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Truth and Reconciliation Week
Truth and Reconciliation Week is a national program hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation that supports educators and learners in their work to take action toward reconciliation. The theme for 2023 is “Honouring Survivors.” Educators can register for free daily live and virtual events and learning sessions for their classes. There are also a number of lunch and learns available each day for educators and the general public. Registration is open through nctr.ca.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the harmful legacy of Canada’s residential school system. September 30, also known as Orange Shirt Day, is a reminder for us to become educated and take action to address past and current injustices against Indigenous Peoples, while centring Survivors, their descendants, and those who never made it home. To acknowledge and bring light to this day, ETFO will post a statement on our website and provide shareables through social media.
ETFO responds to Premier Ford’s comments that put 2SLGBTQ+ students at risk
This past weekend, Premier Doug Ford made it clear that he has no idea what “school boards actually do” when he dismissed their law-abiding efforts to protect 2SLGBTQ+ students’ rights.
In a perfect world, all students would go home to a safe and supportive environment, but we know this isn’t the case. ETFO stands in solidarity with students, families, and educators in the protection of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals’ rights, both in classrooms and workplaces. The full statement can be found here.
Celebrate Labour Day, September 4
This Labour Day, we stand together with workers. As teachers and education workers prepare to return to work, our solidarity is more important than ever.
For information on events in your area, find your local labour council.
ETFO Annual Meeting Roundup
Every August, more than 600 ETFO members from across the province attend the ETFO Annual Meeting to receive reports of the officers and committees, to elect officers, to receive financial statements, and to debate and vote on motions.
At this year’s meeting, which ran from August 14-17:
ETFO President Karen Brown was re-elected President. A complete list of the provincial executive can be viewed in the media release.
You can watch, listen, and read content from the Annual Meeting blog at members.etfo.ca (registration is required) and at these links:
- Watch President Brown’s opening address to the Annual Meeting on YouTube or hear it on the ETFO podcast, Elementary
- Press releases on elections and awards can be found on etfo.ca.
- Photos from Annual Meeting are available here.
- Read blog posts from the Annual Meeting here.
National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
June 21 was established as National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, through proclamation, as a National Day of Recognition in 1996. It is a day that marks the summer solstice, and a day to recognize, celebrate, and honour the heritage of the many unique Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island.
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities across the nation host a variety of events to honour ceremony, and to engage and enjoy being in community.
Resources to support classroom activities can be found at etfofnmi.ca.
ETFO’s Summer Academy 2023 is here and registration is now open – Courses will fill up very quickly!
Summer Academy 2023 includes in-person courses at various locations across Ontario and virtual courses. The cost of registration for in-person courses is $75 and for virtual courses is $30.
All courses are facilitated by dynamic presenters and are structured to meet the personal and professional needs of your members.
Visit events.etfo.org for registration and additional information. Login is required.
ETFO YR Annual Dinner – June 14th, 2023
ETFO YR Annual Dinner
Sheraton Parkway Hotel 600 Hwy 7, Richmond Hill, ON (map)
June 14, 2023, 5:00PM
Click Here to view/download the flyer
Click Here to view/download the registration form
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MAY 31, 2023
June 1: Justice for Injured Workers
In the days leading up to the 40th anniversary of Injured Workers’ Day, visit the 40 Stories Project to hear injured workers’ own experiences. Stories will be added daily.
Workers’ compensation law in Ontario was developed to avoid “half measures which mitigate but do not remove injustice”. Find out more about how you can support the rights of injured workers against the ongoing attacks from the government and WSIB.
Enough is enough! Join the June 3 Day of Action
Fed up with the rich getting richer, while workers struggle to get by? We are too. We’re done with waiting. Join the June 3 day of action to demand:
- Real wage increases
- Rent control & affordable housing
- Affordable groceries, gas & basic goods
- Keep schools & health care public
- Make the banks & corporations pay
Find an action near you by clicking here.
National Indigenous History Month
The House of Commons designated June as National Aboriginal History Month in 2009. It was renamed National Indigenous History Month in 2017. This month was chosen because for generations, many Indigenous groups celebrated their culture and heritage in June.
