Welcome to 2026

Anyone else feel like they’ve already done a month’s worth of work?

Whew, I thought I’d get this welcome back and happy start of the Winter semester message out to members sooner, but OMG it has only been a week… why does it feel like I’ve already done a month’s worth of work already? I bet you can all relate, for most of us, January start-up arrives with a mix of “how did the holidays pass so quickly?” and “I didn’t have nearly enough time to get prepped for the term.” Whether you are returning after the break or joining us for the first time, I just wanted to remind everyone that we’re here to help keep you informed and supported, and to make sure you don’t have to face the unknown alone.

A few timely reminders

Since the first 2026 Confluence Blog Digest won’t go out until the end of the month, I thought I’d mention that Professional Development funding and Scheduled Development planning are important Winter term planning priorities! If you are considering a larger or multi-year project, now is the time to start that conversation and get your application moving; the long-term PD funding deadlines are coming up quickly! This is also a good moment to look ahead and get your Scheduled Development intent and proposal ready, rather than scrambling at the last minute on January 31. If you are unsure what you are eligible for, reach out. Asking early is always easier than asking in a panic.

Our next 2026 CCFA Infosession: New Employees & Union Orientation is happening Monday, January 12, at 1:00 PM. This will be a great opportunity if you are new and want to learn a little bit about how our collective agreement works, or even if you have been around for a bit and just want a refresher. Our Zoom infosessions are great for meeting other members, getting to know your union representatives, or asking questions in a low-pressure setting. If you know someone who is new this term, please encourage them to attend – and if you don’t have the link in your Outlook calendar already, check on our Discord server or email ac.ytlucafnusomac@afcc.

And as always, if something does not feel right with your workload, student numbers, assignments, or expectations, please reach out early. The Union is here to support you, not just when things go sideways, but ideally before they do. There are a lot of ways to communicate with us, but we can’t help if we don’t know!

Some bigger picture updates

Given the questions and concerns raised by recent layoff and campus closure announcements made by many other post-secondary institutions, I am informing members that the Union has not received any new Section 54 or layoff notices from the employer. We know there is a lot of understandable anxiety across the system right now, so we will continue to share updates as soon as there is anything concrete to report.

At the Provincial level, the CCFA is actively contributing to the Post-secondary review through the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC. Faculty voices are part of those conversations, and we are pushing hard to ensure that teaching and learning conditions, academic integrity, and student support remain strong. This work is ongoing, and we will keep members informed as it unfolds.

On the lighter side, but still important

Please remember to use your CCFA coffee cards, and let us know who is new in your department or program. We love sending new and term members welcome coffee cards, but we can only do that if we know who has joined us. We’ve only recently received our 2025 Seniority list and we won’t even get the Winter contracts for several months, so our best source of information about who works here is YOU! Consider this your friendly nudge to help us spread a little caffeine-fueled goodwill. After all, who doesn’t love a free coffee?

All that said, I wish you all a smooth start to the term, manageable workloads, and at least one decent cup of coffee this week.

-With💜from your president, Lynelle