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smaller classes BIG DIFFERENCE
For years, educators have called for smaller class sizes that better support student learning. In 2026, ETFO is bringing this fight back to the bargaining table with renewed urgency and collective strength.
In the coming months, you’ll see ETFO’s smaller classes, BIG DIFFERENCE campaign everywhere.
- TV ads
- Billboards
- A refreshed etfocb.ca website
- Social media
- Podcasts
Keep an eye out, and check out etfocb.ca for more information. Together, we make a BIG DIFFERENCE!
The time is now! Fill out the ETFO collective bargaining goal-setting survey
There is still time to complete ETFO’s brief survey to help shape
our priorities at the bargaining table. Your voice is important to us. Please take a few minutes to share what’s most important to you.
The survey has been sent to you by email. If you haven’t received a survey link, email us at cbsurvey@etfo.org.
ETFO responds to Ford government’s egregious overreach, forced return of police in schools
ETFO strongly opposes the Ford government’s latest legislative proposal that grants the Minister of Education additional powers to more easily place elected school boards under supervision and that forces the presence of police officers in schools. This is not education reform; it’s authoritarianism cloaked in the language of accountability, designed to deflect blame, suppress dissenting voices, and tighten political control over a public education system this government has failed to adequately fund.
The proposed changes would expand the minister’s authority to initiate investigations and place boards under direct provincial supervision, taking power from democratically elected trustees and replacing community decision-making with directives from Queen’s Park. At the same time, the legislation would force school boards to introduce or reintroduce School Resource Officer (SRO) programs despite their well-documented harm, particularly to Black, Indigenous, and other racialized students.
ETFO will not stand for a government that attacks democracy, erases progress on equity, and undermines public education. We call on the PC government to reconsider this undemocratic legislation immediately and urge all Ontarians to stand up for local democracy, equity and inclusion, and the rights of students and educators to learn and work in safe and supportive environments that are free from unnecessary policing. The solution is meaningful, adequate investment.
Pride and Solidarity, ETFO celebrates Pride Month
This year’s theme of Pride and Solidarity refers not only to the togetherness and connection present within 2SLBGTQ+ communities, but also to the influence and strength within labour organizations to mobilize for continued change. ETFO and others within the labour movement must work collectively to affirm that 2SLGBTQ+ rights are human rights.
The erasure of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in jurisdictions across Canada through regressive policies and legislation is deeply concerning. Every person deserves to feel valued, respected, and supported for who they are, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. The Federation is proud to engage in this work within communities throughout the year and to support all ETFO locals in doing the same.
Many Pride events offer a variety of activities for participation by ETFO locals, equity and social justice clubs, and committees. You can also apply to volunteer during Pride Toronto ETFO events.
Visit etfo.ca for a poster detailing Pride event dates across Ontario. Let’s celebrate the power of our diversity and the strength of unity!
New webcast to support students with autism spectrum disorder
ETFO has just released a new webcast to accompany Special
Education Needs in the Regular Classroom: Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The webcast builds on information from the resource and provides guidance to teachers about the progression of supports leading to the creation of alternative expectations for a student’s Individual Education Plan.
Watch the webcast on YouTube or on members.etfo.ca.
Professional Judgement Matters series
Do you want to know more about how you can use your professional judgement on grades 1 to 8 report cards or Kindergarten Communication of Learning reports?
Be sure to check out the following resources from our Professional Judgement Matters series:
Stand Up for Canada: Action on U.S. Tariffs
We stand together against tariffs
As the United States announces more tariffs, and layoffs and closures continue across Ontario, ETFO members, students, and families are experiencing stresses at home and in the classroom. Staying informed of the latest developments can be a challenge, but the Government of Canada regularly updates the information on tariffs on its web page outlining Canada’s response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
With the school year soon coming to a close, ETFO members may be joining many other Canadians in taking their holidays at home in Canada. In April, there was a 35 per cent decline in vehicle travel to the U.S. If you’re planning to join in the “staycation” effort to holiday in Canada, you can find information on the top 20 destinations across Canada, as voted by CBC listeners.
