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Edmonton Elks organize free camp for high school football players sidelined by strike

On Oct. 8, 2025, the CFL's Edmonton Elks organised a camp to give high school football players sidelined by the Alberta teachers strike practice opportunities in Edmonton.
The Alberta teachers strike entered Day 3 on Wednesday, pausing high school sports and closing 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools affecting 740,000 students Monday.
Ryan Brower said the 125 available slots filled within hours, with 90 student athletes waiting for six practice days coached by Elks players and Football Alberta, and Brower said `It just goes to show the passion people have`.
Tim Enger said most high school leagues cancelled this week's games, including the annual Notre Dame and St. Francis match at Calgary Stampeders' McMahon Stadium.
The strike began after teachers overwhelmingly rejected the government's latest offer, which included a 12 per cent wage increase over four years and hiring 3,000 teachers, while Jason Schilling criticised stagnant salaries and overcrowding and Premier Danielle Smith defended the proposal as fair.

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