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OSCA 2023 Fall Conference Delegate Registration
Monday, October 16, 2023
We are very excited to announce that we are now open for delegate registrations for our 2023 Fall Conference, “Come Back to Get Ahead” at the Hilton – Mississauga/Meadowvale on Monday, October 16th!
OSCA/ACOSO is thrilled to be returning to our first In-Person event since 2019. Join over 300 other Guidance Counsellors and Career Educators from across the province as we network, learn, and grow together. Our new and returning sponsors and exhibitors are eager to share updated resources and strategies to assist you in your everyday practice. In addition, we are proud to offer a wide range of workshops to assist new and seasoned professionals, including: updates from the Ministry of Education, OCAS, Francophone workshops, post-secondary pathways, mental health and well-being, financial literacy, labour market trends, skilled trades, emerging technologies, classroom management, LGBTQ2S+, supporting racialized students, grants and scholarships, dual credits, co-operative education, apprenticeships, college and university programs, artificial intelligence, careers in demand, e-learning supports and more!
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
All subscription renewals and new subscriptions received by September 15th, will receive the discounted, early bird rate of $299.
After September 15th, the rate will increase $31.
Full price of the conference without subscription is $399
Already Renewed?
Need to Renew?
New Subcription?
All Others
A MUST READ BEFORE PAYING FOR THE CONFERENCE
Please check with your School/Board to see if they are willing to pay for your conference. If they require a coupon code, please have them email oscadesk@gmail.com with subject line: “School/Board Conference Payment Code Request”.
If you pay for the conference and later determine that your School/Board would have paid for you, or would be willing to pay for you, OSCA/ACOSO will NOT provide refunds. If your School/Board purchased, or intends to purchase bulk coupon codes, you may need to wait to register until you receive this code. Please be aware of the deadlines as conference fees rise after September 15th.
Keynote Speakers
Workshops
Venue & Logistics
Conference Management System
Tentative Schedule
How do I get Conference Funding?
Keynote Speakers
Dr. James Makokis
Mr. Anthony Johnson
Dr. James Makokis is a well-known Cree Two-Spirit physician, who is a strong advocate for marginalized populations, particularly Indigenous and LGBTQ2S peoples. He has been recognized both nationally and internationally for his work and approach to medicine. Dr. Makokis leads one of North America’s most progressive family medical clinics serving both LGBTQ2S and First Nation peoples from all over Canada. He combines traditional Cree medicine and Western medicine in his practice and has a down-to-earth approach with his patients. He has faced numerous challenges along the way, including discrimination and poverty, but has persevered to become a respected leader in his field.
Anthony Johnson is a Two-Spirit, LGBTQ2, and Indigenous advocate from the Navajo Nation in North Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to achieving his B.A. in Economics and Social Anthropology from Harvard University, and studying at East China Normal University in Shanghai, he has a wide range of experiences as a consultant, culture documentarian, artist, small film producer, poet, photographer, community leader, project manager, organizer, product developer, fundraiser, social justice advocate, philanthropist, messenger, and teacher. Anthony is committed to the oath of adventurous transformation and believes that anyone can make a difference by aligning their mind, body, and soul. He currently works as a Project Consultant and Coordinator at Kehewin Health Services in Edmonton, where his partner Dr. James Makokis operates his medical practice. He is well-known for his advocacy for LGBTQ2, Two-Spirit, and Indigenous peoples and is currently working to revitalize traditional Cree/Nehiyaw practices, medicines, and ceremonies.
Dr. Makokis and his partner, Anthony Johnson, were crowned winners of the Amazing Race Canada Season 7, where they received international recognition for their advocacy of marginalized individuals by making the world aware of the impact of discrimination and the mistreatment of anyone labelled as being “different”.
Workshops
Session A
A-1 Supporting Emotion Regulation with Mindfulness in the Guidance Office
Angela Ventrice (York Region District School Board), Heidi Bornstein (Mindfulness Everyday)
A growing body of research supports mindfulness and social-emotional learning programs as beneficial for student wellness (particularly mental health) and also supporting achievement through cognitive function, self-regulation, attention, self-awareness, empathy, and more.
