Welcome

District 13 OSSTF represents approximately 1450 permanent and 740 occasional teachers along with over 100 Professional Student Services Personnel in Durham region. Our union provides services to its members to protect them in their work and to enhance their professionalism through professional development workshops, health and safety training, collective agreement in-servicing and regular communications and public relations highlighting the teachers in our schools.

Land Acknowledgement

District 13 OSSTF is committed to providing space to honour Indigenous folks who were here on this beautiful land long before settler arrival.  We acknowledge that many Indigenous Nations have longstanding relationships, both historic and modern with the territories upon which our members work and our union operates.  We recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples throughout Turtle Island.

 

This region forms part of the traditional and treaty territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nations, the Mississauga Peoples, and the treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nations.  We would also like to acknowledge that prior to these treaties, the land was stewarded by various communities including the Haudenosaunee and Wendat confederacies.

 

Our land acknowledgement does not function as closure, resignation, or acceptance of the structural conditions of settler colonialism that remain in effect today.  We recognize the impact of colonialism and our responsibilities to redress the ways this has helped shape the education system and our organization.  We also recognize the sovereignty of all Indigenous Nations as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and we are committed to honouring the Truth and Reconciliation recommendations.

 

To honour the Indigenous Peoples of this territory, we will take up our responsibility to be respectful of their traditions, knowledge and to care for this land and its waters for future generations.  We would like to thank all Indigenous Peoples for sharing this land so we may come together in a good way.

2025 Provincial OSSTF Student Achievement Awards

The OSSTF Student Achievement Awards is a writing and creative arts competition, which is open to all public secondary school students in Ontario. The competition is meant to encourage the intellectual development of our students and an interest in society.

OSSTF/FEESO invites student writers and artists to submit creative work exploring this year’s theme: Is Anyone Out There?. Judging will be held at the school, district, regional and provincial levels. Eight provincial winners will be awarded $1000 each in prizes and will be invited to our Annual General Meeting in March, where a video showcasing their work will be screened.

Schools must submit their winning entries to local district offices no later than November 15, 2024. Remember that student work must first go to your local district office, not directly to provincial office. District offices will then submit their winning pieces to the provincial office by December 6, 2024. Finally, provincial winners will be acknowledged and celebrated at our OSSTF/FEESO Annual Meeting of the Provincial Assembly (AMPA) in March 2025.

Guidelines, entry forms and helpful tips for students and supporting staff Members for the Student Achievement Awards are available online at the provincial OSSTF website here.

Joint D13/DDSB PD Day:

Please note that the 'Call for Proposals' for our November 15, 2024 PD Day are now open!

The proposal form can be completed using the following google form:

PD Proposal Form

If you plan to have a guest speaker, the following google form must be completed:

PD Guest Speaker Form

Our OSSTF/DDSB joint PD Day will be held on November 15, 2024. The theme for this year is "Weaving Wellness through Curriculum" with a combined focus on curriculum and wellness. We encourage you to be a presenter. Presenters design workshops dedicated to the theme, however, all curriculum related workshops can be submitted for consideration.

We encourage everyone to think about the future of education and our role in leading the way in best supporting our students and colleagues. If you would like to present a professional development session, please complete the proposal form.  All proposals will be reviewed jointly by the District 13 Professional Development Committee and DDSB. Sessions must have curricular connections, support student learning, and reflect sound anti-oppression and equity pedagogy.

 

 

 

Active Retired Members

Retired members can continue their OSSTF involvement though membership with Active Retired Members. Please click on the image to visit the website.

District 13 OSSTF Women's Advocate Program