Edmonton on Sunday in a massive show of support for public education, just one day before a provincewide teachers’ strike could begin — the first in Alberta’s history.

Educators, parents, and students carried flags and signs while chanting for smaller class sizes, better teacher support, and fair salaries, all key issues in the stalled contract talks between the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the provincial government.

“Public education is the foundation of a strong democratic society,” said Heather Quinn, president of ATA Local 37, addressing a crowd on the steps of the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton. “We are calling on all Albertans to stand up and fight for the future of public education.”

➤ Contract Talks at a Standstill

Negotiations have reached an impasse since late August, with the previous teacher contract expiring in August 2024. Major issues include teacher pay, unmanageable class sizes, and demands for 5,000+ new teachers to meet class-size recommendations.

Unless a last-minute agreement is reached, 51,000 teachers across Alberta are expected to walk off the job starting Monday — a historic move not seen since a 2002 strike involving 22 divisions.

ATA President Jason Schilling said on Sunday that the strike appears imminent. “There are still conversations happening with the government,” he said, “but we’ll have to see what comes of that.”

➤ Government Pushes Back

Premier Danielle Smith called the potential strike a “lose-lose-lose situation” for students, teachers, and families. While urging the ATA to cancel the action, she acknowledged on her radio program that the union has not signaled a willingness to stand down.

Finance Minister Nate Horner’s office released a statement saying the government is ready to return to the table immediately, but the ATA leadership was unavailable for weekend negotiations.

➤ Massive Turnout Across Alberta

Security officials estimate that 18,000 people gathered in Edmonton and 3,000 in Calgary on Sunday. Some attendees traveled hundreds of kilometers to attend, including Laurie Dirsa, a teacher from High Level, over 600 km away.

“This is where the decisions are made,” she said. “We want to be seen and heard — we’re not going away this time.”

From educators overwhelmed by class sizes of 38+ to students facing crowded classrooms and limited support, concerns echoed across the rallies.

Veteran teacher Jackie Ford summed it up: “We have students who need extra help, and we can’t reach all of them. Every child deserves better.”