Date: September 19, 2023

Time: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. EDT

Cost: Free*

Presenters: 

Caroline Hill

Senior Policy Analyst - Policy, Education, Monitoring, Outreach Branch (OHRC)

Caroline started at the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 2021 as the Special Advisor to the Chief Commissioner and is now a Senior Policy Analyst, supporting work in the strategic focus areas of education and criminal justice. Before joining the OHRC, Caroline worked at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and completed a fellowship with the Digital Justice Lab in Toronto. Caroline received her Master's degree in urban Geography from York University and her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Ottawa. In her spare time, Caroline enjoys reading, photographing urban landscapes, and discovering new restaurants.

Juliette Nicolet

Acting Director - Policy, Education, Monitoring, Outreach Branch (OHRC)

Juliette Nicolet is a seasoned social policy professional with extensive experience in public affairs, government relations, advocacy, strategic foresight and planning, and communications in urban Indigenous, non-profit and the broader social policy sector. She is currently Acting Director of Policy, Education, Monitoring and Outreach at the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Prior to this, she was Director of Policy and Government Relations at the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, and Counsel at the Ministry of the Attorney General. Juliette holds an MA from the University of Toronto and an LLB and a BCL from the McGill University, and has two children who keep her on her toes more than any work ever could.

*Visit our Webinar Recordings > Equity page to view resources from this session.

Date: October 10, 2023

Time: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. EDT

Cost: Free

Presenters: 

Juliette Nicolet

Acting Director - Policy, Education, Monitoring, Outreach Branch (OHRC)

Juliette Nicolet is a seasoned social policy professional with extensive experience in public affairs, government relations, advocacy, strategic foresight and planning, and communications in urban Indigenous, non-profit and the broader social policy sector. She is currently Acting Director of Policy, Education, Monitoring and Outreach at the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Prior to this, she was Director of Policy and Government Relations at the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, and Counsel at the Ministry of the Attorney General. Juliette holds an MA from the University of Toronto and an LLB and a BCL from the McGill University, and has two children who keep her on her toes more than any work ever could.

Caroline Hill

Senior Policy Analyst - Policy, Education, Monitoring, Outreach Branch (OHRC)

Caroline started at the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 2021 as the Special Advisor to the Chief Commissioner and is now a Senior Policy Analyst, supporting work in the strategic focus areas of education and criminal justice. Before joining the OHRC, Caroline worked at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and completed a fellowship with the Digital Justice Lab in Toronto. Caroline received her Master's degree in urban Geography from York University and her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Ottawa. In her spare time, Caroline enjoys reading, photographing urban landscapes, and discovering new restaurants.

*Visit our Webinar Recordings > Equity page to view resources from this session.

Details: School leaders are responsible for student safety within curricular, intramural physical activities and interschool sports. Hear first-hand about the latest updates and resources from Ophea by joining us for this webinar on Health and Safety in Schools. 

Date: November 1, 2023

Times: 

• 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. EDT
• 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. EDT

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 + HST (non-Members)

Presenters:

Rebecca Richardson

Ophea Ambassador and Committee Member - Instructional Program Leader, Secondary Safety and Well Being for Health and Physical Education and The Arts, Halton District School Board (HDSB)

Rebecca is currently providing provincial leadership through her roles on Ophea's Safety and Injury Prevention Advisory Committee and as a member of the Ontario Association for the Support of Physical and Health Educators (OASPHE) Executive Committee. Rebecca is also the Representative for Ontario on the PHE Canada Board of Directors. 

Karen Trotter

Ophea Ambassador and Committee Member - Student Health and Well-Being Consultant, Conseil scolaire catholique Providence 

Karen is the consultant for student health and well-being for the Conseil scolaire catholique Providence in southwestern Ontario. She has been teaching for 27 years; 22 of which have been dedicated to the delivery of the Health and Physical Education curriculum from JK to grade 12. She is an Ophea ambassador, a long-time member of the Safety and Injury Prevention Advisory Committee and of the Ontario Association for the Support of Physical and Health Educators (OASPHE) executive. She is passionate about the health and well-being of all students and staff and advocates strongly for quality daily physical education.  

*Visit our Webinar Recordings > Additional Topics page to view resources from this session.

Details: Join us for a conversation intended to deepen our understanding of unconscious bias and how it impacts our daily thinking and decision-making. This session will invite participants to submit questions and share experiences to bring concrete examples of how unconscious bias operates in our daily lives. 

