A Region 3 Equity Conference to be held Friday, January 30 to Sunday, February 1, 2026 at Fern Resort – 4432 Fern Resort Rd, Orillia ON L3V 6H5Deadline for application: Please email your completed application form to [email protected] by Monday, Dec 22 2025 by 4 pm ESTPLEASE NOTE: You will receive a confirmation letter if selected by Jan 6, 2026. With the confirmation letter, you will receive a Request for Time off form, Advance Form, Childcare Request Form and a Human Rights Form. Rooms must be booked with the hotel prior to Jan 19, 2026

Changes to Expense Claims

The Member Portal (opseu.org//members-login) is the quickest way to have your expenses processed. Please see the E-Claim tutorial in your Members Profile under the Documents menu.If you choose to use a paper expense claim – only one event is allowed on each form. Multiple events on one form will be returned to the member for correction.

Per Person Rates Including 18% Event Services Fee and HST*	Friday Night: Per person rate includes: Friday accommodation and Saturday breakfast	Saturday Night: Per person rate includes: Saturday accommodation, lunch & dinner, Sunday breakfast, meeting package, and resort amenities	Two Night: Per Person Total Including 18% Event Services Fee and HST.
OPSEU Member	$240	$319	$745.37
Children 1-3	Children are free on Friday Night!	$70	$93.34
Children 4-12	Children are free on Friday Night!	$140	$186.68
Children 13-17	Children are free on Friday Night!	$209	$278.68
Adult Companion Rate**	$160	$239	$532.03

Meals that are included in the room rates will not be allowable expenses even if you do not eat at the resort.Additional Guests – please notify the hotel directly to let them know you are bringing additional guests, so they can be added to the meal arrangements. Rates are as in above chart. This payment will be charged in advance of arrival. Upon check-in participants and paid guests will be provided with a bracelet, allowing them to eat with the group.Expenses for dependent care will be paid for or provided in accordance with OPSEU’s policies.Lost wages will be reimbursed for shift workers only in accordance with current OPSEU policy. Documentation must be submitted with your claim.Own time is not paid for a weekend education.Time off arrangements – Please see form attached regarding time off.Check-in time: after 4 p.m. on FridayCheckout time: by noon on Sunday.Should you require additional information, please reach out to Katrina Cairns at 249-881-0109.

Tentative Schedule

Friday Night (7pm-9pm)

• Welcome introductions to Equity Region 3 reps
• Indigenous welcome (Jordyn Assisting)

Saturday (9am-5pm)

Welcome

1. Land Acknowledgment
2. Statement of respect
3. Explain the circle for conference is and its
4. Complete community Agreement
5. What is a community agreement? Develop in
6. Share with entire group (poster paper)
7. (What are you worried about coming into this. What is your hope, where are you in the journey)
8. Have everyone determine where they fall into the Social Justice (All members should be able to identify where they fall in.)

Break

9. What is cultural identity, what levels of cultural/community identities and who is responsible for creating conditions and upholding? (advocating for)
   1. Each table shares one example
   2. What are all identities important

Lunch

10. Understanding of the Human Rights institutions (3)
11. History of Human Rights

• Tables
• Each table assigned one moment in history
• What surprised you about this moment?
• How are we doing since Have we moved forward or stagnated?
• How do we move forward with this?
• How does this show up in OPSEU/SEFPO?

Close

Sunday (9am-12pm)

Welcome

12. Meditation (JHC provided) to
13. Discussion of Human rights, social justice and moving forward
14. Taking action – How do we through real action/change make moves in social action – Resolution
15. Create a Plan to
16. Present action plan to
17. How do we take this back to Locals and discuss with other members?
18. How to talk about where local members are at in the Social Justice journey?
19. Check Out – Where are you now in the social justice journey, how are we feeling in this space as we close?

Close

Information Sheet

Application

• Application forms must be received by the Orillia Regional Office no later than Monday December 22, 2025 by 4:00 pm.

Cancellations

• A member cancelling participation must notify the Local President and the Orillia Regional Office as soon as If you have booked a room at the F e r n Resort, and you are cancelling, do not forget to cancel your room.
• Failure to cancel within 24 hours, the Resort’s assessed penalty will be one day’s accommodation plus applicable taxes, and a further $50.00 penalty will be deducted from the Local’s next rebate. Extenuating circumstances will be considered. (quantum of penalty under review).

Allowance/Reimbursement

• Members will be reimbursed for family/attendant care at $15.00 an hour, to a maximum of $220.00 in a 24-hour period.
• Childcare claims will be honoured for children up to and including 16 years of age, for whom the member is
• Care may be provided by friends/family, professional or commercial services, or any other arrangement satisfactory to the member making the claim. Claims may be verified and must be signed by the service provider. A spouse is excluded from the list of eligible care providers.

Elder/Dependent Care

• Members who have responsibility for elderly/dependent persons living with them as part of their family may claim their care.
• Members will be reimbursed for family/attendant care at $15.00 an hour, to a maximum of $220.00 in a 24-hour period.
• This policy covers the expenses for persons over the age of 16, permanently residing with, and under the care of a member, who are differently abled and/or aged. A spouse is excluded from the list of eligible care

Statement of Respect

Harassment or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated at OPSEU functions.

Harassment or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated at OPSEU functions.Whenever OPSEU members gather, we welcome all peoples of the world. We will not accept any unwelcoming words, actions or behaviours against our union members.We accord respect to all persons, regardless of age, creed, political affiliation and racialization including and not limited to People of African descent, Black, Caribbean, South Asian, Asian, Palestinian, women, men, First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, members of ethno-racial groups, people with disabilities, gays, lesbians, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, and gender diverse persons, francophones and all persons whose first language is not English.In our diversity we will build solidarity as union members. If you believe that you are being harassed or discriminated against, inform the Facilitator or Instructor for immediate assistance.We also remind you of our policies that designate all OPSEU events as scent-free, nut-free, and smoke free.