In this workshop, we will focus specifically on how mindfulness can support students in the guidance office with emotion regulation. Mindfulness practices can help students become more aware of their emotions and develop skills to manage them effectively. Participants will learn about the research behind mindfulness and emotion regulation, and come away with practical strategies and tools to support students in the guidance office. The workshop will cover topics such as identifying and labeling emotions, using mindfulness to regulate emotions, and integrating mindfulness practices into the guidance office setting. Additionally, participants will learn self-care tools to support their own emotional well-being and build their own mindfulness practice. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with practical strategies to support student mental health and well-being through the use of mindfulness in the guidance office.
In this workshop, we will focus specifically on how mindfulness can support students in the guidance office with emotion regulation. Mindfulness practices can help students become more aware of their emotions and develop skills to manage them effectively. Participants will learn about the research behind mindfulness and emotion regulation, and come away with practical strategies and tools to support students in the guidance office. The workshop will cover topics such as identifying and labeling emotions, using mindfulness to regulate emotions, and integrating mindfulness practices into the guidance office setting. Additionally, participants will learn self-care tools to support their own emotional well-being and build their own mindfulness practice. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with practical strategies to support student mental health and well-being through the use of mindfulness in the guidance office.
A-2 Manufacturing: Careers with Potential
Susan McLachlan (Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium)
Manufacturing is a vital part of the Canadian economy offering a variety of career opportunities for all students. Join us to explore 8 surprising facts you may not know about manufacturing and how we can work together to attract bright young talent to the sector.
Facilitated by EMC, a unique not-for-profit organization formed by manufacturers to provide industry development throughout Canada.
Facilitated by EMC, a unique not-for-profit organization formed by manufacturers to provide industry development throughout Canada.
A-3 Building a Toolkit to Help Your Students Develop Financial Capability
Kevin Maynard (Canadian Foundation for Economic Education)
Join us to:
• Review research around what kids want to learn and why;
• Explore FREE easy to use resources to support parents in topics related to Career Exploration and Decision-making, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, and Economics;
• See the pedagogical approach utilized in each resource, including comments on outcomes, methodology, assessment, and modification for learning styles; and
• Review selected resources and related activity or discussion plans for use with students from Grades 4 and beyond.
Receive a free toolkit of helpful and easy to implement online resources that can be used after the workshop.
• Review research around what kids want to learn and why;
• Explore FREE easy to use resources to support parents in topics related to Career Exploration and Decision-making, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, and Economics;
• See the pedagogical approach utilized in each resource, including comments on outcomes, methodology, assessment, and modification for learning styles; and
• Review selected resources and related activity or discussion plans for use with students from Grades 4 and beyond.
Receive a free toolkit of helpful and easy to implement online resources that can be used after the workshop.
A-4 How to Handle our Hardest Students
Ms. Kathleen Hilchey (Third Way Conflict Specialists & Strata Montessori School)
We know these students all-too-well. They can be explosive, sullen, tearful, or refuse to participate. How is it possible to handle them AND provide a good experience for the other students in your class or school? Kathleen will help you make sense of these students, and give you concrete tools to work with them. By combining Restorative Justice and conflict coaching practices you will learn how to help these students feel calmer, understood, and find ways to engage them with the group and the curriculum in a positive way.
A-5 Métis Nation of Ontario Educational Supports and Programs
An overview of the work that the Métis Nation of Ontario does to support its students, both in the K-12 system and in Post-Secondary Education. We will describe our advocacy efforts, and discuss all of the robust supports that are available to help Métis students attain their educational aspirations.
A-6 Engaging and Supporting Underrepresented Students in the Scholarship Process
Janet MacDonald (mycampusGPS Education Consulting)
Each year more scholarships are created for students from diverse backgrounds. While this is an important step in the right direction, there are still many deserving and qualified students who do not engage in the scholarship process at all. They don’t see themselves as “scholarship material”, even though funders are setting up scholarships for students exactly like them. This session will discuss ways to engage and support historically underrepresented students in the scholarship process. I will share some of the resources I use with my students so you may use them to help your students. I hope participants will share their success stories and we can learn from one another.
