Kathleen Hughes, PhD
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kathmhughes.bsky.social
Kathleen Hughes, PhD
@kathmhughes.bsky.social
700 followers 1.5K following 410 posts
Developmental Psychology Associate Professor (Teaching), UCalgary. Child & Youth Advocate. The Sims, PWHL, Children's Media.
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kathmhughes.bsky.social
I didn't write this; Ryan from the Calgary Common Good did. But I think it's good. Alt text is on the first two images for all the text.

#abpoli #cdnpoli #alberta @albertateachers.bsky.social @albertandp.ca @thebreakdownab.bsky.social
The decision yesterday to invoke the “notwithstanding clause” to force teachers back to work and accept an agreement that 89.5% of teachers had voted against is a gross removal of a fundamental right. Rights only exist in reality if people are willing to defend them. History has shown that when those in power violate the rights of one group, it is not long before the rights of other groups are also violated, unless people fight back. In 2015, the Supreme Court established that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects a right to strike. “The right of employees to strike is vital to protecting the meaningful process of collective bargaining,” wrote Justice Rosailie Abella in their decision. Collective bargaining, backed up by the ability to strike, have been the essential tools that enabled the labour movement to raise wages and improve working conditions. This allows the creation of a prosperous middle class, which we have enjoyed for decades, but now see being eroded. This right is what allows most of us to prosper, and the ease with which our government has chosen to violate this right threatens this shared prosperity. Rights, backed up by courts, are fundamental to democracy. Since the beginning of democracy, people have recognized that even the rule of a democratically elected government can become dangerous, especially to minority populations, if it is not held in check by legal protections (rights) backed up by the power of the courts. This is why the international movement of human rights grew out of the horrors of what was a democratically elected Nazi Germany. The notwithstanding clause overrides both these rights and the protection of these rights provided by the courts. Our government did not need to use the notwithstanding clause - they could have legislated the teachers back to work, because the strike is causing “irreparable harm,” which would then bring the settlement of this strike to binding arbitration, in which both sides would have to live with the decision of an objective third party. Why did our government choose to violate fundamental rights instead? This is a question that all Canadians need to be asking. What this means is that the teachers are not only fighting to preserve our public education system so that it can provide a quality education to our children, but they are also fighting to preserve the fundamental rights we all share. This is a fight that we all have a stake in. As a parent, I would rather have my children at home a while longer than have the rights we all rely on violated. Our strategy team met last night. As an Alliance, our first step is to call on all of our members to write their MLA and the premier to push back against this violation of our rights. This is only an initial response. We will engage with our labour partners to decide on a medium and long-term strategy. In the meantime, we are also calling on all of our members to: 1) Write your MLAs 2) Use your networks to ask others to write as well. 3) Educate your communities about why this is important and why they need to remember what our government is doing, not just in the coming weeks, but in two years when our government faces an election.
October 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
I try to break it down simply in my blogpost: Day 1 of Authoritarianism in Alberta.

open.substack.com/pub/kathmhug...

#alberta #abpoli #cdnpoli @albertandp.ca @naheednenshi.bsky.social @thebreakdownab.bsky.social @cmcalgary.bsky.social @albertateachers.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 3:27 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
Happening right now #abpoli #cdbpoli
Today in the Alberta legislature, the UCP government will be introducing a back-to-work bill for public school teachers that will use the notwithstanding clause. I'm currently watching the live legislation feed. So far, they have successfully passed Motion 5, which allows for a bill to be passed in a day. They are working on motion 6 which will bypass debate on Bill 2, which is the back to work legislation. I just saw the Finance Minister speak and announce that Bill 2 will use the notwithstanding clause. The combination of Motions 5, 6 and Bill 2 will strip all Albertans of their bargaining rights. The government could have chosen to write back-to-work legislation using binding arbitration. Instead, they went nuclear, to see what they could get away with. If Bill 2 successfully passes tonight, the government will not long need to go to arbitration with unions in Alberta. Instead, they can simply legislate that workers return to work.
October 28, 2025 at 12:00 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
The Current Status in Alberta - my newest blog post on Smith and Alberta. #cdnpoli #abpoli #yyc
I left social media due to Trump. I came back due to Danielle Smith.
October 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
Shana tova! #roshhashanah
Two loves of special round challah
September 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
Why does the Walter Cup look like the eye of Sauron? #pwhl #hockey
Two women carrying the Walter cup for presentation
May 27, 2025 at 12:32 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
Finally, some data on Canadians & US relations. I have so much anecdotal stories, but it's nice to see how the numbers add up.
This is a infographic about Canadians opinions of travelling to the US, showing that on average, 52% of Canadians no longer feel safe travelling to the US.
May 25, 2025 at 6:31 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
Ughhh. I had a great 8 hour day of data set merging & cleaning yesterday & was so excited to start analysis today. But my work computer decided to restart last night & now can't open SPSS or connect online. #academicsky @ucalgary.bsky.social
The blue shut down screen that I stare at while tapping my foot.
May 23, 2025 at 3:26 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
I just finished @adamrutherford.bsky.social 's book and it was enjoyable. Not too much was new, except the gossip on James Watson. But it's nice to hear it all again. I wish the counter to section 4 would have delved into Jewish history as "people of the book" a bit more. #booksky #academicsky
Book cover for "How to argue with a racist" by Adam Rutherford
May 20, 2025 at 8:47 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
It's chilly out there, and a good day to work from home with hot tea.
A beautiful black and white cockapoo with a dog toy shaped like a coffee mug, sitting on the back of a black sofa, looking out the window at spring blossoms on trees.
May 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
I'm so honoured to have won the Student Union Teaching Excellence Award for the second time! Today I picked up my award & now I have a set. The apples are so cute! @ucalgary.bsky.social #uofc #yyc
Two matching framed certificates behind two apple trophies. Each representing a Teaching Excellence Award for 2019-2020 and 2024-2025 for the University of Calgary.
May 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
My goodness. This year was truly a germy year. I had my flu shot and was still sick most of winter semester.

