Alberta’s Education Minister faces calls to retract and apologise for a holiday message that went beyond a simple seasonal greeting and ventured into religious advocacy. In an open letter, the Rocky Mountain Atheists argue that official government communications should remain inclusive and neutral, especially in a province as diverse as Alberta. We stress that this isn’t about opposing Christmas but about ensuring public institutions respect all families—religious and non-religious alike. The letter urges the Ministry to recommit to secular values and to focus on shared principles like community, kindness, and learning that unite, rather than divide, Albertans.
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Here is the full RMA letter:
Dear Minister Nicolaides,
We are writing to express our concern regarding your recent holiday message distributed to parents across Alberta’s public education system.
While we appreciate acknowledgements of families’ efforts and the government’s stated commitment to education, we are concerned that the letter contains extensive religious language and explicitly promotes a single faith tradition. References to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Incarnation, and the nativity go beyond mere seasonal greetings and instead convey a distinctly Christian message.
Alberta’s public education system serves families from a wide range of religious backgrounds, as well as those who identify as non-religious. Communications from a provincial minister, issued in an official capacity, should reflect this diversity and maintain religious neutrality. When government messages privilege one belief system, even unintentionally, they risk alienating families who do not share that faith and undermining the principle of state neutrality in matters of religion.
This concern is not about opposing Christmas or denying the cultural significance many Albertans associate with it. Rather, it is about ensuring that official communications from public institutions are inclusive and respectful of all families, regardless of belief. Many governments address this balance by offering secular seasonal greetings that focus on shared civic values such as community, kindness, learning, and care for children.
We respectfully ask the Ministry of Education and Childcare to retract and apologize for the holiday letter, and to adhere to this standard of inclusivity and neutrality in the future. Doing so would affirm that all families in Alberta’s public education system are equally recognized and respected.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Atheist Society