Celebrate! (OTF Report)

Every Year OTF, in partnership with OTIP (the Ontario Teachers’ Insurance Plan), recognizes the outstanding work of educators across Ontario. The OTIP Teaching Awards were established in 1991 and are held in conjunction with World Teachers’ Day, Oct. 5. Three annual awards are offered for teachers in Ontario’s publicly funded schools: one for elementary, one for secondary, and one for a beginning teacher. TFO (now known as the Ontario French Language Educational Communications Authority) joined the program to provide specific awards for francophone teachers. A number of ETFO members are among those who have been honoured by this very successful program.

Brian Robertson, a member of the Limestone Teacher Local, was named the outstanding elementary teacher of 2011. Brian was described as having an enviable gift for ensuring that all students were active and engaged learners. He was often seen with his guitar in hand for French lessons or guiding a student walking tour of Mountain Grove, Ontario near Land O’Lakes Public School. His efforts to address student needs would find him rewriting a play to include a student with autism and designing courses for his young runners to meet each of their needs and provide them with frameworks for success. Brian retired this past summer, but we are confident that his many interests and passions have served as examples to the countless students and colleagues who had the privilege of working and learning with him. Congratulations, Brian, and best wishes for a long, healthy, and rewarding retirement!

OTF Fellows

OTF also celebrates the achievements, dedication, and service of members and partners with whom we work. The OTF Fellowship was inaugurated in 1964 to commemorate OTF’s 20th anniversary. The first OTF Fellowship was presented to the Honourable George A. Drew, then minister of education and premier. Since that time, ETFO (and its predecessor organizations) have nominated many individuals for this special recognition. ETFO General Secretary Gene Lewis and Deputy General Secretary Marilies Rettig were named Fellows of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation prior to th formation of ETFO. ETFO presidents, first vice presidents, and OTF table officers are counted among the Fellows of OTF.

Many long-serving and dedicated staff members have also been awarded fellowships for their work on behalf of the membership. This past August, OTF welcomed two of ETFO’s recently retired staff into the Fellowship circle: Joan Littleford and Christine Brown.

Throughout her career ETFO executive assistant Joan Littleford worked with intense passion in the area of early learning and full-day kindergarten garnering respect for ETFO throughout the province and beyond. Christine Brown, most recently coordinator of Protective Services at ETFO, was the calm and dedicated researcher whose work provided the foundation for collective bargaining. She was also an advocate for disability issues.

As past president of OTF and OTF Table officer for ETFO, I was also privileged to receive a Fellowship this year. The legacy of those I join is truly humbling.