Alberta is reporting 193 deaths from the flu, the most ever. Some years are as low as 32 deaths.
A bar chat showing number of influenza death in Alberta each year from 2009-2025.
May 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
Liberals are now leading by 1,800 in Carleton, Pollivere's riding. SO. MUCH. SCHADENFREUDE. #cdnpoli
Map of Ottawa with election numbers.
April 29, 2025 at 3:42 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
Oooh, Liberals are leading by 177 votes in Carleton, which is Pollivere's riding. Super early, only one poll, still fun. #cdnpoli
Liberals leading by 177 votes in Pollivere's riding.
April 29, 2025 at 2:44 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
I'm very disappointed in the Maritimes, especially Central Nova. #cdnpoli #maritimes
Map of Atlantic Canada showing lots of blue.
April 29, 2025 at 12:37 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
Really interesting that the city centres in the Maritimes not yet reporting any numbers. #cdnpoli
Map of Atlantic Canada showing Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, & Halifax not yet reporting.
April 29, 2025 at 12:12 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
I love my country so much that when I was in Vancouver I made this bracelet for myself at Granville Island. The top red & white bead represents Canada, & moving clockwise a bead for each Province & Territory starting with Nfld.

You betcha that I'm on my way to vote right now. Please vote. #cdnpoli
A beaded bracelet with 14 glass beads, all different colours and shapes.
April 28, 2025 at 6:48 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
My juniper bush has the same energy as the freaky monsters from Labyrinth. #gardenfail #yyc #Calgary
Left: a dry, dead juniper bush with orange needles. Right: The creepy monsters that pull out there eyes from the movie Labyrinth.
April 27, 2025 at 2:45 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
My flight just flew over @ucalgary.bsky.social what a view! #uofc #academicsky #flight #yyc #calgary
An aerial view of the University of Calgary
April 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
The text of CAUT's travel advisory for academics going to the USA #academicsky #devpsyc #psycsky
CAUT strongly recommends that academic staff travel to the U.S. only if essential and necessary. In addition, CAUT recommends that academics who fall into the following categories exercise particular caution: Citizens or residents of a country identified in media reports as likely to be subject to a travel ban Citizens or residents of a country where there are diplomatic tensions with the U.S. Travellers with passport stamps evidencing recent travel to countries that may be subject to a travel ban or where there are diplomatic tensions with the U.S. Those who have expressed negative opinions about the current U.S. administration or its policies Those whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration Travellers who identify as transgender or whose travel documents indicate a sex other than their sex assigned at birth
April 15, 2025 at 2:36 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
USA update: Get out now. The first amendment is gone, & Trump said on video today that home-growns are next for being sent to foreign prisons.

If you are looking for the moment to grab your go bag, this is it.
Screen shot of Aaron Rupar's coverage of Stephen Miller. Miller said on April 14, 2025 that anyone who preaches hate for America [will be deported] Screen shot of Aaron Rupar's coverage of Trump saying "homegrowns are next."
April 14, 2025 at 9:37 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
Passover starts tomorrow and my favourite part is the gefilte fish. It just finished boiling and it smells so good.

It's pickled herring I think? It's amazing. #passover #pesach #jewish
Two logs of gefilte fish with carrots on a plate.
April 12, 2025 at 4:38 AM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
My subscription to Ice Warriors just arrived!! It's a new magazine about women's hockey made in Whitby, Ontario. I'm excited to dive in and start reading. #hockey #pwhl
The fall and winter covers of Ice Warriors magazine with Taylor Heise and Sarah Nurse.
April 8, 2025 at 10:54 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
I didn't hear about the April 5th protests until April 5th. So the fact that I'm seeing promotional materials for the April 19th protests in advance could mean that the crowds have the potential to be bigger.
Next Nationwide Protest April 19th
April 8, 2025 at 1:51 PM
kathmhughes.bsky.social
I am so happy that #TheSims chose today to release a new #pride collection. I love this representation - commitment to inclusivity in gaming. #thesims4
A selection of in-game items such as socks, shorts, and button up shirts available in different pride palettes.
April 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM