How Southridge Academy’s STRIKE ICE Helps During the Alberta Teachers’ Strike

With a teacher strike set to begin in Alberta on October 6, 2025, many Calgary parents are looking for ways to keep their children learning, both academically and athletically. Southridge Academy is opening up a second program on Wednesdays, called STRIKE ICE, to help students continue their education and hockey development while public schools may be closed.

1. Why do Alberta teachers want to strike?

Alberta teachers are striking because of long-standing issues in education funding and working conditions. Some of the key demands include:

• Higher wages that keep pace with inflation. Current offers have been rejected by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) because they are considered insufficient. Source: CityNews Calgary+2CityNews Calgary+2

• Smaller class sizes and better classroom supports. Teachers argue that overcrowded classrooms make it difficult to teach effectively and to address the individual needs of students. Source: springmag.ca+2Wikipedia+2

• More resources & support staff (e.g. education assistants) to help with complex student needs, curriculum demands, and mental health supports. Source: LiveWire Calgary+2springmag.ca+2

2. What happens to students if teachers go on strike?

If a full teacher strike occurs (as it’s currently planned), it will mean:

• Schools will be closed to students; no regular classes, no extracurriculars, no field trips, no athletic team practices. Source: Edmonton Public Schools+1

• Transportation services suspended. Buses will not run. Source: Edmonton Public Schools+1

• Students lose access to structured school-based learning and teacher-led instruction, which means parents need to arrange alternate educational support or supervision.

• The further the strike goes, the greater the risk that curriculum coverage will lag, assessments might be delayed, and students might feel a gap in their academic progress.

3. Parent supports during school closure

To help offset the impacts of a strike, the Alberta government has introduced several supports:

• Parent payment program: For students aged 12 and under in affected public/separate/francophone schools. Eligible parents can receive ~$30/day, or $150/week per child.

  Source: LiveWire Calgary+2Todayville+2

• Free Learning Toolkit: Alberta Education & Childcare has created a toolkit aligned with the K-12 curriculum (English, French, French Immersion) to help parents guide home learning. It includes weekly lesson structure: learn, practice, mastery. Source: LiveWire Calgary+2Winnipeg Free Press+2

• Increased childcare funding/subsidies for families needing full-time out-of-school care. Source: Education News Canada+1

• Southridge STRIKE ICE Program — Academic + Athletic Continuity: At Southridge Academy, we understand how challenging this uncertainty can be for families. That’s why we’ve launched STRIKE ICE, a specialized Wednesday program designed to ensure students stay on track both academically and athletically while schools are closed.

  
  

  Through our Innovative Coaching & Education (ICE) model, students receive:

  
  

  • 2.5 hours of academic support powered by Insight Academics, keeping them engaged in learning and ahead of schedule.

  • Two on-ice sessions with professional hockey coaches focused on skill development, teamwork, and performance.

  • A structured, full-day environment that promotes consistency, focus, and growth while giving parents peace of mind.

4. When can Alberta teachers go on strike?

• A legal strike in Alberta can occur after teachers vote to authorize strike action. In late May 2025, the ATA held a vote which resulted in ~95% of teachers voting in favour of strike authorization.

  Source: CityNews Calgary+1

• Once authorization is granted, there is a requirement for proper notice. For example, the ATA is set to begin full strike action on October 6, 2025, unless a deal is reached before then.

  Source: sturgeon.ab.ca+2CityNews Calgary+2

5. What is the longest teacher strike in Alberta?

• The longest teacher strike in Alberta’s history occurred in 1980 in Calgary, when teachers walked out over issues like preparation time, class sizes, and working conditions. That strike lasted 41 teaching days, spanning through the summer and into the early fall, until the province intervened with an order to return to work.

  Source: Library and Archives Canada+2CTF-FCE+2

• Another major one is the 2002 strike, involving over 20,000 teachers across many jurisdictions. It lasted until the government issued a back-to-work order on February 21, 2002. Most locals were on strike for about 13 working days.

  Source: Alberta Teachers Association+1

6. How STRIKE ICE at Southridge Academy Can Help

• The STRIKE ICE cohort offers Wednesdays specifically so that during the strike, children can stay engaged, keep up academically, and continue developing in hockey.

• This program is designed to prevent educational gap and help maintain momentum in learning and physical development.

The Alberta teacher strike will have real impacts on students, families, and education overall. But you don’t have to let your child fall behind. If you’re in Calgary and want a solution that keeps your child learning and growing, in both mind and body, register for STRIKE ICE. Our spots are limited. Let us help your family get through this with stability, structure, and strength.