News & Articles

We know that icy roads, heavy fog, or unexpected snowstorms are nobody’s idea of fun - especially when you’re balancing concern for your students and your own well-being. Your safety is our top priority. You are the ultimate judge of your own safety, and are encouraged to use your best judgment when deciding whether it is safe to report to work during inclement weather. Remember, this applies to current weather conditions, not predictions of what might happen later.

Thanksgiving invites us to pause and reflect on the people and values that sustain us. In our schools, gratitude is woven into the everyday work of supporting students, building caring communities and defending public education. Your dedication, compassion and collective voice make a lasting difference for students, families and colleagues across our communities.

There are moments when our collective voice matters most, and this is one of them. The future of public education is shaped not only at bargaining tables or in the Legislature, but also by the willingness of education workers and their communities to make clear, publicly and collectively, what they are prepared to stand for. Governments pay attention when public concern becomes visible, sustained and impossible to dismiss. On October 24, we have an opportunity to make that concern visible across Ontario.

I hope everyone had a great summer and that you were able to find some time to relax, recharge, and spend some time with family, friends, and loved ones. It is hard to believe that another school year is already here.

Before we close the door on another school year, I simply want to say thank you. Thank you for the difference you make every day in the lives of students, for the support you provide to one another, and for the many ways you have strengthened our Local throughout the year. Together, we have shown what is possible when educators stand united in support of public education.

In the upcoming days, schools will be electing Workplace Stewards and Alternates for the 2026–2027 school year. Next year will be a significant one for our Union. With bargaining on the horizon, we know there will be challenges ahead, and we will need strong teams in every school to help keep members informed, engaged, and connected.

Pride 2026 Resources and Events

Yesterday, I had the privilege of joining a group of ETFO Thames Valley members at Queen's Park to meet with Terence Kernaghan, MPP for London North Centre, and discuss the ongoing impact of chronic underfunding on Ontario's publicly funded elementary schools.