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Alberta, often hailed as a beacon of opportunity, has experienced a significant influx of families from across Canada, contributing to 27 per cent of the province’s population growth in the past year. However, this rapid increase in population has exposed a critical issue: our educational infrastructure is struggling to keep up. Despite the growing number of students, the Alberta government’s funding for K-12 education remains insufficient, posing a severe threat to the quality of education in our province. We call on parents to stand against the UCP government’s lack of education funding.
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Premier Danielle Smith’s administration has invested $10 million in the Alberta is Calling campaign to attract even more people to the province. While this initiative may boost our numbers, it does nothing to address the pressure on our already strained educational system. More families mean more students, and more students mean a greater need for educational funding — a need that is currently unmet.
In Calgary, the reality of this neglect is evident. More than 100 municipally reserved sites for future schools lie in wait to be utilized by the province’s Infrastructure department. Despite these ready locations and the fact that one-third of our municipal property taxes are already earmarked for provincial education, existing residents feel neglected.
Valley Creek School, a dual-track French immersion program, exemplifies the challenges of overcrowding. Recently, an additional classroom had to be created to accommodate the rising number of students, resulting in a homeroom class being set up in a teachers’ lounge. There has been an increase in students, but not enough classrooms to accommodate them. Children need stable learning environments and a sense of predictability in their day. This situation underscores the pressing need for more classroom space to ensure students have the optimal learning environments they deserve.
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The future of education in Calgary looks grim. The Calgary Board of Education predicts a staggering population increase of 1.4 million by 2028, with a corresponding rise in student enrolment. The CBE anticipates an additional 9,000 students in the 2024-25 school year, pushing the total net increase to 25,000 students in just a few years. By September 2024, CBE schools will be operating at 98 per cent capacity. Despite these alarming figures, the government has only recommended the construction of one new elementary school, designed to accommodate 600 students, in northwest Calgary during the 2024 provincial capital announcements earlier this March.
The population explosion has also affected school bus routes and public transit. Due to Valley Creek School’s expanded boundaries, students are packed three to a seat on their school bus. Middle school students are often forced to rely on unreliable public transportation to get to class. The city will not provide proper transit access until communities are fully built out.
No matter what political party you belong to, the last thing a politician should want is to further anger parents and guardians whose children are directly affected by their decisions.
Ultimately, the true measure of the Alberta Advantage lies not in how many people we can attract but in how well we support those who call this province home. It’s time to ensure that Alberta’s growth matches a commitment to quality education for all.
Shelley Wiart is the Valley Creek School parent council chair. Sarah Parchewsky is the former chair of the Hidden Valley School council.
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