2024 Policy Conference


2024 Policy Conference

OMSSA hosted over 370 human and public services leaders from across Ontario for our in-person 2024 Policy Conference held on December 4th and 5th in Toronto, Ontario. 

Thank you to all of those who presented, moderated, attended, engaged, and helped make the Conference a success. Our Conference provided the opportunity to bring human services leaders and policy experts, together with provincial leaders, stakeholder organizations, and other subject matter experts with the goal of discussing policy priorities into 2025 and beyond.

Over two days, our 2024 Policy Conference focused on strategic conversations about the policy priorities into 2025 and beyond. This includes key issues such as: social services provision, supporting human services delivery, Indigenous women's safety, changing the narrative on homelessness, aging in place, building capacity in child care, employment service transformation, measuring the impact of municipal social services, person-centric systems, and much more. 

Full Program Details


Resources

Please see a list of approved resources to share with attendees and members. OMSSA will add approved presentations and resources when they are received. 


Welcome Reception - Feed Ontario

Day 1 Plenary: Reconciliation with Indigenous Women: The Role of Municipalities in Improving Indigenous Women's Safety and Responding to the National Crisis of MMIWG

Breakout B: Transforming the Future of Aging in Place Through Innovative Solutions

Breakout C: Solving CWELCC Expansion: Building Capacity for Not-for-Profit Child Care



Breakout G: Supporting Your (Social Services) Staff as Client Complexity Increases

Breakout I: More Than Circling the Parking Lot: How Service Navigation Changes the Employment Landscape & Pathway to Enhanced Health Services - A Public Health Partnership Pilot

Breakout M: Working Towards More Equitable Access to Child Care: A Review of the Subsidy Access Pilot and the Crisis Spaces Pilot

Breakout O: From Streets to Stability: The Role of Supportive Housing in Sustainable Solutions


Thank You to Our Sponsors










Thank You to Our Advisory and Planning Committees


Advisory Committee

  • Fern Dominelli, NOSDA

  • Michael Jacek, AMO

  • Sarah Lukaszczyk, OFIFC

  • Michelle Squires, CMHA Ontario

Planning Committee

  • (Co-Chair) Tod Duncan, OMSSA

  • (Co-Chair) Nalisha Sankreacha, OMSSA

  • Doug Ball, OMSSA

  • John Connell, County of Simcoe

  • Davina Dixon, City of Toronto

  • Charene Gilles, Rainy River DSSAB

  • Mitri Hanna, City of Ottawa

  • Christie Herrington, OMSSA

  • Rob Kirsic, OMSSA

  • Satinder Klair, Regional Municipality of Niagara

  • Wade Matthews, District of Muskoka

  • Laura Sparling, Regional Municipality of Peel

  • Sara Turner, Regional Municipality of York

  • Darryl Wolk, OMSSA

Policy Conference Photos

Please see below a small selection of photos from the 2024 Policy Conference.
Ashley Quan from Feed Ontario providing the Welcome Reception presentation for attendees.
Opening Plenary Panel on Day 1 of the 2024 Policy Conference focusing on the economic and policy issues in 2025 and beyond. 

OMSSA Executive Director, Doug Ball, and AMO Executive Director, Brian Rosborough, pose for a photo after re-signing the Memorandum of Understanding between both Associations. 
Breakout C Presentation

Breakout E Presentation hosted by York University. 
Breakout D Presentation

2024 Champion of Human Services recipient, Janine Mitchell, being recognized by OMSSA Board Member Andrew Scavarelli on Day 2 of the Policy Conference.
2024 Patti Moore Human Services Integration recipient, Gail Spencer, being recognized by OMSSA Board Member Andrew Scavarelli on Day 2 of the Policy Conference. 

Day 2 Opening Panel with several ADMs.
Day 2 Closing Plenary provided by Peter P. Constantinou, President and CEO, Political Acuity Institute, and OMSSA Facilitator.