Council Meeting Highlights for May 6, 2021

The Council is the 21-member governing body and board of directors that manages and administers College affairs. The policies developed by Council provide direction to the College and to staff. May 6, 2021 Mukesh Kowlessar, RSSW, President, provided his report to Council.Lise Betteridge, RSW, Registrar and CEO, presented her report to Council. The report provided updates under each strategic priority in the College’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan and included information about the following: the Professional Practice…

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Registration Now Open for the College’s 2021 Annual Meeting and Education Day

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers invites you to attend its Annual Meeting and Education Day (AMED) on Thursday, June 17 and Friday, June 18, 2021. AMED is part of the Glenda McDonald Educational Series. View the Notice of Annual Meeting of Members. What to Expect This year’s AMED will be hosted entirely online on a conference platform over a two-day period. You will have the opportunity to attend: the College’s…

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Practice Considerations for Social Workers and Social Service Workers Amidst Third Wave of the Pandemic

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) continues to support members in their practice throughout the pandemic. We are deeply concerned about the devastating impact of the third wave of the pandemic on the Ontario public and on College members. Social workers and social service workers practising in hospitals and on health care teams are faced with distinct challenges, both personally and professionally. We remain committed to communicating regularly with…

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Call for Expressions of Interest – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Group

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers has struck a  Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Group to assist us in moving forward on our commitment to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion – a key priority in the College’s Strategic Plan 2020-2023. DEI Task Group - Terms of Reference The Task Group will be co-chaired by Sanjay Govindaraj, RSW, and a non-Council member of the College. In accordance with its Terms of…

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Message from the Registrar and CEO as Ontario Government Enacts Third COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order

Yesterday, the Ontario government announced that it had declared a third provincial emergency in response to the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, the threat on the province’s hospital system capacity and the alarming risk posed to the public by the COVID-19 variants. The stay-at-home order takes effect April 8, 2021. As Registrar and CEO, I recognize that the most recent stay-at-home order adds to our collective anxiety around the COVID-19 pandemic, and to the personal…

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Reminder of Practice Considerations Amidst Government’s Latest COVID-19 Announcement

The Ontario government recently announced a province-wide emergency brake which took effect on Saturday, April 3, 2021 in response to the surge in COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations across the province. The province-wide emergency brake impacts all 34 public health units and puts in place public health and workplace safety measures for a period of four weeks. As the pandemic moves into another year, I want to acknowledge what an extremely challenging time it is…

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Save the Date! 2021 Annual Meeting and Education Day

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers is pleased to announce that it will be holding its Annual Meeting & Education Day (AMED) on Thursday, June 17 & Friday, June 18, 2021. AMED is part of the Glenda McDonald Educational Series. In light of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure the safety of attendees and participants, this year’s AMED will be hosted entirely online via livestream. AMED will…

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Message from the Registrar and CEO: Recognizing Anti-Asian Racism and the College’s Role as Regulator

As Registrar and CEO for the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College), I would like to take this opportunity to respond to recent tragic events as well as the shameful rise in anti-Asian racism and violence in Canada and the United States. Last week, the mass shooting in Atlanta, Georgia took the lives of eight individuals – six of whom were women from the Asian community. Sadly, anti-Asian racism is…

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OCSWSSW New Council President

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) would like to announce that Mukesh Kowlessar, RSSW, has become the Council President in accordance with College bylaws following the recent resignation of Toula Kourgiantakis, RSW, as President on March 10, 2021. The College Council looks forward to continuing to implement its strategic priorities outlined in the College’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan under Mukesh’s leadership. The College would like to thank Toula for her…

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OCSWSSW Members Encouraged to Contact Public Health Unit for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Information

In the last few weeks, the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (the College) has received requests from a small number of public health units asking to share information with members on their behalf about the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The Ontario government’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan is a three-phase plan that prioritizes vaccines for those at greatest risk of illness and those who care for them. Each public health unit is developing…

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