**Thousands Rally at Alberta Legislature Ahead of Teachers' Strike** Thousands gathered at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton on Sunday morning to support public education as a potential teachers' strike looms. The rally comes just one day before Alberta's 51,000 teachers are set to walk off the job if a new collective agreement is not reached with the provincial government. The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) has been in negotiations with the government for over a month, but key issues remain unresolved. These include salary increases, growing class sizes, and the need for additional staff to address classroom complexities. The previous contract expired in August 2024. Heather Quinn, president of ATA Local 37, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of public education. "Public education is a foundation of a strong democratic society," she said. "We ask everyone in Alberta to not only speak up, stand up, but now fight for the future of public education, so our children, our families, and future generations will have equitable access to education in Alberta." The rally featured a sea of red, as supporters were encouraged to wear the color to show solidarity with teachers. Many attendees traveled from various regions, including Battle River in east-central Alberta. Parent Luke Cole expressed his concerns about the impact of the strike on students. "We believe students and teachers need a better situation than we’re in right now," he said. He added that the financial support offered to parents during the strike would not compensate for the time his children would miss in school. High school teacher Faaria Butland highlighted the challenges in her classroom, where she has 41 students but only 39 chairs. "Overall grades are definitely going down because they can’t get the help they need," she said. ATA president Jason Schilling noted that negotiations with the province were ongoing but had not progressed as of Sunday. He described the current funding situation as a crisis, stating, "What we have in Alberta, with the least funded education system for a decade, is a crisis. Teachers have had enough." Premier Danielle Smith addressed the situation during her regular radio broadcast, stating that there was no indication the strike would be called off. She urged the ATA to return to the bargaining table, describing the potential strike as a "lose-lose-lose situation" for teachers, parents, and students. The government has also rejected the ATA's call for classroom size caps, citing a lack of physical space in schools. Finance Minister Nate Horner mentioned that the province has allocated $8.5 billion for new schools to accommodate an additional 200,000 students. As the deadline for a potential strike approaches, both sides remain at an impasse, with the future of Alberta's public education system hanging in the balance.