(Photo 56035957 © Maglara | Dreamstime.com)

By Alessia Proietti

At Red Deer Polytechnic

Central Alberta Teachers’ Convention Association returns in-person Thursday

Feb 22, 2023 | 3:56 PM

It may be a break from school for students, but teachers in the region will be attending the Central Alberta Teachers’ Convention Association (CATCA) at Red Deer Polytechnic this Thursday and Friday.

From February 23-24 beginning at 9 a.m., the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) says more than 1,750 delegates will attend over 300 workshops and seminars dedicated to the growth of Alberta’s teaching profession.

“Conventions give teachers the opportunity to develop the competencies identified in the professional practice standards by learning about innovative pedagogical practices and new educational research,” said the ATA on the CATCA website.

Their first in-person convention since 2020, over 140 speakers will be covering a variety of subjects ranging from art, counselling and student support, French and international languages, and 28 others.

Some of the highlights include:

Red Deer Schools

RDPSD honoured with two BRAVO! Awards for excellence in communications

2h ago

monique lagrange

Judge rules against former Red Deer Catholic school trustee on first part of judicial review

2h ago

18-month suspended sentence

ASIRT: Officer's actions justified during Ponoka shooting in early 2022

3h ago

• Sam Demma: One Teacher Away—How One Educator Changed My Life (February 24, 9 a.m.)
  • At just 23 years old, the ATA says Demma has already made a significant impact as a two-time TEDx speaker, author and podcast host. Through his multimedia platform, The High Performing Educator, Demma has interviewed and highlighted the work of over 250 educators and was recently awarded the prestigious Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for his contributions to his community and to Canada.
• Richard Van Camp: Self-Care and Reconciliation (February 23, 9 a.m.)
  • Van Camp says he is a proud Tlicho Dene from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, living in Edmonton. A bestselling author, he has written 26 books, and his novel, The Lesser Blessed, is a feature film with First Generation Films.
• Laurie McIntosh: Why Kindness/Teachers These Days (February 23, 10:20 a.m. and 11:40 a.m.)
  • The ATA says storyteller McIntosh uses her more than 20 years in education to forge new paths. Appearing twice on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, McIntosh’s goal is to bring teachers together in community and to define and exemplify what it truly means to be a “teacher these days”.

The Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund Board (ATRF) will also have a booth near the Forum to discuss pension needs.

Apart from the Polytechnic (100 College Blvd), some sessions will also be held at Lindsey Thurber Comprehensive High School (4204 58 St), Notre Dame High School (50 Lees St), Hunting Hills High School (150 Lockwood Ave), Central Middle School (5121 48 Ave) and Camp Kuriakos in Lacombe County (39317 Range Rd 24 #5).

Teachers will end their convention with cross-country skiing at the River Bend Golf & Recreation Area (3800 River Bend Dr).

View the full schedule on the CATCA website.

CATCA covers all public, separate and francophone teachers in the Red Deer City, Red Deer Catholic, Timberline, Wolf Creek and Chinook’s Edge school divisions and all active ATA members under contract have a legal and professional obligation to attend convention.

The ATA says teachers’ conventions are an annual winter tradition in Alberta, organized by teachers who voluntarily serve on convention association boards. With at least one convention held every Thursday and Friday in February and early March, there are nine scheduled across the province this year. The events are fully funded by teachers through their Association fees.