Professional Development Courses
Ontario Tech University is proud to offer professional development workshops to all employees.
By participating in the professional development opportunities that are available, you can enhance your professional skills, make new contacts through networking, connect with colleagues, stay up-to-date, gain new perspectives... and so much more!
We encourage you to explore the various courses we have to offer and discuss participation with your supervisor. Regardless of your personal or professional goals, we are confident that you will find a program that will provide you with the tools you need to grow your career at the university.
"Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching." - Unknown
- Sign up is available as sessions become published
- Please provide 48 hours notice if you are not able to attend a session for which you have registered by emailing hrtraining@ontariotechu.ca
- There is an internal charge of $50 for all no-shows
How to Register
Are you seeking to sharpen your skills, to deepen your knowledge, or to explore new career opportunities? Whatever your training objectives, HR's Learning Catalogues will help you meet your professional goals.
- Complete the registration form
- You will receive calendar invitations with links to your chosen session after completing the registration form.
In person workshops are usually hosted in Shawenjigewining Hall or Charles Hall classrooms.
Online workshops are delivered via an online platform like Google Meet or Zoom.
The University will accommodate employees with disabilities when providing professional development opportunities. For further support with accessibility needs and accommodation, please contact Health and Disability Management Specialist, Julie Day.
Crucial Conversations Training
November
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Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue - employee version and leader version
When it comes to the health of relationships, teams, and organizations, one thing affects everything: communication. Backed by 30 years of social science, Crucial Conversation skills represent the standard in effective communication. Improve your skills and get better outcomes by attending a training course.
Learning Objectives
The communication skills taught in this training focus on a specific kind of interaction: those when stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. This is not a course on winning friends or winning people to your way of thinking; it’s about strengthening relationships and securing results in the moments that matter most.
This course teaches nine powerful skills for working through disagreement to achieve better resources: Get unstuck, Master my stories, Start with heart, State my path, Make it safe, Learn to look, Seek mutual purpose, Explore others’ paths, and Move to action.
In this course, you’ll learn:
- What to do before a Crucial Conversation to:
- Spot the Crucial Conversations that are keeping you from what you want.
- Keep your strong emotions from taking control of the conversation.
- Create emotions that will bring you into dialogue
- What to do during a Crucial Conversation to:
- Stay focused on what you really want.
- Start a conversation with respect and honesty.
- Talk to almost anyone about almost anything.
- Notice the subtle and not-so-subtle signs that you and others are not in dialogue.
- Find common ground, even when it seems impossible.
- Listen actively and help others add their meaning to the pool.
- What to do at the end of a Crucial Conversation to:
- Turn a Crucial Conversation into action and results.
Crucial Conversation Videos
Learn more about this training with these videos.
Upcoming Training Sessions
Crucial Conversations: Employees
- Date: Monday, November 3, 2025 to Friday, November 7, 2025 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
- Time: 9:00 a.m. to noon
- Location: Virtual
- Target Audience: Employees
Note: Participants must attend all dates to receive their certificate.
REGISTER FOR November 3 - 7, 2025 EMPLOYEE SESSION.
Crucial Conversations: Managers/Directors
- Date: Monday, November 10, 2025 to Friday November 14, 2025 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
- Time: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
- Location: Virtual
- Target Audience: Managers/Directors
Note: Participants must attend all dates to receive their certificate.
REGISTER FOR NOVEMBER 10-14, 2025 MANAGERS/DIRECTORS SESSION.
- What to do before a Crucial Conversation to:
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Nov 5 - Inflation and Managing Your Finances
Inflation can have various effects on our finances. In this webinar, we will discuss how to manage changes in your expenses, debt, savings, and investments when there are changes in inflation.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the effects of inflation on income, savings, debt and expenses
- Identify strategies that can help adjust your budget according to inflation
Presenter: Roger Massicotte, TELUS Health
Roger Massicotte spent most of his career in the financial industry and became a licensed Financial Planner in 1997. Since 2015, He's been working as a freelance advice-only financial planner. He delivers pure financial planning consulting services
without agendas other than offering the best quality advice. During his career, Roger has led numerous financial education seminars, and in 2024, he joined Telus Health's team of facilitators as a contractor. By Spring 2025, he will complete his Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) certification. He enjoys riding his electric bike, exploring new places, and appreciating good meals with friends when not working. In a nutshell, he is living his best years!
Date: November 5th
Time: 12 - 1 pm
Location: Virtual
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Nov 18 - Diabetes Care (via Sun Life)
This session will provide an overview of the FREE Diabetes Care Program that is offered from Sun Life.
Living with diabetes can be challenging — but you don’t have to manage it alone. The Diabetes Care Program (DCP) is an evidence-based, lifestyle-first program created to empower Sun Life clients living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
With the Diabetes Care Program, you’ll gain the knowledge, confidence, and support to live a healthier, more energized life.Date: Tuesday, November 18
Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: Virtual
Audience: Group Benefit Plan Members
December
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Week of Dec 8 - Crucial Conversations (Employee Cohort)
When it comes to the health of relationships, teams, and organizations, one thing affects everything: communication. Backed by 30 years of social science, Crucial Conversation skills represent the standard in effective communication. Improve your skills and get better outcomes by attending a training course.
