The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Ideas to help you create inclusive spaces. 

COMMITMENT, PASSION AND A WILLINGNESS to engage in frank and often difficult discussions: these are the prerequisites for gaining a spot on the Diversity, Equity and Human Rights (DEHR) Committee. When you sit at the DEHR table, your viewpoints and perspectives will be challenged. Consensus will be elusive and hard won, and you’ll be making a tangible difference in the lives of Alberta students. When you sit at the DEHR table, your viewpoints and perspectives will be challenged.

The DEHR Committee was established in 2000 to study and address inequities related to gender, race, sexual orientation and other differences that could give rise to discrimination.

DEHR Award winners

Presented annually at Summer Conference, the DEHR award recognizes projects, programs, events or activities organized by an ATA local to promote diversity, equity and human rights. Here are highlights from the last five winning entries:

2019—FORT MCMURRAY LOCAL NO. 48

• Created a teacher gay–straight alliance (GSA), 
• established a DEHR grant program to support teachers engaging in DEHR work at their schools and 
• participated in a Pride float for the community parade.

2018—PEMBINA HILLS LOCAL NO. 22

Organized a unique Amazing Race-type challenge at North Central Teachers’ Convention, inspiring teachers to solve clues and locate DEHR-related sites in downtown Edmonton that represented a wide range of cultures.

2017—FOOTHILLS LOCAL NO. 16

Facilitated the SAGA Youth United 2k16. This initiative brought together GSAs from different schools in the Foothills School Division and area to connect, learn, share ideas and build friendships. Each student GSA had the opportunity to plan and host a gathering for other student GSAs in the region.

2016—LETHBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL LOCAL NO. 41

Created the DEHR to Care Art Gala, in which 700 students created over 300 pieces of art to fundraise for Syrian refugees. The students raised over $5,600 for the refugee fund at Lethbridge Family Services.

2015—THE PEACE COUNTRY’S TRILOCAL DEHR COMMITTEE

(Grande Prairie and District Catholic Teachers No. 42, Northern Spirit Local No. 6 and Trumpeter Local No. 26)

• Hosted a display table and a guest speaker at teachers’ convention,
• built a professional library for teachers and 
• held their third annual cultural night.

Resources

The DEHR committee has helped create a wide selection of resources to support teachers in creating inclusive spaces for all students. All resources are developed in collaboration with Alberta teachers in the field.

Whether you are a teacher wanting to promote the success of immigrant students, a teacher sponsor of a student GSA or a teacher working in a K–9 colony classroom, the ATA has you covered!

If you have any ideas for new resources please contact andrea.berg@ata.ab.ca.