In the Field Newsletter Volume 33

AddToAny

OCASI In the Field
Volume 33
Message from the Executive Director

Debbie DouglasOntario's ‘activist' Premier, Kathleen Wynne and Minister responsible for Women's Issues, Tracy MacCharles launched their plan to combat sexual violence and harassment just in time for International Women's Day. At a time of heightened public awareness about issues of sexual violence and harassment against women, due in large part to the sensationalized case of Jian Ghomeshi , the once celebrated star and host of our public broadcaster's flagship talk show Q, and films like Fifty Shades of Grey, which some people believe normalizes sexualized violence against women, this plan is timely and necessary.

Read more of Debbie's observations on change happening in the sector

OCASI Member Feature

Immigrants as Nation Builders - Special Blog Series

Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community ServicesAccess Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services warmly invites contributions to a new blog series called Immigrants as Nation Builders which is going to be hosted as a special blog series on Newcomerhealthmatters.com. This special blog post series will feature everyday examples of how immigrants are transforming Canada, within and through the opportunities and adversities they face.

Check it out

OCASI Happenings

New Look for Settlement.Org!

Settlment.Org OCASI is excited to announce that Settlement.Org has been redesigned with a clean, easy-to-use look. The new design, which was launched in February, follows basic accessibility standards and is in line with the latest trends in user experience and design. It now features a single long-page design, is mobile friendly​ and has more options for social media sharing.

Check it out: Settlement.Org

Forum Immigration LGBTQIA* francophone en Ontario – Besoins et services

À l'occasion de la dissémination des résultats de l'étude Évaluation des besoins des nouveaux arrivants francophones LGBTQIA en Ontario, menée conjointement par FrancoQueer et OCASI, nous vous invitons à participer gratuitement au Forum provincial qui aura lieu :

Date : Lundi 23 mars 2015
Lieu : Centre communautaire The 519 Church, 519, rue Church, Toronto
Heures : De 10 h à 16 h 30

Inscription/ RSVP: Avant le 15 Mars

Lire la suite

Prevention Of Sexual Abuse of Patients

OCASI participated in consultations on the Prevention of the Sexual Abuse of Patients, by the Task Force reviewing the Regulated Health Professions Act (1991), on February 28, 2015. The Task Force was appointed by Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, to begin its review in January 2015.

Read more for the OCASI recommendations and presentation

Sector Happenings

Solidarity Against Inequality - Anti-Poverty Assembly

The Ontario Common Front and the Ontario Federation of Labour are calling on you to join students, workers, retirees and community and anti-poverty activists at an Anti-Poverty Assembly on April 17 and 18 at the University of Toronto. Together, we will draft, develop and launch a “Solidarity Against Inequality” campaign, designed to put pressure on the governments of Ontario and Canada to take meaningful and immediate action to end poverty in all of its forms.

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. on April 17 through to 6:00 p.m. on April 18, 2015
WHERE: OISE Building, 252 Bloor St. W., University of Toronto

Click here to register online, download the full call-out, registration form and promotional poster

Ontario Eliminates Cap and Extends Time Limit for Wage Recovery

There is no longer a ceiling on the amount Ontarians can claim for wages owed. Employees also now have up two years to recover those wages, under recent amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). Passed last fall, The Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014 eliminates the $10,000 cap on the recovery of wages that the Ministry of Labour can order an employer to pay and increases the period of recovery to two years. These changes apply with respect to any unpaid wages that come due on or after today's date.

Read more

It's Never Okay: A Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan

The Ontario Government has launched an action plan to help change attitudes, improve supports for survivors who come forward about abuse, and make workplaces and campuses safer and more responsive to complaints about sexual violence and harassment.

We all have a role to play in stopping sexual violence and harassment. This campaign asks the viewer: #WhoWillYouHelp? As bystanders, it aims to makes us pause and think, while providing us with information and encouragement to intervene when we see sexual harassment or violence happening.

The report and ad are available at ontario.ca/whowillyouhelp


 

Diversity and Equity in Mental Health and Addictions Conference 2015 Cross-cultural Perspectives on Recovery and Resilience

This Conference on ‘Cross-cultural Perspectives on Recovery and Resilience' is coordinated by Hong Fook Mental Health Association and will be held in Toronto on Friday May 15th, 2015 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. TARGET AUDIENCE: Health care providers, settlement service workers, peer support workers, school board personnel, policy makers, directors, CEOs for hospital/community agencies, first responders, and funders as well as consumer, family members, students and the community at large.

Online registration

International Day of Pink Day Of Pink

April 8th, 2015 marks the International Day of Pink. It is a day where communities across the country, and across the world, can unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, transmisogyny, and all forms of bullying.

Each year on the second Wednesday of April, millions of people wear pink and take a stand. The Day of Pink is a symbol, a spark, that empowers and inspires youth across Canada to create amazing social change! We invite everyone to celebrate diversity by wearing a pink shirt and by organizing activities in their workplaces, schools and communities.

For more information: dayofpink.org