The Alberta Teachers’ Association

OTTAWA — Alberta Teachers’ Association vice-president Jenny Regal is the new vice-president for the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF), while Shelley Morse of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) is now president.

Regal is currently serving her second term as vice-president on the ATA’s Provincial Executive Council and was acclaimed to her CTF role at the organization’s annual general meeting in July.

Morse takes over the CTF presidency from former ATA president Mark Ramsankar.

In 2018–2019, Morse served as a CTF vice-president, chair of the Advisory Committee on Diversity and Human Rights and was a Trust Fund trustee. Her extensive executive history at the Federation includes acting as the NSTU delegate for several CTF AGMs and chairing the CTF/FCE Advisory Committee on the Status of Women in 2014 and 2016.

Passionate about advocating for gender parity in Canada and around the world, Morse attended the 2014 Education International World Women’s Conference in Ireland and the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women in New York twice.

In addition to Morse and Regal, the following leaders in public education were named as vice-presidents to serve a one-year term on the CTF executive:

• Dean Ingram, vice-president (Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association);
• Clint Johnston, vice-president (British Columbia Teachers’ Federation);
• Liz Stuart, vice-president (Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association);
• Paul Wozney, vice-president (Nova Scotia Teachers Union). ❚

CTF moves to improve education and equality for Ugandan girls

OTTAWA— Ugandan girls will soon enjoy greatly improved access to public education, thanks to a new international project initiated by CTF. The “Simameni Project” is set to launch after receiving much needed funding from Global Affairs Canada.

Through a partnership with the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), this project will work to improve learning conditions for girls in Ugandan secondary schools. Simameni is Swahili for “stand up” and is the perfect name for the project, which promises to increase access to participation in and completion of publicly funded education for Ugandan girls.

The Canadian Government has committed at total of $1.9 million over five years to support the project.

“This funding announcement represents a true vote of confidence by the government in the work of the CTF/FCE,” said H. Mark Ramsankar, president of the CTF/FCE. “The Simameni Project is the wonderful result of the partnership we have with our Ugandan colleagues and an example of a shared commitment between unions and government to invest in girls’ education worldwide.”

The project will be coordinated by the CTF/FCE in Ottawa, while the work in Uganda is to be carried out by UNATU. They will engage the teaching profession, families and the community to make education and schools better and safer places for girls.

Filbert Baguma, general secretary of UNATU, says the partnership with the CTF presents a unique and timely path toward achieving gender equity.

“We know that acquiring the skills to navigate life’s challenges begins in the classroom,” said Baguma. “School is the place where all children — both girls and boys — learn to face the day-to-day realities of their lives and begin to pursue their long-term goals and dreams. We want to see all Ugandan girls empowered and inspired to determine their own futures. Simameni is our opportunity to do just that.”

This is the first time in eight years that the CTF has received support from Ottawa. In 2011 international project funding was cut by the Government of Canada. ❚