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Message from the Chair

Dear CTL Community,

On Friday, February 13—a day that defied its reputation as unlucky—I stood in the OISE auditorium in front of over 800 students, faculty, alumni, and community members and welcomed everyone to the MT Research Conference. Each year, second-year MT students conduct an independent research project, write a paper, and then present their work to their peers and the larger CTL community. The room was electric, and I was overcome with a mixture of excitement and deep gratitude.

So much work goes into organizing this event—a huge thanks to the staff and faculty who work behind the scenes to put it all together, and a special thanks to Angela Vemic for coordinating MT research activities and Lisa Juan for organizing the event. The range of presentations was staggering. Students tackled some of the biggest and thorniest issues of our time, from the disruptive potential of AI in education to the importance of creating inclusive classrooms for neurodivergent students, and from critiquing Ontario’s destreaming policy to supporting children dealing with complex grief. I encourage you to check out the program and see the amazing work our students produce.

The research component of the MT program sets us apart. Our graduates enter schools as passionate, engaged educators and future school leaders.

I’m also delighted to share that our Language and Literacies Education Program now offers an MEd in Language Teaching that is officially accredited by TESL Ontario. This is a significant milestone and a testament to the dedication and persistence of our colleagues. My sincere thanks to Shakina Rajendram, Jeff Bale, and the many LLE faculty members who worked so hard to bring this to fruition. This accreditation strengthens our program and creates meaningful new pathways for our students. We look forward to celebrating the launch of this program in the fall. Keep an eye out for an announcement.

Behind the scenes, our practicum team has been working tirelessly to support our teacher candidates. Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, all of our teacher candidates have been successfully placed in schools. Coordinating placements at this scale is no small feat, and we are deeply grateful for the care, coordination, and commitment that made it possible.

Even in the busiest stretches of the term, I’m continually struck by the generosity and collaboration that define CTL.

You’ll see in the stories that follow that many members of our community have been busy—finishing their dissertations with the support of their committees, securing resources for their research, and earning recognition for their contributions to the field.

For now, we are stuck in February, the longest short month in Toronto. It is my ardent hope that the snow melts soon, the green grass returns, and we all emerge from our winter cocoons to greet spring. While we wait impatiently for that change, I hope you’re able to find small moments of rest and renewal amid the pace of academic life. Thank you for everything you do. It’s a privilege to work alongside you.

Warmly,

CTL Student Experience & Equity

The CTL Student Experience & Equity Team continues to work behind the scenes to keep the CTL community informed on events and resources and provide supports around mental health, well-being, accessibility and community resources. Contact the team at oise.ctl.equity@utoronto.ca  

1) Let's Get Set Together

March 2nd, 2026 | 12:10pm-12:55pm | 11-244 and
March 9th, 2026 | 12:10pm-12:55pm | 11-244 and
March 23rd, 2026 | 12:10pm-12:55pm | 11-244 and

Join other students to be guided through a reflection of the past week, planning for the upcoming week, sharing tools to help us stay on top of our work.

2) CTL Yarn Group

March 3rd, 2026 | 3:30pm--5:00pm | 11-204
March 24th, 2026 | 3:30pm--5:00pm | 11-204

A relaxed, welcoming space for beginners and experienced makers alike. Whether you crochet, knit, or are just curious, come stitch and connect with us!

3) Making Room for Ramadan: Brought to you by MEA x MSWSA

We’re pleased to share that the Muslim Educators Association (MEA) and the Muslim Social Work Student Association have booked designated spaces on campus for students who need a place to break their fast and pray the sunset prayer (Maghrib) during Ramadan. These spaces are available for those who may be in evening classes or on campus at the time of iftar and need a clean, quiet environment to pray. We hope this helps ease the experience of observing Ramadan while balancing program commitments. Spaces are available daily during Ramadan, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, in the following rooms at ������Ƶ:

• Monday, OI 3310
• Tuesday, OI 3311
• Wednesday, OI 3311
• Thursday, OI 2227
• Friday, OI 3310

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For more information from the CTL Student Experience & Equity Team, visit the page on the for Events, Community Resource Pages and more.