Before you pack up your classroom for summer, consider connecting with parents and families in your school community, and where appropriate, provide information about resources that are available in your local community such as food banks or mental health supports to help those feeling the impact of the ongoing tariff challenges.
Celebrate Pride in your community
Pride is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate with those who identify as two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer, and to come together to support the ongoing fight against homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and the broad range of intersectional oppression experienced by members of the queer communities.
Many Pride events offer a variety of activities for participation by ETFO locals, Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), equity and social justice clubs, and committees.
View the ETFO Calendar of Pride Events (see the attached)
Read the ETFO statement for Pride Month.
See ETFO Resources
Central Bargaining Survey – Getting Ready for 2026
ETFO collective agreements expire on August 31, 2026, and ETFO is already preparing for the next round of bargaining.
To find out what’s important to members, ETFO has launched a province-wide bargaining survey. Links to complete the survey were sent to members from Strategic Communications (Stratcom) on May 5.
Members who did not receive a link should email cbsurvey@etfo.org. Encourage your colleagues to complete the survey today – we are stronger together!
ETFO AQ course registration – Summer 2025
ETFO AQ courses continue to offer focused, current, and practical courses built on a strong foundation of professional learning and community. Check with your board about any subsidies that might be available to you for AQ courses.
Posters:
Building a community of shared learning Math is Everywhere
Summer registration closes on June 17.
Courses begin on July 2, 2025. Visit etfo-aq.ca to register.
Promises Unfulfilled
ETFO’s new position paper, Promises Unfulfilled: Addressing the Special Education Crisis in Ontario, is a call to action that includes 27 recommendations for how to help fix a special education system that is failing Ontario’s children with disabilities and now includes a chapter summary series.
Please find the chapter summary series along with a poster enclosed to share with members. You can find the full report, executive summary and the chapter summary series on our website and take action at buildingbetterschools.ca.
Violence Prevention Checklists
Are there protections in place to keep you safe from being harmed by violent workplace incidents?
The ETFO Action on Violence Toolkit has three new checklists – for all ETFO members, for occasional/temporary/ itinerant ETFO members, and for ETFO health and safety representatives.
These checklists can be used to make sure you are protected, to get the information needed at the beginning of a temporary assignment, to conduct health and safety inspections, and to advocate at the joint health and safety committee.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Mitchell in Health and Safety Services at emitchell@etfo.org.
Summer Academy Registration is open!
Summer Academy offers 34 courses throughout July and August. A wide range of three-day courses are available.
Be sure to check out the Summer Academy website for more information and upcoming registration details. Member login is required to access the website.
For general inquiries and questions, please email sacademy@etfo.org.
Teaching Together 2026
Since 1962, Teaching Together (formerly Project Overseas) has assisted teacher organizations in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and the Caribbean. ETFO teacher members who are interested in applying are encouraged to visit the Teaching Together page on the ETFO member secure site for more information.
The 2026 application package and submission deadline will be posted in mid-August.
Education Week: Celebrating educators, demanding action for Ontario’s students
ETFO is celebrating Education Week, May 5 to 9, by recognizing the dedication and professionalism of Ontario’s public elementary educators who continue to deliver high-quality learning experiences in the face of growing challenges.
“Every day, ETFO members bring compassion, creativity, and a deep commitment to supporting student learning and well-being,” says ETFO President Karen Brown. “From teachers and occasional teachers to designated early childhood educators and education and professional support personnel, their contributions are the foundation of a strong public education system. But to maintain that strength, meaningful and adequate investment is essential.”
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia has been celebrated every year on May 17 since 2004.
May 17 was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
This day draws the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ people internationally.
