Trauma-Informed Workplaces: Building Affirming Workspaces
April 14, 2026 4:30 - 6:00 PM

Trauma can impact the ways in which we understand and respond to people and situations. In this workshop, we will explore how trauma can affect a person’s behaviour and communication, as well as create barriers to coping with stress. By recognizing these signs and responding with empathy, educators can help create safer, more supportive workplaces. We will explore practical ways to build trust, promote psychological safety, and approach interactions with compassion rather than judgment. Being trauma-informed isn’t about diagnosing or “fixing” others; instead, it is about fostering awareness, patience, and understanding. When colleagues feel seen and supported, they’re better able to care for themselves, their students, and each other.

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.

Communicating with Parents/Caregivers, Co-Workers, and Administrators
April 15, 2026 4:30 - 6:00 PM

In this workshop, we will explore strategies for communicating effectively across a wide range of situations, from everyday interactions to more complex, sensitive, or challenging conversations. Drawing on common workplace scenarios, we will examine ways to identify and work toward shared solutions, while cultivating self-advocacy skills. Participants will leave with practical techniques they can apply in their work with students, colleagues, families, and administrators. Confident, intentional communication supports positive outcomes for all, including our own wellbeing.

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.

Transforming an Adult Learning Environment Through Universal Design for Learning
April 21, 2026 4:30 - 6:00 PM

This workshop in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for adult learners highlights the principles of UDL and explores how they can be applied to meet the diverse needs of adult learners in the classroom and in professional learning environments.
Participants will gain insight into adult learning characteristics, explore the core UDL principles of engagement, representation, and expression, and leave with practical strategies that support equity, accessibility, engagement, and learner success.
Whether you're new to UDL or looking to enhance your practice, this session will help you reimagine how learning can work for everyone.

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.

Your Financial Future: Your Money – Your Pension
April 22, 2026 4:30 - 6:30 PM

This workshop is intended for members who want to know more about their pension. It is especially important for members in their first ten years of teaching. Teacher data reveals that members will spend more time as retirees than as classroom teachers. Members will learn to make the best decisions when: taking leaves of absence, such as maternity leaves or unpaid leaves; changing careers; upgrading your qualifications to maximize both your salary and your pension income. As well, other advantageous features of the Teachers’ Pension Plan will be reviewed. This valuable information is for you: whether you are a new teacher, or a mid-career teacher, don’t miss the opportunity to listen in and be better informed about your money!

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.

Your Mental Health and Wellness: Resources for OECTA Members
April 23, 2026 4:30 - 6:00 PM

As teachers, we dedicate ourselves to supporting the well-being of our students, colleagues, and loved ones, often at the expense of our own mental health and wellbeing. In this workshop, we will explore mental health and wellness resources and supports available to OECTA members, and we will examine key information and strategies. We will also identify external supports to raise awareness of options for professional care, community-based programs, and digital tools. Above all, this session reinforces the vital message that you are not alone. As an OECTA community, we are in this together and supports are within reach.

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.

Prioritizing Your Mental Health
May 7, 2026 4:30 - 6:00 PM

As teachers, we lead busy lives, and the school year can become hectic. We face many challenges that can drain our batteries and impact our mental health and wellness. This workshop will provide you with practical tips that will assist you in reducing stress, managing workload, prioritizing self-care, and navigating various situations during your workday. You will leave ready to start or continue on a path forward that centers your needs.

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.

Mental Health for Men: Cisgender and Trans Men
May 12, 2026 4:30 - 6:00 PM

Conversations about mental health in general are still clouded by stigma. While men and women experience mental health challenges at similar rates, men are often less likely to seek help due to stigma, social expectations and fears of appearing “weak”. In this session, we will talk about some practical strategies for supporting men, including recognizing signs of distress, encouraging conversation without judgment, and promoting various resources. We will focus on the importance of awareness, openness, and early support. Building a culture of understanding and compassion supports mental health for all.

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.

Your Financial Future: Your Money – Your Pension
May 13, 2026 4:30 - 6:30 PM

This workshop is intended for members who want to know more about their pension. It is especially important for members in their first ten years of teaching. Teacher data reveals that members will spend more time as retirees than as classroom teachers. Members will learn to make the best decisions when: taking leaves of absence, such as maternity leaves or unpaid leaves; changing careers; upgrading your qualifications to maximize both your salary and your pension income. As well, other advantageous features of the Teachers’ Pension Plan will be reviewed. This valuable information is for you: whether you are a new teacher, or a mid-career teacher, don’t miss the opportunity to listen in and be better informed about your money!

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.

Mental Health for Women: Cisgender Women and Trans Women
May 19, 2026 4:30 - 6:00 PM

Join us in a conversation about mental health in the workplace. While men and women experience mental health challenges at similar rates, cisgender and trans women report higher rates of poor mental health and mood and anxiety disorders than men (CMHA, 2024). We will move forward together as we build awareness around how to recognize and respond to signs of distress, encourage conversation without judgment, and prioritize self-care and self-compassion. The conversation will emphasize the importance of self and communal awareness as well as the value and impact of early support. This workshop is rooted in the understanding that broader societal and personal circumstances are a part of the mental health equation, and that building a culture of understanding and compassion in the workplace helps improve mental health for everyone.

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.

Gender Diverse Educators and Mental Health: A Conversation for OECTA Members Under the Trans Umbrella
May 28, 2026 4:30 - 6:00 PM

The Canadian Mental Health Association acknowledges what many in trans communities have long known: that the disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges faced by transgender individuals are due to discrimination and stigma, including in the workplace. OECTA invites trans and/or non-binary members to a conversation and affinity space to share experiences with mental health as teachers. The session will be co-facilitated by Dr. Lee Airton (they/them), Associate Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies in Education at Queen’s University in Kingston who researches and advocates on gender and sexual diversity issues that impact pre-service and in-service educators.

Registration: Use the “Register for Spring 2026 WebExperiences” button above and select this session.