National Indigenous History Month is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the present-day cultural diversity of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Canada, and to celebrate the unique contributions and continued presence of Indigenous Peoples.
This is a time for educators to highlight Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Classroom resources can be found at etfofnmi.ca.
Don’t Mark those EQAO Assessments
June 14 is the last day of the 2022-23 EQAO administration window for the Primary and Junior divisions.
ETFO continues to advise members not to participate in EQAO marking exercises. The full text of the advisory, as well as others regarding EQAO, can be found on the ETFO member website.
Declining EQAO results should be seen as a measure of the chronic underfunding of schools and the learning debts the education system owes students and teachers.
To learn more about ETFO’s position on EQAO, visit our website, and read the recent article from ETFO Voice, “End EQAO”.
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 Ontario Pride poster featuring event dates.
Click here if you are interested in volunteering during the Pride Toronto ETFO events.
Asian and South Asian Heritage Month
THIS MAY, we honour and celebrate Asian & South Asian Heritage Month by highlighting the diversity of the Asian experience across the diaspora. As populations migrate, new cultures emerge, reimagining and pushing the borders and boundaries of what it means to be Asian beyond Asia.
ETFO YR Annual Meeting – May 11th, 2023
ETFO YR Annual Meeting
Sheraton Parkway Hotel 600 Hwy 7, Richmond Hill, ON (map)
May 11, 2023, 5:00PM
Click Here to view/download the flyer
It’s Education Week!
There is much to celebrate because wonderful and magical things happen in our public schools.
The magic of teaching is hard to describe, yet it is unmistakably special when witnessed in person in our schools each and every day. At the beginning of Education Week, ETFO released a statement reminding the public that this week is also an opportunity to renew our efforts and act to protect public education.
Watch the special Education Week message from President Karen Brown:
Asian and South Asian Heritage Month
This May, we honour and celebrate Asian & South Asian Heritage Month by highlighting the diversity of the Asian experience across the diaspora. As populations migrate, new cultures emerge, reimagining and pushing the borders and boundaries of what it means to be Asian beyond Asia.
Canadian Jewish Heritage Month
In 2018, the Canadian government established May as Canadian Jewish Heritage Month. Canadian Jewish Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate Jewish communities and their many historical and contemporary contributions to Canadian society. Additionally, this month is an opportunity to reflect and act on countering antisemitism. Learn more here.
Click here for more information
National Day of Mourning
April 28 is the annual Day of Mourning to remember those who lost their lives or had their lives changed because of a workplace injury or occupational disease. Our members continue to deal with the physical and psychological impacts of COVID and increased workplace violence. This year we join labour allies to encourage workers to “Know your rights, use the tools, and defend our wins.”
After April 28, ETFO will continue to mourn the dead and fight for the living.
Download our image and post your own message on Friday, April 28 using the ETFO shareable on your social media feed.
2022-2023 ETFO-YR Proposed Constitutional Amendments
♦ Please login to the secure area to for details. (Click Here) ♦
Day of Pink 2023
This year, April 12 marks the International Day of Pink and we are taking a public stance to say NO to 2SLGBTQ+ bullying in all its forms.
Our 2023 theme focuses on the inner strength that we all maintain in advocating against homophobic and transphobic discrimination. Learn more here.
Say No to the EQAO teacher questionnaire
ETFO’s provincial Executive continues to advise members not to participate in the voluntary EQAO teacher questionnaire.
EQAO has indicated it is leveraging information from teacher questionnaires to investigate decreasing scores. Should the government link decreasing EQAO scores with results from the questionnaire, teachers would be blamed. This transfers accountability away from the government for its systematic underfunding of public education to teachers.
ETFO member advisories can be found on the ETFO member website. Register with your ETFO ID at members.etfo.ca. To learn more about ETFO’s position on EQAO, visit our website, and read “End EQAO” from ETFO Voice.
International Women’s Day
March 8, 2023 marks International Women’s Day (IWD). ETFO celebrates the feminist movement and the work for solidarity.
