History - Surrey Teachers Association

The Surrey Teachers’ Association has proudly represented public school teachers in Surrey, British Columbia since 1941.

William Davidson became the first president of the STA in 1941, followed by F. McKinnon during the 1941-1942 school year. To learn more, view the full list of our past presidents.

In 1974, under the leadership of President Lloyd Edwards, Surrey teachers took a bold stand for better working conditions by walking off the job and traveling to Victoria to protest the issue of class sizes.

This action led to a significant agreement between the government and the BCTF, reducing the Pupil-Teacher Ratio across the province, which dramatically lowered class sizes and brought thousands of new teachers into the system. The STA’s advocacy for class size limits set a precedent for the entire province, establishing a major milestone in enhancing both teaching and learning conditions in Surrey.

The STA was officially incorporated as a society on June 27, 1975, during Doris Hahn’s presidency.

Then, on November 7, 1987, the STA became a local of the BC Teachers’ Federation, solidifying our role within the provincial landscape. David Chudnovsky, STA President at the time, would later go on to become the BCTF President from 1999 to 2003. Our history is deeply intertwined with the broader story of the BCTF.