A partnership between parents and school boards has existed in Calgary since 1913. An umbrella group for parents was first established in 1922, and evolved over time to become CAPSC.
- In 1913, former teacher Alice M. Curtis formed the Connaught Mother’s Club and Art League. This was the first home and school association in Western Canada. Alice went on to help establish similar groups throughout the city. In 1922, she became the first president of the City Federation of Home and School Associations.
- By 1929, home and school organizations had spread throughout the province. The Alberta Federation of Home and School Associations was organized as a provincial body. (In 1991, the name changed to the Alberta Home and School Councils Association.)
- In 1938, the City Federation of Home and School Associations was renamed the Calgary Council of Home and School Association. Alice M. Curtis was still associated with the group until 1943, and eventually had an elementary school named after her.
- In the early 1980s, the Calgary Council of Home and School Association was granted a permanent seat at all public Board of Trustee meetings.
- In 2001, the Calgary organization redefined its relationship with the provincial body. Calgary’s Council of Home and School Association had been an area council of the Alberta Home and School Councils Association for approximately twenty years. In September 2001, the relationship was formally dissolved, and the Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils (CAPSC) was established. CAPSC was incorporated under the Societies Act and as such became a separate legal entity.
- In the autumn of 2014, CAPSC became fully independent. At that time, our membership voted overwhelmingly in support of continuing to represent an independent school parent voice in Calgary. CAPSC is now a resource for all Calgary parents and school councils, including public, separate, charter and private organizations. The meeting and survey results serve as a road map for our current actions.
In Calgary, parents have access to several organizations that work to improve education. Learn more about the roles of CAPSC, CoSC and ASCA in supporting parents and school councils.