The annual IWD t-shirt features symbols of strength and building community. This year’s t-shirt also highlights the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) campaign, “Union Women: Stronger Together.”
ETFO has also signed on to the National Coalition of Community Organizations statement “There’s no Gender Equality Without Trans Women.” You can read the statement here.
ETFO-YR General Membership Meeting (mandatory for Stewards)
March 21, 2023
5:00 p.m.
The Royal Venetian Mansion
(400 Industrial Parkway South, Aurora)
Click Here for a map
- presentation of the Preliminary Submission
News on Remedy Payment
The Ministry of Education has now completed a review of all Bill 115 Remedy Notices of Objections.
Ministry staff are in the process of updating the final eligibility payment list and are on schedule to have the transfer payment issued to all school boards by April 1, 2023. School boards will then issue payments to all eligible individuals by June 1, 2023.
Click here for background on ETFO’s Charter challenge against the government and Bill 115.
Bill 115 Remedy Update
The Ministry of Education has completed a review of all Bill 115 Remedy Notices of Objections. They are in the process of updating the final eligibility payment list and are on schedule to have the transfer payment to school boards by April 1st. School boards will then issue payments to eligible individuals by June 1st.
Petition Condemning Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) Membership Fee Increase
At its December 8 Governing Council meeting, the OCT passed its 2023 budget, which included a 17.6% membership fee increase. This fee increase occurred without any discussion or debate from any of the 12 councilors and it comes at a time when millions of Ontarians are dealing with the impacts of inflation and increased costs of living.
Sign the petition to call on the Governing Council to reverse and refund the fee increase!
Black Excellence
Don’t miss this episode of ETFO’s podcast Elementary.
In this panel from the Generation Black: You’re Next! Symposium four speakers address Black Excellence and what it means in the education sector. Tyrone Russell is an occasional teacher, Pierrette Walker-Enniss is a vice-principal, Wesberlyne Avril is a teacher candidate, and the last speaker, Jhonel Morvan is a superintendent of education.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27 is an international memorial day that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide enacted by Nazi Germany between 1941 and 1945. As stated on the UN website, “The violence of exclusion began with disinformation and hate speech that lent support to systemic injustice and discrimination, and marginalization and ended with genocidal killing.”
Links to classroom resources are available here.
Black History Month
FEBRUARY 01, 2023
The 2023 ETFO Black History Month poster (artist Benny Bing) is a visual representation of the beauty that lies within Black features: specifically, hair, nose, and lips, that have been historically criminalized and degraded by white beauty standards.
The sisterhood and solidarity on display, speaks to the relationships and mentoring that is so crucial in the Black community and can be more widespread in classrooms with more Black educators. Our two subjects are a living representation of #Blackgirlmagic, the ability for Black love and joy to be found and celebrated in a world that often does not love them back.
ETFO’s Elementary podcast features an interview with filmmaker Jennifer Holness on this issue, which she explores in her documentary Subjects of Desire. You can listen to the podcast on most podcast apps or by clicking here.
OCT Outrageous Increase
At its December 8 meeting, the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) Governing Council approved its 2023 budget, including a membership fee increase from $170 to $200 per member. That’s an outrageous and indefensible 17.64% increase.
The fee increase was a surprise. In response, the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) and its affiliates, including ETFO, issued a statement to call on the OCT to reverse its 2023 fee increase and find better, more accountable, and cost-effective ways to carry out its mandate.
With a united voice for educators, we stand in defence of members who will feel the burden of this indefensible fee increase.
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
December 6th, 2022
December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women.
For more information click on the link below to visit the Government of Canada’s Women and Gender Equality Canada
Women’s History Month
October is Women’s History Month in Canada. This year’s poster focuses on our intergenerational connections with the message that our collective future needs to be rooted in imagination, accountability, collaboration, and action. With these tools we are reminded that what we do today makes tomorrow better.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, recognized on September 30, provides an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the legacy of Canada’s residential school system. The day was originally established in 2013 as Orange Shirt Day. Phyllis Webstad shared her story of her favourite orange shirt being taken upon arrival at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School and this began a movement across Canada to honour communities, Survivors and families impacted by the legacy of residential schools.
