The Alberta Teachers’ Association

1. Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to run in the 2019 Calgary District byelection you must not be in receipt of an Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund pension and you must

• hold an active ATA membership in good standing and be employed by any of the school jurisdictions in the geographic district of Calgary District (e.g., a teacher or principal working in a school);
• hold an associate ATA membership in good standing and be employed by a school authority or ATA local in the geographic district of Calgary District (e.g., a teacher employed as a school board consultant or as a staff officer with an ATA local); or
• hold an associate ATA membership in good standing, reside in the geographic district of Calgary District but not be employed by an employer that provides you with membership in any ATA local (e.g., a teacher employed by the Government of Alberta).

2. Role of a district representative

District representatives (DRs) are elected members of Provincial Executive Council and are responsible for

• attending Council meetings and Annual Representative Assembly;
• ascertaining the views and issues of teachers in their district;
• sharing at Council meetings the views and issues of teachers in their district;
• familiarizing themselves with all aspects of Association business in order to
  – act as a resource person to the ATA locals in their district;
  – participate in Council decision making; and,
• continuing their professional development.

3. About Calgary District

The Alberta Teachers’ Association organizes the province into 11 geographic districts of which Calgary District is one. It is represented on the Association’s Provincial Executive Council by one district representative. The approximately 3,000 teachers of Calgary District are employed by a total of four school jurisdictions and belong to four correlating ATA locals (see table below).

4. Compensation

The Association enters into agreements with school boards to ensure district representatives have the time needed to serve on Council (up to 100 days release time) and conduct Council-related functions.

In addition to the release time, district representatives are also provided honoraria and expense coverage related to Council meetings and other required duties and activities.

5. Term of office

When the term starts will depend on whether the race is contested. If only one nomination is received (and verified), the term of the successful candidate will start October 3. If there is a contest between two or more candidates, the term begins October 25, after the voting period. Regardless of start date, the term concludes June 30, 2021.

Each term of Provincial Executive Council is two years in length, with a general election for all elected positions held each odd-numbered year.

Byelections are held when a member of Council vacates his or her position prior to the conclusion of the term. ❚