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Retired teacher Fred Powell wanted to leave a small legacy for his profession. Upon his death in 1977, the majority of his estate was left to the ATA to benefit teachers.
The ATA’s governing body used Powell’s gift to establish the ATA Educational Trust, operated at arm’s-length from the Association as a charitable public trust.
Since its inception, the Trust has helped thousands of teachers throughout Alberta by assisting them with upgrading their qualifications, developing innovative classroom projects and producing teaching resources. The Trust has awarded more than $700,000 in grants and bursaries to help pay tuition fees, assist with expenses to attend professional conferences and events, and cover costs for substitute teachers while recipients develop educational projects or conduct research. A board of seven trustees, named each spring by the ATA, manages the Trust. Trust assets are carefully invested and are currently valued at just under $500,000.
People and organizations are backbone of Trust
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the ATA Educational Trust, it is important to look back at its history and to recognize people and organizations that have been instrumental in its success:
• Fred Powell, for his founding bequest
• Violet Fishbourne, Marie-Louise Brugeyroux, Helen Tkachenko, Orest and Francina Lazarowich, and Ruth Whaley, for generous bequests and donations
• The Alberta Teachers’ Association, for its financial and in-kind assistance
• ATA local associations, for their annual contributions and support
• The Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association and other groups that contribute to the Trust each year
• Individuals who have donated on special occasions, such as the retirement of a colleague or the passing of a family member or friend
• Dr. B.T. Keeler, for his visionary work in the establishment of the Trust and for his continuing support
In recent years, the Trust has awarded between $35,000 and $40,000 annually to Alberta teachers. This past June, 32 recipients were selected to receive bursaries or project grants. In October, 40 additional names will be drawn for specialist council conference grants. In addition, the Trust supports the Educational Leadership Academy in its work with practising and aspiring school administrators.
For information concerning the ATA Educational Trust, visit the ATA website (www.teachers.ab.ca)—under Professional Development, click on Grants, Awards and Scholarships and then on ATA Educational Trust.
The Trust exists to benefit teachers and the teaching profession in Alberta and welcomes applications for its grants and bursaries.
Teacher bequeaths donation to EdTrust
$105,000 gift is largest donation ever made to the Trust
The ATA Educational Trust has received a major bequest from the estate of Ruth Whaley, a retired teacher and Association life member. Whaley’s bequest of $105,000 is the largest donation ever received by the Trust.
The following is from Whaley’s obituary that appeared in a November 2007 edition of the Edmonton Journal:
Ruth Whaley was born in Rockhaven, Saskatchewan in 1916. After grade school, she attended Camrose Normal School, graduating in 1935. She spent her entire working life in the teaching profession, teaching in country schools before graduating from the University of Alberta with a bachelor’s degree in household economics in 1946. She spent the next few years teaching for the Alberta Department of Agriculture. In 1967 Ruth graduated from Colorado State University with a master’s degree in education. She subsequently taught in schools in Alberta and the North West Territories until her retirement in 1974.
The ATA Educational Trust is most grateful for this generous bequest. Whaley’s gift will support the Trust’s mandate of assisting teachers working for the betterment of the profession in its service to Alberta’s students.
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