District 13 is excited to introduce the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) Women’s Advocate program. This program was created to support members of OSSTF/FEESO by promoting awareness of domestic violence, and by connecting members, who are experiencing domestic violence or who know someone experiencing domestic violence, to community services that can help.
Women’s Advocates provide:
- confidential support to members to find help when a member or someone in their family is experiencing domestic violence
- information on how to reach a supportive counsellor or a domestic violence worker in their community
- help and contacts to locate legal advice, shelters, or other community resources
- information on types of leaves or assistance available from employer and union
- assistance when dealing with union representatives and/or employer
There are four Women’s Advocates in District 13. They are members of OSSTF who volunteer outside of their regular workday to respond to calls for assistance. Advocates have been jointly trained by OSSTF/FEESO and the University of Western Ontario’s Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women.
To contact a Women’s Advocate:
- Call into the district office at 905 668 7100 and our staff can connect you with one of our Women's Advocates OR
- Email Orit in the office at: orit.orlovsky@d13.osstf.ca
Community Resource List
A document describing available community resources for members addressing violence against women can be found as an attachment at the bottom of this page.
Durham Children's Aid Society
1320 Airport Blvd. Oshawa, Ontario L1J 0C6
Phone: 905-433-1551
Hours: 24/7