A-7 Dual Credits: An Effective Transition Strategy
Phil Hedges (School-College-Work Initiative), Michelle Rao (School-College-Work Initiative)
Dual credits are an effective strategy that focuses primarily on assisting students facing challenges in graduating from secondary school and supporting their successful transition into postsecondary education. Selecting the right student at the right time for the right program is critical. Join us to learn more about student eligibility, program delivery approaches and evidence of success.
A-8 Preparer les eleves aux carrieres de demain
Michelle Pilote (Ministère de l’éducation), Tricia Papineau (Ministère de l’éducation)
Cet atelier présentera les façons dont le ministère de l’Éducation collabore avec les conseils scolaires et les partenaires en éducation afin d’appuyer les élèves de l’Ontario à planifier des cheminements vers des carrières dans les STIM et les métiers spécialisés grâce à de récentes révisions au curriculum, à l’augmentation des possibilités d’apprentissage par l’expérience et à des programmes tels que COOP, DRC, MHS et PAJO. Les nouveautés aident aux élèves à acquérir les compétences et les connaissances nécessaires aux emplois de l’avenir et à mieux les préparer au monde du travail, quel que soit leur itinéraire.
A-9 Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase
Visit our sponsors and exhibitors and have your conference passport signed to be eligible for several exciting prizes!
Session B
B-1 Découvrir la réalité virtuelle en salle de classe
Michelle Higgins (CSViamonde)
Faites découvrir les métiers à l’aide de la trousse de réalité virtuelle ! Les élèves essaient différents métiers spécialisés à travers la plateforme CareerLabsVR et découvrent de nouveaux intérêts. Grâce à cette expérience, les élèves pourront s’intéresser aux programmes COOP, PAJO, DRC ou MHS, ainsi qu’aux itinéraires postsecondaires. De plus, il y a de nombreuses applications disponibles pour varier l’utilisation de la RV dans l’école.
B-2 Ontario Learn and Stay Grant
Emman Rahman (Ministry of Colleges and Universities)
101 Presentation about the Ontario Learn and Stay Grants available to help students fund several high demand post-secondary programs.
B-3 What’s New from OCAS
Vanessa De Luca (OCAS), Shannon Lipskie (OCAS)
Over the past year, we’ve been working on new and revitalized resources that better support high school students and those who help them in their postsecondary choices. Join us for:
A look at key findings from our applicant experience survey and other data sources.
An overview of new microsites, web content, and enhanced collateral
A snapshot of upcoming projects for OCAS and how you can stay connected to them.
An open discussion to help us gather valuable feedback on how we continue to support you and your students. We look forward to seeing you!
A look at key findings from our applicant experience survey and other data sources.
An overview of new microsites, web content, and enhanced collateral
A snapshot of upcoming projects for OCAS and how you can stay connected to them.
An open discussion to help us gather valuable feedback on how we continue to support you and your students. We look forward to seeing you!
B-4 Preparing Students for the Careers of Tomorrow
Patricia Marino (Ministry of Education), Jeff Piro (Ministry of Education)
This workshop will present the ways that the Ministry of Education is working with school boards and partners to support students in planning pathways to careers in STEM, including in the skilled trades, through recent curriculum revisions, increased experiential learning opportunities and job skills programs such as Co-op, Dual Credits, SHSM and OYAP.
B-5 Be the Hero of Your Story
Neskens Jr Dorcelus (Bilingual Anti-bullying Advocate and Youth Empowerment Speaker)
In this workshops, participants will learn.
1) Steps to overcome bullying and the things that happen out of their control.
2) Hearing the story and the pain of bullying from a former victim of bullying.
3) Empowerment presentation to build a tougher mindset and character.
4) Personal Leadership Workshops – CPR-A (which stands for Context – Purpose – Results – Action) It’s the simplest, most accessible, least expensive, most effective tool to set direction and stay on course to become the person and leader you always aspire to be. (often done for students from age 14 and older).
In my website you will be able to see all the details of my message. www.
