ABC Ontario has over four decades of history providing a volunteer-based self-support network to gifted learners, their families and educators. Today, this website serves as a central access point for networking with contacts and connecting with resources that can help provide the support you need.

ABC Message Board (click here)

For those looking for the ABC Message Board, we have a new message board we are trying out.  You will have to go through a registration process to have access to the message board.  Don't forget the final step of registering for the message board is to send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you are looking for info, you can always peruse the pages available here at the ABC Ontario website.  We also have volunteers, with lots of knowledge and experience, at chapters across the province.  See the chapter pages for contact information. You can also look for local chapters on Facebook. You can follow ABC Ontario's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ABCOntario

External Resources

Volunteer: For 2019-2021 Board of Directors

Making A Difference

ABC is a volunteer run organization. As such, volunteers are integral to ABC operations and services could not be delivered, locally or provincially, without committed and active volunteers.

If you believe in supporting educational excellence, then volunteering with ABC is a great way to demonstrate your support.

If you or your family members have benefited from ABC activities, advice or advocacy, then volunteering with ABC is an ideal way to express your gratitude.

Dedicated ABC volunteers have spent over three decades ensuring that the needs of bright and gifted learners are not forgotten.

How Can You Help?

. . . to ensure that educational programmes for high potential learners are maintained and enhanced so that as many children as possible are learning and able to achieve their full learning potential?

Contact us to find out how your skills, experience and ideas can support ABC efforts whether you have a few hours every month, or just now and again, to offer. For the convenience of our volunteers, most of our planning and meetings are conducted by email and conference calls.

Volunteer Opportunities with ABC are widely varied and include:

Provincial Board of Directors: Directors serve for a two year term. The Nominations Committee is currently seeking nominations for vacant Executive Positions.  

Additional committee members are always welcome. The projects of ABC Ontario are organized under committees including Outreach, Advocacy and Business Development.

Outreach is responsible for Conferences and Events, Public Relations, Resources, Chapter Development, Volunteers and Support Services. The website and e-Newsletters are also produced by the Outreach Committee.

The Advocacy Committee focuses on promoting educational excellence by working closely with School Boards, Special Education Advisory Committees, the Ministry of Education and Educational Organizations.

The Business Development Committee is responsible for ABC’s administrative operations and is concerned with obtaining Grants, Donations and alternative sources of revenue as well as providing basic Membership Services.

Event Volunteers: ABC has an ongoing need for volunteers to help together, plan, organize and run activities and events at the provincial level as well as in each local chapter throughout the province. Events may include: conferences, workshops, galas, seminars, classes, enrichment activities and more for children, youth, parents and educators.

Local Chapter Volunteers: All local ABC chapters welcome new volunteers to help support their efforts. From organizing an activity to sharing news with other local families or serving on a chapter executive, there are many ways to lend a hand.

SEAC Representatives: As a provincial parent association representing exceptional children, ABC has many volunteers serving as representatives on the Special Education Advisory Committees of District School Boards throughout Ontario. Many ABC SEAC representatives need alternates, which is a great way to learn what is involved while being mentored by an experienced volunteer. Invariably good gifted programming exists where there is a strong voice for gifted learners at the SEAC table. If there isn't a representative for gifted learners at your local school board presently, this is a very important way that you can make a difference.

Who can volunteer?

ABC welcomes all interested to contact us for further information.

We have opportunities suited to everyone including parents, guardians, grandparents and even gifted youth who can earn their Ontario Secondary School volunteer hour requirement by volunteering for ABC.

Educators and retired educators can also provide their expertise to ABC as active volunteers and advisors.

We are happy to tailor a volunteer position to suit your skills, interests and availability.

Want to learn more or express your interest in volunteering?

Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., tell us about yourself and where you would like to volunteer. Please attach a current resume.

YOUR MEMBERSHIP FEES AND DONATIONS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED - PLEASE CONTRIBUTE 

ABC is an entirely volunteer operated organization, and welcomes members and donations to help us accomplish our goal of supporting the education and development of bright and gifted children. 