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity for us to reflect, become educated and take action to address past and current injustices against Indigenous Peoples, while centring Survivors, their descendants and those who never made it home from residential schools. It is a day to recognize the work communities continue to do to bring their children home.
Click here for ETFO’s statement on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
ETFO Building Better Schools: Learning Comes Alive
Truth and Reconciliation Week
It is Truth and Reconciliation Week, a time to learn, reflect and honour the survivors of the residential school system, their families, and communities. Let us remember every day that advancing reconciliation is not possible without education!
To further learning opportunities, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is offering age-appropriate material for students in grades 1 through 12 nctr.ca/education/trw.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has also unveiled a cyber version of the Witness Blanket to be used in classrooms of all levels. We encourage you to bear witness and share this learning in your classroom; visit nctr.ca/education/trw to learn more.
New Resource: Niizh Manidoowag: Two-Spirit
This ETFO resource highlights the history and experiences of two-spirit people within the Indigenous context. Our booklet provides a starting point and some shared language to begin building capacity and culturally relevant and responsive learning materials that reflect the lived experiences of two-spirit (2S) people and communities for all students.
Download the PDF and visit etfofnmi.ca for other great tools!
Overseas Teachers’ Association – Department of National Defense Schools Recruitment
The following information and attached poster have been provided to ETFO by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF).
The CTF, in consultation and cooperation with the Overseas Teachers’ Association (OTA), is the official representative of OTA members in matters relating to the Tripartite Loan-of-Service Agreement and other aspects of their service overseas in dealings with the offices of the Director General of Dependants Education Programs and the Minister of National Defense.
Canadian teachers teaching overseas in Department of National Defense (DND) schools are members of the OTA.
The DND hires Canadian teachers for a period of two years under a loan of service agreement at Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) overseas schools located in The Netherlands (AFNorth) or Belgium (SHAPE). This agreement is a secondment where the teacher remains an employee of their respective board and the DND reimburses the school board for salary and benefits.
The 2022 CAF overseas recruitment process is open to teachers across Canada from September 1 to November 1, 2022 for the 2023-2025 school years.
For additional information on CAF overseas schools and the application process, interested candidates may visit the Children’s Education Management (CEM) website: https://www.cafconnection.ca/CEM/Teacher-Recruitment
Click on image for PDF.
Generation Black: You’re Next!
Generation Black: You’re Next! is a public symposium organized by ETFO in collaboration with Black community organizations and educational stakeholders.
The symposium will address the urgency for recruiting Black teachers and the necessity for retaining Black educators to improve the representation of Black people in education.
The symposium will take place on Saturday October 1, 2022 9:30am-5:00pm. Details for the symposium are attached. The keynote address is by Wes “Maestro” Williams, and the event will be moderated by educator Nastassia Subban.
Reconciliation Resources
As you are preparing your unit and lesson plans for Reconciliation Education and Reconciliation Week at the end of September, don’t forget that the First Nations Caring Society and Spirit Bear have great resources too!
Go to linktr.ee/FNCaringSocietyEdResources for resources and mark these events on your calendar. If you have questions or looking for more information, please email info@fncaringsociety.com.
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 Ontario Pride poster featuring event dates
Visit the ETFO-YR booth at York Pride (yorkpridefest.com)
Jewish Heritage Month
ETFO acknowledges and celebrates May as Jewish Heritage Month. Addressing Antisemitism and Holocaust Education: Annotated Bibliography of e-Resources is a resource that captures and highlights organizations with materials supporting schools, communities and workspaces on combatting antisemitism and addressing Holocaust education.
To view this new resource for educators, click here.
May is Asian Heritage Month
To celebrate the month, ETFO is proud to release a new poster. Japanese Canadian artist Emmie Tsumura offers 24 provocative images in the artwork to encourage conversations and reflections about the concepts of kindness, creativity, collectivity, peace, and non-violence.
Nobel Peace Laureate Setsuko Thurlow, a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor, is featured in our 2022 poster with a message to us all:
“Think beyond the self. Life has so much more meaning when you do things for the collective good; things that you don’t really have to do, but ultimately give your existence a sense of purpose.”