Date: November 2, 2023

Time: 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. EDT

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 + HST (non-Members)

Presenter:

Heather Hamilton

Public sector executive

Heather L. Hamilton has over 30 years of public service experience at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. She began her career as a receptionist and worked through progressively more responsible roles to become a senior executive. Heather served in executive roles with Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Environment Canada, and Edmonton Regional Airports Authority, and served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Communications for the Government of Alberta. Heather joined the Parole Board of Canada in 2018 as Regional Director General of the Prairies Region. She chaired the first joint committee on Diversity and System Racism for the Correctional Service of Canada and the Parole Board, and co-led the creation of the Parole Board’s current action plan on diversity.

Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Carleton University, and a Master of Arts in Communications and Technology from the University of Alberta. She has a particular interest in diversity issues and communications law, and is a passionate advocate of continuous learning and public service values and ethics.

Details: What constitutes a fair and transparent investigation involving students? Participants will engage in learning to better understand a bias-aware approach to progressive discipline in handling student incidents. 

Date: November 15, 2023

Time: 

• 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. EST
• 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 + HST (non-Members)

Presenters:

Colin Fleming

Protective Services Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council

Colin is an educator with 27 years of experience whose career has included teaching and administrative roles in both the elementary and secondary panels. The last four of his nine years as a principal were in a central capacity with the Toronto District School Board as a Safe and Caring Schools Administrator. Colin held system-level leadership portfolios for Threats to School Safety and Threat Assessment. He is certified as a trainer with the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response and has trained administrators, superintendents, police officers, social workers and psychologists in Level 1 Threat Assessment.

In August of 2011, he joined the OPC as a Protective Services Team Consultant, providing advice and counselling to our Members about professional and legal issues, and supports them through investigations and hearings. He also presents legal issues workshops for local OPC groups, PQP and SOQP candidates. 

In 2017, Colin completed the Executive Certificate in Conflict Management through the Stitt Feld Handy Group in Toronto, receiving his certification from Windsor Law School. He holds a Masters in Education from York University and a Supervisory Officer's Certificate from the OPC. 

Liz Winter

Legal Counsel, Ontario Principals' Council

Elizabeth joined the OPC as Legal Counsel in 2020, having practised education and labour law with a law firm since 2015. 

As Legal Counsel with the OPC’s Protective Services Team, Elizabeth provides legal advice and support to the Protective Services Consultants and OPC Members facing legal jeopardy. 

Elizabeth was called to the Bar in 2015, after having graduated from the University of Toronto’s Law School in 2014. Prior to attending law school, she graduated from the University of Oxford with an MSc in Comparative Social Policy and Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts.

*Visit our Webinar Recordings > Leadership page to view the presentation slides from this session.

Details: Extend your understanding of effective leadership competencies, strategies and equitable practices to inspire and build your school team. Learn how to integrate the Teacher Performance Appraisal (TPA) process as part of ongoing, growth-oriented reciprocal learning. 

Date: January 10, 2024

Time: 

• 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. EST
• 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 + HST (non-Members)

Presenter:

Lawrence DeMaeyer

Professional Learning Advisor, Ontario Principals' Council

Lawrence has been an educator for over 30 years. He started his career as an elementary teacher before moving to secondary school where he spent over a decade as a Business Teacher and Department Head. He then served for 10 years as a secondary Vice-Principal and Principal. As a Principal, Lawrence held system-level leadership positions as a School Support Officer and Principal of Modern Learning. He has also served as a Superintendent of Education and Superintendent of Leadership Development and School Support. Lawrence’s passion for developing people, system learning, and innovation led him to join OPC in February of 2021 in the role of Professional Learning Education Advisor.  

Leslie Mantle

Senior Administrator of School Support Services, Rainbow District School Board 

Leslie has teaching experience across a spectrum of age groups, from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Her leadership roles have been diverse, including overseeing a Secondary Arts School, an Alternative Indigenous Education Program, Night School, Adult Day School, and two rural Grade 7-12 schools.

Beyond the school walls, Leslie’s influence extends to the broader educational landscape, which include serving as an instructor of the Principal Qualification Program. Her dedication to her professional community is further highlighted by her role as an advocate for her peers.  She has represented principals and vice-principals in various capacities, serving as the president of the Rainbow District Principals Council, and acting as a Provincial Councillor with the Ontario Principals' Council.  Furthermore, Leslie has been a member of the Ontario Principals' Council executive.

In her current role as Senior Administrator with the Rainbow District School Board, Leslie oversees multiple portfolios aimed at supporting the work of Principals and Superintendents within her Board.  Leslie’s journey reflects her unwavering commitment to education, leadership, and the continuous improvement of the learning environment.

*Visit our Webinar Recordings > Leadership page to view resources from this session.