Learning Objectives
The communication skills taught in this training focus on a specific kind of interaction: those when stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. This is not a course on winning friends or winning people to your way of thinking; it’s about strengthening relationships and securing results in the moments that matter most.
This course teaches nine powerful skills for working through disagreement to achieve better resources: Get unstuck, Master my stories, Start with heart, State my path, Make it safe, Learn to look, Seek mutual purpose, Explore others’ paths, and Move to action.
In this course, you’ll learn:
- What to do before a Crucial Conversation to:
- Spot the Crucial Conversations that are keeping you from what you want.
- Keep your strong emotions from taking control of the conversation.
- Create emotions that will bring you into dialogue
- What to do during a Crucial Conversation to:
- Stay focused on what you really want.
- Start a conversation with respect and honesty.
- Talk to almost anyone about almost anything.
- Notice the subtle and not-so-subtle signs that you and others are not in dialogue.
- Find common ground, even when it seems impossible.
- Listen actively and help others add their meaning to the pool.
- What to do at the end of a Crucial Conversation to:
- Turn a Crucial Conversation into action and results.
Crucial Conversation Videos
Learn more about this training with these videos.
Upcoming Training Sessions
Crucial Conversations: Employees
- Date: Monday, December 8, 2025 to Friday, December 12, 2025 (2.5 hours x 5 days)
- Time: 1p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Location: Virtual
- Target Audience: Employees
Note: Participants must attend all dates to receive their certificate.
REGISTER FOR DECEMBER 8-12, 2025 EMPLOYEE SESSION.
- What to do before a Crucial Conversation to:
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Dec 16 - Winter Solstice Moon Workshop
Date: December 16, 2025Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pmLocation: SHA037Join us for this exciting workshop where we will learn some of the moon teachings while we paint a Winter Solstice Moon.
January 2026
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Jan 22 - Orientation to HR for Managers - Rookie to Ridgeback
Orientation to HR for Managers
Most people, when faced with change and pressure to go faster, plan less. Yet the agile, productive response is to stop, think and plan more. This two-part program will provide you with highly practical strategies, incorporating Agile methodologies, to help you manage your projects, time and energy. Content of this two part program includes:
Date: January 22, 2026Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pmLocation: GoogleMeetLocation: Virtual(non-mandatory)
This course is for newly hired and existing Ontario Tech managers.
This session will provide an overview of:Health and Disability Management
- identify and list the goals and objectives of the Attendance Management Program and the Disability Support Program
- understand the processes around employee sick leaves, accommodation and workplace injuries;
- identify your role and responsibilities in assisting your employees to record, improve and manage their attendance; and
- discuss key areas of concern and opportunities related to supporting time and attendance
Wellness at Work
- identify the benefits of a Healthy Workplace
- discuss the role you play in supporting your employee's health and well-being
- learn where to access resources to support your health and the health of your team
Job Evaluation
- an overview of key concepts in job evaluation;
- documents and tools in how jobs are evaluated;
Recruitment and Compensation
- an overview of the Compensation Program and supporting salary administration guidelines
- an understanding of the process to initiate a position to Recruitment for posting; and
- Effectively plan and prepare for an interview by selecting the appropriate style and structure;
- Compose behavioural and competency-based interview questions and identify prohibited interview questions;
- Appropriately assess and select candidates while remaining compliant with legislation and collective agreements
Performance Development
- The Performance Development Cycle
- Timelines for Goal Setting, Check-Ins, and year-end performance reviews
- My HR Connection and Limited-Term Processes
- What’s in the collective agreement
Leadership Development
- Available programs, succession planning, and employee development
Professional Development
- How learning catalogues are developed
- Why your input is important
REGISTER -
Jan 26 - Managing in a Unionized Environment (for Managers) - Rookie to Ridgeback
Managing in a Unionized Environment ( for Managers )
Most people, when faced with change and pressure to go faster, plan less. Yet the agile, productive response is to stop, think and plan more. This two-part program will provide you with highly practical strategies, incorporating Agile methodologies, to help you manage your projects, time and energy. Content of this two part program includes:
Date: January 26 and 27, 2025Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pmLocation: ZoomLocation: Virtual(non-mandatory)
This course is for newly hired and existing Ontario Tech managers.It is the skills on display in day-to-day relationships that management determines the effectiveness of managers and unionized workers. It is the ongoing resolution of issues and problems that arise daily that will either create a culture of success or one of resistance. In this skill-building workshop, you will learn new skills and have a unique opportunity to discuss the application of the collective agreement into a practical context.Learning outcomes include:
- Understanding and managing the collective agreement with a guided Q&A session
- Managing conflict effectively with disgruntled and challenging employees
- Learning to leverage your communication skills to build trust and commitment
- Knowing when and how to provide constructive feedback that is different from discipline
- Providing the leadership skills that create a “can-do” environment
- Knowing when and how to engage employees to encourage ownership and accountability
REGISTER