In this workshops, participants will learn.
1) Steps to overcome bullying and the things that happen out of their control.
2) Hearing the story and the pain of bullying from a former victim of bullying.
3) Empowerment presentation to build a tougher mindset and character.
4) Personal Leadership Workshops – CPR-A (which stands for Context – Purpose – Results – Action) It’s the simplest, most accessible, least expensive, most effective tool to set direction and stay on course to become the person and leader you always aspire to be. (often done for students from age 14 and older).
In my website you will be able to see all the details of my message. www.
B-6 Humour, Resilience & Change
Paul Huschilt, Tales, Talks, Training, Inc.
School Counsellors have always faced stress – urgent demands and constant change. What we lack is time to regroup and to think about ourselves while we look after students and their families. Humour Resilience & Change gives us a chance to build strategies for our own well-being at work and at home. Paul Huschilt, Resilience and Wellness Speaker, will make us laugh and help us create a new relationship with stress and our own resilience. He will share techniques to get the most out of life, keep work and the tides of change in perspective, and smile through just about anything.
B-7 An Indigenous Lens on Guidance Education
Sherri Vansickle, Brock University
In this workshop we will look into the intersections of society that affect our First Nations, Metis and Inuit students. We will look into the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, and the Calls to Justice from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/Girls report. Bring your questions and let’s roll up our sleeves to see how we can better meet the needs of our Indigenous students.
B-8 A “Resourceful” Approach to Promoting Apprenticeships
Stéphanie Cantin, Mon Avenir Conseil Scolaire Catholique
In this workshop, educators will be introduced to helpful resources that will de-mystify the world of apprenticeships with their students. All electronic/digital, print, and video resources to be shared are current and up-to-date with the latest MLITSD terminology. The apprenticeship pathway can be a challenging one to understand but these resources are guaranteed to help you in your journey!
B-9 Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase
Visit our sponsors and exhibitors and have your conference passport signed to be eligible for several exciting prizes!
Session C
C-1 Levelling up with Ontario Colleges
Jon Holmes, Ontario Colleges
Join college recruiters from across the province to discuss how the college system is ever changing to meet the demands of today’s workforce and learn more about all the different credentials including College degrees and Pathways.
C-2 Supporting Students with Informed Pathway Planning
Brad Booker, myBlueprint
myBlueprint’s Education Planner provides the necessary resources to support educators, students, and families in navigating high school planning and post-secondary exploration. By attending this session, educators will discover empowering tools and strategies to assist students in making informed choices about course selections and post-secondary options (Apprenticeships, University, College, and Workplace). Through self-reflection, the exploration of pathway opportunities aligned with skills and interests, and enriched discussions about goals with families and educators, myBlueprint helps students become future-ready. Educators will leave this session excited about supporting students in discovering pathways and making plans to achieve their goals.
C-3 This is the Job – a DE&I Youth Initiative
Scott Pinkney, Publicis Groupe Canada, Stephanie McRae, Publicis Groupe Canada
Advertising is one of Canada’s most creative, engaging, dynamic and rewarding industries. But the complexion of most agencies fails to mirror the diversity of the country’s population.
This Is The Job™ was created to show racialized youth a career path that otherwise might have remained invisible to them, with the goal of increasing diversity across the entire industry. Through our platform, our quiz, and online and in-person events, we’ve been connecting students’ passions with exciting jobs they could be suited to in the advertising industry.
C-4 Preparing for Postsecondary: Funding Opportunities for the Next Chapter
In this workshop we discuss the costs of postsecondary education, and funding sources for university, college, and skilled trades/apprenticeships. We explore how to begin preparing for scholarship and bursaries BEFORE Grade 12, tips on what scholarship providers are looking for, and how to craft winning applications. We will share facts about OSAP as well as current initiatives, e.g., the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant. You will leave this workshop ready to share valuable information to support your students as they transition to life after graduation.
C-5 Fostering Student Mental Health and Engagement
Lindsay Bunn, School Mental Health Ontario
Sometimes it is difficult to know what to say or do when a student is struggling with their mental health. This workshop will focus on reviewing School Mental Health Ontario tools and resources that guidance educators can use to build relationships, affirm identities and validate student emotions.
