The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is pleased to announce the election of Toula Kourgiantakis, RSW as Council President, and the election of the Council Executive Committee for 2020/21.
“It’s a great honour to be elected by my colleagues to serve as President of the College Council,” said Toula, who was elected on September 9, 2020. “We’re entering a pivotal time in the College’s history as we look to implement the strategic priorities outlined in our 2020-2023 Strategic Plan while addressing the unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic racism.”
Toula is an Assistant Professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. She teaches courses on social work practice in mental health and her research interests are in social work education and equity-focused family-centred practices in mental health and addictions. Her research and teaching are informed by more than 25 years of clinical practice across different settings.
Toula was first elected to Council in 2017. Last year, she served on Council’s Executive, Standards of Practice, and Titles and Designations Committees.
“Serving on Council has been a valuable experience and I’m very proud of the work that Council does in the name of public protection,” said Toula. “Council supports the operations of the College to ensure that the public is served by social workers and social service workers who are committed to delivering professional, ethical, qualified and accountable care.”
“I look forward to working with Toula and Council as we operationalize the College’s strategic priorities in the current planning period,” said College Registrar and CEO Lise Betteridge. “The College is serious about public protection: We will continue engaging our stakeholders and working diligently to raise awareness of the College and its important regulatory role.”
The College would also like to welcome the newly elected Executive Committee members of Council for 2020/21:
- Toula Kourgiantakis, RSW – President
- Mukesh Kowlessar, RSSW – Vice-President
- Déirdre Smith, Public Member – Vice-President
- Sanjay Govindaraj, RSW – Executive Member
- Shelley Hale, RSSW – Executive Member
- Pamela Murphy, Public Member – Executive Member
The Council is the 21-member governing body and board of directors that manages and administers the College’s affairs. Council oversees the policy direction of the College as it fulfills its mandate to protect the public interest. The Executive Committee is a statutory committee of Council. It provides leadership to Council and facilitates its efficient and effective functioning.
To learn more about the Council, including member biographies, visit the OCSWSSW Council Members webpage.