OCASI Executive Directors Forum

This is a time of growth and transformation for Ontario’s immigrant and refugee serving sector. The Executive Directors Forum gives sector leaders the opportunity to dialogue on sectoral priorities, issues and concerns with their peers and with representatives from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and other stakeholders.

Goals and Objectives

The goal of the OCASI Executive Directors Forum 2010 is to come to a shared understanding and commitment to work together to build and sustain an inclusive and immigrant and refugee-centered settlement and integration strategy for Ontario.

Its specific objectives, to be met through plenary presentations, seminars and workshops are:

• To strengthen the dialogue on immigrant and refugee settlement and integration among OCASI members, and between OCASI, government decision-makers, funders and other stakeholders;
• To strengthen the capacity of OCASI members agencies to engage more effectively with Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s modernized approach to settlement;
• To strengthen organizational capacity and advance the professionalization of the sector;
• To facilitate the understanding and process of building constructive, formal and informal relations with external and new players in settlement and integration;
• To continue the dialogue on the future of settlement and integration in Ontario through the vehicle of a renewed Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement.

Audience

Building on the success of four years of Executive Directors Forums and regional meetings, this event will bring together more than 200 Executive Directors and their designates from autonomous, community-based, immigrant and refugee serving organizations across Ontario.

Executive Directors Forum Program

The Forum’s program includes plenary presentations and discussion sessions, seminars and workshops.

Plenaries

The plenaries will include the participation of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, academics and other relevant stakeholders. A preliminary program includes updates on the CIC Modernized Approach to Settlement Programming and COIA (Canada Ontario Immigration Agreement), discussions regarding changing immigration priories, etc. Additional topics are being prepared by OCASI in cooperating with our membership, Board of Directors and CIC.

Seminar / Workshop Topics

This year we are committed to prioritizing seminars on a broad range of themes that are of critical interest to sector organizations. We invite you to submit a proposal for a seminar or a workshop that would address one or more of several major areas of interest identified by OCASI members through surveys and periodic regional and provincial meetings and discussions. You could also submit an innovative proposal on other themes that would be of interest to this audience.

The major areas of interest are:

• Governance (eg. corporate leadership, risk management)
• Collaborations (eg. partnerships like Hubs/LIPs; other collaborative relationships)
• Managing in a modernized environment (eg. new Human Resources practices)
• Telling/Selling our stories (eg. working with media; public education, communication)
• Funding (eg. sources of funding; critical elements; fundraising)
• Research (eg. community based research; using data)

Overview and Guidelines of Application

IMPORTANT: Please note that OCASI expects that all presentations will be grounded in an anti-racist, anti-oppression analysis.

1. Our expectations of a Seminar

This format features one or two speakers who will make presentations on their area of expertise and engage in a discussion on the topic. The format is intended to further participants’ understanding, awareness and engagement with the topic. The proposal should indicate what participants can expect to gain from this session.

2. Our expectations of a Workshop

This format features an interactive, presentation/training, based on an experiential adult learning model. The proposal should include: * A summary of the learning objectives * Delivery strategies to be employed during delivery of the workshop such as lecture, case studies, focus group discussion, analysis, etc.

3. Workshops in French

Consistent with OCASI’s commitment to increase the use of French we welcome sessions delivered in French.

Schedule:

Presenters will receive detailed scheduled information at the time you receive confirmation that your proposal is accepted.

Workshops / Seminars may be between 1.5 and 3 hours in duration and are scheduled during the day.

Deadlines

If your organization or an individual in your organization is interested in delivering a session at the Executive Directors Forum, please complete and submit the online Session Proposal Application Form available at www.ocasi.org/edproposal by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 23, 2010. Please note that proposals arriving after that date will not be considered for this year’s Forum. Incomplete proposals will not be accepted.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome by Friday, August 20, 2010. Approved facilitators will receive schedule details and complete logistical information, and will be asked to sign a contract with OCASI.

Honoraria

Facilitators from OCASI Member Agencies, NSP and CIC-funded agencies:

No honoraria. Free accommodation and meals will be offered for the day of the presentation. OCASI will reimburse for travel expenses as per OCASI Travel Expense Policy Guidelines.

Facilitators from other organizations and independent consultants:

Up to $500 per session to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Free accommodation and meals for the day of the presentation, where necessary. OCASI will reimburse travel expenses as per the OCASI Travel Expense Policy Guidelines.

Facilitators for Information Session / Facilitated Discussion

No honoraria or paid accommodation. Free meals offered for the day of the presentation. OCASI will reimburse for travel expenses as per OCASI Travel Expense Policy Guidelines.