C-6 Making the Invisible Visible: Supporting Students with Invisible Disabilities
Nicole Hagley, Halton District School Board
This workshop will help to raise awareness around invisible disabilities; such as, TBIs, mental health, chronic pain, to name a few. In the discussion, it will also discuss ways to support students and families navigating through healing journeys, including support for mental health and well-being, integration back into the school environment and learning through this transition. In addition, accessing the different supports available through HDSB and in the community.
C-7 Prolonged Exploration: The Benefits of Delayed Career Specialization
Jay Gosselin, MentorU Inc.
Do you work with students who are feeling stressed about not having a clear path after high school? Do you meet with parents who are feeling anxious about their adolescent’s “lack of direction”? Labour market statistics show that there can be practical benefits to prolonging our career “sampling” period well into our 20s. In this interactive session, we will explore these benefits as well as strategies to help young people have more confidence in embracing uncertainty. You will come away with information to share with students and parents to ease their concerns about “not having it all figured out.”
C-8 Le CAVFLO en 2023-2024
Pascal Forget, CAVLFO
Le CAVLFO a beaucoup évolué au cours des dernières années. L’objectif de cet atelier est de vous expliquer le virage que nous avons effectué afin de mieux répondre aux besoins des élèves. Nous vous présenterons les stratégies que nous avons mises en place afin d’augmenter le taux de rétention et de réussite des élèves inscrits au CAVLFO. De plus, en utilisant les résultats de nos sondages, nous vous partagerons les données recueillies qui nous aident à comprendre ce qui fonctionne bien et ce qui peut être amélioré au niveau de notre service.
C-9 Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase
Visit our sponsors and exhibitors and have your conference passport signed to be eligible for several exciting prizes!
Venue & Logistics
Venue: Hilton – Mississauga Meadowvale
6750 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5N 2L3 (905)821-1981
Workshop Locations
Specific workshop locations will be provided closer to the date. We will be using the following room within the hotel:
-
- North Studios 1, 2 and 3
-
- South Studios 1, 2 and 3
-
- Garden Studio 1
Accommodation
The booking link for the conference rate on Sunday, October 15th is:
https://book.passkey.com/go/OSCAOct2023
This hotel has a large indoor waterslide, pool, fitness centre and hot tub. You may want to make this a weekend vacation and bring your family for Saturday night as well! The rate for Saturday may be higher than the conference rate for Sunday and there may be extra fees for additional people in your room. Confirm these details with the hotel directly.
Parking
Parking is included in your conference rate for Sunday overnight guests and Monday conference guests. Make sure that you check with the hotel at check-in to ensure that you receive the complimentary rate.
Meals, Swag, and Prizes
The following meals and snacks on Monday are included in your registration fee: breakfast, morning snack and Awards Luncheon.
The first 300 delegates will receive one of our PREMIUM conference bags! In addition, several of our Sponsors and Exhibitors have generously donated items for your swag bags and raffle prizes. All delegates will receive a Sponsor/Exhibitor Passport. Fill in the necessary stamps and/or signatures to enter yourself into the draw for major prizes including a weekend away and a free conference registration (including hotel) for 2024! We strongly encourage you to visit all of our Sponsors and Exhibitors as a way to appreciate them for their very generous donations and fees which provide substantial cost savings to keep delegate fees at a minimum.
Sunday Night Informal Networking
We invite you to join your OSCA/ACOSO Board of Directors in the hotel restaurant on Sunday, October 15th for an informal meet and greet. Details will follow. We will be arranging ourselves in groups: New to Guidance, Elementary, Secondary and Francophone. Feel free to drop by, make new friends, and/or reconnect with old ones!!!!
WiFi
WiFi is provided complimentary by the hotel in your room (for those staying overnight) and in the hotel lobby. OSCA/ACOSO is paying for WiFi access in all of our conference rooms. Delegates will receive a code on the morning of the conference for complimentary WiFi throughout the day. Please do not share this code with anyone who is not a delegate as we have purchased codes for delegates only.
