In a historic vote on March 16, 2026 at their 2026 annual meeting BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) passed a motion in support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS). We, the Canadian BDS Coalition and International BDS Allies, congratulate BCTF and more importantly the campaigners and teachers whose work achieved this victory.
Below is the press release from the BCTF AGM Delegates in Support of BDS:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE: BC TEACHER’S UNION PASSES MOTION IN SUPPORT OF BOYCOTT, DIVEST & SANCTIONS MOVEMENT
March 16, 2026 (Vancouver, Unceded xwmalkwavam, Skwxwú7mesh, salilwatat territories). In a historic vote at the BC Teachers’ Federation’s (BCTF) 2026 Annual General Meeting, teachers from across British Columbia passed a motion in support of the Boycott, Divest & Sanctions movement in solidarity with Palestine. Individual motions were submitted by 10 locals of the BCTF. Speaking in support of the motion, Palestinian educator Khaled Shawwash said:
I stand before you envisioning another universe…I envision a universe in which children of all faiths-including Muslim, Jewish, Christian-can laugh and play along the shore of Gaza, underneath not the deafening hum of drones, but the songs of the Palestinian sunbirds. Sadly, this is not the universe we are in, but it is one that we can help make possible.
This is the first province wide motion to support boycott, divestment and sanctions in relation to Palestine, despite the BCTF’s history of supporting international struggles for justice, including the boycott campaign against South Africa in the 1980’s. It follows the adoption of other motions in support of Palestinian human rights including a $50,000 donation to UNRWA and endorsement of the Arms Embargo Now campaign.
Teachers at the meeting wore buttons with the slogans “BDS Saves Lives” and “BDS Saves Kids”, recognizing the especially high death toll of children in Gaza, as well as the impact of the Israeli bombing campaign on schools and universities. The motion was supported by Indigenous teachers, who spoke to the similarities between the treatment of Indigenous peoples in Canada and Palestinians in their homeland. Indigenous teacher Carol Arnold said to the delegation:
I want to express solidarity and add our Indigenous voices loud and clear to support Palestinians who, like us who are victimized by settler colonialism. We are grateful to the Haida Gwaii delegates who crafted such a comprehensive resolution, including the defence of teachers who are threatened about teaching the truth about what is happening in the Middle East.
BCTF AGM Delegates in Support of BDS is an ad-hoc group of educators from across British Columbia who share a commitment to the use of non-violent strategies to support Palestinian human rights, including the support of the Boycott, Divest & Sanctions movement.