St. James-Assiniboia Teachers' Association

STJATA PD Fund Now Accepting Applications 

STJATA Members, 

Starting Sunday, June 1st, 2025, the STJATA PD Fund will open the application process for Members who are looking to take coursework or attend Professional Development conferences between September 1st and November 30th, 2025.  The early application period will close as of 4:00 pm on Sunday, June 15th, 2025. 

For those Members looking to attend PD conferences between the months of September 1st, 2025 up to and including November 30th, 2025 we ask that you please forward your PD applications to pd@stjata.ca between June 1st and June 15th in order to receive approval prior by the end of this school year. If convenient, you may also fax in your application to the STJATA office at 204-831-0140. Applications will be date/time stamped and reviewed in the order they are received. Should funds be expended, members will be placed on a waitlist and contacted with their place in the queue. 

Thanks for your understanding and cooperation, and we look forward to providing the Membership with greater PD opportunities in the coming year. 

PD Travel

The Professional Development Committee thanks our members for the thoughtful and wide-ranging feedback we received on this complex issue. Many members emphasized the importance of equitable access for all members, related to travelling to regions where safety may be compromised for some members. Additionally, members expressed concerns about limited access to quality professional learning opportunities within Canada.

We strongly encourage all members to remain mindful that not everyone has the same level of privilege or freedom when it comes to safe travel, whether within Canada or to the U.S. Current political and social climates can pose real barriers for some. Notable concerns raised by members in their feedback include:

• Hostile Legislation Affecting 2SLGBTQI+ Communities: Many U.S. states have enacted or proposed laws that restrict 2SLGBTQI+ rights, including bans on gender-affirming care, restrictions on pronoun use in schools, and limitations on 2SLGBTQI+ representation in educational materials. These policies can create unsafe environments for 2SLGBTQI+ educators and allies.

• Safety and well-being of Educators: 2SLGBTQI+ educators, particularly those who are visibly gender-diverse or outspoken on equity issues, may face increased risk of discrimination, surveillance, or harassment in certain U.S. states. These risks may extend to both their professional and personal experiences while traveling.

• Concerns About Legal Protections: Unlike Canada, some U.S. states offer limited or no legal protections for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals in areas such as employment, accommodations, and healthcare—raising concerns about rights and safety during professional travel.

• Border Experiences and Discrimination: Educators, especially those who are transgender, nonbinary, or racialized, may face heightened scrutiny, invasive questioning, or discrimination at U.S. border crossings, which can be distressing and deter participation in international professional development.

• Impact on Mental Health and Professional Identity: Being in environments where inclusion is undermined or where one's identity may be targeted can affect mental health, sense of belonging, and professional confidence.

Ethical Concerns and Solidarity with Affected Communities: Many educators view equity and inclusion as central to their professional values. Choosing not to participate in events held in jurisdictions that enact exclusionary laws can serve as a statement of solidarity with marginalized communities, including students and educators adversely impacted by such policies.

• Limited Relevance or Accessibility of Content: In some cases, professional development opportunities in the U.S. may not align with the inclusive education standards upheld in Canada, making them less relevant or potentially incompatible with Canadian teaching frameworks and values.

In considering the full range of perspectives shared, and in an effort to respect and represent the diverse needs of our membership, we have decided to maintain our current practice for the upcoming year. However, we strongly encourage members to choose Canadian Professional Development opportunities. Should circumstances change, the committee is open to revisiting our position on travel-related professional development. Below is a list of Canadian professional development opportunities that our members have attended over the last several years. This is not inclusive of all possible conferences. 

In Solidarity,

The STJATA Professional Development Committee