Happy Holidays!

This will be our last President’s Message of 2025. We want to wish all of you a happy, restful and safe holiday. Please click here to watch my calendar year end video message.

I also want to take this opportunity to extend our condolences to the Jewish community following the tragic shooting at Bondi Beach, specifically the victims, their families and friends. We should all continue to seek and work toward the Hannukah theme of light over darkness.

EDI Update

Save the Date: April 23–24, 2026. The OPC is partnering with Chris D'Souza of Diverse City Strategies to host a summit on mentorship and support for educators and administrators engaged in anti-oppressive work. Themes include retention, mentorship and recruitment of under-represented identities into leadership, as well as maintaining focus in the face of resistance. Registration will open at the end of January with more details.

Affinity Groups for Members are continuing. Meetings in the next few weeks include

• Indigenous: Dec. 18
• South Asian: Jan. 14
• Disability: Jan. 14
• Muslim: Jan. 20
• Neurodivergent: Jan. 22
• Persian: Jan. 27
• East Asian: Feb. 18 

For more information on committees or affinity groups, check our website or contact Irfan Toor at equity@principals.ca.

Research Project Coming

In mid-January, we will be launching an anonymous survey in collaboration with Dr. Katina Pollock from Western University. This research initiative is designed to gain a deeper understanding of the work experiences and well-being of school leaders. Your participation is crucial; the results will help develop evidence-based strategies, support advocacy for wellness-promoting policies and programs and enhance leadership practices. Watch for the survey, which will come directly from the survey tool to your inbox. Your input truly makes a difference.

Quote to Ponder – as we prepare for the holiday break

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott 

Media

• Director’s firing raises concerns about ministry involvement in school boards
• Education Minister offers scorn but no fixes (log in required)
• Hands-on workshop introduces students to family medicine
• Government to fund barriers at child care centres after toddler death
• Do EQAO tests hold schools accountable?
• Does government favour funding private schools?
• Unions call for funding to address violence and test scores
• Australia starts social media ban for users under 16 years
• Government extends legislature break until late March

Queen’s Park Update

There were questions in the House last week about government responsibility for EQAO test scores, additional funding for schools and funding for students with special needs.

The House is now in recess until March 23, 2026.