President's message

Carole Gordon, BCTF President. Photo by Rich Overgaard

Our solidarity with other unions is vital ... When we stand together for fair working conditions, equitable funding, and respect for all workers, we amplify our collective voice and help create a more just society for everyone.

Dear Colleagues,

As we move through November, many of us have settled into the rhythm of the school year. Our classrooms are thriving, our relationships with students are deepening, and the meaningful, often unseen work of teaching continues each day. This is a season of reflection and connection, a time to celebrate the incredible dedication, creativity, and resilience that educators bring to their practice across the province.

This issue of our magazine highlights that spirit through stories from our members. You’ll find personal reflections, professional insights, lesson ideas, and strategies for growth. You’ll also find a local profile of the Peace River North and Peace River South teachers’ associations, and a story about a transformative school project called Everybody Deserves a Smile.

The ideas shared in this edition reflect our greatest strengths as a profession: our willingness to collaborate, our commitment to learning from each other, and our focus on supporting students through creative and innovative teaching practices. They connect well to the incredible work of provincial specialist associations and locals to deliver meaningful and member-driven professional development on October 24. As we continue through the year, we also keep in view the broader landscape that affects our classrooms. The challenges facing public education—funding pressures, staffing shortages, and increasing demands on educators—are not ours alone.

The BC General Employees’ Union’s new tentative agreement is a testament to the power of collective action and solidarity. It shows that when workers stand together and stay strong, progress is possible. Their job action mattered not just for their own members, but for all unions fighting for fairness, respect, and better working conditions.

At the same time, we stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Alberta, who have been unjustly forced back into classrooms. The use of the notwithstanding clause in Alberta is a deeply undemocratic measure that undermines the collective bargaining rights of workers. The use of this clause to silence workers sets a dangerous precedent, one that threatens the foundation of labour relations in Canada.

Our solidarity with other unions is vital; it reminds us that our fight for strong public schools is part of a larger struggle for equity and justice for all workers and families. When we stand together for fair working conditions, equitable funding, and respect for all workers, we amplify our collective voice and help create a more just society for everyone.

I encourage you to listen to and share the messages shared by our colleagues from across the labour movement. Together, we will continue to build the kind of schools and communities we all deserve.

In solidarity,

Carole Gordon