Since 1968, The OACYC has been sponsoring professional development conferences.  We have also co-hosted National and International CYC conferences like the 5th International held in Toronto in 1997.

The "Heroes Within" Conference in Kingston in 1999 heralded a new approach.  As a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the OACYC, "Heroes Within" featured Ontario CYCs exclusively -- no big-name keynote speakers from other professions or other provinces and countries, just home-grown CYCs throughout.  Considered a risky gamble by the planners, it proved to be an idea whose time had come.  It attracted almost 400 participants.
This led to another new approach, 1-day regional conferences -- a way to make the "Heroes Within" experience accessible to as many CYCs as possible.  "Heroes Within … The Greater Toronto Area" was held in Toronto in February 2000, and Sarnia was the site for "Heroes Within … South-Western Ontario." in October 2000.  "Heroes Within … The Near North" took place in Sudbury, October 2001.
The term "heroes within" was chosen because it summarized what the OACYC was all about: 
●  recognizing the heroes within the profession
●  having CYCs recognize the hero within themselves
And what the profession is all about:                                                                                         ●  recognizing and encouraging the heroes within troubled kids and their families

With regular regional conferences established, the plan is broadening to feature 3-day provincial conferences every two years, like:
the "2001st" in London in May 2001
"Winds of Change" in Kingston in May 2003-for a pdf version of the program, click HERE
And our newest venture is "sector" conferences -- devoted to a particular sector of the field. Click on this - Brantford 2002 - to find out more. 
For our last regional conference, click here Thunder Bay, Nov. 3003.  And for the next big Provincial Conference, go to Hamilton, June 2005