ABC believes, and the Ontario Education Act states, that “the purpose of education is to provide [all] students with the opportunity to realize their potential“ (R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2, s. 0.1 (2))

Since 1975, ABC has worked with families, educators, school boards, the Ministry of Education, and other policy makers to support bright and gifted children and to strive for educational excellence.

If you would like to become a member or make a donation to ABC, you can contribute directly through the secure, online link to CanadaHelps below. ABC also welcomes endowments and memorial bequests. For contributions over $100 or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  before you contribute. 

Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

 

ABC Ontario, incorporated as The Association for Bright Children of Ontario, is a registered charity - #118777275RR0001

 

How is your donation used?

ABC’s current membership fee is $40.00 annually. The first $20 from each donation is applied to the provincial funding requirements of ABC, to cover the minimal basic overhead costs of operating as a registered charity, and to provide provincial support and resources to local chapters and parents across the province. The balance of your contribution will go to your specified local chapter or into a provincial fund, which among other things, helps to support local and provincial activities.  A small administrative fee, calculated as a percentage of the amount contributed, is retained by CanadaHelps for providing this processing service. CanadaHelps is also a registered charity, and provides this service to many of Canada's most respected large and small charities. ABC Ontario is currently completely volunteer operated and has no paid staff.

Please feel free to contact us at info@abcontario.ca if you have any questions about donations or any other matter. Thank you very much for your support.

Membership

Why Register for ABC Membership?

To stay informed through members-only e-Newsletters

To participate in provincial conferences and local workshops

To participate in our family support network

To connect with other members in your local area through chapter activities

To ensure full access to research & resources on gifted issues

To increase your knowledge & ability to advocate for your child

To register your support for educational excellence

To increase community understanding of the needs of bright children

To support ABC programs and initiatives that help children & youth reach their full potential 

To have the right to have your say at the Annual General Meeting

Who Can Join?

Membership is open to anyone interested in the needs of bright and gifted children. We do not test children, nor do we require "proof" that they are bright.

ABC believes that all children, including bright children, deserve to be accepted for who they are. They deserve the opportunity to realize their potential as fully as possible.

ABC is interested in the special needs of all bright and gifted children, regardless of linguistic or socio-economic background.

How To Join?

Simply make a donation through CanadaHelps.org. Canada Helps issues your charitable tax receipt which saves ABC Ontario administrative costs and volunteer hours.

Whatever contact info you provide to Canada Helps when making your donation will be added to ABC Ontario's member-donor list when we receive donor records from Canada Helps.

Local ABC Ontario chapters will receive the contact info for the members in their local area. For this reason, it is helpful if you specify your local school board or chapter on the Canada Helps forms though we will do our best to connect you with the nearest active chapter. Warning: If you click the anonymity button we will not receive any of your contact information.

Send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to connect more quickly with other parent volunteers or contact your local chapter.

How is your donation used?

Membership is $40.00 annually, The first $20 from each donation goes towards the Provincial funding requirements of ABC. This is used to provide resources and support to the local chapters as well as cover the minimal basic overhead costs of operating as a registered charity in Canada. ABC Ontario is currently completely volunteer operated and has no paid staff.

A small admin fee is retained by Canada Helps, a recognized charity themselves, who provides this invaluable service to many of Canada's most respected charities large and small.

The balance of your donation will go to the nearest active chapter or into a fund to start-up and re-vitalize local chapter activity.  Every donation, no matter how large or small, is greatly appreciated.

You can designate to which chapter you wish your donation to be directed which may differ from your mailing address, however, all donations made through Canada Helps are unrestricted. 

 

 

Get Involved

There are many ways to get involved with ABC Ontario:

  • Explore this website
  • Join ABC's virtual community /  support network
  • Register for (or update your) membership
  • Participate in ABC's online message boards / discussion forum
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Attend a conference
  • Learn more about the needs of gifted learners
  • Connect with (or start) a local chapter
  • Educate yourself
  • Educate others
  • Learn about advocacy
  • Tell a friend (or several) about ABC
  • Become informed about educational programs and policies through your local school council or Special Education Advisory Committee
  • Make a difference in the life of a child
  • ABC depends on the talents and efforts of our members - help us continue to support educational excellence
Page 2 of 3