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. Did you know that nominations for this award can be received all year long? However, the end of the year is upon us and many counsellors may be nearing the end of their careers. This is a friendly reminder to all of our colleagues that OSCA/ACOSO would like to help you celebrate your colleagues! Nominate a colleague today. 

 

Attention Guidance Board Leads!

Any board wishing to take advantage of a bulk board subscription to OSCA for 2019-2020, is asked to email the OSCA office at oscadesk@gmail.com, to take find out what the bulk discounted rate would be for their boards. The more subscriptions purchases, the greater the discount!

The deadline for nominations was June 15th. Over 30 nominations were received. Thank you all for your meaningful and moving contributions. The Governance Committee is now completing their voting process and the nominees will receive an email in the coming week. Winners will be announced in next week's newsletter.

 

OSCA / ACOSO 2019 célèbre ses 55 ans d’avant-gardiste en matière d’orientation et formation en cheminement de carrière en Ontario. En aidant les élèves à devenir les architectes de leur propre vie (Tracer son itinéraire vers la réussite, page 10), la conférence de cette année a pour but d''explorer les uniques opportunités offertes à nos élèves au moment de commencer à «Construire un avenir brillant: pistes de réflexion pour l’exploration de carrière et la prise de décisions personnelles». Nous recherchons des propositions de présentations qui porteront sur deux thèmes principaux afin de fournir à nos membres un développement professionnel de la plus haute qualité. Chaque journée sera consacrée à l’un des thèmes.

OSCA/ACOSO 2019 celebrates 55 years of leading the way in Guidance and Career Education in Ontario. In helping students to become architects of their own lives (Creating Pathways to Success, page 10), this year's conference is designed to explore the unique opportunities available to our students as they begin "Constructing a Bright Future: Avenues for Career and Personal Decision Making." We are seeking presentation proposals that will focus on two main themes in order to provide our members with the highest quality professional development. Each day will focus on one of the themes.

Why you should be involved as an Exhibitor:
The Ontario School Counsellors’ Association invites you to join Guidance Counsellors, Student
Success teachers, administrators, educators and stakeholders in Guidance and Career Education
for OSCA’s annual conference. You will not want to miss the opportunity to network, sponsor
and exhibit with up to 300 delegates at this year’s OSCA conference.

By supporting this conference as an exhibitor, you and your organization are directly contributing to
the advancement of education in Ontario.

As a sponsor, your organization will receive the following benefits:

✔ Complimentary Exhibitor booth
✔ Complimentary conference registration
✔ Preferred booth location
✔ Advertisement in Sched App and/or Conference Guide
✔ PowerPoint slides prior to plenary events
✔ Permission to use phrase: "Proud Sponsor of OSCA 2019"
✔ Promotional materials distributed in delegate package
✔ Logos/signage at Conference and on OSCA Website
✔ Recognition in follow-up issue of OSCA Today
✔ Opening and closing acknowledgement
✔ Complimentary OSCA News postings

See all 21 Ontario universities under one roof at the 2019 Ontario Universities' Fair (OUF)! The OUF takes place September 27-29, 2019, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Admission is free! 

The OUF Passport registration website will open in July at www.ontariouniversitiesfair.ca/passport. 

By registering for an OUF Passport, students receive a QR code that they take to the OUF and get scanned at university booths and presentation rooms of their choice.

It's the easiest way for them to share their contact information to receive more info about the universities they are interested in. 

OUF Guidance Counsellor Tool Kit 
We've compiled a tool kit to assist you with promoting the OUF to your students. It includes key messages, sample school announcements, social media posts and ways to follow the OUF on social media. 

Next steps for you: 

• View the OUF Tool Kit at: www.ouac.on.ca/guidance/counsellor-resources/ouf-tool-kit
• Leave messaging about the OUF on your school sign for the summer and help keep the event on everyone's radar.
• Share the OUF messages in your morning announcements and via the school communication app Remind.
• Follow the OUF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and share our posts.
• Add the OUF to the calendar on your school website.
• Include information about the OUF on your school website for parents to access.
• Schedule social media posts for August and September.

We hope you find this information helpful. If you have questions, please contact ouf@ouac.on.ca.

The Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT) Foundation Play Therapy Training offers individual days of unique training in the theory and practice of play therapy. Students are able to complete the 180 hours of continuing education credits at a pace and time that they choose. The 180 hours are one of the steps needed to become a Certified Play Therapist. The program instructors are professional skilled play therapists who bring expertise on a wide variety of topics. The courses will be offered in Toronto from July 8th through August 16th, 2019.

Registration for the individual days of training from the selection of 25 one or two days courses is open now.

 

This year, the Ontario universities’ recruitment events are being renamed and branded to be more consistent across all events and websites.

Cette année, les événements de recrutement recevront des nouveaux noms et marquages pour être
plus cohérente à travers tous nos événements et sites Web.

Please use the link below to see new, important information from the Standing Committee on Student Recruitment

The Ontario School Counsellors' Association has a longstanding tradition (over 40 years) of recognizing and awarding those who stand out in the field of Guidance and Career Education. Each year at our annual conference, 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 of students to find their pathways to successful futures!

OSCA's awards are an excellent way of recognizing your most dedicated peers in the following categories: 

• Curriculum and Resources
• Counsellor Professional Development
• Elementary Guidance
• Peer Helping
• Contribution to Guidance and Career Education

Consider nominating a worthy colleague today!