Calgary Students Rally Loud and Proud at City Hall for Teachers

October 30, 2025, saw Calgary’s City Hall transformed by the vibrant energy of students rallying in powerful solidarity with Alberta teachers. More than a dozen high schools across Calgary participated in this province-wide walkout, making their voices heard for the educators who shape their futures.

This impassioned demonstration comes just days after the provincial government legislated 51,000 striking teachers back to work on October 29, 2025, with the contentious "Back to School Act." The three-week strike, which began on October 6, 2025, saw public education classes cancelled, impacting 730,000 students province-wide. The government invoked the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to impose a four-year contract that a staggering 90 percent of teachers had already rejected, preventing any further strikes until September 2028.

Students expressed deep concerns over classroom conditions, including large class sizes, with some reporting up to 40 students in a single class. Many also voiced anxiety about academic setbacks from missed instructional time and called for January diploma exams to be made optional. Teachers, who have been negotiating since early 2024, have consistently highlighted a significant budget shortfall, stating the 2025 education budget is nearly $1 billion short of what's needed to meet basic needs and bring Alberta to the national per-student funding average.

This movement, largely organized by students through social media, underscores Calgary's enduring commitment to education and the powerful role our young community plays in advocating for critical change that resonates with every Calgarian.