Please Note: The Member Participants for this conference have already been selected by the PYC Committee
Dear Members:
This is to advise you that the OPSEU/SEFPO Young Workers Conference has been scheduled.
Date: Friday October 13, 2023 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday October 14, 2023 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday October 15, 2023 9:00 am –12:00 pm
Hotel: Sheraton Centre Hotel
123 Queen St West
Toronto, Ontario M5H 2M9
Phone: 416-361-1000
Single rate: $305 + taxes
Meeting Room: Civic Ballroom
Registration: Friday October 13, 2023 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Parking: 110 Queen Street West (Nathan Phillips Square Garage)
Monday – Friday: Day Max. (7am – 6pm): $22.00, Night Max. (6pm – 7am): $7.00
Saturday & Sunday – Maximum (7am – 7am): $9.00
*Please note: as per policy, valet parking is not a reimbursable claim.
Note: This is an in-person event. The hybrid option is no longer available as we did not meet the minimum participant requirement.
OPSEU/SEFPO’s Provincial Young Workers Committee will be hosting the annual Young Workers Conference. This year’s event titled, “Solidarity is a Verb! Collaborating to Build Worker Power and Political Action” will provide the tools to remove barriers for young workers in their workplaces, union and communities. This conference will focus on action planning, the development of intergenerational solidarity and providing a space for young voices to be heard. Guest speakers will inspire but will also challenge young workers to examine their own
strengths and weaknesses. Workshops and related activities will focus on ways to mobilize, harness social media, improve collective agreements and motivate political action.
Hotel Room Bookings
OPSEU/SEFPO will make the hotel reservation on behalf of the member when they request a hotel room while registering through the Member Portal. Please note that the 60 km rule has been waived for this event.
OPSEU/SEFPO will be booking all hotel rooms centrally. Hotel rooms will be reimbursed on a single room basis.
Members are responsible for payment of their hotel room upon check out as there are no charges billed back to OPSEU/SEFPO. Please save your itemized receipt and submit it with your Membership Expense Claim Form.
The single room rate is $305.00 plus taxes per night.
You must notify the hotel of any special accessibility needs that you may have with respect to your hotel room.
Any additional nights outside of this policy must be pre-approved by the First Vice-President/Treasurer’s office, regardless of Region or distance from the event.
Human Rights Accommodation Request Form
Should you require a human rights accommodation or have an existing accommodation under the Human Rights Code, please complete and submit the Human Rights Accommodation Request Form in full.
Family, Dependent and Attendant Care are covered expenses for this event for those who require it at the event or at home.
Meals
Meals will be covered on these dates:
1) Travel days for those staying at the hotel and who live beyond 60km from the event.
2) Friday, October 13, 2023: Dinner
3) Saturday, October 14, 2023: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
4) Sunday, October 15, 2023: Breakfast and Lunch
OPSEU/SEFPO Child Care Policy
OPSEU/SEFPO undertakes to provide childcare services, when requested, at all union educationals, conventions, regional, divisional and demand-setting meetings where the membership requests at least three weeks prior to the event. Members who bring their children to OPSEU/SEFPO sponsored functions should normally be required to use the on-site child care service if it is available. The three-week notice will ensure adequate time to process advances when requested. If no requests for on-site child care are received three weeks prior to the activity date, childcare arrangements for on-site child care may not be made. If members then bring children to the event without the required notice, the member should be responsible for making his/her own child care arrangements.
Please Bring Your Collective Agreement (CA) With You
Workshop exercises may include an analysis of your collective agreement. Please bring a physical or virtual copy to the conference. Log in to the Member Portal to check if your collective agreement has been published for you. Alternatively, you may contact your Staff Representative or the nearest Regional Office for a copy of your collective agreement.
Procedures for Online Registration
Online registration forms for this meeting are now available. Members will be able to complete and submit the Member Event Registration Form, Hotel Booking Form and Registration for Child Care through OPSEU/SEFPO’s Member Portal.
Attached you will find the following documentation:
1. Advance Form
2. OPSEU/SEFPO Human Rights Accommodation Form
3. Member Portal Quick Intro
4. Event Registration Tutorial
5. Online Expense Claim Tutorial
Please register no later than Monday, September 11, 2023.
We appreciate your cooperation and participation in these meetings.
In Solidarity,
OPSEU/SEFPO Young Workers Committee
Authorized For Distribution:
JP Hornick OPSEU/SEFPO President
Tentative Conference Agenda
Friday October 13, 2023
5:00 to 7:00 PM Registration (dinner on your own)
5:00 PM Smudging Ceremony
5:30 to 6:30 PM New Delegate Orientation
7:00 to 7:20 PM Welcome, Conference Logistics, Meet the PYC
7:20 to 7:40 PM Icebreaker/Networking Activity (Rock/Paper/Scissors)
7:40 to 8:00 PM OPSEU/SEFPO President, JP Hornick and OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice-President/Treasurer, Laurie Nancekivell Conference – Opening Remarks and Welcome
8:00 to 8:55 PM Solidarity is a Verb! “Ask Me Anything” Panel Discussion
8:55 to 9:00 PM Wrap-up and Adjournment
Saturday October 14, 2023
8:00 to 9:00 AM Breakfast (not provided), Registration Re-opens
9:00 to 9:10 AM Morning Announcements,
9:10 to 10:45 AM Keynote Speaker: Sandy Hudson, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter
10:45 to 11:00 AM Break
11:00 to 12:30 PM Workshops A or B
12:30 to 2:00 PM Lunch (not provided)
2:00 to 3:30 PM Workshops C or D
3:30 to 3:45 PM Break
3:45 to 4:30 PM Wrap-up Activity
4:30 PM Wrap-up and adjourn, Dinner (not provided)
8:00PM to 11:00PM Social Event at The Ballroom Bowl 145 John St. Toronto (Child Care Provided at Sheraton Hotel)
Sunday October 15, 2023
8:00 to 9:00 AM Breakfast (not provided)
9:00 to 9:20 AM Morning Announcements / OPSEU/SEFPO Young Worker of the Year Award Information
9:20 to 10:30 AM Guest Speaker: Darcel Bullen, Legal Counsel, Ontario English Catholic Association
10:30 to 10:45 AM Break
10:45 to 12:00 PM Solidarity Project, Conference Wrap-Up, Evaluation, and Traveling Song, Adjournment