The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Association to honour Fran Galbraith and Larry Liffiton

The Alberta Teachers’ Association will award Fran Galbraith and Larry Liffiton with honorary membership at its Annual Representative Assembly this month. Honorary membership is the Association’s highest award, reserved for members of the Association or other persons who have given meritorious service to the teaching profession or to the advancement of education.

Galbraith, during 41 years with Edmonton Public Schools, taught elementary classes, was on exchange in London, England and held administrative positions of assistant principal and principal. She was involved with the Association at the local and provincial levels, beginning as a committee member and on the executive of Edmonton Public Teachers Local 37. In 1989 she was elected to Provincial Executive Council as district representative for Edmonton City.

Galbraith served three terms as ATA vice-president (from 1993 to 1999) and two terms as past president (2001 to 2003 and 2007 to 2009). During that time, she served on numerous committees, including the Women in Education Committee, the Committee on Teacher Evaluation, the Public Education Committee, the Resolutions Committee, the Finance Committee, the Teacher Education and Certification Committee, the Committee on the Well-Being of Children and Youth, and the School Administrator Issues and Concerns Committee.

She served as vice-president of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) from 1997 to 2002. In 2008, Galbraith became a trustee for the CTF Trust Fund, serving in this position for three years. In 2012, she was presented with a Special Recognition Award by the CTF for her work locally, nationally and internationally.

Larry Liffiton

Liffiton worked in the education sector in various capacities for 35 years. During that time he served as a classroom teacher, co-edited two textbooks of poetry and was an active member of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. He also served as a trustee on the board of the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan from 2001 to 2011.

Liffiton’s teaching experience covered 26 years at five different schools, all of them at the senior high school level and all with the Calgary Board of Education. He taught English and also gained some experience in social studies and special education. His Association experience included service on numerous committees and two terms as president of Calgary Public Teachers Local 38. From 2007 until he retired in 2013, Liffiton remained with the local in the role of executive assistant. ❚

The Alberta Teachers’ Association will award Fran Galbraith and Larry Liffiton with honorary membership at its Annual Representative Assembly this month.