2026 Healthy Democracy Student Leadership Award

Archives: OPSBA News Posts

  • 2026 Healthy Democracy Student Leadership Award

    The Healthy Democracy Student Leadership Award, a partnership between the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), is being awarded in the amount of $1,000 to one graduating English public school student in each of OPSBA’s six regions. Scholarship recipients are students with leadership skills and potential, who…

  • School boards and stakeholders call for broad province-wide governance consultation

    Decisions that remove local democratic representation must support students, families, and communities Toronto, March 11, 2026 – Groups representing all aspects of publicly funded education in Ontario are expressing concerns about recent comments from Education Minister Paul Calandra regarding the potential elimination of elected school board trustees – a system of governance that has been…

  • Black trustees warn provincial supervision is weakening anti-racism oversight in schools

    Toronto, February 24, 2026 – Black school board trustees across Ontario are warning that provincial supervision of four major school boards is weakening oversight of race-based disparities – just as the province marks one year since a landmark human rights report on anti-Black racism in education. The Black Trustees’ Caucus (BTC) of the Ontario Public…

  • The 2026 CSBA Trustee Gathering

    This July, Canada’s education leaders will gather on the traditional territories of the Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) First Nations for a transformative event on the future of public education. The CSBA 2026 Trustee Gathering on Education, Innovation and Reconciliation isn’t just a conference, it’s a commitment to walking together, learning from one another, and…

  • Keep education close to home — democracy is not outdated!

    When buses run late, programs are cut, or a child needs help, families deserve someone who gets their community.  That’s why school board trustees are essential. They’re neighbours who listen, ask hard questions, and keep education decisions close to home.  If the Ford government eliminates trustees, we lose more than oversight – we lose local…

  • 2026-27 Pre-Budget Consultation Submission

    Our 2026-27 Pre-Budget Consultation submission is now online! OPSBA normally shares its funding submission as part of the Ministry of Education’s Core Education Funding consultation process, which did not occur this year. This was unfortunate as this consultation has been the established process by which education experts have provided their evidence-based data and local information…

  • OPSBA and RTOERO partner to offer trustees group health coverage

    The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) is pleased to announce a new partnership with RTOERO (soon to be Entente Education Canada) that will provide OPSBA trustees with access to the Entente Plus Group Insurance Program. This comprehensive, not-for-profit program offers health, dental, hospital and travel coverage, and currently serves more than 100,000 plan members…

  • Democracy is not “outdated”: OPSBA urges government to reconsider Bill 33

    TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2025 – The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), its members, students, parents, and families across Ontario are deeply concerned by yet another blow to local democracy. The government’s decision to bypass the standard legislative process for Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, eliminating the customary opportunity for public input through…

  • Joint School Board and Trustee Association Statement on Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras in School Safety Zones

    October 6, 2025 As leaders representing Ontario’s four publicly funded school board associations, we are united in our concern about the province’s proposal to eliminate automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras in school safety zones. These cameras have been shown to be one of the most effective tools available to keep children and families safe near schools.…

  • 2026 OPSBA Awards: Nominations now open!

    We’re excited to announce the launch of our 2026 Awards Program! After an in-depth review by the OPSBA Board of Directors earlier this year, the refreshed awards program will celebrate the incredible individuals who make the difference throughout Ontario’s public education system.  The nomination period for the following awards is now open! Who in your…

  • The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

    September 30, 2025, marks the fifth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The creation of this federal statutory holiday was through legislative amendments made by the Parliament of Canada.  On June 3, 2021, Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for…

  • Local Government Week 2025 – October 20 to 24

    Local Government Week (LGW) aims to increase youth and public awareness about the important role local government plays in our communities. Please join OPSBA, our member trustees and our education partners in raising civic awareness and promoting the role of trustees among Ontario students.