Thirty Years of ATESL
Early beginnings
The Alberta Teachers of English as a Second Language was incorporated as a provincial society on February 19, 1979. Laura Ho, Barbara Duffus, Dawn Seabrook, Alexandra Sawchuk, and Wendy Uncles were the visionaries who signed the application for incorporation. The proposed objectives of the organization at that time were to:
a) encourage communication amongst teachers of English as a Second Language in the province of Alberta;
b) represent and express the professional concerns of those vocationally committed to ESL (English as a Second Language) in Alberta;
c) promote professional development amongst teachers of ESL in Alberta;
d) provide a professional journal for teachers of ESL in Alberta;
e) be a source of professional assistance for those teaching ESL in Alberta;
f) participate, with other provincial ESL Associations, in professional development at the national level; and
g) develop and maintain an extensive bibliography of books and materials related to ESL teaching.
Over the years…
Since 1979, ATESL boards have worked diligently to promote ESL in Alberta and to advocate for learners, instructors, and the profession, under the leadership of the following presidents:
| 1979-1980 Laura Anderson Ho 1980-1981 Manny Ford 1981-1982 Jan McDougall 1982-1983 Sandy Sawchuk 1983-1984 Dini Steyn 1984-1985 Virginia Sauvé 1985-1986 Sally Thompson 1986-1987 Lorna Smith 1987-1988 Val Larsen 1988-1989 Liz Karra 1989-1990 Jill Stanley 1990-1991 David Wood 1991-1992 David Watt 1992-1993 Tracey Derwing 1993-1994 Silvia Bégin |
1994-1995 Judy Hasinoff 1995-1996 Gail Kingwell 1996-1997 Sheila McLeod 1997-1999 Elza Bruk 1999-2000 Lilli Fortier 2000-2001 Leila Ranta 2001-2002 Shaheen Murji 2002-2003 Maria McMinn 2003-2004 Jaye Fredrickson 2004-2005 Terese Szlamp-Fryga 2005-2006 Lesley Dudley 2006-2007 Justine Light 2007-2008 Marian Rossiter 2008-2009 Judy Sillito |
Some of the association’s innumerable achievements over the past 30 years:
1979-1980 First ATESL conference (Calgary);
1982 TESL Canada Conference, co-hosted by ATESL;
1983-1984 Development of the ATESL Bylaws;
1986-1987 Advocacy to broaden access to ESL beyond "heads of the household", to include other members of immigrant families;
1991-1992 Advocacy to reduce cuts to K-12 ESL programs in Calgary; Establishment of the ATESL Accreditation scheme;
1992-1993 Rally at the Alberta Legislature and letter-writing campaign against proposed cuts to ESL;
1993-1994 Completion of the Best Practice Guidelines for Adult ESL/LINC Programming and Instruction in Alberta document;
1995-1996 Development of the ATESL Mission Statement;
1996-1998 Adult ESL Program Standards project;
1998-1999 Needs Assessment of Professional Development for ATESL Members;
TESL Canada Conference, co-hosted by ATESL;
1999-2001 Development of the ATESL website;
Creation of ATESL Ethical Guidelines for ESL Professionals in Alberta;
2003-2004 Development of Terms of Reference for ATESL Committees, policy documents,
and descriptions of ATESL Board positions;
2005-2006 Occupational ESL "Lessons Learned" conference;
2006-2007 Connecting ESL Professionals and Communities project: a series of workshops on
ESL Programming for Settlement and Integration; ESL Literacy; ESL Assessment; and Intercultural Competence Training;
Professional Development Opportunities;
Survey of ATESL members (demographics, current trends);
Benefits package for ATESL members (dental, health, travel insurance);
2007-2008 Enhanced Language Training (ELT) Conference;
Formation of Special Interest Group (SIG) listservs;
2008-2009 Best Practice Guidelines for Adult ELS/LINC Programming & Instruction in Alberta project:
Revision of Best Practice Guidelines (2004) document;
Rally to advocate elimination of the Refugee Transportation Loan;
Establishment of the Dawn Seabrook de Vargas Fellowship;
TESL Canada Conference, co-hosted by ATESL.
Many of these milestones were the result of successive years of dedicated work by ATESL boards and association members. And over the years we have also benefited from stimulating conferences and workshops, and a vibrant, dynamic professional community.
As our learner population and profession have evolved since 1979, so too has ATESL’s mandate (see the Mission Statement). One constant that the association has enjoyed since its inception, however, is the ongoing support of Alberta Employment and Immigration, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and our ATESL members and local committees throughout the province. Thanks to all of you for your enthusiasm and commitment, and for the role that you have played in any of our activities over the past three decades.
CONGRATULATIONS, ATESL, ON YOUR 30th ANNIVERSARY!
LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN!
submitted by Marian Rossiter