This webpage has been created to provide updates on potential labour action that may impact Northern Lights Public Schools and its students and staff. Parents and guardians will receive updates by email using School Messenger.
Current Situation
On Friday, October 17, the provincial government announced it had requested an agreement with the Alberta Teacher's Association (ATA) to enter an enhanced mediation process. The ATA declined the offer.
Alberta Education and Childcare also announced that as a result of the ongoing labour action, the diploma exams scheduled for November 2025 would be optional for students. The schedule for writing the exams will remain the same. Students who choose not to write the November diploma exams will receive a final grade based entirely on the school-awarded mark provided by their teacher. No changes have been made to the January and June diploma exams or provincial achievement tests.
October 10, 2025
The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) and Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) have confirmed that negotiations will resume on Tuesday, October 14th.
Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides provided this letter to share with parents that outlines the supports available to students and families during Labour Action.
The provincial government has also announced additional support for parents of children who have active Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) agreements. Those families are eligible for an additio0nal $30 per child per instructional day for children aged 12 and under, and $60 per child per instructional day for children aged 13 years and older.
October 6, 2025
On Monday, October 6, the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) provided lockout notice to the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA). The lockout will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 9th.
We remain hopeful that a resolution can be reached soon and that students can return to the classroom as soon as possible.
October 1, 2025
Members of the Alberta Teachers' Association have voted against accepting the latest proposed agreement. As there is no indication that they plan to rescind their strike notice, Northern Lights Public Schools is enacting its strike contingency plan.
Classes will continue as scheduled until the end of the day on Friday, October 3. Schools will be closed starting on Monday, October 6 and continuing for the duration of the strike. Over the next couple of days, parents and students are encouraged to take home any items that will be needed at home while classes are cancelled as access to schools will be restricted once the strike starts. Teachers will not be providing students with new learning material or assignments during the strike. All school events and extracurricular activities, including tournaments, will also be cancelled for the duration of the strike, starting Monday, October 6.
On September 20th, the Government of Alberta announced that it will be providing families with financial assistance and educational resources during the strike. Alberta Education and Childcare has created a toolkit for parents to support their child’s learning. The toolkit provides resources that follow the Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum and focus on the core subjects of language arts, social studies, math and sciences. The resources will be updated weekly. Download the toolkits at new.learnalberta.ca.
Parents and guardians with students aged 12 and under are eligible to receive $30 per day, or $150 per week, per student for the duration of the labour action. Applications will be available through the Alberta.ca platform. Further details, including an instructional video on the parent support payment, will be coming soon.
If the situation changes prior to Monday, October 6th, we will update parents and guardians as soon as possible.
September 24, 2025
The provincial government has announced that the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) and the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) have agreed to form a tentative agreement. Members will vote on the tentative agreement in the coming days.
September 12, 2025
The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) provided formal notice to begin labour action on October 6, 2025 if a settlement has not been reached by that date. The notice is for a strike that will impact all school divisions across the province.
In the meantime, our schools remain open and all classes and activities are proceeding as scheduled.
We remain hopeful that a settlement will be reached and will continue to share updates through School Messenger and our website as they come available.
September 10, 2025
The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) announced on September 10 that teachers will strike on Monday, October 6 if a settlement has not been reached. The ATA has not confirmed what type of labour action it may take. Potential labour action may include work-to-rule (limiting duties outside of school hours), rotational strikes (different locations at different times), or a full province-wide strike.
At this time, NLPS has not received formal notice of labour action. In the event the division receives notice of labour action, we will be following guidance provided by the provincial government, and will communicate with families about the impact the labour action may have on school operations.
September 2, 2025
The Teachers' Employers Bargaining Association (TEBA) held a vote on August 29th to request permission for a lockout if necessary. The Labour Relations Board has confirmed that the vote is valid.
This does not mean a lockout is happening. Classes continue as scheduled in Northern Lights Public Schools. We remain hopeful that the provincial government and ATA will come to an agreement.
August 26, 2025
On June 10, the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) announced that 94.5% of teachers had voted in favour of strike action. This does not mean that a strike will occur, however, the union can take action at any time within 120 days of the vote.
At this time, the ATA has not provide notice of labour action, so classes will start in Northern Lights Public Schools as planned on September 2.
The ATA is required to provide school boards with 72 hours notice if they intend to commence labour action that will impact the school day. In the event that Northern Lights Public Schools receives notice of labour action, the division will be following guidance provided by the provincial government, and communicate with families about the impact the labour action may have on school operations.
