Evan Li
| Evan Li | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 21, 2008 Lethbridge, Alberta |
| 🎓 Alma mater | Sir Winston Churchill High School |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| 📆 Years active | September 2025 – present |
| Known for | Student activism |
| Movement | Youth rights, empowerment |
Evan Li is a Canadian youth activist from the province of Alberta. He is best known for his advocacy for public education and student voices during the 2025 Alberta teachers' strike. He gained national attention in late September 2025, at age 17, after his microphone was cut during the Q&A session at the Calgary session of Premier Danielle Smith’s Alberta Next panel, where politician Bruce McAllister's public berating of Li drew widespread criticism. The controversy elevated young voices in Alberta politics.
Personal life
Li is originally from the city of Lethbridge. As of 2025, he is in Grade 12 studying the full IB Diploma Programme at Sir Winston Churchill High School set to graduate concurrently with the provincial diploma curriculum, in the public school system of Calgary.[1]
Incident at Alberta Next panel
On September 29, 2025, Li attended the Alberta Next Panel town hall in Calgary alongside high school friends who had participated in Model United Nations conferences and were politically informed. He was attempting to ask a critical question on the province's funding of private schools when the microphone was abruptly cut.[1][2][3] Li included the statistic that 89.5% of Alberta public teachers had voted to strike, and his microphone was turned off by the Panel 14 seconds in.[4] Moderator of the Panel and Executive Director of the governing United Conservative Party, Bruce McAllister, then proceeded to publicly shame and berate Li, claiming he was not making any sense. In particular, McAllister's statement that "Your parents should turn you over your knee" sparked widespread outrage in the crowd and the Alberta Next Panel livestream clip went viral on social media platforms across Canada.[2][5]
McAllister issued an apology on X the next day in response to a subsequent uproar of backlash.[6][7] Li has conveyed through news interviews and social media the desire for further action, including a more personal apology directed towards him or his parents.[8] Leader of the Official Opposition and the Alberta New Democratic Party, Naheed Nenshi, criticized the government's handling of the overall situation.[1][9] He hosted an online livestream alongside Li, offering him an opportunity to elaborate on his original question, discussing his experience at the Calgary town hall and general activism among student youth in their province.[10][11] When asked about the incident at a press conference a day after the Panel, Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith recognized McAllister's offensive comment, however believed the matter was closed.[2][12] The events Li faced have been viewed as largely representative of many who attended AB Next town halls and also asked related questions regarding political decisions.[11][13]
Youth advocacy
Following the Alberta Next incident and throughout the province-wide teachers' strike that began a week afterwards on October 6th 2025, Li established himself as an advocate for youth voices, with a focus on public education students.[1] His work mainly consists of social media outreach on Instagram and further interviews, including meetings with political officials from the provincial and federal governments.[8][10][14] Li appeared on various podcasts, one alongside a group of students across Alberta affected by the strike. Some onlookers have commented doubts on the extent of Li's claim of nonpartisanship in his ongoing activism.[15][16] Li gave major speeches at multiple Alberta Teachers' Association rallies for publicly funded schooling in both Calgary and Edmonton, in addresses to the crowd while representing students.[17] He has expressed gratitude for all his supporters and continues to initiate advocacy at regular intervals as of December 2025.[8][12] Li currently serves on Corey Hogan's (Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation) Youth Advisory Council.[18] He has not announced any goals to run for political office in the future yet.[1]
Lock in Alberta tutoring organization
During the teachers' strike, Li co-founded a free tutoring service in order to aid in mitigating the adverse impacts of labour action on youth learning, facilitated by a team of IB student volunteers in high school. The daily classes, hosted on Discord, had more than 650 Albertan participants in the third week.[19][20]
October 2025 Alberta student rallies and walkouts
Li attended several rallies led by youth in support of their teachers throughout the strike, and has alluded to the impacts of his story on the voices and political interests of his younger generation.[12][21] One rally for public education on October 21 at the intersection of Centre Street and 16th Avenue (Trans-Canada Highway) with visiting MLAs was principally coordinated by Li.[22]
As a result of the passing of Back to School Act (Bill 2) and its associated invocation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom's notwithstanding clause, thousands of students across approximately eighty middle and high schools walked out of classes at 11:00AM on October 30, 2025.[23][24][25]
Many rallies and walkouts were arranged with the help of various province-wide grassroots youth advocacy groups that were formed in mid-October, including Alberta Students for Teachers, student athlete bodies, and the Alberta Students' Association.[23] Li did not directly organize specific walkouts, however played a significant role in the dissemination of their information, and those in attendance cited his advocacy as a contributing factor to their motivations.[26] His work, along with an online petition to make diploma examinations optional due to loss of classroom instructional time, eventually caused the cancellation of the January 2026 session.[11][27][28]. Li has stated that he believes the UCP government's actions, specifically his experiences with dismissal of youth voices and their use of the notwithstanding clause in legislation, directly brought about rallies and school walkouts.[29][30] Other students have shared similar opinions, with some viewing Li among their inspirations, echoing non-affiliation to political parties by emphasizing the fully student-led nature of the Alberta youth movement.[31][32][33][34][35][36][excessive citations]
Further advocacy