Stand Up for Canada: Action on U.S. Tariffs
Supporting students and families during the current trade dispute
From the auto sector to the film industry, U.S. tariffs continue to cause uncertainty and hardship for workers across the country. With layoffs and shutdowns across Ontario, many students , parents, and educators are feeling the effects at home and at school.
Connect with parents and families in your school community to build understanding of how the ongoing trade dispute is affecting them, students, and the community at large. Where it is appropriate, provide information about resources available in your local community.
You can find a local food bank at feedontario.ca, and mental health resources are available through the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Government of Ontario’s Find Mental Health Support page, and from the Canadian Mental Health Association. Resources for ETFO members are available through Starling Minds.
Annual Awards Dinner – An Evening of Celebration
Wednesday June 18th, 2025
Annual Awards Dinner Flyer – PDF
Annual Awards Dinner Form – PDF
Local Annual Meeting
Local Annual Meeting Flyer – PDF
Proposed Amendments to the Constitution – PDF
Please login to the secure area of this website to view these documents.
Celebrate Black History Month!
Mois de L’Histoire des Noirs 2025: ADA, the 2025 ETFO Black History Month poster, offers a stunning visual that reflects the brilliance and resourcefulness of African Canadians.
The central image evokes traditional African mask-making practices in which ancestral faces are carved into wood. This mask, created with approximately 6,500 pieces of LEGO, features angular forms that add new, futuristic textures to the age-old practice.
The image honours trailblazer Ada Kelly Whitney of Windsor, the first Black person to teach in a publicly funded school in Ontario.
For more information, visit ETFO’s Black History Month page.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, an international memorial day that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide of European Jews by Nazi Germany.
January 27 was chosen in commemoration of the date that Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945.
December 6: The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women takes place every year on December 6.
We remember and name the 14 women killed in Montreal in 1989. The day is also about speaking out and taking action against gender-based violence and misogyny in all forms in our classrooms, schools, and communities.
From November 25 to December 10, we also recognize the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This day and campaign started in 1991 to call out and speak up on gender-based violence, and to renew our commitment to ending violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.
December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
In 1992, the United Nations designated December 3 the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Observed annually, this day acknowledges the contributions made by people with disabilities, raises awareness of disability as a lived experience, and identifies the actions needed to create an inclusive world.
This year, a book list was developed to facilitate awareness about increasing the representation of people with disabilities. Find the list on our website.
How much did Ford cut from your local schools?
The PC government has cut $1,500 in funding, per student, since 2018. What does that mean for the schools near you?
Building Better Schools has a new search tool that will show you just how much money is missing from your school because of the cuts.
Share the tool with anyone who needs to see the local impact of cuts. Use the social share buttons or print out a flyer with the local details.
CBC School Challenge: New classroom activity empowers students to address food insecurity
As part of CBC’s annual campaign Make the Season Kind, Daily Bread Food Bank, Feed Ontario, and food banks across the province have partnered with the ETFO to launch the CBC School Challenge.
This engaging challenge will not only spark meaningful conversations about social justice, poverty, and food access, but also empower students to think critically and creatively about real-world issues. Not only will students gain valuable knowledge, but your class will also have a chance to earn recognition for their hard work with three outstanding submissions selected per division. Sign up here!
Holocaust Education Week
Observed since 1982, Holocaust Education Week is an internationally recognized week honouring the survivors of the Holocaust and commemorating those murdered by the Nazis. The week is observed annually during the first week of November (November 4 – 10 in 2024).
In 1939, the MS St. Louis carried Jewish German passengers fleeing the Nazi state to Cuba, where most were denied entry. Under Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Canadian government chose not to admit the passengers to Canada, a decision rooted in a persistent climate of antisemitic exclusion.
For more information on the MS St. Louis, visit Antisemitism on etfo.ca.
Be part of ETFO’s 2024 Listening Tour meetings
ETFO is holding membership meetings across the province this fall. The Listening Tour is an opportunity for members to share your experiences in the workplace and discuss which issues are most important to you.
