Letter writing campaign targets Alberta Education Minister’s preachy holiday message

https://www.bchumanist.ca/ab_education_minister_letter_writing

By BC Humanist

Parents and secular advocates are pushing back after Alberta’s Education Minister, Demetrios Nicolaides, sent a taxpayer-funded holiday letter that explicitly promoted Christian beliefs. In the message, Nicolaides described Jesus’ birth as “the cornerstone of faith” and tied children’s value to “the message brought forth by the nativity.” Critics say that crosses a constitutional line.

The BC Humanist Association has launched a letter-writing campaign calling on Nicolaides to retract and apologize, arguing that his message violates the government’s duty of religious neutrality. They emphasize this isn’t about opposing personal faith—it’s about keeping religion out of public office and ensuring inclusivity in education. Alberta’s population is nearly half non-religious or from minority faiths, and many parents say the letter makes them feel excluded from the province’s vision for education. The campaign urges Albertans to share their own experiences and remind the Minister that respect for diversity—not religious doctrine—should guide public schools.