Message from the CESBA Board Chair and Executive Director

CESBA was incorporated in 1999 with the mission, stated in its Letters Patent,  “to promote and advance the cause of adult and continuing education.”

We have seen what access to adult and continuing education (A&CE) can do. When we move from a kindergarten to Grade 12 model to a “K to success” model, we fulfill our promise of education to all Ontarians. We offer a path of hope to those who faced barriers as younger students. We build an engaged workforce embarking on fulfilling careers. We uplift families and break generational cycles. We ensure the literacy and life skills to participate in civic life is available to everyone. We create a welcoming new home where newcomers can fully contribute. In essence, we provide hope.

As we mark a quarter century of championing school board A&CE programs and educators, we reflect on their legacy—millions of lives transformed, touching every community across the province.

The following highlights of our work through the 2023-2024 fiscal year from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 reflect the course we are charting through the next 25 years and beyond. Here is a selection of some future-focused initiatives we have embarked on this year.

Levelling Up for Literacy

• We created an ambitious assortment of tools and resources to support Literacy and Basic Skills instructors and program managers this year. These include a program needs assessment tool for administrators to optimize and future-proof their programs; an LBS handbook to orient new leads quickly given high turnover in the sector; and an impact report template for programs to showcase their successes to communities, funders and their own school boards.
• As part of Phase 2 of the Skills for Success project funding, we developed 35 curriculum resources and launched an eLearning platform to house them, sfs.cesba.com. The curriculum covers a wide range of subjects with a strong focus on building workplace skills, such as Grocery Stock Clerk Basics, Introduction to Digital Vocabulary and Becoming an Apprentice in the Skilled Trades.

Meeting the Health Care Labour Needs of Today and Tomorrow

• We embarked on a partnership with the Research Institute for Aging (RIA) to significantly expand “living classrooms” across the province by distributing government funding and expert support. The innovative living classroom program offers PSW students the chance to learn at long-term care homes, which gives them meaningful, hands-on training. It also allows school boards to ramp up their programs quickly through community partnerships.
• Our engagement with the new Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority (HSCPOA) will allow our school board-trained PSWs the opportunity to affirm their exemplary qualifications and provide assurance to employers.

Easing the Path to a High School Diploma

• As the Ministry of Education revises the Policy/Program Memorandum 132 regarding Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition (PLAR), the ministry relies on CESBA to provide training and support to assessors across Ontario. This year, the PLAR regulation revisions lowered the age of eligibility, so younger students at risk of not graduating within the regular timeframe could take advantage of this new opportunity. The result was an expansion of the program into mainstream (secondary) schools. We offered extensive training and resources throughout the year to share our expertise with guidance counsellors and assessors.

Professional Development to Propel Us Forward

• Our 2023 conference brought together well over 400 educators to the sold-out event from all regions of Ontario—our largest gathering in our history. Over 20 workshops explored topics as diverse as adapting to artificial intelligence, incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing, novel approaches to improving outcomes for youth with disabilities and navigating pathways to the skilled trades.
• Dallas Sinopole, who is Anishinaabe from Sarnia and the Indigenous Education Lead with Lambton Kent District School Board, shared his personal story of family trauma and professional success with our members. He gave a powerful reminder of the positive impact of a mentor to change the trajectory of someone’s life.
• Crystal Fachs, also from Sarnia, delivered a presentation on putting allyship into action, including sharing numerous practical tactics for creating a welcoming environment for 2SLGBTQIA+ students and staff.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every educator, administrator, and support staff within our A&CE community for your collaboration over the past two and a half decades. The impact you have had on the lives and communities of Ontario is incalculable and we feel deeply privileged to support you.

Sincerely,

Julie Bodiam
CESBA Board Chair

Paul Cox
CESBA Executive Director

P.S. Julie Bodiam – I have recently retired from Upper Grand District School Board and I left my position on the CESBA Board after eight years, including two as Board Chair. It has been wonderful to collaborate with my dedicated colleagues in advancing adult and continuing education in Ontario. 

Paul Cox – On behalf of CESBA, we are so grateful to Julie for her dedicated leadership on our Board of Directors over the years, and most recently as our Board Chair. We will all miss her joyful energy, and we will carry her tireless commitment to advocating for adult and continuing education forward.