Conference Management System
Some of you will remember that we used SCHED to manage the conference in 2019. We will be using it again this year to organize our event for the day. You can use SCHED on your laptop or mobile device. Use SCHED to:
- view the conference schedule
- view your custom schedule
- evaluate workshops and other daily events
- chat with fellow attendees (in order to chat, you must make your profile and schedule public when you set up your account)
- access venue maps for workshop locations
- view and communicate with Sponsors and Exhibitors
Desktop:
- Once you have paid for your registration, you will receive an invitation to visit our website:
https://oscaacoso2023conference.sched.com - Choose your workshops. Complete this step immediately upon registration to avoid disappointment. Workshops will be closed once they reach room capacity.
- Set up your account and profile if you do not already have one.
- Make your profile and schedule public if you want to receive messages and chat with fellow attendees, including workshop presenters, sponsors and exhibitors.
Mobile:
- Once you have paid for your registration, visit your App Store store to download SCHED.
- Set up your account and profile if you do not already have one.
- Search for our event: OSCA/ACOSO 2023 Conference
- Choose your workshops. Complete this step immediately upon registration to avoid disappointment. Workshops will be closed once they reach room capacity.
- Make your profile and schedule public if you want to receive messages and chat with fellow attendees, including workshop presenters, sponsors and exhibitors.
Tentative Schedule
|
Time |
Event |
Location |
|
7:30am-8:30am |
Registration, Continental Breakfast, Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase Opens |
Graydon Ballroom and Hallways, McCallion Ballroom |
|
8:30am-9:00am |
Conference Opens |
Graydon Ballroom |
|
9:00am-10:00am |
Keynote Address |
Graydon Ballroom |
|
10:00am-10:30am |
Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase and Nutrition Break |
Graydon Hallways McCallion Ballroom
|
|
10:30am-11:20am |
Session 1 Workshops and Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase |
McCallion Ballroom, Graydon Hallways, Graydon Ballroom, North Studio 1/2/3, South Studio 1/2/3, Garden Studio 1 |
|
11:20am-11:30am |
Travel Time to Session 2 Workshops and Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase |
|
|
11:30am-12:20pm |
Session 2 Workshops and Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase |
McCallion Ballroom, Graydon Hallways, Graydon Ballroom, North Studio 1/2/3, South Studio 1/2/3, Garden Studio 1 |
|
12:20pm-1:30pm |
Awards Luncheon |
Graydon Ballroom |
|
1:30pm-2:00pm |
Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase |
Graydon Hallways McCallion Ballroom |
|
2:00pm-2:50pm |
Session 3 Workshops and Sponsor/Exhibitor Showcase |
McCallion Ballroom, Graydon Hallways, Graydon Ballroom, North Studio 1/2/3, South Studio 1/2/3, Garden Studio 1 |
|
2:50pm-3:00pm |
Travel Time |
|
|
3:00pm-3:15pm |
Conference Closing and Prizes |
Graydon Ballroom |
|
3:15pm-4:15pm |
Annual General Meeting |
Graydon Ballroom |
How do I get Conference Funding?
Everyone who attends our conference will tell you that it is a professional highlight of their year. Inspirational, fun, networking and learning are all aspects we carry back to our schools for the rest of the year. Our members return home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated with new ideas and friendships.
We do our best to keep your conference expenses as low as possible by offsetting actual costs with Sponsor and Exhibitor opportunities (please try to visit their booths in return to support them).
How do I get funding? Ask:
- your Department Head if there is any money in the department budget to assist,
- your Principal to see if any school fund could cover it,
- your SHSM Board Lead as there are Ministry Dual Credit/SHSM workshops plus
- many other workshops related to skilled trades,
- your Student Success Lead as many workshops focus on strategies to improve student success,
- your Co-op Consultant since there will be workshops related to the world of work,
- your Subject Council Chair as they may have access to funds or know where to look (some boards have PD/Conference funding), and/or
- your union representative since unions often offer PD funds.
Meet our Exhibitors