Social media technology has been maintained as the primary method of Li's involvement in politics, which blend informational content with calls for change.[37] With central themes of education and youth empowerment, among his posts are commentaries on transgender youth policies in Alberta, and implications of the national Budget 2025 on young Canadians.[38] On January 10, 2026, Li attended and spoke at the Calgary town hall of the Province-wide Day of Action for Public Education.[39]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Dekuyper, Devon (October 2, 2025). "Kids are all right — teen who went viral at Alberta Next panel vows to use platform for good". The Calgary Herald. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Zapata, Karina (September 30, 2025). "Premier's office staffer apologizes for remark he made to teen at Alberta Next panel". CBC News. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Kaufmann, Bill (September 29, 2025). "Premier encounters friendly Calgary audience, some passionate dissent at final Alberta Next in-person town hall". The Calgary Herald. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Scace, Matthew (September 30, 2025). "Smith's Alberta Next panel closes out tour in tense Calgary town hall". CTV News. Retrieved 2025-12-26. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Howey, Alexander (October 20, 2025). "High school student's microphone cut during Alberta Next town hall". The Gauntlet. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ↑ Farrell, Jack (September 30, 2025). "Moderator on Smith's Alberta Next panel sorry for saying teen should be spanked". Global News. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ↑ The Canadian Press (October 2, 2025). "Moderator on Smith's Alberta Next panel sorry for saying teen should be spanked". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Li, Evan (September 30, 2025). "@evan.for.alberta". Instagram (Verified account). Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ↑ Farrell, Jack (September 30, 2025). "Le modérateur du panel Alberta Next s'excuse pour sa remarque sur la fessée". L’actualité (in français). Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Alberta's New Democrats Stand with Teachers, Parents, and Students". Alberta's NDP. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "'Deeply disappointed': Calgary student cut off during Alberta Next Panel speaks out". CityNews. October 1, 2025. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Fikowski, Teri (October 2, 2025). "Calgary student told he needed to be 'spanked' hopes comments will spark change". CTV News. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ↑ Climenhaga, David (December 22, 2025). "Danielle Smith's Alberta Next Panel Report Lands with a Whimper". The Tyee. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ↑ Irwin, Janice (October 7, 2025). "@janis.irwin and @evan.for.alberta". Instagram (Verified account). Retrieved 2025-12-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Pike, Nate (October 12, 2025). "Episode 7.35 - Alberta's Students Speak Out!". The Breakdown (Podcast). Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
- ↑ Jespersen, Ryan (October 29, 2025). "Alberta Teachers Head Back to Class "Demoralized"". Real Talk Ryan Jespersen (Podcast). Apple Podcasts. Segment occurs at 39:08. Retrieved 2025-12-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Coco, Bella (October 7, 2025). "Teachers protest downtown Calgary ahead of largest teachers' strike in Alberta history". Calgary Journal. Retrieved December 26, 2025. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Hogan, Corey (November 23, 2025). "@cmjhogan". Instagram. Retrieved December 26, 2025. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Thomas, Stephanie (October 15, 2025). "Province and teachers far from deal | CTV News Calgary at 11:30". CTV News. 2:36 - 2:59. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Peters, Skylar (October 16, 2025). "Global News at 6 Calgary: Oct. 16". Global News. 9:51 - 10:28. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
- ↑ Carpenter, Elissa (October 9, 2025). "Global News at 6 Calgary: Oct. 9". Global News. 4:21 - 7:11. Retrieved 2025-12-28. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Fleming, Kevin (October 21, 2025). "Calgary has a new mayor-elect in a very close race | CTV News Calgary at Six". CTV News. 16:33 - 18:35.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Said, Amir (October 30, 2025). "Calgary students among thousands across Alberta taking part in provincewide walkout". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
- ↑ Desai, Devika (October 30, 2025). "'We have to stand up': Students across Calgary walk out in support of their teachers". The Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
- ↑ Angela, Amato (October 30, 2025). "Students across Alberta show support for teachers in walkout". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
- ↑ Li, Evan (November 3, 2025). "@evan.for.alberta". Instagram (Verified account). Retrieved 2025-12-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Cobb, Meghan; MacGillivray, Ken. "Calgary students stage walkouts, protests over impact of looming teachers' strike". Global News. Retrieved 2025-12-28. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Bellefontaine, Michelle (October 31, 2025). "Alberta cancels January provincial exams due to time lost during teachers strike". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-12-28. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Toombs, Aryn (October 6, 2025). "Tens of thousands of teachers rally across province ahead of strike". LiveWire Calgary. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ↑ "Alberta students cut class, rally for teachers in strike-bill dispute". CityNews Calgary. The Canadian Press. October 30, 2025.
- ↑ Brayshaw, Kaiden (October 31, 2025). "Students Calgary-wide walkout in support of their teachers". LiveWire Calgary.
- ↑ DePatie, Mason; Thomas, Stephanie (October 30, 2025). "Calgary students join provincewide walkout backing teachers". CTV News. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ↑ Zhao, Emma (October 30, 2025). "Students Calgary-wide walkout in support of their teachers". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-12-28. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ MacGillivray, Ken; Momney, Craig (November 3, 2025). "Calgary university students stage walkout in support of Alberta teachers". Global News. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ↑ Steven, Sandor (October 30, 2025). "'We're packed like sardines': Students walk out of their classes in support of Alberta teachers". The Edmonton Journal.
- ↑ Farrell, Jack; Johnson, Lisa (October 30, 2025). "Alberta students walk out of class in support of teachers forced back to work". Global News. The Canadian Press.
- ↑ Scace, Matthew (October 9, 2025). "Alberta private-school funding under fresh scrutiny amid historic teachers' strike". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2025-12-28. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Li, Evan (November 7, 2025). "@evan.for.alberta". Instagram (Verified account). Retrieved 2025-12-28. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Fleming, Kevin (January 10, 2026). "Public education town halls in Calgary, across Alberta". CTV News. Retrieved 2026-01-11. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
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