Survey on School Food Programs in Ontario The Ontario Principals’ Council invites you to participate in a survey titled Understanding School Food Programs in Ontario. The purpose of this survey is to collect baseline data on school food programs across the province. The accompanying letter of information provides additional details. Results will support planning, collaboration and investment in school food programs in your region and across Ontario. 

The online survey takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete. The school principal, vice-principal or staff member responsible for school food programs is asked to complete the survey by March 9. 

Strengthening Pathways to School Leadership 

Over the past few years, OPC has collaborated with the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) and other education associations to advocate for the reduction of systemic barriers to leadership qualifications. As of December 31, 2025, amendments to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation establish alternate pathways into the Principal’s Qualification Program for eligible technological education teachers, Indigenous language teachers and teachers of Indigenous ancestry who do not hold an acceptable postsecondary degree. 

These amendments address longstanding barriers that limited access to school leadership roles. 

To learn more or to share information with educators in your networks, visit the OCT website. 

Affinity Groups

Information, meeting links and the full schedule can be found at the Affinity Groups for Members page. The following groups are meeting in the coming weeks:  

• East Asian: Feb. 25 
• 2SLGBTQQIA+: March 2 
• Jewish Administrators: March 3 
• Black: March 18 
• Neurodivergent: March 22 
• Muslim: March 24 
• Persian: March 24 

For more information contact Irfan Toor at equity@principals.ca. 

2025 Tax Receipts for Membership Fees 

In compliance with Canada Revenue Agency regulations, tax receipts for membership fees will not be issued to Members employed by school boards where the fees are reported in Box 44 of the T4 slip. 

Tax receipts will only be issued to Members who 

• are employed by the Renfrew County District School Board  
• paid their full fees as a lump sum  
• paid retroactive fees as a lump sum or 
• hold a Term Assignment membership. 

If you meet any of these criteria, you can access your 2025 membership tax receipt on our website under My Profile → Member Tax Rec → 2025. If your board pays your membership fees, those fees are not tax deductible. 

Associate fees are not tax deductible and a tax receipt will not be issued. A payment receipt was emailed at the time of payment. 

Quote to Ponder 

“It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s the way you carry it.” – Lena Horne  

Media  

• Ontario has taken over seven school boards. What’s behind the unprecedented power move by Education Minister Paul Calandra?   
• Canadian Civil Liberties Association condemns Ontario’s growing takeover of local school boards  
• Ontario’s education minister says he will retain control of Near North District School Board  
• Ontario school board takeovers a distraction from chronic underfunding: teacher and student reps   
• Is ‘core’ or ‘rotary’ better for students? Why this teaching debate is bigger than the turmoil at one east-end Toronto school 
• The National Society of Black Engineers is recruiting Black youth into STEM careers  
• Why your child’s Grade 6 math score was decided in kindergarten — and how experts say Ontario is missing the chance to fix it 
• Is the textbook dead? Inside Ontario schools’ shift to digital — and the hidden trade-offs of paper-free classrooms

Queen’s Park Update

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