February 1880: Three years following the adoption of the Public School Act of Prince Edward Island, one hundred and thirty-eight teachers gathered at Upper Prince Street School to form the Teachers' Association of Prince Edward Island.
At the organizational meeting, Mr. D. Montgomery, Superintendent of Education, occupied the presidential chair and Mr. J.D. Seaman, Principal of Prince Street School acted as secretary.
1885: This new association was incorporated by an Act of the Legislature.
1903: Efforts to change the association to a federation were made at the annual convention, however, this change did not occur.
Major Milestones
1920: Marked the change of the Teachers' Association of Prince Edward Island to the Prince Edward Island Teachers' Union - an effort to unite to obtain improved working conditions.
1924: The union dissolved, and the Prince Edward Island Teachers' Federation came into existence - a time when the total teacher population in the Province was 612.
1945: Marked the Act of Incorporation for the new Federation.
1947: The first office was established in the Saunders Building on Prince Street in Charlottetown.
1949: Marked the provision for sick leave.
1961: The Grafton Street Office was purchased in the spring.
1972: The first collective agreement for the province was signed.
1974: Federation House, the current offices, were opened in Southport.
1980: The Federation celebrated its "Centennial Year".
1986: The Federation made provisions for the presidency to be held on a full-time basis.
2011: The President's term was extended, and a Deputy General Secretary was added to the staff.
Additional Achievements
1897: An attempt to establish an interprovincial Association for the Maritime Provinces was made but was unsuccessful.
1915: The first organizational publication, The Teachers' Magazine, was launched with Mr. J.D. Seaman as editor.
1924: PEITF affiliated with the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF).
CTF Annual Meetings were hosted by the Federation in 1926, 1951, 1962, 1973, 1987, and 2000.
1929: A teachers' strike was held for higher salaries.
1945: The first PEITF Newsletter was published.
1950: The Federation was instrumental in the establishment of summer school for teachers.
1964: A group disability insurance plan was developed.
