OSRP’s 30th AGM was a resounding success!

A new complement of inspired and talented Members were voted onto the slate and became Board Directors on November 18, 2022.

This year’s AGM ended with a crescendo of cheers, applause and a commitment to elect the largest group of volunteer Board Members that the OSRP has ever seen or dreamed of! This is a clear sign of a thriving Association, and it is thanks to your votes, your membership, your volunteer work and your ongoing commitment to the OSRP that we are here.

Your feedback (in the chat and verbally) was unanimously positive and supportive, and you not only voted in the 2022-2023 slate, but provided a clear mandate (“yes” vote rates of 95% or higher, zero “no” votes on any resolution) to the new Board as represented by the leadership of the AGM. Quorum was achieved and maintained until the end of the three-hour meeting, which concluded with cheers, claps and expressions of gratitude and trust that the OSRP is in good hands.

A few examples of Member contributions from the AGM via Zoom “chat” – all of which were read aloud, because YOUR voices are important – include:

When at first we were a few members short of quorum, a number of you made valuable suggestions, and pitched in to help:

~ “...could folks reach out by email or phone to see if we can get a few more attendees?”

~ “...let's shoot to get 15-20 more, via proxy or attendance”

Many positive comments followed the Land Acknowledgement video prepared by Kimberly Cato, following a description of the Board’s work in this area over the past year:

~ “Beautiful  ❤️”

~ “Beautiful land acknowledgement, Kimberly. Thank you.”

~ “Thank you. So beautiful, thoughtful.”

~ “We just reached quorum”

~ “well done everybody!”

Below is the link to the Land Acknowledgement video, as requested by members who attended the AGM.

Click here to view Acknowledging the Land Within video

Honouring fellow psychotherapists who passed away since the last AGM is our way of acknowledging their contribution to this work. We lost three people this past year, one of whom was a former Board member. We sincerely thank the member who shared the name of one of these three at the AGM, who we did not yet know had passed away, so we could commemorate together.

Rest in Peace to the dearly departed:

Joan Lacroix, Clinical Member, Retired. OSRP Member Nov 1994–Oct 2022

Richard Lowery, Clinical Member, former Board Member-at-Large. OSRP Member March 2017–Nov 2022

Mikela Ronning-Philip, Clinical Member, Retired. OSRP Member Sept 1996–June 2022

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Members expressed felicitations and gratitude to Sonya Gotziaman and Rozanne Grimard as each received the “Honours of the Society Award”:

~ “Congratulations to Sonya and Rozanne!”

~ “Thank you for such a heartfelt acceptance speech. Congratulations!”

Re: the www.taxfreetherapy.ca campaign:

~ “I’m so grateful for all the hard work done to table this issue with the government - Thank you to all on the Task Force!”

~ “Nikki has taken this [Connect] committee and transformed it into a massive member benefit, keeping people informed and connected and supported, which is what makes an association a home. Way to go, Nikki!!

RE: The 11 BIPOC Bursaries provided last year:

~ “I agree Kimberly…I’m so very proud of our organization...taking action, not just words. Excellent.”

~ “Kimberly, thank you so much for all your hard work in EDI which is paramount. Your weaving of EDI into everything we do is necessary!”

Re: Sarah Posh and the CRPO Committee:

~ “Thank you for representing us so well. Much appreciated.”

Re: 2022-23 Slate of Board Members:

~ “This is so exciting! We dreamed of a day when the board would have many members…”

~ “Congratulations to all of you! Thank you and may you have a wonderful experience!!”

~ “This AGM is so exciting to me. I am recalling our first AGM 30 years ago. What wonderful work you are all doing and have done to bring our organization to this place. Congratulations!”

~ “Many thanks to everyone who worked and prepared things for this meeting, beyond all the work that you do throughout the year :)”

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The Nomination Committee is honoured to welcome and orient all new Directors during this Interim period before our first Board Meeting on December 9.

Before the end of the calendar year, you and all members in good standing will receive:

• A link to the video of the AGM
• Draft minutes of the AGM (which will be voted on at next year’s AGM), including all motions passed and vote tallies.
• A copy of the AGM Zoom chat PLEASE NOTE - IF YOU WANT TO REMOVE YOUR NAME FROM YOUR CHAT COMMENT, PLEASE EMAIL EVONNE at mail@psychotherapyontario.org. IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU IN THE NEXT WEEK, WE WILL TAKE THAT AS CONSENT TO PUBLISH YOUR ZOOM NAME ABOVE YOUR COMMENT.
• A link to updated bios and photos of all current OSRP Directors
• A list of Executive Committee members and committee Chairs, with open calls to join committees where there is a need for more volunteers

We thank you for your time, your energy and your trust in us to serve the OSRP faithfully over the coming year. It is thanks to you that we are in this wonderful position to do meaningful work on behalf of our honourable profession.

May you have a victorious day,

Kimberly Cato (Co-Chair, Nomination Committee)

Rachel Fulford (Co-Chair, Nomination Committee)