ETFO-YR’s meeting is November 19, 2024. See the flyer in the Steward email/mailing for location and time.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your fellow ETFO members and share your ideas.
Recognizing World Teachers’ Day on October 5
World Teachers’ Day is a time to acknowledge the invaluable work done by teachers daily in classrooms across the country.
As we honour their invaluable contributions and their critical role in supporting future leaders, ETFO also renews its commitment to ensuring that every teacher is supported, respected, and empowered to continue this vital work.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity for meaningful dialogue, reflection and education on the relationships of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It’s also a reminder of the Indigenous injustices and systemic inequities that persist today.
THERE IS SO MUCH FOR US TO CELEBRATE!
Nominate and Apply for an ETFO Award, Bursary or Scholarship!
Click here to view/download the flyer.
President’s Message
September offers us a new beginning and an opportunity to reset the collision course in Ontario politics. To kick start this year and the union’s political work to ensure the Ford government is replaced in the next election, ETFO’s president asks, “Are you ready to make a difference?!”
WATCH this video to hear from ETFO President Karen Brown.
Coming soon: Membership meetings this fall
During the fall, ETFO will be holding membership meetings across the province.
This will be an opportunity for members to share your experiences in the workplace and to discuss what issues are most important to you.
Additional information about these meetings will be provided in the coming weeks, stay tuned.
Women’s History Month Poster
October is Women’s History Month in Canada. This year’s poster celebrates women educators as union activists advocating for better working conditions and advancing women’s issues.
We continue to build on this history in our ongoing efforts to foster a diverse women’s movement in which all women belong.
ETFO / OTF Awards Committee Applications
ETFO members are invited to submit an application to apply to serve on the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) Awards Committee for a two-year term commencing September 1, 2024.
Each year, OTF’s Awards Committee meets to establish and review the criteria for the Teaching Awards and other Awards.
OTF Standing Committees are named in their Bylaws and are made up of a teacher representative from each of the affiliated bodies. The committees report to the Board of Governors, where their recommendations may be approved or rejected, referred back to the committee for further study, or referred to the affiliated bodies for their approval before final acceptance by the OTF.
The ETFO Executive will consider the applications and make the appointment by motion of the Executive. The successful candidate will be notified at the conclusion of the Executive meeting in which the appointment is made
Applications should be emailed to Kathy Pigeon at kpigeon@etfo.org
Applications from interested members will be accepted until
Friday, September 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
Please login to the Member’s Secure Area to access the Application – Click here
Take Back the Night York Region- Save the Date!
September 19, 2024, Richmond Hill
Details to be announced
Get ready to celebrate solidarity on Labour Day!
Solidarity is our strength, and on Labour Day, events across the province bring workers together to meet, build connections, and celebrate the gains that have been won through labour solidarity.
Labour Day is only a few weeks away, so save the date and find an event in a community near you. The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) has prepared a handy event listing that includes times and locations across the province.
Pedagogy and Professional Judgement: The Kindergarten team
Starting in September 2024, classroom teachers have a
professional responsibility to administer the first early reading screener. Between the start of the school year and November 20, students in year two of Kindergarten and in grades 1 and 2 will be screened annually.
Learn more about how the Kindergarten team can use their
combined professional judgement to support students in a new resource: Pedagogy and Professional Judgement: The Kindergarten Team.
This resource is part of a series called Pedagogy and Professional Judgement, where you can find more great information. Check it out!
Catch up on events from the 2024 ETFO Annual Meeting!
ETFO Annual Meeting was held from August 12 to15. With more than 600 delegates receiving reports and voting on motions, the Annual Meeting sets the stage for the coming year at ETFO.
Catch up on the events of the meeting, read about award winners, and view photos on ETFO’s annual meeting blog. You can also listen to President Karen Brown’s opening speech on ETFO’s Elementary podcast. Check out ETFO’s largest yearly event!