We value the many contributions our staff make to our students and schools. We remain hopeful that the provincial government and ATA will reach an agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the questions we have been receiving from parents and guardians and the most up-to-date answers we are able to provide at this time.
Schools will be closed starting on Monday, October 6 and continuing for the duration of the strike. Teachers will not be providing students with new learning material or assignments during the strike. All school events and extracurricular activities, including tournaments, will also be cancelled for the duration of the strike, starting Monday, October 6.
Update: October 8, 2025
Out of School Care programming will be suspended starting Friday, October 10th.
During the first week of the labour action, OSC continued to operate to help support families with continuity and stability, providing students with a consistent routine while parents made alternate arrangements. Our goal was to reduce hardship and allow for a smoother transition during this uncertain time.
Starting Friday, October 10th, all OSC fees will be paused and any existing account balances will be credited toward Out of School Care programming once we are able to resume operations.
We understand that some families have asked about refunds for fees charged during the week of October 6-9. A decision about those fees will be made after the labour action has concluded, once NLPS has reviewed the full impact of the strike on operations.
Our Preschool programs continue to operate on their regular schedules.
Previous Update
Our Preschool programs and Out of School Care programs will continue to operate on their regular schedules. We will continue to accept new registrations at locations where space is available, but we will not expand beyond our current capacity or hours of operation.
- Before School Care will be available at regular morning times. Students must be picked up before the normal school start time.
- After School Care will be available starting at the regular dismissal time and ending at the usual pick-up time.
Yes. All school extracurricular activities including athletics and special events will be cancelled for the duration of the strike.
Teachers will not be providing students with any new learning material or assignments during the strike. Students are welcome to take home materials from school such as library books and work that has already been assigned. Students will also continue to have access to their school Google accounts.
Alberta Education and Childcare has created a toolkit for parents to support their child’s learning. The toolkit provides resources that follow the Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum and focus on the core subjects of language arts, social studies, math and sciences. The resources will be updated weekly. Download the toolkits at new.learnalberta.ca.
Alberta’s provincial heritage sites and museums are offering free admission for all Albertans aged 18 and under for the duration of the teachers’ strike.
Sites offering free admission include:
- Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, Crowsnest Pass
- Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump, Fort Macleod
- Oil Sands Discovery Centre, Fort McMurray
- Remington Carriage Museum, Cardston
- Reynolds Museum, Wetaskiwin
- Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton
- Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller
If students are dropped off or come to school during the strike, parents or guardians will be called and asked to pick up their child or make arrangements for their child to be picked up immediately.
We don't have any indication at this time on how long the strike will last. That will depend on the two parties who are negotiating - the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) and the Teacher Employers' Bargaining Association (TEBA) - and whether or not they can reach a resolution.
Once we have received notice that the strike is ending, we will inform parents as soon as possible about when schools will re-open and any other details related to students returning to school.
Alberta Education and Childcare has announced that parents and guardians with students aged 12 and under are eligible to receive $30 per day, or $150 per week, per student for the duration of the labour action.
The portal to apply for payments will launch on October 14. Learn more about parent payments.
Students already enrolled in work experience and the Registered Apprenticeship Program can continue to log their hours during the strike, however they will not be able to complete assessments, as those need to be done by a teacher.
Our mental health team will not be meeting with students during the strike. There are a variety of mental health and community supports that are available locally and provincially. NLPS has a list of community resources available on our website: nlpsab.ca/help.
Students who are enrolled in a dual credit program that does not take place at a school and is not taught by an NLPS teacher, can continue to access their classes during the strike.
Dual credit programming that is provided by an NLPS teacher or that is provided in an NLPS school will not be available during the strike.
We will be reviewing fees once the strike has ended to determine what has been impacted by the strike and what will be refunded. Refunds will be processed once that has been done.
Northern Lights Public Schools will provide parents with information about labour action using email through School Messenger.
To ensure you receive any notifications that are shared, please make sure your child's school has your most up-to-date contact information. You may also want to download the School Messenger app, and text Y to 978338 to receive SMS text updates.
Bargaining between the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) and the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) takes place at the provincial level. Items such as teacher salaries, benefits and leaves are set through a provincial collective agreement, not by individual school boards.
Local bargaining with individual boards takes place after a provincial collective agreement has been reached.
Questions?
If you have questions that aren't addressed by our Frequently Asked Questions section above, please feel free to reach out to communications@nlsd.ab.ca or one of the following: