Alberta students return to classrooms Wednesday after a three-week teachers’ strike ends with new legislation forcing a back-to-work order.
Provincial Order Brings Teachers Back
After a three-week walkout, classrooms across Alberta will reopen on Wednesday, following the province’s passage of the Back to School Act. The legislation ends the teachers’ strike that began October 6, ordering more than 51,000 teachers back to work. It imposes a collective agreement and uses the notwithstanding clause to prevent court challenges during the four-year term.
Schools Prepare for Student Return
The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) confirmed schools will reopen to students on Wednesday. Other divisions—including Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Rocky View, Foothills, Grasslands, and Canadian Rockies—will also resume classes as scheduled. The CCSD said student teachers will return the week of November 3.
Busing to Resume, Delays Possible
Transportation services are set to restart alongside classes. The CBE cautioned parents that school buses may experience delays and advised not to leave children unattended at stops. The CCSD will resume transportation normally, crediting one month of missed yellow bus and noon-hour fees, while bus pass rebates for Grades 7–12 continue. Private bus companies say drivers have kept vehicles ready with daily checks and practice runs.
Exams and Assessments Under Review
The province made November diploma exams optional for Grade 12 students because of missed instruction. ATA president Jason Schilling urged the government to extend that option to January exams, citing recovery time concerns. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said a decision on both Grade 12 diploma exams and provincial assessments for Grades 6 and 9 will be made “in the coming days.”
Extracurriculars May Face Delays
While in-person learning returns, extracurricular activities may not immediately resume. The CBE said teachers will focus on classroom instruction first, meaning athletics, performances, field trips, and council meetings could be postponed or cancelled. Schilling noted many educators will reconsider voluntary roles, saying teachers’ extra efforts “may no longer be possible” after rights were legislated away.
Parents Divided on Return
Parents across Alberta expressed mixed feelings. Some, like Ashley Fowler of Rimbey, are relieved to see their children return to class but angered by the government’s tactics. “They brought the hammer down hard,” Fowler said, adding she worries about classroom morale. Others, such as Rita Scalise in Calgary, supported the government’s action, saying students’ right to education outweighed continued delays. Locke Spencer, a Lethbridge parent, said the move “fails to address the real issues” facing teachers.
Government Promises Support Programs
In a letter to parents, Minister Nicolaides assured families the Education Ministry is working with boards to support student success. The Parent Payment Program, introduced during the strike, will remain open until November 14, with first payments set for Friday. Nicolaides said he remains “confident Alberta’s schools will emerge stronger” as normal operations resume.
The Road Ahead
As schools reopen, the focus now shifts to restoring stability, rebuilding trust, and helping students recover lost learning time. While classrooms fill again on Wednesday, many in Alberta’s education system say the deeper challenges that sparked the strike remain unresolved.
