A Message from the President, Nicole Trotter

In like a lion and out like a lamb. That is definately how our March has started off and how I hope it ends. Between course selection, time tabling, tentative assignments, striking, picketing and everything about teaching, it has been a whirlwind for 2020 thus far.  As we prepare to take some time next week to relax, recharge and gain some strength, I know that the common feeling is that we are all tired.  And that is okay, we truly have been up to battle and have been putting our best foot forward. But by recognizing that we are tired, the best thing for our souls is to stop and take time for our selves. So despite the urge to tune into the news or social media or check our board emails, take a mental break not only from our jobs but from the many messages that bombard us daily. Slow down and unwind and enjoy the beauty of doing nothing. From the OSCA/ACOSO Family we are wishing everyone a safe and restful March break.

  Call for Proposals         Appel à propositions

OSA/ACOSO 2020 celebrates 56 years of leading the way in Guidance and Career Educaion in Ontario. Help students to embrace the uncertainty of the future by exploring the offerings of today. Join us as we Look Back to the Future... The Future is Now! Take learning back to your schools to help students gain knowledge, develop skills, and build confidence as they plan for their personal and professional lives. We are seeking presentation proposals that will focus on one of the sub-themes that will provide our members with the highest quality professional development. Inspired by this year’s conference theme, Look Back to the Future… The Future is Now! , will focus one day each on the sub themes Wellness and Future Pathways. 

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Save the Date

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In this issue:
- Upcoming Events
- The Countdown to the 2020 Skills Ontario Competition Has Begun
- Don't Miss the Fun at Skills Ontario Summer Camps!
- Spotlight on a Sponsor: Conestoga College
- Donate to #FillTheToolbox
- Extra, Extra! Skills Ontario in the News

2020 College Expo - Ottawa

2020 College Expo - Toronto

 

Ryerson University SHSM Days

Ryerson University is proud to present SHSM Days - programming geared toward Specialist High Skills Major students. Each day will feature a program-specific interactive element and campus tour. Here is the list of upcoming SHSM Days:

• April 8 - Arts & Culture
• April 22 - Non-Profit
• April 29 - Environment and Transportation
• May 6 - Science
• May 13 - Health & Wellness
• May 20 - Media
• May 27 - Business

Space is limited - register today! If you have any questions, please contact Tiffany Kelly, On-Campus Engagement Officer, at visitus@ryerson.ca.

Ontario Preparing People for Skilled Trades Careers in Thunder Bay
Government Investing in Anishinabek Employment and Training Services Centre and Supercom Industries Skills Training Programs

 

THUNDER BAY - Ontario is addressing a looming skilled trades shortage by investing in training for Indigenous people in the Thunder Bay area. The Province announced funding of nearly $2 million today for two separate projects.

Learn More...

Saturday, March 21, 2019

This is an event you won't want to miss! Visit Ryerson's distinctly urban campus for the chance to tour our campus and facilities, chat with future professors, current students and more! See for yourself what makes Ryerson Canada's leading university for innovation and career relevant learning. Learn more and register today!

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Join us on campus for Ryerson’s bi-annual Teacher and Guidance Counsellor Day. Visit our distinctly urban campus for a day of professional development and learn what makes Ryerson unique. Enjoy a hot breakfast, receive admission updates, and network with fellow education professionals. Learn more and register today!

OSCA will once again be offering the additional qualification courses in Guidance and Career Education this spring and summer. Parts 1, 2, and 3 (Specialist) will be offered, pending enrollment.

Spring session: April 20th to June 15th
Summer Session: July 6th to July 31st.


Cost: $650
No textbook
Course is entirely online, within an online classroom format. The course is taught by a current Guidance Counsellor that works in a school setting.

Register by following the link below.

Free webinar with authors of Strengthening Mental Health Through Effective Career Development

 

Career development is rarely part of mental health discussions, yet it can be a key pillar in the support and promotion of positive mental health. A free webinar – Your Impact on Mental Health: How Your Career Development Practice Promotes Client Mental Health – will be offered on Friday, April 3, 2020 to further explore the key learnings based on the recently launched CERIC book Strengthening Mental Health Through Effective Career Development: A Practitioner’s Guide. This webinar will be led by the co-authors of the book, Dave Redekopp and Michael Huston.

