There is no cost for substitute teachers to attend this year. 

Can substitute teachers attend convention?

Active membership is automatically granted to any retired teacher on the first day of the school year that they are employed as a substitute by a Public, Separate, or Francophone school board. The substitute teacher remains an active member until the end of the school year or until they are no longer on their board’s approved substitute roster, whichever occurs first.

If you are retired teacher and you have worked as substitute teacher during the current school year, you are not required to attend convention, but may do so at your discretion, provided you notify your Association local of your desire to participate.

For more details visit the ATA site Frequently Asked Questions

Retired and Unemployed Teachers

Can you attend convention when you are retired or unemployed?

The purpose of teachers’ conventions is to maintain the currency of active members of the Association who work as classroom teachers, school leaders, and central office positions.  Certificated teachers who are retired or unemployed may attend convention only if:

• They remain active members of the Association by working as a substitute; or
• They purchase an annual associate membership in the Association and pay the required guest registration fee to the convention they wish to attend.

Have you worked as a substitute teacher during the current school year?

Active membership is automatically granted to any retired teacher on the first day of the school year that they are employed as a substitute by a Public, Separate, or Francophone school board. The substitute teacher remains an active member until the end of the school year or until they are no longer on their board’s approved substitute roster, whichever occurs first.

If you are retired teacher and you have worked as substitute teacher during the current school year, you are not required to attend convention, but may do so at your discretion, provided you notify your Association local of your desire to participate.

Do you want to attend convention, but you can’t/don’t want to work as a substitute?

Retired certificated teachers who do not remain active in the Association by working as substitutes may attend convention as Guest Delegates, provided they:

• Register for and purchase an annual associate membership in the Association; and
• Pay the required guest registration fee to the convention they wish to attend.

To attend convention as a Guest Delegate, please call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to the Professional Development Duty Officer. 

Notwithstanding the above, Convention Associations may need volunteers to staff convention venues.  Retired teachers who volunteer may be able to attend some convention sessions and socials. Retired teachers who are interested in volunteering should contact [email protected].

For more details visit the ATA site Frequently Asked Questions

Education Students

Student Teachers: May attend NCTCA at no cost as long as they register and have a membership ATA student local at their university or college.

Are you an Education undergraduate student?

Pre-service teachers who attend Alberta universities or colleges that serve as convention venues and those who are registered in the final year of their Bachelor of Education program may attend convention free of charge provided they:

• Purchase a membership in the ATA student local at their university or college (or directly through the Association);
• Register as a Student Guest Delegate with their ATA student local (or directly through the Association); and
• Attend only the convention assigned to their practicum partner teacher(s) and those other conventions assigned to their university or college.

For specific eligibility and application instructions or to register as a Student Guest Delegate if your university or college does not have an ATA student local, please call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to the Professional Development Duty Officer.

Are you an Education graduate student?

Certificated teachers who are pursuing graduate study part-time or as part of a negotiated leave provision in their collective agreement should refer to the sections of this page pertaining to part-time teachers and teachers on leave.

Education graduate students who are not employed by a Public, Separate, or Francophone school board during the course of their studies may attend convention as Guest Delegates, provided they:

• Register for and purchase an annual associate membership in the Association; and
• Pay the required guest registration fee to the convention they wish to attend.

To attend convention as a Guest Delegate, please call 1-800-232-7208 and ask to speak to the Professional Development Duty Officer.

For more details visit the ATA site Frequently Asked Questions