MTS Grants
Each year The Manitoba Teachers’ Society makes funds available for projects by members and local associations for professional development and public relations.
Local Equity and Social Justice Grant
At the 2023 MTS Provincial Council, a resolution was passed to make available a grant to local associations to a maximum of $1,000 to support initiatives led by and resources to support Equity and Social Justice Chairs.
Applications will be reviewed and approved as they are received.
Each local association may submit one application up to May 30, 2025 with the intent to use funds within the school year and submit receipts by June 30, 2025.
Local Equity and Social Justice Grant Application Form
Local Equity and Social Justice Grant Report Form
For further information, please contact Sherry Jones, Staff Officer, PFLS Department at mts-esj@mbteach.org
Collaborative Learning Team Grants
The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is committed to supporting collaborative learning teams with grant funding. These grants support teacher-initiated professional learning that focuses on problems of practice to improve instruction and ultimately student learning. These projects will take the form of action research and/or study groups.
A facilitator will provide support and guidance to the collaborative learning team at three of their meetings, as well as throughout the inquiry process. This will include refining a study focus, looking at current research, developing a plan, reflecting and analyzing information collected, and preparing a plan to share the research.
CL Grant Participation Information Form
CL Grant Application Form – Currently Closed
CL Grant Post Project Member Impact Form
Collaborative Learning Facilitators: CL Facilitator Application Process
For further information, please contact Eric Sagenes at esagenes@mbteach.org
Community Investment Grants
Every Community Investment Grant is focussed on supporting anti-racism and anti-poverty work that involves more than a financial request. All projects should include ways to build sustainable relationships and partnerships.
What is Community Investment?
Community Investment (CI) refers to collaborations, partnerships, and initiatives intended to impact social change and align activism with union values. The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is committed to creating intentional and purposeful relationships with grassroots, community-based, and national organizations to promote equity and systemic change.
What is the Community Investment Grant Program?
The Community Investment grant program provides grassroots and community-based groups with access to some financial assistance as well as connecting MTS staff, teachers and community to projects that address racism and support poverty reduction.
The Community Investment Grant cannot:
Be solely financial or the sole source of funding for any organization. Be affiliated with a political party (all projects must be non-partisan). Used to cover expenses or purchases prior to project approval.
Community Investment Grant Application Form – Currently Closed
For further information, please contact Sarah Gazan and Sherry Jones at communityinvestment@mbteach.org
Local Executive Training Grants
The purpose of Executive Training Workshops is to develop skills needed to enhance the function of the Local Executives as a whole. The application for a workshop must be approved by the Local Executive and signed by the President.
Local Executive Training Grant Application Form – Currently Closed
For further information, please contact governance@mbteach.org
Public Relations Grants
The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is once again offering Public Relations Grants aimed at helping Locals that want to initiate a new PR project.
This year, The Manitoba Teachers’ Society offers two different Public Relations Grants. They are:
- Internal Public Relations Grant
- External Public Relations Grant
Public Relations Grant Application Form – Currently Closed
For further information, please contact governance@mbteach.org
Union Learning Grant Application
The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is committed to supporting the leadership development and the professional learning of its members. The Union Learning Grant provides the opportunity for teachers to build their knowledge and skills in labour relations and unionism through professional learning opportunities.
This grant is intended to provide mentorship and professional learning opportunities for members to understand their potential paths to leadership roles in their locals.
Union Learning Grant Application Form – Currently closed
For further information, please contact Eric Sagenes at esagenes@mbteach.org
Workplace Safety and Health Grant Application
At the 2024 MTS Provincial Council, a resolution was passed to make available a grant to local associations to a maximum of $1,000 to support initiatives led by and resources to support Local Workplace Safety & Health Chairs.
Applications will be reviewed and approved as they are received.
Each local association may submit one application up to May 30, 2025 with the intent to use funds within the school year and submit receipts by June 30, 2025.
Workplace Safety and Health Grant Application Form
MTS Workplace Safety and Health Grant Ideas
For further information, please contact Terri Hill at wshgrants@mbteach.org
MTS Awards
The highest honours The Manitoba Teachers’ Society confers are the 1922 Award for Service to the Teaching Profession, Life Membership in the Society and Honourary Membership in the Society.
These awards are presented annually, pending receipt of eligible nominees, at The Manitoba Teachers’ Society Provincial Council Annual General Meeting, held each May. The deadline for receipt of all award nominations is February 1, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. These must be submitted via email at awards@mbteach.org. A confirmation of receipt will be sent within two business days. Successful nominees will be notified by the Executive Director or designate immediately following the April meeting of MTS Provincial Executive.
Both nominator and nominee must be a current MTS Active or Associate Member in Good Standing (per Bylaw I, 3.2-3.3).
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.
1922 Award for Service to the Teaching Profession
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.
Historical Context
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.
Nomination form available here for 2025 – Currently Closed
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, 2025.
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 2025 – Currently Closed
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, 2025.
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 2025 – Currently Closed