Holiday Dinner
2025-12-11 16:30 - 21:00 (America/Toronto) | Kedron Dells Golf Club, 2400 Ritson Rd N, Oshawa, Select a State:, L1J 8P8, Canada
DOTL Holiday Dinner and Party

Join us to celebrate the holiday season with a traditional turkey dinner, music and games.

Winter Break
2025-12-22 08:00 - 2026-01-04 17:00 | Ontario
The ETFO Durham OT Local’s office will be closed from December 22nd to January 4th, 2026.
In case of emergency, please contact ETFO Provincial Emergency line at 1-888-838-3836

Schools Reopen
2026-01-05 | Ontario
Schools Reopen after Winter Break

Menopause Session January 8, 2026
2026-01-08 17:00 - 20:00 | Ontario

Indigenous Learning
2026-01-20 16:30 - 18:30 | Durham District School Board, 400 Taunton Road E, Whitby, Ontario, L1R 2K6, Canada
The Indigenous Education Elementary Curriculum team invites you to an evening of learning.
January 20, 4:30-6:30 PM
Durham District School Board Head office- room 1D

Executive Meeting
2026-01-21 16:30 - 19:00 | Durham OT Local Office, 107 - 1077 Boundary Rd, Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 8P8, Canada
January 21, 2026 4:30 – 7:00 pm
DOTL Office Meeting Room

Power Teacher Report Writing Workshop
2026-01-22 16:30 - 18:00 | DOTL Office, # 107-1077 Boundary Rd., Oshawa
Learn to use Power Teacher to write report cards, with Ryan Tyndale.

Enhanced CPR/Medical Emergency Training
2026-01-27 16:30 - 21:30 | Durham OT Local Office, 107 - 1077 Boundary Rd, Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 8P8, Canada
This half day (5 hours) training session is designed to support occasional staff. Participants will receive CPR-C certification through the Life Saving Society upon completion.
Your DOTL PL committee is proud to partner with the DDSB Health and Safety department to be able to bring OTs this important workshop. Along with receiving your certification, awareness of other medical emergencies will be covered such as: choking, allergic reactions/Sabrina’s Law, Respiratory Emergencies (asthma), bleeds, shock, diabetes, seizures and emergency scene management. In order to receive the certification you must be present and participate in all 5 hours of the workshop.
Only 25 members are able to register. registration will be open through MY PD through the board as well as here. Please make sure you register in both spots. The link is here: ENHANCED CPR-C / AED Certification – View Section – Professional Learning
We are especially grateful to the Health and Safety department for covering all costs associated with this event.
Also keep a watch for a full standard first aid training coming in February. It will consist of 7 hours online and 7 hours in person.

Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy (CRRP)
2026-02-04 16:30 - 18:30 | Durham OT Local Office, 107 - 1077 Boundary Rd, Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 8P8, Canada
ETFO presenter Manprit Rai will provide members with the opportunity to reflect on how our identities impact our practice and to consider how student identities and their lived experiences inform CRRP from an ETFO perspective.

AI in Educ. p2
2026-02-10 16:30 - 18:30 | Durham OT Local Office, 107 - 1077 Boundary Rd, Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 8P8, Canada
Join Ryan as he shares part 2 of his original fall AI workshop. He will continue opening up ways to integrate the DDSB supported Gemini platform into your classroom.
Bring a device and prepare to be excited!
Imagine being able to speak on a DDSB approved resource in an interview! Come to this workshop and leave with the knowledge to do exactly that.

UFLI Part Two
2026-02-17 16:30 - 18:30 | Durham OT Local Office, 107 - 1077 Boundary Rd, Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 8P8, Canada
UFLI Foundations, part of the science of reading
The DDSB has implemented the science of reading as the foundation of literacy programming. UFLI is an integral part of structured literacy in the classroom.
Please join your ETFO Durham OT local Professional Learning Committee in welcoming presenter, DDSB teacher Allison Theis for this super important workshop.

Living and Teaching with Energy, Ease and Flow
2026-02-24 16:30 - 18:30 | DOTL Office, # 107-1077 Boundary Rd., Oshawa
Learn to enhance well being from the wisdom of yogic science.
Are you feeling depleted at the end of the day? Stress, worry, fear, overwhelm, overwork taking your time and energy? Losing your sense of purpose and job satisfaction?
In this workshop we will explore strategies from the ancient tradition of yoga, current research and our collective experience in the classroom. This is an introductory session to powerful tools for enhancing physical, emotional and mental well being for occasional teachers.

DOTL General Meeting and Dinner
2026-02-26 16:30 - 21:00 | Jubilee Pavilion
Come to the meeting to help with the business of the Local. Consider amendments to our Constitution and the Financial Statement. Ask questions and have your say.
Stay for dinner and some fun! More information to follow.

Supporting Students with Behaviour Needs
2026-03-04 17:00 - 18:30 | DOTL Office, # 107-1077 Boundary Rd., Oshawa
Wondering how to recognize and support your students’ with behaviour needs? This workshop explores stress, behaviour, and trauma informed practices through both an anti-oppressive framework and health and safety legislation. Educators will leave with strategies and resources to support students with the exceptionality of behaviour in the regular classroom.