Details: School leaders work with a variety of employee groups and need to know and understand a variety of collective agreements that set the terms and conditions for employment. This session will explore the tools and strategies principals and vice-principals can use to successfully manage these relationships.  

Date: January 31, 2024

Time: 

• 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. EST
• 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. EST

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 + HST (non-Members)

Presenter: 

Nancy Brady

Protective Services Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council

Nancy has been an educator for over 28 years, serving as an educational assistant, secondary teacher, vice-principal and 18 years as a principal at both the elementary and secondary level, with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. She has also been a principal of M.F. McHugh, a section 23 school and the OCDSB Alternate High schools. Her final position with the OCDSB was that of Superintendent of Instruction, supervising a Family of Schools as well as the Continuing Education, Alternate High Schools and Adult programs.

Nancy has been involved in OPC since 2008, when she joined the local OPC Bytown Executive at the OCDSB. During her tenure on the executive she served as Co-president, Provincial Councillor and the Terms and Conditions Chair. She joined the Provincial Council in 2016 and served as Provincial President in 2019-20. She also served as the Americas Representative on the International Confederation of Principals (ICP). Nancy is an Honorary Life Member of the OPC.

*Thank you to those that attended! No resources are available from this session.

Details: Join us for an engaging and action-oriented webinar that serves as an exceptional starting point or refresher for educators striving to cultivate more inclusive schools. In this empowering session, participants will embark on a transformative journey, gaining valuable insights into the essential principles of 2SLGBTQQIA+ inclusion through authentic actions and interactive learning experiences. 

This webinar will equip you with the tools and strategies needed to become an effective ally for 2SLGBTQQIA+ students. We will delve into best practices for allyship, emphasizing the importance of actively supporting and advocating for the rights and well-being of 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals. From allyship actions to creating safe spaces, you will leave this session with the foundational knowledge, authentic actions, and practical resources necessary to foster more inclusive schools.

Details: Join us for a concise webinar introducing key concepts in understanding the roots and modern manifestations of Antisemitism. This webinar, designed as an introduction to our upcoming professional learning course that will be offered in Fall 2024, will begin the process of equipping school leaders with the knowledge and tools to identify, address, and dismantle Antisemitism within educational settings. We will briefly explore the historical and contemporary dimensions of Antisemitism, including its roots in ancient Judea, its evolution from religious to racial ideologies, and its modern manifestations. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and actively combat Antisemitism in your school community.

Date: May 23, 2024

Time: 

• 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. EDT

Cost: Free (Members and Associates), $50 + HST (non-Members)

Presenters: 

Aneta Fishman

Principal, York Region District School Board

Aneta Fishman is an experienced educator with a passion for advancing student achievement and racial equity in Ontario. With 28 years in education, including 18 years as a school administrator, she has demonstrated leadership in fostering the creation of inclusive environments and promotes equity, diversity, and human rights. She has led School Improvement Planning related to the Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy, Early Literacy, and comprehensive mathematics, collaborating with staff and community partners to increase student achievement and support underserved students. In previous regional roles as a Human Rights Principal and Equity Education Principal, she spearheaded initiatives promoting professional development on Accessibility, Unconscious Bias, Antisemitism, Anti-Black Racism, Islamophobia and Classism, as well as policy revision and updates.

Aneta has also contributed to Holocaust Education through her training and involvement with Yad Vashem International School for Holocaust Studies in Jerusalem. Most recently, provincial work include participating in the development of an online learning course addressing Antisemitism with the Ontario Principals' Council.

Emily Caruso Parnell

Vice-principal, Rainbow District School Board

Dr. Emily Caruso Parnell completed her Doctorate in Distance Education at Athabasca University in 2024. She has been a school administrator in the Rainbow DSB for the past 5 years including leading the Rainbow Elementary and Secondary Virtual Schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been engaged in equity work at the board level for many years and sits on the Equity and Inclusive Education Committee for the Rainbow DSB. Emily is also a registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance, teaches in the French and English Schools of Education at Laurentian University and writes, on a freelance basis, for several publications. 

In addition to her work in the arts and education sectors, Emily has been the board president of Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue in Sudbury for the past dozen years. Her leadership has ensured that the community is oriented towards an egalitarian practice that is forward facing while remaining rooted in tradition. She has been actively involved in interfaith work to build bridges between religious communities and has revitalized Jewish community life in Sudbury, ensuring that the synagogue has a bright and active future. Her story was featured on the Canadian Jewish News podcast, Yehupetzville, hosted by veteran Canadian journalist Ralph Benmergui. 

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