Download the poster and curriculum resource guide here.
“Surviving Hybrid” in ETFO Voice Magazine
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 3 is annually recognized as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and this year’s international theme is “Fighting for Rights in the Post-COVID Era.” While the pandemic has deeply impacted many marginalized groups, including Black and Indigenous Peoples and women, people with disabilities are the most affected population.
Before the pandemic, classrooms across Ontario required more access to educational assistants, behavioural counsellors, child and youth workers, psychologists, and speech and language pathologists to meet needs and support students with special needs.
But now that the Ford government has failed to invest, students with special needs are being left behind. Things do not need to be this way, it can be different. With your help, we can vote Ford out this June and elect a government that will fund a more supportive and inclusive classroom for all!
If you are concerned about the future of public education, get involved with our campaign.
Joint Press Conference OSSTF & ETFO-YR: YRDSB No Hybrid
York school board staff objected to controversial hybrid learning model, but senior leaders pushed ahead anyway: Sources
Toronto Star Article – Click Here
National Day of Mourning
April 28, 2022
The Canadian Labour Congress endorsed the first Day of Mourning in 1984 and in 1991 the Canadian Parliament officially recognized the day. Since then, the Day of Mourning is now observed in nearly 100 countries worldwide.
All schools and other public buildings in Ontario must now lower their flags on the 28th of April each year due to An Act to proclaim a Workers Day of Mourning which was passed in 2016. Educators should use this as an opportunity to educate students about the importance of this day.
Each year, we need to recommit to protecting workers and preventing further tragedies – making every workplace safe and healthy for everyone. Watch @ETFOeducators social media for the campaign theme each year. Please help to send a message about the Day of Mourning and the importance of every workers’ health and safety.
For local Day of Mourning ceremonies where statistics and personal stories are shared, please watch for further details at https://www.whsc.on.ca/
“Fight for the Living, Mourn for the Dead”
World Teachers’ Day 2021
Media Release – Click Here
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation an opportunity to reflect on harmful legacy of residential schools
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, recognized on September 30, provides an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the harmful legacy of Canada’s residential school system. This is the first year this day is being federally recognized; however, it was originally established in 2013 as Orange Shirt Day. Phyllis Webstad shared her story of her favourite orange shirt being taken upon arrival at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School and this began a movement across Canada to honour communities, Survivors and families impacted by the legacy of residential schools.
The passing of Bill C-5 fulfilled the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #80. It was unanimously supported by the House of Commons in June 2021 after going through multiple revisions, and being stalled by Conservative Senators in 2019.
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity for us to reflect, become educated and take action to address past and current injustices against Indigenous Peoples, while centring Survivors, their descendants and those who never made it home. It is a day to mourn the loss of the children whose bodies were recovered this year, those still to come home, and all those affected by both the direct and intergenerational impact of residential schools.
Racial injustice did not end with the closing of residential schools; it continued through the Sixties Scoop, the criminal justice system, child welfare system, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), and the lack of access to clean drinking water. It is important to acknowledge these systemic issues that are rooted in white supremacy, and the work that still needs to be done.
In 2015, ETFO endorsed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and remains committed to supporting educators, communities and students in continuing these conversations. While we renew our call to demand action for reconciliation and justice, we also know this is a moment to engage in learning, but talking about residential schools requires care.
It is important that we approach this learning in culturally safe and trauma-informed ways to ensure we do not unintentionally perpetuate colonial violence and harm. ETFO’s Healing Conversations resource supports educators in discussing residential schools, the Sixties Scoop and MMIWG.
As we work to create spaces that are safe and inclusive for all, we must go beyond performative acts. We must demand justice and commit to continuing the work of reconciliation by taking actions like the following throughout the year: • reading the Calls to Action; • reading Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into MMIWG; • reviewing the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website and resources; • learning about Indigenous histories in Canada and contemporary issues; • supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists and authors; and • visiting virtual museums.
Other resources to support educators in their unlearning, learning and re-learning are available on etfofnmi.ca.