We are saddened to have to report that after a lot of thought and discussion, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 conference. The COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign of abating in time, and unlike other PSAs who hold their conference in October, and who have been told definitively by the BCTF that any conference held then must be virtual, we are in the untenable position of not knowing whether we have to be virtual or if we can hold our traditional gathering. It was not possible, both logistically and financially, to plan for two entirely different conferences and pick one at the last minute once the situation became clear. Rest assured that we are hard at work planning for 2022, and look forward to seeing you then.
The BCAEA engages in a number of activities for its members, including holding a conference in Vancouver every February, publishing a newsletter twice a year, maintaining a provincial alternate programs directory, and providing a list serve. We also provide $16,000 annually in awards for eligible students and grants for eligible teachers.
The Association is famous for the annual Challenge & Change conference (and the Schmooze, of course!) that it puts on every year. Plans are well under way for 2022, whether we can be back in person again, or are forced to be virtual.
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The Association provides grants and awards to member teachers and awards and bursaries to member-sponsored students totalling $16,000. Just one of the perks of membership!
Attend our annual conference and automatically get a one year association membership. If you didn’t attend the conference, you can still pay the fee and join the PSA.
The Association publishes the conference brochure each fall, and a newsletter in the fall and spring. Members choose to receive these as either an electronic or paper copies.
At the AGM each year elections are held to fill positions on the Executive. President and Vice President are normally elected in odd years, and Treasurer, Secretary, and Newsletter Editor are elected in even years, all for two year terms. This year we circumstances forced us to hold a virtual AGM via Zoom. Sadly, none of you (with the exception of the current Executive) made it to the meeting. Since our constitution states that a quorum is the members present, the election for President and Vice President went forward, and both of those postions were elected by acclamation.
Following the AGM, a second Zoom meeting was held by the Executive. DJ Pauls was appointed Conference Coordinator, Karen Gadowsky was appointed Speaker Coordinator, Christine Thygesen was appointed Registrar, and Mike Shaw was appointed Publications Manager. All appointed positions are for a term of one year.
Both elected positions and appointed positions take effect on July 1 each year.
Mike Shaw teaches in West Kelowna..
Tianay de Andrade teaches in the Mission