More than 300 MTS members gathered at the RBC Convention Centre for The Society’s 107th Annual General Meeting of Provincial Council.

Over three days, members debated policy resolutions, approved the annual budget, reviewed bylaws, set membership fees, and elected members to the Provincial Executive.

Here’s a recap of AGM 2026 highlights from Thursday, May 21 – Saturday, May 23.

President’s Address

A Message of Hope, Grounded in Solidarity

MTS President Lillian Klausen addressed the delegates highlighting the importance of meeting members wherever they are located, across the province.

“Over the past year, I have had the chance to visit schools and communities across our province. Those visits stayed with me. I saw dedication, resilience, exhaustion, humour, and hope in equal measure,” she said. “What became clear very quickly is that while we share common values, the realities facing members are very different depending on where they teach.”

She said that the one constant in all her travels was that educators continued to show up for students with professionalism, care, and commitment.

“Thank you to the educators and school staff who welcomed me into your schools, classrooms, and staff rooms. Your honesty grounded my understanding of what members are experiencing across Manitoba, she said. “You shared successes, frustrations, and realities that do not always make it into reports or headlines, and I am grateful for that trust.”

Klausen said that this year has brought significant challenges like increasing classroom complexity, violence in schools, workload pressures, and the ongoing effects of underfunding.

“Members have been clear about these realities, and they deserve meaningful action,” she said. “Our responsibility as a Society is to continue advocating with clarity, persistence, and purpose.”
She said that despite the challenges she remains hopeful.

“Hopeful because of the strength of our membership, the commitment in this room, and the care people continue to show one another and this profession, she said. « Je demeure optimiste parce que je crois profondément en la solidarité et en l’engagement des membres de cette organisation. »

Congratulations!

Resolutions

Physical and psychological safety in schools were top of mind with the following resolutions leading the way:

RESOLUTION B38
LOBBY FOR UNIVERSAL REPORTING SYSTEM

Increasing violence in schools has exposed a critical gap in Manitoba’s education system: the lack of a universal reporting system for workplace safety and health incidents in schools. Without standardized reporting, incidents are often underreported, inconsistently documented, or overlooked entirely — making it difficult to accurately assess risks or implement meaningful prevention strategies.

A province-wide reporting system would create a more coordinated, transparent, and equitable approach to school safety across Manitoba.

RESOLUTION B45
VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN

This resolution calls on MTS to advocate for members’ safety in schools by creating an advertising campaign that highlights the increased incidences of violence occurring in schools.

RESOLUTION B35
LOBBY FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY

Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Act recognizes psychological safety as part of workplace safety but it does not define psychological wellbeing with the same clarity, specificity, or enforceability as physical safety.

This resolution calls on MTS to lobby the Manitoba government for revisions to the Workplace Safety and Health Act and associated regulations, policies, and guidance to ensure that psychological safety and psychological wellbeing are clearly defined such that employer responsibilities are explicit, demonstrable, referenceable, and enforceable, and sufficient to protect the safety and wellbeing of workers.

Click here for the resolution results.

2026-2027 Member Fees

The fee for active members for 2026-2027 is $1,313.

The Provincial Executive

Introducing the 2026-27 MTS Provincial Executive!

Lillian Klausen, MTS President, Joel Swaan, MTS Vice-President and members-at-large: Kimberly James (newly elected), Nicole Bobick (re-elected), Catherine Hart (re-elected), Jason Oliver (re-elected), Cathy Pleskach (re-elected), Sam Zurzolo (newly elected), Lindsay Brown, Jeff Cieszecki, Adam Grabowski, Serena Klos, and Shawn Kozarchuk.