Virtual Town Hall: Hands Off Our Schools on Tuesday, February 17 at 7:00pm @ Heron Road Community Centre

From Ontario NDP: "Doug Ford’s government has stepped in to take over more school boards using powers expanded under Bill 33. Instead of addressing chronic underfunding, the province is centralizing control at Queen’s Park and cutting local communities out of decisions about their own schools.

These takeovers don’t fix the real problems facing education. They shift blame, reduce transparency, and weaken local governance while student supports, staffing, and services remain under pressure.

We'll be hosting an in-person townhall at Heron Road Community Centre on February 17th at 7:00pm so that ONDP MPP and Education Critic Chandra Pasma can hear from parents, students, and educators about the crisis in our schools. 

If you care about well-funded schools and democratic local oversight, this conversation is for you. Please share this invite in your local parents' group, with others in your school community, family members, and friends."

RSVP: https://www.ontariondp.ca/education-emergency-townhall-in-ottawa 

Virtual Town Hall: Hands Off Our Schools on Monday, February 9 at 7:00pm ET

The province has taken over 7 school boards (and put another on notice) using new powers under Bill 33. Ontario NDP is hosting a virtual town hall to break down what these takeovers mean, how they affect local governance, and how ongoing underfunding impacts students, staff, and communities.

Topics include:

• What the latest school board takeovers actually change

• How Bill 33 expanded ministerial power over school boards

• Why underfunding is being reframed as a governance issue

• What parents, students, educators, and communitites can do now

• How this fits into the broader fight to properly fund public education

RSVP: https://bit.ly/4tdv1CB

Be involved this bargaining year!

Our current Collective Agreement expires at the end of August 2026, and you should have received notice that the provincial OSSTF is preparing for central bargaining. Our local bargaining unit, D25 OTBU, is preparing for local bargaining, where we sit at the table with the OCDSB to discuss the terms of our employment. During these town hall meetings, we will be talking about how the bargaining process works. We need your input! 

The OCDSB is also piloting an LTO pool placement process for secondary occasional teachers that is similar to what has been in place for the elementary panel. Many of you may have questions and concerns that will be addressed in these townhalls.

Please RSVP to receive an invite link to the virtual meeting. We have two options scheduled: 

1. January 12th @ 7-8 p.m.

2. January 14th @ 5-6 p.m.

*You are not required to stay for the full hour.

Click here for the Google Form.

Bill 33 passed into law last week, making it easier for Education Minister Calandra to put more school boards under supervision, eliminating parent voices and making it easier to underfund Ontario schools. OSSTF District 25 members will join our elementary teacher colleagues in wearing #Red4Ed on the first Friday of each month.  We'll build solidarity within our worksites and across the country as we protect and enhance public education.  

OTBU members who are interested in political action, should contact Susan.Rab@d25.osstf.ca 

This union resource is for members that contains learning and actionable resources for each day from November 25th to December 10th. "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence" is an international campaign that aims to raise awareness, prevent, and end violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities by highlighting that gender-based violence is a human rights violation.

Click here for slideshow.

Calling all Black, Indigenous, and Racialized OTs and LTOs! Want to have a great evening, full of conversation, laughter, and great food, all for FREE?  Come join our Ottawa Carleton Elementary colleagues on December 4 at The Turkish Kebab House, 1910 Bank Street. You can sign up by clicking here, by contacting eunice.omahony@d25.osstf.ca, or by simply dropping in! Let's make our communities strong in Ottawa! 

The Student Support Professionals Bargaining Unit (SSP), which represents our EAs and ECEs, are hosting a holiday market for the District 25 OSSTF members!

Are you a maker, crafter or have a side hustle? Be a vendor for the SSP holiday market. There is NO table cost! Your children are also welcome to be vendors!

Register Here!

The market will run from 10am to 3pm at A.Y. Jackson Secondary School.

For more information, email Hannah.Metcalfe@d25.osstf.ca 

You are invited to the joint OCETFO and OSSTF virtual movie night featuring "The Hate You Give". All movie night attendees will receive a copy of the book. This will be sent to you after the movie, through board mail. 

If you choose to attend only the book club, you may submit your book receipt for reimbursement. 

Sign up for the series Ignite Your Impact. 

Ignite Your Impact is hosted by the OC ETFO Human Rights Committee. Please contact Anuka Dey (anuka.dey@ocdsb.ca) for additional information.

Join your OSSTF District 25 colleagues for some bowling fun and the sharing of important information about our bargaining year! There will also be free food + Union SWAG! 

There are three date options! Please RSVP at least a week before the event date you choose so we have time to make changes to the number of lane reservations. RSVP Here!

If you have any questions about this event, please email jiwon.bae@d25.osstf.ca

Join your OSSTF District 25 colleagues for a relaxing evening of painting, socializing and free dinner + Union SWAG. A local artist will be coming in to teach us, so beginner painters are more than welcome! We will also share important information about our bargaining year. 

There are two date options! Please RSVP at least a week before the event date you choose so we can let the instructor know how many materials to have ready. There is a maximum of 60 spots for each date, and spots will be given in the order of RSVP submissions. RSVP Here!

If you have any questions about this event, please email jiwon.bae@d25.osstf.ca

Members should receive information on the provincial bargaining survey released on September 22nd. If you are new to OSSTF, make sure you provide your contact information through this link. 

Looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday morning? On November 1, from 10:30 -12PM, the Equity, Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression Committee will host a Medicine Bag making workshop by Marc Forgette, a French Algonquin member of the Apitipi Anicinapek Nation. His company Makatew Workshops will conduct a crafting and learning session at 9 Corvus Court in a good way. This event is open to only 30 members on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration for the event will close on October 27 at 5:00PM. A light lunch will be served after the workshop.

Sign up here!

Welcome to the new school year! Are you wondering what it means to be part of the OSSTF OTBU? Join us on October 6th or 7th at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm to learn about your membership, as well as some tips for a successful school year. Please choose which day you would like to attend.

Registration Link: Google Form to Register

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - formerly known as Orange Shirt Day. We encourage members to reflect on their learning and unlearning as they work toward understanding the legacy of Residential Schools and its deep and enduring impact on Indigenous peoples and their ways of being and doing. APTN (Aboriginals Peoples Television Network) will be featuring documentaries and webinars throughout the week leading to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

Image (click for larger view): Giant Tiger has again partnered with two-spirit Ojibwe artist Patrick Hunter to offer affordable and family-sized shirts in support of  Indspire! an investment in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth. 

Join a virtual panel discussion to explore the important role of school board trustees and how to protect Ontario schools from Bill 33. This event is open to all: Educators, Parents, and Community members. Please register to receive the link to the virtual (Zoom) meeting.

Registration Link: Google Form to register