Holiday message to students

There is no doubt that 2021 has been a difficult year. The pandemic has persisted and while we were able to welcome many students back to campus, we also watched as COVID numbers in Alberta skyrocketed following the loosening of most restrictions in the summer. This created more stress and worry and prevented us from being fully back together as a Faculty of Education community. Against the backdrop of pandemic challenges, we continued to navigate through unprecedented institutional change, including within our faculty. With heavy hearts, we had to say goodbye to some of our amazing and beloved staff, adapt to new processes, and think together about our vision for the future of the Faculty.

But in the midst of these challenges, so many wonderful things emerged:

• ATEP welcomed students into the very first fully online program;
• Education Clinical Services continued to provide innovative supports to clients who needed to access counselling and assessment services;
• Education Student Serviceswas implemented;
• Camp fYrefly welcomed 2SLGBTQ+ youth to a fully virtual camp experience,
• mentor teachers welcomed more than 900 of our undergraduate students into their classrooms this semester;
• our amazing researchers had many, many positive impacts in communities beyond the University through their work;
• SLIS professor Dr. Ali Shiri became the Faculty's first Kaplan Award winner in more than two decades;
• our nomination of a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Wisdom Traditions in Teacher Education was successful;
• and importantly, our staff worked tirelessly to lift up the work of the Faculty despite the uncertainties of administrative restructuring.

Throughout the year, we have stayed connected, supported one another, and just as last year, I am deeply moved by the compassion, care and kindness that shines through even when there are computer screens between us or we are wearing masks. Over the holidays, please take time to slow down, find moments of peacefulness and joy, rest and reflect on the many blessings in your life. I remain so hopeful about our future because of the strength and resilience of our community. It is an honour and privilege to be your Dean.

Best wishes for the holidays and a wonderful start to 2022!