As we bring another school year to a close, I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible work of our guidance educators across Ontario. Each day, you serve as mentors, advocates, and pillars of support for our students—navigating the academic, emotional, and social challenges they face with compassion, professionalism, and resilience.

This year, once again, you have risen to meet the evolving needs of our school communities. You’ve supported students through transitions, helped families access vital resources, promoted mental wellness, and championed equity and inclusion. Behind every timetable adjustment, every course selection meeting, and every career planning session lies a deep commitment to student success and well-being.

Now, as summer approaches, I encourage each of you to take this well-deserved opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge. Whether it’s time spent with family & friends, a quiet moment to yourself, or a chance to pursue something that brings you joy—this season is yours to enjoy!

Thank you for your dedication, and your unwavering support of your students. The impact you have made this year is lasting and meaningful. On behalf of the Ontario School Counsellors’ Association, I wish you a restful, rejuvenating, and fulfilling summer. We look forward to continuing this important work together in the fall.

Warm regards,
Lisa Butera-Fracassi, President, Ontario School Counsellors’ Association   

NOW ACCEPTING DELEGATE REGISTRATIONS

We’re excited to announce that delegate registration is now open for “Leadership Starts Here – Empowering Leaders, Inspiring Change,” taking place November 9-10, 2025 at the Hilton Mississauga Meadowvale!

This year’s conference promises to be our most impactful yet, featuring renowned keynote speakers:   Drew Dudley – Internationally acclaimed leadership expert and Wall Street Journal best-selling author   Neil Pasricha – Best-selling author of The Happiness Equation, Book of Awesome, and Two-Minute Mornings.

Customize your professional development journey with 21 outstanding workshops covering:   Skilled trades & emerging technologies   The future of work & scope of practice   Mental health & wellness   Financial literacy and more!

Stay informed with Ministry of Education updates, expand your toolkit with valuable programs and resources from sponsors and exhibitors, and connect with colleagues at our Sunday night networking social!

✨Don’t miss this premier event for Guidance and Career Educators! Visit our website to register today—hotel conference rates are valid until October 17th.

Hello OSCA/ACOSO Colleagues!

OSCA is very excited to announce that subscription renewals are now open for the 2025-2026 school year!

• Ontario Universities’ Fair (OUF): Toronto, September 27-28, 2025, 9:30 am to 5 pm daily. Join us at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, for one of the largest educational fairs in North America.
• Ontario Universities’ Regional Fairs: Ontario university representatives will travel across the province this fall, offering fair-style events.
• Ontario Universities’ Information Sessions (virtual): September 16, from 6 to 8 pm (ET), and November 10, from 5 to 7 pm (ET). Join up to 4 university sessions during each event – from the comfort of your home.

Learn more: ouevents.ca.
Questions? Email: ouevents@ouac.on.ca.

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• Foire des universités de l’Ontario (FUO) : Toronto, 27-28 septembre 2025, de 9 h 30 à 17 h, tous les jours. Soyez des nôtres dans l’édifice Sud du Palais des congrès du Toronto métropolitain, à l’occasion de l’une des plus grandes foires de l’éducation en Amérique du Nord.
• Foires régionales des universités de l’Ontario : Des représentantes et représentants des universités de l’Ontario parcourront la province cet automne et y proposeront des événements de type « foire ».
• Séances d’information des universités de l’Ontario (virtuelles) : Le 16 septembre, de 18 h à 20 h (HE), et le 10 novembre, de 17 h à 19 h (HE). Prenez part à un maximum de 4 séances d’université lors de chaque événement – dans le confort de votre foyer.

Pour en savoir plus : ouevents.ca/fr.
Des questions? Courriel : ouevents@ouac.on.ca.

Over $40,000 in available scholarships is available to deserving students enrolled in landscape and horticulture programs across Ontario.

Nominations will close June 30!

The Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation and Cullen Family Scholarship Program proudly support the next generation of landscape and horticulture professionals with a wide range of financial scholarships.

Event Details:

Guest Speaker: Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert, Principal Specialist, Technical Services at ArcelorMittal, Montreal, Quebec
Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm EST

Webinar Description: Join us for an inspiring session with Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert, P.Eng., M.Eng., as she shares her journey into the mining industry, explores the diverse career opportunities available, and highlights the crucial role of women in shaping the future of mining. This webinar is a unique chance for young women to gain valuable insights, connect with a role model, and be inspired to discover their place in the mining sector.

Learn about education options that can lead to rewarding careers — whether you’re working, in school or returning to school.

It’s well known that a post-secondary education can be expensive; consider the cost, for example, of tuition, textbooks, and transportation or living on campus. It’s also well known that a post-secondary education is a prerequisite for many jobs and can be a very rewarding experience.

Scholarships are a helpful way to financially support students who want to pursue a post-secondary education. The following resources can help students – and the career practitioners who support them – identify, find and apply for scholarships for Canadian post-secondary programs.

Learn more!

Canada’s small and-medium sized businesses (SMEs) continue to face challenges in the labour market. While vacancy rates have eased, many are still struggling not just to find workers, but to find candidates with the right skills, expectations, and qualifications. Even when talent exists elsewhere in Canada, regulatory hurdles ─ like province-specific licensing and certification rules ─ limit worker mobility and make it harder for businesses to access the talent they need. Left unaddressed, these barriers don’t just affect individual firms—they drag on productivity, slow regional development, and undermine Canada’s economic competitiveness. This analysis explores the roots of these challenges and highlights policy actions that can help unlock talent, strengthen the workforce, and support long-term growth.

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Forms are to be submitted no later than Friday, September 12, 2025, by 4:00 p.m.

The Ontario School Counsellors’ Association has a long-standing tradition (over 40 years) of recognizing and awarding those who stand out in the field of Guidance and Career Education. OSCA recognizes individuals and/or organizations that have made a significant contribution to Guidance and Career Education in Ontario. We can say with confidence that our past award winners have helped thousands find their pathways to successful futures!