Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf

Happy Victoria Day from the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf! We hope everyone enjoys a safe and relaxing long weekend with family, friends, and community. May this holiday bring time to rest, celebrate spring, and create joyful memories together. Whether you are attending events, spending time outdoors, or simply relaxing at home, we wish you a wonderful Victoria Day weekend. From all of us at OCSD, thank you for continuing to support Deaf arts, culture, and community across Ontario. Image Description: A Victoria Day graphic with pink cherry blossoms at the top, colourful tulips at the bottom, and red maple leaves surrounding the words “Happy Victoria Day” in large red and green text. The Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf logo appears at the bottom on a light pink background with a dark green border. #VictoriaDay #OCSD #DeafCommunity #OntarioDeaf #DeafCulture #LongWeekend

Wanna sneak peek the poster?! Here it is, the official poster for Expression Unbound 2026!! Join us for a FREE community event celebrating Deaf arts, culture, history, theatre, storytelling, and creative expression. Friday, September 18, 2026 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf 350 Dundas St W, Belleville, Ontario Presented by the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD), in partnership with the Belleville Association of the Deaf. Stay tuned for more exciting updates, performers, artists, workshops, and activities coming soon! #ExpressionUnbound #OCSD #DeafArts #DeafCulture #Belleville2026 #ASL #DeafCommunity #ArtsAndCultureFestival

Expression Unbound is coming to Belleville in 2026! The Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD), in partnership with the Belleville Association of the Deaf and Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf, is excited to present a FREE community event celebrating Deaf arts, culture, history, and creativity. Join us for an inspiring evening featuring: • Visual Arts • Theatre Performance at 7pm • Community Connections • Celebration of Deaf Culture and History Friday, September 18, 2026 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf 350 Dundas St W, Belleville, Ontario This event welcomes Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, hearing allies, families, artists, and community members from across Ontario. Save the date and stay tuned for more exciting updates, performers, artists, and activities! #ExpressionUnbound #OCSD #DeafArts #DeafCulture #BellevilleOntario #ASL #DeafCommunity #ArtsAndCulture #OntarioEvents #SignLanguage #CommunityEvent

Happy Mother’s Day from the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD)! Today, we celebrate and honour all mothers, grandmothers, aunties, caregivers, and mother figures in the Deaf community and beyond. Thank you for your unconditional love, strength, guidance, and support that continues to inspire generations. We recognize the many ways mothers nurture families, preserve culture, advocate for accessibility, and create strong, connected communities. Your care and resilience make a lasting difference every day. Wishing you a day filled with love, appreciation, and joyful moments with your loved ones. #MothersDay #HappyMothersDay #DeafCommunity #OCSD #OntarioCulturalSocietyOfTheDeaf

We are here at Mayfest! Come visit us today and tomorrow! We would love to see your smiles, say hello, and connect with everyone in the community. Stop by and check us out!

Join us at Mayfest 2026. Visit the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf booth to learn about our programs, connect with our team, and explore what we’re building in the Deaf community. May 8–9, 2026 10:00 a.m. 19 Nunavut Rd, Toronto Merchandise available at the booth. More info: [email protected] Alt Text: Promotional poster in green and gold featuring five OCSD members in matching shirts. Text highlights “Join Us at Mayfest 2026,” with event dates, time, and Toronto location. Includes OCSD logo and a t-shirt design. Video Description: A man stands against a plain light-colored background, wearing a green polo shirt with the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD) logo on the left chest.

Red Dress Day – May 5 Reclaiming Power and Place The Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD) recognizes Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). We honour the lives of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people who are missing or have been taken by violence. Red dresses are a powerful visual reminder of their absence and the ongoing need for justice. The National Inquiry’s Final Report, Reclaiming Power and Place, shows that this crisis is rooted in ongoing systemic violations of human and Indigenous rights. These injustices are connected to colonial systems, intergenerational trauma, poverty, housing insecurity, and barriers to education, health care, employment, and cultural supports. The Inquiry gathered truths from more than 2,380 family members, survivors, experts, and Knowledge Keepers. Their voices led to 231 Calls for Justice directed to governments, institutions, service providers, industries, and all people in Canada. OCSD stands in solidarity with Indigenous communities. We recognize the importance of listening, learning, and taking meaningful action toward safety, equity, and justice. We encourage our community to wear red on May 5, learn about MMIWG2S, support Indigenous voices and organizations, and honour the lives, stories, and voices that must never be forgotten. For more information: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/ Please support your local community events and initiatives for MMIWG2S.

Earth Day 2026 | Our Power, Our Planet Today, we recognize Earth Day 2026 and the importance of collective action in protecting our planet. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” reminds us that change starts with all of us. As a community, we have the power to create a more sustainable and inclusive future. At the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD), we encourage everyone to take action in ways that are meaningful and accessible: • Reduce waste and reuse materials • Support clean and renewable energy • Participate in local clean-ups and environmental initiatives • Plant trees or pollinator-friendly flowers • Advocate for environmental justice and accessible sustainability Environmental action must include everyone. Accessibility, equity, and community leadership are essential in building a better future. Join the movement and share how you are making a difference. #EarthDay2026 #OurPowerOurPlanet #DeafCommunity #Sustainability #OCSD #AccessibilityMatters

TRI-O is hosting its Annual General Meeting (AGM). What is TRI-O? TRI-O refers to three provincial non-profit organizations: Ontario Deaf Sports Association (ODSA) Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD) Ontario Association of the Deaf (OAD) Please save the date: Saturday, September 19, 2026 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Belleville, Ontario What is an AGM? An AGM is an important opportunity to support the organization’s growth and direction. It includes reviewing and approving motions, planning for the future, voting on board or committee members, and getting involved in the organization. More details will be shared in an upcoming announcement. Please follow, like, and share this post with your Deaf community.

April 7 is World Health Day. Mental health is health—but access is not equal for everyone. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals continue to face barriers such as a lack of interpreters, limited accessible services, and communication gaps. Accessibility is not a privilege. It is a right. We must work together to create inclusive, accessible mental health support for all. Follow, like, and share to raise awareness. #WorldHealthDay #MentalHealthMatters #DeafAccess #Accessibility #OCSD #HealthEquity

OCSD is hosting… a what? It’s a surprise. Stay tuned for the next video, where we will reveal more. Please save the date: Friday, September 18, 2026 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM Belleville, Ontario Open to the public. Everyone is welcome. Curious? Follow, like, and share so you don’t miss the announcement. Video Description: A man is standing against a plain light gray background, facing forward. He has short brown hair and a trimmed beard. He is wearing a green polo shirt with a white logo on the left chest.

OCSD is excited to invite you to our upcoming ASL Linguistics training sessions. Studying ASL linguistics is not just about learning more signs. It is about understanding how ASL works as a language and why that knowledge matters in our teaching. This training is intended for: ASL instructors preparing for ESLI ASL instructors Future sign language instructors Non-ASL instructors Training Schedule Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST April 21 & 23 April 28 & 30 May 5 & 7 May 12 & 14 Format: Zoom Capacity: Limited to 10 registrants Certificate: A certificate of completion will be issued Registration Information Course fee: $200 Participants must purchase their own book. Scan the QR code to register. For more information, please email [email protected]