Who We Are

Recently, on social media, SOS Alberta was asked “Who are you? You know my name. I don’t know yours…”  by a member of the Provincial Legislature, and a staff member of another politician accusing us further of being a 'front group for the NDP', (not the party they belong to). Full threads can be found here and here - but what this is really about is our questioning of public dollars going to private schools and how this diverts resources from the public education system. Although our executive’s biographies are on our website and there are plenty of methods to get in touch and meet with us, we were still questioned about who we are. Here is our answer.

We are Support Our Students Alberta, a public education advocacy group which advocates for the right of all children to an equitable and accessible public education system. 

We are volunteers.  

We are non-profit.

We are community builders.

We are engineers, psychologists, teachers, doctors, lawyers, custodians, speech language pathologists, scientists, dental hygienists, chiropractors, butchers, landscapers, accountants, homemakers, cashiers -- hard workers, contributing to all aspects of Alberta society.

We are mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and children.

We are cis, trans, bi, questioning.

We are Muslim, Christian, atheists.

We are public school graduates, private school graduates, we are urban, we are rural.

We are immigrants, refugees, 4th generation Canadians, FNMI.

We are disabled, gifted, special needs, able-bodied.

Most importantly, we are Albertans who believe in the promise of public education to build community across all these beautiful differences.

What we believe:

We believe public education is a child’s human right. 

Every child regardless of income should have a barrier free public education.

We believe there is room for improvement, but also that public education is worth fighting for.

We know children go to school with trauma, mental health needs, food insecurity, poverty-related issues that can create barriers to their learning, something no PISA or standardized test score can measure.

We know children go undiagnosed and unsupported for learning disabilities, and early intervention could greatly affect their future.

We know some parents and families are unable to pay for the testing required to properly diagnose and treat their children.

We know some children feel unsafe at school, because of the colour of their skin, their religion or their gender identity.

We believe GSAs save lives.

We believe institutionalized and systemic racism exists throughout our education system.

We believe an unsupported, alienated and marginalized student becomes an alienated and marginalized citizen.

We believe competition has no place in education. Inherent in competition are winners and losers and no child should lose when it comes to education. Especially when the competition is tilted in favour of the privileged.

We believe choice is a euphemism for segregation.

We believe public funds should be for public schools.

What we have done:

We have conducted a province wide survey researching how education resources manifest on the frontlines for Alberta children.

We have met with representatives of all provincial parties, including the Wildrose, Liberal Party, Alberta Party, Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta and the New Democratic Party.

We have met with elected officials at the municipal and school board levels.

We have collaborated with public education advocacy groups across Alberta and in other provinces and internationally.

We travelled to 4 cities across Alberta to screen the enlightening documentary Backpack Full of Cash, a cautionary tale of the privatization of education.

We engage with anyone and everyone who wants to work in the best interests of children. Our door has always been and remains open for these discussions.

We are a non-partisan group. Above all else, what we do, the countless nights we volunteer to write, to plan, to work, to collaborate, we do because, we believe that when we meet the needs of the most vulnerable children, we elevate the quality of life for all children.  We do not volunteer our time and energy for our own children; we do it because we believe in the institution of public education. We do not think education should be political, but the moment public funds were provided to private institutions, it became a political issue. We won't pretend that 250 million dollars a year is not diverted from the public system to private hands. We won't pretend competition does not hurt the most vulnerable of our population. We won't pretend outing LGBTQ2+ children is not religious infiltration of a public service. 

We also will not be intimidated, demeaned, or condescended to, when a politician or anyone else asks “Who are you”?

We are Albertans, we are proud, engaged citizens, who will continue to advocate, not because we need you to know who we are, but because our children are watching.