To: All Regional Women S Committees

1

MAY 31ST – JUNE 2ND, 2013, TORONTO, ON

To: All Regional Women’s Committees

All Equity Committees

All Area Councils

All Components and Directly Chartered Locals

All Ontario Locals and Component RVPs and NVPs

C.C: Sharon DeSousa, Regional Executive Vice President – Ontario

Robyn Benson, National President

OntarioRegional Council and Alternates

AndréeCôté, Women’s and Human Rights Officer

Jeannie Baldwin, Regional Executive Vice President – Atlantic

Dear Sisters:

We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2013 PSAC Ontario Regional Women’s Conference (ORWC). The Conference theme is “Reach, Mobilize and Get Involved”. Delegates to the Conference will be selected based on the criteria outlined in the registration application.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

The Conference will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott DowntownToronto hotel(475 Yonge Street, Toronto, OntarioM4Y 1X7) onMay 31 – June 2, 2013. Delegates will travelFriday morning and arrive no later than 12:30 p.m. Registration will take place on Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Conference will begin at 1:00 p.m.sharp on Friday May 31. Delegates will travel home after 12:00 (Noon) on Sunday June 2, 2013.

APPLICATION DEADLINE ISMARCH 29th, 2013

Any applications received after this date but postmarked no later than April 5, 2013 will be placed on a list and considered for any remaining delegate seats.

Sisters from Components, Directly Chartered Locals, Regional or National Officers and who are members of the PSAC Ontario Regional Council are encouraged to attend, however, must do so at their own expense if they are not selected as delegates from their local.

If you are accepted as a delegate or observer, you will receive a letter of acceptance that will request the $100.00 registration fee payable to PSACand forwarded to:

Attn: Colette Mann

PSAC Sudbury Regional Office

Mail:2-754 Falconbridge Road, Sudbury, OntarioP3A 5X5

Fax: 705-674-8652 or by Email:

RESOLUTIONS

Resolutions will be discussed, debated and voted on at the Conference and then subsequently submitted to the appropriate bodies, including the upcoming PSAC National Women’s Conference in November 2013. The resolutions should be aimed at strengthening and improving the Union’s work on women’s rights and advancing our objectives. PSAC constitutionally recognized bodies and union structures are entitled to forward resolutions to the 2013 PSAC Ontario Regional Women’s Conference. Resolutionssubmission deadline is MARCH 29TH,2013 @ 4:00 p.m. EST. Resolutions must be submitted to:

Sandra Goodick

Email:

Fax: 807-344-0704

Mail: PSAC Thunder Bay Regional Office,

Suite 109, 1205 Amber Drive, Thunder Bay, ONP7B 6M4

FUNDING CRITERIA FOR OBSERVERS

Observers are responsible for securing all costs associated with their participation and booking their own travel. Observers may approach their Locals/Components to request funding.

FUNDING CRITERIA FOR DELEGATES:

The ORWC Organizing Committee has determined that all delegates will be funded using the following:

Travel:

• Delegates who are traveling to the conference by airor train will be responsible for booking their own travel using the PSAC-contracted agent, W.E. Travel. Where rail service is available, travel by rail will take precedence over air travel.

• The Courtyard by Marriott does not have a courtesy shuttle to the hotel from the airport. Delegates traveling together are encouraged to get taxis from the airport together.

Personal Vehicles and Mileage/Rentals

• Sisters who choose to drive will be reimbursed according to the PSAC Travel Policy. On a case by case basis, car rentals will also be considered, where it is cost effective.The PSAC will pay for the rental of the vehicle, the gas and insurance fee. Members will not be reimbursed for parking tickets, speeding tickets, 407 or toll charges, transponder fees, or any damage to a rental vehicle not covered by the insurance fees etc.

Loss of Salary:

• Loss of Salary (LOS) will be paid from Friday May 31 – Sunday June 2, 2013for any regularly scheduled hours of work. In addition, LOS may be compensated for travel on Thursday May 30, 2013 on a case by case basis as approved by the Organizing Committee. Arrival time on Friday is estimated between 10:00AM and 12:30PM. LOS for those who are shift workers will be covered provided the request is submitted with a copy of the compressed or work shift schedule. Your currentpay stub,shift schedule, compressed schedule (if applicable)andLWoP form- (where applicable) are required for LOS claims to be processed.

Accommodation and Meals:

• Accommodations will be reserved at the Courtyard by Marriott and directly billed to the PSAC. Sharing a room is not a requirement, however if you do wish to share accommodation with another delegate, please clearly indicate this on the attached application and identify with whom you wish to share. Please note, the more women who are willing to share rooms, the more delegates we can have at the conference.

Breakfast and lunch will be providedon Saturday, June 1ST.

Meal costs incurred during travel will be reimbursed at the PSAC meal rates in effect at the time of the Conference.

This is a SCENT FREE and SMOKE FREE Conference

Marriott International and the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto is a smoke-free facility. The hotel no longer allows smoking in any guestrooms, public areas, meeting space or food & beverage outlets. The hotel will provide special designated areas outside the building where smoking is permitted. There is a charge of $250per occurrenceshould any hotel guest smoke in any guest room(including balconies).The charge of $250 will charged to the credit card used per individual upon check-in.

Occupancy Charges

• There is no additional charge for double occupancy; however, each additional adult above double occupancy will not be paid by PSAC (i.e. spouse/friend).

Parking

• Self parking will be available and directly billed to PSAC – Valet parking will not be paid by PSAC.

Check-In/Check Out times

• Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. and check-out time is 12:00noon. Requests for earlier check-in times or later departure times will be subject to availability, however, every effort will be made to accommodate such requests. Conference room will be available for luggage storage on Friday and Sunday a.m.

