Non-Academic Staff Association - NASA

09/04/2026

An op-ed warning of the risks posed by the October 19 referendum to the future of the University of Alberta was published in the September 4 edition of the Edmonton Journal.

Jointly written by NASA President Quinn Benders and the presidents of the AASUA, Postdoctoral Fellows Association, and Graduate Students’ Association, the column warns that "All Albertans should be concerned about U of A's future if Alberta separates."

Facebook doesn't allow sharing of links to news articles in Canada, but you can read the full column on the Edmonton Journal website.

09/03/2026

On October 19, Albertans will vote on 10 referendum questions impacting immigration, public services, schools, and the province’s constitutional role.

Attend Public Interest Alberta's Edmonton campaign launch event to learn about the issues and make an informed plan to vote.

Thursday, September 3 | 6:30 PM
Beverly Heights Community League
4209 111 Ave NW

Learn more about the referendum questions, RSVP to attend the campaign launch, and prepare before you vote at https://www.albertareferendum2026.org/

Your voice matters. Be informed. Be ready. Vote.

09/02/2026

Great to see so many members at the NASA tent during Week of Welcome this morning!

We'll be there again on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4 from 7:30-10:30 am near the bus loop in front of St. Joseph's College.

Stop by for a coffee and a chat and pick up some NASA swag!

08/31/2026

With students and NASA members returning to campus for the fall semester, we'll once again have the NASA tent set up for Week of Welcome!

Stop by for a coffee and chat about whatever is on your mind with NASA President Quinn Benders, Internal Organizer Fathiya Wais, and your fellow NASA members.

Free coffee and NASA swag will be available!

Dates: September 2, 3, and 4
Time: 7:30 am - 10:30 am
Location: Near the bus loop in front of St. Joseph's College

07/13/2026

For the third year in a row, NASA is proud to support the critical work of the Campus Food Bank's Community Pantry through its adopt-a-week program from July 13-17.

NASA is still accepting donations of cash, e-transfer, and non-perishable food items to help stock the pantry all week.

NASA members who donate $10 or more will be entered into a draw for a NASA jacket and coffee card.

You can contribute by:

- sending an e-transfer to [email protected]. To be eligible for the draw, please provide your full name and email address in the message field of your e-transfer.

- dropping off your donation at the NASA office (1200 College Plaza) until Thursday, July 16. The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-4:00 pm.

Thanks to the many NASA members who have already donated to support our adoption of the pantry!

You can learn more about the Community Pantry at https://uofapantry.com/

07/09/2026

Thanks to everyone who made it out yesterday for our first-ever NASA Lunch!

About 1,500 members joined us and generously donated five bins of non-perishable food and almost $350 to support the Campus Food Bank's Community Pantry. You can still donate to support

A special shoutout to the NASA Membership Services Committee and the many members who volunteered to make the lunch happen!

You can still donate to support NASA's July 13-17 adopt-a-week of the Campus Food Bank's Community Pantry at nasaunion.ca/pantry

06/24/2026

Did you miss NASA's recent presentation by Ron Byers of
Rainbow Story Hub on the history of Edmonton's 2SLGBTQIA+ community? You can now listen to Ron's talk on CJSR's latest "Brains on Campus."

Picking the brain of Edmonton historian Ron Byers on why it's vital to keep q***r legacies alive and build on them in Edmonton and beyond.*He spoke at a 2026 Pride Month event at the University of Alberta, organized by the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

06/17/2026

NASA members: a reminder that the deadline to RSVP for the first-ever NASA Lunch is this Friday, June 19!

You can RSVP at nasaunion.ca/nasa-lunch

To ensure all your colleagues can attend, please invite non-members to sign up and RSVP before the deadline, as late or on-site sign-ups cannot be accepted.

The NASA Lunch will take place in the Main Quad of North Campus on Wednesday, July 8 from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm.

We hope to see you there!

06/10/2026

Thanks to Ron Byers of Rainbow Story Hub for sharing the rich and fascinating history of Edmonton's 2SLGBTQIA+ community with us today!

If you couldn't make it, our campus colleagues at CJSR 88.5 were there to record Ron's talk, which will be broadcast on a future "Brains on Campus" segment.

Pride Month continues in Edmonton through June. See upcoming events:
prideedmonton.ca/events/

On campus, be sure to check out Indigenous Peoples and Pride Day Celebration on June 18:
ualberta.ca/en/events/native-studies/indigenous-people-pride-native-studies

06/08/2026

To mark Pride Month in Edmonton, the NASA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Committee invites you to a special presentation, Capturing and Sharing Q***r History, featuring Ron Byers.

Wednesday, June 10 | Noon - 1:00 pm
Cascade Room, Lower Level, Students' Union Building (SUB)

This presentation will highlight the early work of Darrin Hagen (University of Alberta's 2019 Writer in Residence and 2024 Lee Playwright in Residence) and contributions from the Edmonton Q***r History Project, Rainbow Story Hub, City Archives, and the Royal Alberta Museum. Key topics will include:

- The history of pronouns and Pride flags.
- LGBTQ+ rights timelines in Alberta.
- An explanation of 2SLGBTQIA+ acronyms.
- Notable milestones in Canadian q***r history.
- The impact of HIV/AIDS in Edmonton.

Lunch will be provided to NASA members who RSVP their attendance in advance at: nasaunion.ca/capturing-and-sharing-q***r-history

About Ron Byers

Ron Byers, 71, is a longtime advocate, storyteller, and leader within Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community, with more than 55 years of dedicated involvement.