Strike costs Conestoga College students a week of vacation

Due to lost class time from the college teachers strike students at Conestoga College are losing a week of their break over Christmas.

A message from Barbara Kelly, the school's vice president of academics, published Nov. 2 said the semester has now been extended until Dec. 22 at 9:00 p.m.

The original 2017/2018 school calendar had the last day of instruction as Dec.15, with no classes between Dec.18 and Jan. 3, with apprenticeship programs returning on Jan. 2.

"Although we do not know at this time when the strike will end, Conestoga is committed to making sure that students have the opportunity to complete their semester and academic year," wrote Kelly, in her note to students. 

"At this time, it is clear that the week of Dec. 18 to 22, 2017 will be required to make up class time lost during the strike. Classes, test or exams may be held during that period. Deadlines for assignments and coursework may also be scheduled during that week."

The school said it will make accommodations for students who had booked trips prior to Oct. 16th.

Aimee Calma, President of Conestoga Students Incorporated and a Director of the College Student Alliance said the extension is discouraging. 

"To see the semester shuffled in this way is frustrating, it's disheartening for students," said Calma.

"But in the end if it means that they're getting their diplomas on time and they can move onto their next semester on time, that's a good thing."

The faculty strike involves more than 12,000 Ontario college professors, instructors, counsellors and librarians, and has affected 500,000 students across the province.

Striking faculty and the council representing Ontario's 24 colleges resumed talks on Thursday at the request of the mediator, said Advanced Education Minister Deb Matthews Thursday.