a history of curriculum services canada

and vote at that Standing Committee meeting.” A further motion required each partner
organization to nominate one representative to the Work Group for a two-year term (to a
maximum of four years). Differing agendas and goals for OCC were causing strain among
the partners. These measures would help ensure that each member had equal opportunity to
participate fully in all aspects of OCC board activities.
The Work Group discussed questions about the liability of Work Group members and of
partner organizations for activities conducted by OCC. As a result, incorporation was
moved up on the list of priorities and liability insurance was sought to protect all members.
Another ongoing problem for the Work Group was job security for OCC staff. As no clear
role for OCC had yet been identified, no avenue upon which to achieve self-sufficiency had
emerged, and MET funding, uncertain beyond the coming fiscal year, could not be expected
to continue long into future.
On a positive note, catalogue feedback was coming in from boards, teachers, consortia,
subjects associations, and others. Response levels varied, but comments were very positive:
“The catalogue is fantastic … consider this call a vote of confidence for expansion!”
Teacher-librarian, Ottawa
“We at our public school really support this initiative. It’s the way of the future!”
Principal, Parry Sound
“Impressive job … the OCC name is out and around.” Consultant, Nepean
“The catalogue is fabulous … wonderful!” Nurse, James Bay
Even more exciting were indications of interest from other organizations. TVOntario’s
Head of Youth Programming, Kathryn McFarlane (who would later become OCC’s
Executive Director), was considering including TVO materials in the OCC catalogue. The
Asia-Pacific Foundation also indicated that it would like to explore partnership possibilities.
Joint Venture CD-ROM Distributed to Teacher-Librarians
With April came the launch of the ONeducation CD-ROM. The disk represented a
significant accomplishment in the emerging world of technology for educators. It included
the OCC Transition Years Curriculum Resource Materials in a searchable database and a
number of other key documents and databases, such as MET’s Common Curriculum
Policies and Outcomes Grades 1-9, 1995, Circular 14, the OESS database of provincially
licensed software, ONTERIS’ Education Research, Reports, and Curriculum Resources, and
TVOntario’s Primary/Junior Catalogue. This partnership venture was important for OCC. It
aligned them with principal members of the education community and positioned them as a
key player in the world of technological service to education. The ONeducation CD-ROM
was produced by ONTERIS (OISE) and was distributed, free of charge, to teacher-librarians
1995
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