Letter from the Chair | National Volunteer Week

As we wrap up National Volunteer Week, I want to take a moment to recognize and sincerely thank our volunteers, who form the backbone of our association. The impact of your contributions cannot be contained to a single week, and that is why this message continues beyond it.

At the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapy, our strength has never come from structure alone. It comes from people. From those who step forward, often quietly and without recognition, to give their time, expertise, and energy in service of the profession and each other.

To our Board of Directors, who carry the responsibility of governance with care and integrity. To our committee members, who lend their insight and expertise to move key priorities forward. To our sector teams and working groups, who bring passion, perspective, and a deep commitment to advancing occupational therapy across Ontario. And to the many others across our community who give their time and energy in support of this work, thank you.

Your contributions are not small. They shape the direction of our work, strengthen our advocacy, and ensure that we remain responsive to the needs of our members and the communities we serve.
What stands out to me, though, is that this spirit of volunteering does not begin or end with OSOT.

It shows up in how you move through your communities. In coaching your children’s sports teams. In mentoring students and new graduates. In supporting local initiatives, schools, and neighbourhoods. In the quiet ways you step in when something needs to be done.

This is what distinguishes our profession. A commitment to community that extends far beyond our formal roles. A willingness to give, not because it is required, but because it is part of who you are.
Volunteering, especially in the context of professional leadership, is no small ask. It requires time beyond already full days, thoughtful engagement in complex issues, and a willingness to navigate both progress and challenge. And yet, you continue to show up.

On behalf of the organization, and personally as Chair, thank you. Your dedication does not go unnoticed, and it is deeply valued.

As we look ahead, I am confident that it is this collective spirit, this willingness to contribute beyond self, that will continue to carry OSOT forward.

With gratitude,

Lu Han
Chair, Board of Directors
Ontario Society of Occupational Therapy