Each year The Manitoba Teachers’ Society has awards available to honour members and local associations.
1922 Award for Service to the Teaching Profession
In 1922, 87 teachers were employed by the Brandon School District. The City of Brandon was facing a shortfall in their city budget, and it was proposed that the budget would be balanced by cutting salaries of all teachers in the city.
On February 27, 1922, all teachers in Brandon were called to a meeting where the board chair addressed the group and gave them an ultimatum. The teachers could either accept a 25% reduction in salary or be given a letter of termination effective May 1 of 1922.
It is worth noting that of the 87 teachers, 73 were women. The city was proposing offsetting the entire $41,000 shortfall in the budget on the backs of 73 women and 14 men, instead of increasing taxes for all.
The teachers, all of whom were members of the Brandon Teachers’ Association, stood united and refused to take the pay cut. There were attempts made to negotiate with the board, but ultimately on May 1, 1922 all 87 teachers were terminated.
On May 19, 1922, The Manitoba Teachers’ Federation held a meeting at Kelvin High School in Winnipeg with more than 1,000 teachers attending. They adopted a resolution in support of the Brandon teachers. Following suit, The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Alliance and the Alberta Teachers’ Federation pledged moral and financial support. The Manitoba Teachers’ Federation, along with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, gathered financial support totaling $15,000.
The events of 1922 in Brandon were a powerful force towards establishing collective bargaining for all teachers in our country. These 87 brave teachers need to be recognized and remembered.
As a nationally significant event in furthering the movement for teachers collective bargaining rights, the events in Brandon were unifying for both The Manitoba Teachers’ Federation and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation. This event needs to be marked, those members need to be remembered and celebrated for their commitment to the profession.
We still have members who exhibit this type of bravery in our province and across Canada who deserve to be recognized for their service to the teaching profession. Establishing an award in honour of the Brandon teachers of 1922 reminds us to remember their sacrifice as well as to recognize those who continue to advance the rights of teachers.
Criteria
The 1922 Award for Service to the Teaching Profession recognizes a member who has demonstrated leadership, commitment, and fortitude in service of union values and priorities to achieve positive and sustained change for current and future union members.
Nomination Guidelines
Both nominators and nominees must be a current MTS Active or Associate Member in Good Standing (per Bylaw I, 3.2-3.3).
The complete nominations package must be submitted on or before March 1, 2023 at 4:00 pm (local time). A confirmation of receipt will be sent within 2 business days.
Completed nominations packages that are received by the deadline will be forwarded to the 1922 Award Ad hoc Committee.
Selection Process
The 1922 Committee is responsible for reviewing all nominations and forwarding a final recommendation to Provincial Executive at the April meeting.
Unsuccessful nominees in any year will be automatically re-nominated for one year following the original nomination if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
Successful nominees will be notified by the Executive Director immediately following the April meeting of Provincial Executive.
Nomination form available here for 2024
MTS Honourary Membership Award
The Honorary Membership Award shall be presented at the regular Provincial Council meeting to recognize a retired staff person of the Society, a person who rendered outstanding service to the Society or a community member; who promoted the mission, goals, and objects of the Society. Award recipients have made a significant contribution to the Society or provided distinguished service to public education in Manitoba.
The nomination process and form is set out below. Nominations must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on February 1, 2024.
If you have any questions or require more information, please send an email to awards@mbteach.org. Please state which of the awards, Life or Honourary, your question pertains to.
Selection Process
The MTS Awards Committee is responsible for reviewing all nominations and forwarding up to two (2) final recipient recommendations for Life Membership, up to one (1) final recipient recommendation for Honorary Membership, up to one (1) final recipient recommendation for the Life Membership Award, and up to one (1) alternate recipient recommendation for each award to the March meeting of Provincial Executive. Unsuccessful candidates in any year will be automatically re-nominated for one (1) year following the original nomination if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Successful candidates will be notified by the Executive Director immediately following the March meeting of Provincial Executive.
Nomination form available here for 2024
MTS Life Membership Award
The Life Membership Award shall be presented at the regular Provincial Council Meeting to recognize a retired Member who has promoted the mission, goals, and objects of the Society. Award recipients have made a significant contribution to the Society or provided distinguished service to public education in Manitoba.
The nomination process and form is set out below. Nominations must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on February 1, 2024.
If you have any questions or require more information, please send an email to awards@mbteach.org. Please state which of the awards, Life or Honourary, your question pertains to.
Selection Process
The MTS Awards Committee is responsible for reviewing all nominations and forwarding up to two (2) final recipient recommendations for Life Membership, up to one (1) final recipient recommendation for Honorary Membership, up to one (1) final recipient recommendation for the Life Membership Award, and up to one (1) alternate recipient recommendation for each award to the March meeting of Provincial Executive. Unsuccessful candidates in any year will be automatically re-nominated for one (1) year following the original nomination if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Successful candidates will be notified by the Executive Director immediately following the March meeting of Provincial Executive.