March Break
2026-03-13 - 2026-03-20 | Ontario
All DDSB schools open on Monday, March 23rd, 2026.

MLL with the DDSB
2026-04-08 16:30 - 17:30 | Durham District School Board, 400 Taunton Road E, Whitby, Ontario, L1R 2K6, Canada
This session will introduce Occasional Teachers to practical ways of supporting Multilingual Language Learners (MLLs) using AI and a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach.

Deadline to Submit Nomination
2026-04-10 | Ontario
To run, complete the online nomination form under “Forms” on the website by April 10, 2026. (If needed, search “Elections” to locate the form.) Candidates may run for one position and, if unsuccessful, choose to run for another.

Google Gemini Notebook LM
2026-04-20 16:30 - 18:30 | Durham OT Local Office, 107 - 1077 Boundary Rd, Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 8P8, Canada
Join Ryan as he teaches the Google Gemini Notebook LM. It’s perfect for researching and Ryan will share how it can be used to learn new curriculum expectations, teach new units, and how it fits well for teachers new to the profession or to a grade. We’ll also explore Gemini Live.

Come and join our resident tech presenter Ryan Tindale as he guides you through new technology from Google Gemini. Learn how it can be a powerful tool to make the lives of teachers easier.
When: Monday April 20, 2026
Where: Durham Occasional Teachers’ Local- 1077 Boundary Rd Oshawa, Unit 107
Time: 4:30- 6:30pm
There will be refreshments and a door prize as always. This workshop also counts towards the $100 gift card. Looking forward to this one.

Day of Action - April 29, 2026
2026-04-29 | Ontario
April 29, 2026
A Province-wide Day of Action by all education workers.
Wear RED for Ed. Wear your “Smaller Classes, Big Difference” buttons.
If you’re working that day, join in with your school. If you’re not working, join a school close to you (find out what their plan is), or go to your MPP’s office.

Make & Take Event
2026-05-05 16:30 - 19:00 | Durham OT Local Office, 107 - 1077 Boundary Rd, Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 8P8, Canada
Join your PL committee as well as Connie Zoet and George Taylor for an evening of excellent information and leave with a make and take calm down kit for your daily assignments.

Participants will hear Connie Zoet share her famous classroom management workshop for about 1 hour, then president George Taylor will speak about news that is important to the membership. This will also be a time for you to ask questions and receive answers about anything you wish to know. He will speak for about an hour, then for the last half hour will be the creation of the calm down kit. Choose from special cards that offer breathing techniques and other strategies as well as fidgets to allow students to borrow if you feel they are becoming agitated or need some time to themselves. You will be laminating and choosing your items for your kit. You will walk away with amazing knowledge and an amazing kit to help in your daily work. We look forward to sharing this special event with you.

Online teaching portfolio using WIX
2026-05-12 16:30 - 18:30 | Durham OT Local Office, 107 - 1077 Boundary Rd, Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 8P8, Canada
Ryan will teach you how to put your teaching portfolio online using WIX, a simple website builder. Then you can share it in your upcoming June interviews. He’s given this workshop to DOTL teachers for 7 years and to hundreds of teachers. It’s a popular one.

Join your PL committee and Ryan Tindale as he shows you how to transfer your teaching experiences into an online portfolio for you to show at interviews.

DOTL Annual Meeting and Dinner
2026-05-28 16:30 - 21:00 | Kedron Dells Golf Club, 2400 Ritson Rd N, Oshawa, Select a State:, L1J 8P8, Canada
Join us for the Annual Meeting, followed by a delicious dinner, music, and good conversation.
4.00 pm – Doors open
4:30 pm – DOTL Annual Meeting (including the Financial Report, introduction of 2026-28 Executive,
and recognition of retiring members).
5:30 pm – Bar opens, hors d’oeuvres circulated
6:00 pm – plated dinner
Please note: This event is for members only. Reimbursement for Dependent Care is available.
Sign in before 5:00 PM to receive a special gift from DOTL!

PA Day
2026-06-05 | Ontario

ETFO OT Conference
2026-06-05 18:00 - 2026-06-06 15:30 | ETFO Provincial Office, 136 Isabella Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 0B5, Canada
June 5, 6-9pm to June 6, 9:30-3:30pm
From Handbook to Classroom
Over this engaging two-day conference, occasional teacher (OT) members will gather to dive into the newly released ETFO resource The Occasional Teacher’s Handbook: Developing an Effective Classroom Environment and Culture. Participants will have the opportunity to share ideas and strategize on how to bring confidence, clarity, and calm to occasional teaching.
To apply, submit the application and registration form through events.etfo.org. Registration extended until May 4. There is a $50 registration fee.
Costs for release time, travel, meals, and accommodation are covered per ETFO provincial guidelines.

Last Day of School
2026-06-25 | Ontario

DDSB PA Day
2026-06-26 | Ontario
