Thank you to the members who attended our AGM and allowed us to conduct the business of Western Teachers’ Association!
Highlights: WESTTA has rented an office space, with plans to host an open house before the end of the year. WESTTA’s Bylaws were updated:
- Updated terminology to be consistent with MTS (Ex: Executive Director & 6.10).
- Fixed typos from previous version of the Bylaws.
- Re-added Members-at-large to Executive position and added Women and Leadership role, funded by MTS.
- Part 7 Changes – Elections to allow WESTTA to elect the President at a time ahead of the Annual General Meeting. This change would allow us to meet the notification deadline for release time from the collective agreement and hold our AGM later in the school year when it is easier to set budget and local membership fees for the coming year.
- Part 9 – Required Membership Fees – Struck the pro-ration of local fees for part-time members. Part-time members receive the same access to local association services, events, etc.
- Part 12 Addition – MTS Provincial Bargaining to allow for local representation in the new provincial bargaining process.
The local fee will be the lesser of $130.00 or 10% of the MTS fee (to be set at Provincial Council in May). WESTTA’s operating budget was set at $78,950.00 and the following members were elected:
- President – Reid Sloan, MLES
- Vice-President – Norman Davis, EMMS
- Treasurer – Craig Hawryshko, MCI
- Collective Bargaining – Kathi Hamm, MINN
- Employee Benefits – Heather Addison, MCI
- Equity and Social Justice – Andrei Mardli, EDT
- Indigenous Education Chair – Demaris Wilson, MCI
- Member-at-Large – Warren McKennitt, Substitute
- Social – Dawn Rigaux, MCI
- Ed Finance Chair – Tyler Sloan, MCI
- New to Western Rep – Joslyn Orr, MLES
- Women and Leadership – Taylor Burke, EMMS
- Public Relations – Laura Rowley, MCI
- Past President – Shawna Dobbelaere, MCI
Winners of $25 gift cards were Jen Bates Lagae, Darlene Keith, Dawn Rigaux, and Laura Rowley.
Winners of their 2025-26 Membership fees were Heather Addison and Nik Zwiep!