Client/student mental health predictably improves as a result of career development. In this one-hour webinar, the authors will summarize the broad ranging effects of career development and their associated mental health benefits. They will also review some of the mechanisms underlying career development’s role in mental health and describe how, by adjusting one’s intentions, these positive mental health outcomes can be achieved more effectively in your career development practice.

 You can:

• Learn more and download a free pdf of the guide at http://www.ceric.ca/cdmh
• Sign up for a free webinar with the authors on Friday, April 3 (Note: even if you’re not available that day all who register will receive the recording)
• Read the review by Professor and former Dean of Education at Simon Fraser University, Dr Kris Magnusson, Mental health guide a must-have for career practitioners

OSCA/ACOSO Guidance and Career Education Awards 2020

Awards are now open for nominations!

 

Curriculum and Resources

**The Elmer Huff Award for Guidance and Career Education Resources - presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to the career development of young people through the creation, development and delivery of high quality Guidance and Career Education Resources.

Counsellor Professional Development

**The Russ Seltzer Award for Contribution to Counsellor Education in Ontario - presented to honour contribution to Counsellor Education in Ontario, including teaching Guidance and Career Education Additional Qualification courses.

**The Howard R. Beattie Award for Contribution to Counsellor Professional Development - presented to a counsellor who has created new and beneficial ideas and techniques for professional use and communicated these through such means as workshops, local leadership and the organization of a conference or guidance professional development activities.

Elementary Guidance

**The Marion Axford Award for Elementary Guidance - presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to elementary guidance in Ontario.

Peer Helping

**The Daryl L. Cook Peer Helping Award - presented to one elementary and/or one secondary school in Ontario in recognition of its exemplary peer helping program.

Contribution to Guidance and Career Education

**The Career/LifeSkills Resources Award for Excellence in Career Education - presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to career development. This award is presented by Career/Lifeskills Resources (www.career-lifeskills.com).

**The Certificate of Appreciation - presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to Guidance and Career Education in Ontario by individuals/groups who are community partners.

**The Phil Hedges Award - presented to recognize the contributions to Guidance and Career Education by dedicated counsellors in the Province of Ontario. An award will be given to one qualifying nominee from each of the six educational regions in the province, or up to a maximum of six qualifying nominees from across the province. **Please refer to http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/offices.html to determine which region each school board is included in.

**The Morgan D. Parmenter Memorial Award - presented to recognizes a person who has made a most significant contribution to Guidance and Career Education in Ontario.

Nomination Form

Category
Contribution to Guidance and Career Education

When to Apply
Nominations for this certificate may be accepted all year long.

History
The Award of Merit was first presented in the spring of 1972. In 1977 the OSCA Board of Directors passed a resolution to rename this award The Olive Diefenbaker Award of Merit to honour the late Mrs. Diefenbaker''s contribution to Guidance and Counselling in the Province of Ontario. The first awards were presented by her daughter during the 1977 Annual Conference at Niagara Falls in November. The citation on The Olive Diefenbaker Award of Merit reads: "In recognition of long and dedicated service to guidance and counselling in the Province of Ontario"

This award is to recognize retiring individuals who have made a contribution to the Counselling and Guidance Profession in Ontario

Criteria
This award may be presented to teacher-counsellors, teachers, administrators, trustees and/or members of the community

An OSCA member must nominate the retiree

The nominee should:

• Be retiring
• Have been involved in Guidance and Career Education in Ontario for a minimum of five years.
• Have demonstrated leadership in guidance through active participation in professional development, counsellor education, administrative support, promotion of guidance, professional writing, research, or in contributing to professional guidance and counselling organizations.

The awards will be mailed to the nominator for presentation by the nominator or by another OSCA member appointed by the nominator. These awards are often presented at retirement functions rather than the Awards Banquet. However, the names of the recipients of The Olive Diefenbaker Awards may be noted in the official program of the OSCA Conference.

Procedure

• Nominations for this award must be submitted by an OSCA member
• Nominations should be received six weeks in advance of the presentation date in order for sufficient timing for certificate arrival .

Nominate a retiring colleague.