Deposit Policy

●$50 per night, plus total room and tax for any guest paying by credit card

●$150 per night, plus total room and tax for any cash paying guest

Incidentals

• Incidentals of $17.30 will be paid to delegates for a total of 3 or 4 days, depending on the arrival day at the Courtyard by Marriott.

On-Site Child Care

• On-site child-care will be provided during the Conference for delegates that indicate the need on their application. Please note: Meals for children, spouses or guests will not be paid for by the PSAC.

FACILITATING AT THE CONFERENCE

• If you are a certified "Alliance Facilitator" or are interested in facilitating as a developmental opportunity, please complete the section on the Registration Form

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The Courtyard by Marriott has a pool, so you may wish to bring a swimsuit.
• We will set up a box for collection of hotel soaps and shampoo, etc. for women’s shelters.
• In-room internet service at the Courtyard by Marriott is complimentary.

In Sisterhood and Solidarity,

Colleen Wice, Sharon DeSousa,

Regional Women’s Committees Regional Executive Vice-President,

Representative,Ontario

PSAC Ontario Council PSAC

For further information, please contact:

Lynn Meston 1-519-659-1124 (223) /

Brenda Shillington 1-416-485-3558 (227) /

Sandra Goodick 1-807-345-8442 /

APPLICATION FORM

2013 PSAC ONTARIO REGIONAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Each of the following questions form the basis of the selection criteria, consequently, please ensure you respond to all questions.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: ______

Mailing Address: ______

(Including postal code)

PSAC Membership #:______

(Mandatory)

Local #:______

Component or Directly-Chartered Local:______

Phone (W): ______(H) ______(C)______

Email (H):______

Email (W):______

Aeroplan #______ (If available)

EMERGENCY CONTACT

Name:______

Telephone#:______

APPLICATION

I am applying as a □ Delegate □Observer

From: □ My Local □ My RWC □ Other, specify ______

T-SHIRT SIZE

(Sm) □ (Med) □ (Lg) □ (XL) □ (XXL) □ (XXXL) □

OBSERVER STATUS

If you are not selected as a delegate to the Conference, do you want to be considered as an Observer?

Yes□No □

(Observers are responsible for securing all costs associated with their participation and booking their own travel)

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

The PSAC has reserved a block of rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott. This hotel is unionized and accessible.

For Delegates only:

□I require specific accommodation for my disability in my hotel room.

□Refrigerator required□Microwave required

Please specify:

______

______

ACCOMMODATION FOR MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES

The PSAC Accommodation Policy for delegates at PSAC Conferences strives to ensure that conferences are barrier-free for delegates with disabilities. Once selected, members may be required to specify further their accommodation needs in order to facilitate their participation at this conference. A separate form will be sent to select delegates.

Please note that observers will be required to arrange for any accessibility needs and/or family care.

□ I will be accompanied by a personal care attendant to assist me at the conference.

Please specify:

______

□ I require documentation in alternative media.

Please specify:

______

□ I require sound amplification.

□ I require a sign language interpreter.

□ I require an oral interpreter.

□ I require that the PSAC arrange for a Reader

(for a person with a visually-related disability) to assist me in order to fully participate at the Conference.

□ I will be using animal assistance (ie. guide dog) at the Conference.

□ I will require other accommodation. Please specify: ______

What are the functional limitations arising from your disability? (You are not obliged to disclose you diagnosis, only your functional limitations.)

______

You may be required to provide relevant medical documentation that will assist us to respond to you request. This information will not be disclosed except where necessary to respond to your request for accommodation.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS OR ALLERGIES

□ I have dietary requirements or allergies that the PSAC should be aware of:

______

______

ON-SITE FAMILY CARE FOR DELEGATES

The objective of the PSAC Family Care Policy is to remove one of the barriers which prevents delegates from participating fully in Union activities and which provides for the reimbursement of family care expenses. A copy of the policy is available through any of the PSAC Regional Offices.

If there are any requests by delegates, on-site child-care will be provided at the conference, please indicate below:

□I require on-site child-care

Number of children: ______Ages of children:______

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

To ensure that the Conference responds to the needs of our members, we invite you to respond to the following questions or check all that apply:

□This is my first PSAC Regional Women’s Conference.

□ I have recently attended other PSAC/Component/Directly-Chartered Locals Conferences, Conventions or functions.

Please specify:

______

______

□ In the last 2 years, I have attended a PSAC, Component or Joint Learning Program (JLP) education course.

Please specify:

______

______

□ I am a member of a PSAC Regional/Component Human Rights or Equity Committee.

Please specify:

______

______

□ I am active in the community for whom this conference is intended (e.g. RWC, Equity, District Labour Council).

Please specify:

______

______

□ I am active in the workplace on women’s and/or equity issues.

Please specify: ______

□ I am an Alliance Facilitator and/or a Joint Learning Program Facilitator and if I am confirmed as a delegate, I would like to be considered to facilitate one of the workshops.

If you are an AF or JLP Facilitator, what courses have you facilitated?

______

______

□ I am NOT an Alliance Facilitator and/or a Joint Learning Program Facilitator but I AM interested in the opportunity to facilitate at the Ontario Regional Women’s Conference.

Briefly explain below why you would like to facilitate.

______

______

EQUITY GROUP SELF-IDENTIFICATION

This information is voluntary and kept confidential and will be used for thepurposes of supporting our equity initiatives and programs.

Please check all that apply:

□ Woman

□ Member with a Disability

□ Aboriginal Member

□ Racially Visible Member

□ Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual or Transgendered Member

□Young Worker (under the age of 30)

PSAC Contact Lists Consent

□Please add my name and email address(es) toone or more of our respective PSAC contact lists. Please note that this information may be shared with different structures of the union only.