September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned from  Canada’s residential schools, as well as those who survived them and the families and communities that live with the intergenerational harm caused by the education system.

This day recognizes the legacy of the Canadian Indian residential school system and the impact it has had on Indigenous communities.

Truth and Reconciliation as a guiding principle is reflected in every aspect of the College's mandate to protect the interests and well-being of students.

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led commemorative occasion that encourages Canadians to wear orange as a way to recognize the legacy of residential schools.

The orange shirt is a symbol of the forced assimilation of Indigenous children. It was inspired by the accounts of Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose clothing – including a new orange shirt – was taken from her during her first day of residential schooling. Her clothing was never returned.

Click below to learn more about Indigenous culture, history and the ongoing impact of residential schools.

You're invited to our Annual Meeting of Members on October 24

The College’s Annual Meeting of Members will be held online on Tuesday, October 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The meeting is open to College members, applicants, education stakeholders, and members of the public. College leadership, including Registrar and CEO Linda Lacroix, OCT/EAO, and Council Chair Diana Miles will provide updates on how College operations serve the public interest by protecting the interests and well-being of Ontario students.

The meeting will be hosted on Zoom with simultaneous French and English interpretation and optional closed captioning. The meeting will conclude with a Q&A session. Questions can be submitted in advance when you fill out your registration form. Registrants will receive a Zoom link one week before the meeting.

New teaching certificate helps address teacher shortage

On August 30, the College launched a new Transitional Certificate of Qualification and Registration following a request from the Ministry of Education. The new certificate enables eligible teacher candidates enrolled in an Ontario-accredited teacher education program to gain employment as Ontario Certified Teachers. 

Individuals who hold a Transitional Certificate are subject to the same benefits and obligations as any other member of the College, including the complaints, investigations, and discipline process.

The College’s 2022 Annual Report Now Available

The Ontario College of Teachers’ 2022 Annual Report is now available for members of the public to explore.

The report is an illustration of the College’s activities for the year, including the number of new teacher certifications and other data collected such asthe most popular Additional Qualification courses or the countries where Ontario’s new internationally educated teachers were initially trained.

An archive of previous Annual Reports is available on our website.

Rising demand for new teachers and falling unemployment rates: Discover the latest findings on Ontario's teacher employment trends in the 2022 Transition to Teaching report

The Ontario College of Teachers’ 2022 Transition to Teaching report highlights a continued teacher shortage amid high employment rates, and offers valuable insights current teacher supply issues. With increasing retirements, pandemic disruptions, and fewer teacher graduates, the demand for new teachers is rising.

Early-career employment remains high, showcasing the promising opportunities for new graduates.

Read the full Transition to Teaching report for the latest employment patterns and the experiences of early-career teachers in Ontario.

Council special meeting summary

A special meeting of College Council took place July 19, to consider amendments to three regulations made under the Ontario College of Teachers Act.

Council also considered a draft 2024-2028 Strategic Plan during an in-camera session, with final approval to take place at the October 5 meeting of Council.