PRESS CONFERENCE NOTICE: Thursday, Oct 16, 2:30 pm Bowness Ratepayers Hall or via Zoom for Citizen-Initiative to Recall Education Minister and MLA for Calgary-Bow
Oct 14, 2025, Calgary, AB
Calgary-Bow resident, concerned parent and scientist, Jenny Yeremiy, has submitted a recall application with Elections Alberta for Education Minister and MLA for Calgary-Bow, Demetrios Nicolaides, officially filed on October 7th. Her submission asserts that Nicolaides’ and his Government’s policies are responsible for the crisis-state of Public Education in Alberta; with their chronic underfunding, under-resourcing, and disrespect of public school teachers, students, staff, and curricula while favouring private school interests.
Fellow Calgary-Bow constituents and members of the AB Resistance (ABR) have joined Jenny to create the recallnicolaides.ca campaign and website. The group welcomes media, residents of Calgary-Bow, concerned parents, teachers, and students on October 16th, 2:30 pm MST at the Bowness Ratepayers Scout and Guide Hall (8551 Bowness Rd NW, Calgary, AB). Join via Zoom for full participation or watch LIVE on YouTube. The Zoom link will be provided upon RSVP.
Learn about the recall process from the founder of ABR, Marg Tokar, and details about the Recall Nicolaides campaign from Jenny. Come to learn about the issues from advocacy group leaders and students: Claire Kraatz (For Our Kids or FOK Alberta), Arya—William Aberhart High School Student, Emily and Sophie—Sir Winston Churchill High School Students, Saanvi—North Trail High School Student, Medeana Moussa (Support Our Students or SOS Alberta), Mary Oxendale-Spensley (Calgary Raging Grannies), and Bradley Lafortune (Public Interest Alberta or PIA).
Marg Tokar of ABR states, “While Calgary-Bow is the focus today, multiple ABR members, whose MLAs represent this government, have stepped up and committed to this citizen-action. In doing so, this would fulfill ABR’s mandate to support at least 5 recalls; offering the citizens of Alberta the opportunity to oust this government.”
“As a parent and geoscientist, it was very disturbing to learn from my MLA and Minister of Education in early 2024 that my legitimate curricula concerns, and the concerns of the majority of teachers, staff, and parents in this province do not matter to him. Rather that he takes his directions from above.” says Jenny. “It wasn’t long after learning this that I joined ABR to understand the recall legislation. Using it to support teachers, students, and staff in standing against impossible circumstances, created by the Education Minister and my MLA, is the right thing to do.”
About Recall Nicolaides and AB Resistance
Recall Nicolaides believes that Alberta deserves a thriving public education system. This citizen‑initiated recall petition gives Calgary Bow a clear, democratic voice to defend it.
For media inquiries, contact Jenny Yeremiy at 403-993-6279 or jenny@recallnicolaides.ca.
AB Resistance is a grassroots organization created for Albertans to understand their democratic right to recall their MLAs.
For media or recall inquiries, contact Marg Tokar at 780-717-4870 or magtokar@gmail.com.
Supportive Groups, Evidence & Background for recalling Minister Nicolaides:
“Publicly-funded education is crucial,” says Claire Kraatz of FOK Alberta. “We cannot leave it to private corporations—like TC Energy or CNRL—to educate our kids. Young people deserve to learn the full truth about the climate crisis: the role of fossil fuels, the injustices of extractive industries, and the importance of centering Indigenous voices in this fight for climate justice. Kids need honest, evidence-based education to understand the root causes of the challenges our planet faces—and to be empowered to build a sustainable, just future.”
Arya of William Aberhart High School says, “Students are already having to compensate by being out of school from covid; why add another block in our education? We need to give future voters a chance at being informed, and educated. It’s our right.”
Emily of Sir Winston Churchill addsm “Students, Albertans, our leaders have left the class for too long to understand our reality, too afraid to sit down and to hear our voices along with the facts we speak. If our leaders cannot listen to the students and teachers who live in the very decisions they make, then they have no business creating them. We refuse to accept decisions made from that place of ignorance.”
“We are the students, teachers, and parents living the consequences as result of a long and avoidable string of poor decision making and leadership - and we refuse to be silent homework for a government that won’t listen and learn.” says Sophie of Sir Winston Churchill.
“Alberta’s public education is intended to be an equitable system for children to strive and grow in schools. Teachers, parents, and students have found flaws in the system that directly impact educators and youth; when trying to advocate for ourselves, our voices are being ignored and silenced. It is essential to listen to our youth today, as they are the changemakers of tomorrow,” adds Saanvi of North Trail High School.
“The citizen action by Jenny Yeremiy is a significant measure taken to hold the Minister of Education accountable for his actions and policies that have damaged the public education system in this province and harmed the education of Alberta students. The show of support for teachers and students has been overwhelming through this labour action and this is another formalized step which illustrates that the Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, has lost the confidence of the people. Albertans do not want their public education system, which supports 93% of Alberta students, to be dismantled by underfunding it and undermining it, while simultaneously increasing funding to private and charter schools.” says Medeana Moussa, Executive Director of SOS Alberta.
“The Calgary Raging Grannies stepped up for teachers at the largest rallies Alberta has ever seen, on October 6th,” says Mary Oxendale-Spensley of the Calgary Raging Grannies. “Several of us Grannies are retired teachers, and we share a deep concern at how badly the provincial government is treating public education teachers and students. We stand behind the teachers and students.”
“The current strike is Danielle Smith and Nicolaides’ strike,” says Bradley Lafortune, Executive Director of PIA. “It’s plain that their plan is to completely dismantle Public Education in Alberta, and we are proud to support this initiative to make sure Smith, Nicolaides and the UCP don’t get away with it.”
Tami Smith, a retired Edmonton Public School teacher and ABR director adds, “I retired in 2024, after 26 years of teaching. Through COVID, a new curriculum was implemented without resources, increasing the complexity of classrooms with less or no support. The province has not planned for people moving to Alberta and the public schools are feeling the effects. Blaming teachers for poor planning is not solving the problems.”
Budget 2025 shows private school funding is projected to rise 30.1 % by 2027–28, while public education funding trails inflation and enrollment.
Charter/private schools received a 13% funding increase, budget 2024 sets up stealth cuts to K-12 and post-secondary education.
More than $1 billion in public funds are diverted to private/charter schools every four years, while Alberta spends the least per student nationally.—Support Our Students
Between 2019 and 2023, postsecondary funding was cut by over $500 million, a 31 % drop (University Affairs).