Newsletter | September 2025

Message from Registrar & CEO Gillian Slaughter

Dear registrants,

I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Registrar and CEO of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. It is a privilege to serve in this role and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with a profession that makes such a meaningful difference in the lives of people and communities across Ontario.

At the heart of the College’s work is our mandate to protect the public by ensuring that occupational therapists provide safe, competent, and ethical care. In working together with occupational therapists to maintain the public trust, the College’s role goes beyond setting standards and expectations. We are here to support registrants with guidance, tools and resources needed to meet those expectations in practice and continue delivering exceptional care to the public.

Your commitment to high quality practice is what makes occupational therapy so impactful. Whether you are working with someone to adapt to life after illness or injury, supporting participation in school or work, or promoting independence at home, the work you do is central to the health and well-being of so many.

Your feedback, insights and experiences are vital in helping the College stay responsive to the realities of practice and the evolving needs of the people to whom you provide services. I welcome open dialogue as we move forward and hope you will contact me and the wonderful staff at the College. Together, we can ensure that regulation continues to support both professional excellence and the health and safety of the public.

As we mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, we encourage you to take time to reflect on the role we all share in advancing reconciliation. You can visit www.whose.land to explore and deepen your understanding of the Indigenous territories connected to your community, and learn about the Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities) on or of those territories.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to the profession and to the people you serve. I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.

Warm regards,

Gillian Slaughter

Registrar & CEO

College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario

Important News

Information and Updates

Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day —a time to honour the survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. We invite registrants to take a moment to reflect on our shared responsibility to advance reconciliation.

At the College, our commitment to reconciliation is supported by the Indigenous Insights Advisory Committee, which plays a vital role in helping us listen, learn, and integrate Indigenous perspectives into our work. The Committee is made up of occupational therapists who represent a cross section of current occupational therapy practice with either lived experience or practice experience related to Indigenous Peoples. 

The Committee provides thoughtful recommendations to the COTO Board and its committees on occupational therapy practice relevant to Indigenous Peoples. Their insights have shaped several key initiatives, including:

•  Updates to College policies

•  Development of new practice resources and

•  Scenario development for the National eLearning Module: Advancing Culture, Equity and Justice in Occupational Therapy Practice 

Their contributions help ensure that the College’s work supports culturally safe, equitable, and effective care for all communities.

Welcome to the College,

New Registrants!

We’re excited to welcome more than 150 new grads to the occupational therapy profession in Ontario.

A reminder that you are now part of COTO's public register. To confirm the information in your profile, visit the public register and enter your name in the search. Your registration status is listed under Registration History. 

Are you looking for guidance on getting started as a registrant? The Welcome Guide is a helpful resource to introduce you to programs, resources, and requirements and will help you find need-to-know information.

We’re glad to have you with us! 

Legislative Progress Supports Broader Goals – Our Work Continues

We are pleased to acknowledge the recent Ministry of Health announcement of proposed scope of practice changes for a range of health care professionals, which represents a meaningful step forward in improving access to health care services in Ontario. This development reflects growing recognition of the critical issues at stake and helps lay a stronger foundation for future progress.

Consultations are open to the public through the Ministry until November 3, 2025. We encourage registrants to share their perspectives.

Consultations on the proposals are also accessible using the following links:  

• Consultation on proposed changes to scopes of practice for several regulated health professions to support greater access to diagnostic imaging. 
• Consultations on proposed changes to optometrists’ scope of practice. 
• Consultations on proposed changes to certain psychologists’ scope of practice to advance access to certain mental health services in Ontario. 

The College remains committed to advancing a clearly defined, evidence-informed scope of practice for occupational therapists in Ontario. The Ministry’s announcement presents a timely opportunity to engage in discussions about scope that support access, safety, and consistent quality care.  

Building on this momentum, the College will connect with system partners to identify where occupational therapists can contribute even more meaningfully within Ontario’s evolving health system. These efforts will be guided by patient and caregiver needs, supported by data, and aligned with Ontario’s broader health goals.  

Further updates on our initiatives will be shared as we move forward. 

OSOT Member Discount for Student Preceptors/Supervisors

If you were a student occupational therapist preceptor/supervisor in the past year (2024-25), you are eligible for a 10% discount on your Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) membership fees if you renew before October 1st.

OSOT values the contributions of preceptors and supervisors who support the education of students and are important in shaping the future of the profession.

For questions or concerns, please email us at osot@osot.on.ca. Please note that discounts cannot be combined.

Save the Date: Let's Talk Practice (Webinar Series)

Supporting new and returning occupational therapists: your questions answered

Do you have questions about documentation, consent, boundaries or other practice related topics? For example, are you wondering if you can take a job that provides virtual occupational therapy services to clients who live across Canada? Or what you should do if your employer asks you to make a correction to the clinical record?

Join the occupational therapists on our Practice team for a live webinar November 19 from 12-1pm. We will be taking questions and supporting registrants who are new or returning to the profession.

Sign up to hold the date! You can add a question when you register or email practice@coto.org. The team will also address questions submitted during the session.

QA Requirements Reminder

Annual Learning Plan and eLearning Module are due October 31

Reminder: Your Quality Assurance requirements are due October 31st. The annual requirements include both the Annual eLearning Module and Annual Learning Plan (all sections).

Need help? See our Mapping a Path to Success: Goal Setting Made Simple resource for help with writing your goals. You can also access our SMART goal worksheet.

Reminder: Check Your Profile

Reminder: if there have been any recent changes affecting your information with the College, make sure to check and update your profile in the COTO Portal.

For some OTs, it may also be time to update your insurance information with the College. Remember to check your policy for your expiration date.

You are not required to send us a copy of your insurance certificate unless the College contacts you directly to request documentation.

Questions? Need help? Contact our Registration Team at registration@coto.org.

New Ontario Health Resource

Guidance on Palliative Care

Ontario Health recently released new guidance on palliative care delivery: Palliative Care Health Services Delivery Framework Recommendations for a Model of Care to Improve Palliative Care in Ontario.

The guidance focuses on adults receiving palliative care in hospital settings and recommendations to help ensure that the right care is provided by the right provider at the right time.

Information on Seasonal Respiratory Illnesses

Fall immunization programs and Seasonal Respiratory Pathogen Guide

The Government of Ontario recently announced that it is preparing to launch its fall immunization programs. As we transition to the colder seasons, the risk from influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory pathogens is again expected to rise.

To help prevent serious illness, everyone is encouraged to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they become available as well as RSV immunization for those eligible.

In case you missed it, Ontario’s Ministry of Health also recently released its Seasonal Respiratory Pathogen Guide.

Practice Q&A

Should I take on an occupational therapy student?

Occupational therapists play a vital role in shaping the next generation of practitioners.

Supervising students is not only a regulatory expectation—it’s a strategic opportunity. By engaging with learners, occupational therapists help ensure that practice remains current, safe, and aligned with both the College standards and organizational policies that protect client safety and quality of care.

Read our Q&A to learn more about why occupational therapists should consider taking an occupational therapy student.

Looking for the Standards of Practice and other resources?



Resources are available here: Practice Standards and Guidance

Tip: 📑 Bookmark the page for future reference!

October Board Meeting

Our next Board of Directors meeting is October 30, 2025

Want to learn more about decisions that affect the profession and the public we serve? The next College Board meeting will be held on Thursday, October 30th, 2025.

Meetings are open to the public. Meeting dates and materials are posted online.

Do you know someone who would like to be added to our mailing list?

They can sign up here. Have additional comments or suggestions for the College email news? Send your thoughts to communications@coto.org.

Any changes to your profile information in the last 30 days? Make sure you update your profile.

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