• Nominees for the board of directors may be RisingOaks Early Learning members or non-members.
• Employees, their spouses or partners, are not eligible to stand for election

The board is comprised of individuals with varying skills, expertise and experience. As we enter into this recruitment cycle to find new directors to join the board, we strive to have a board representative of a diversity of perspectives, lived experience, specialized skills and competencies. We are not looking for the perfect applicant who checks all the boxes! Our focus is toward a well-rounded board of directors who collectively bring all of these perspectives, skills, and competencies.

As you reflect on the following skills, consider your volunteer, work or other lived experiences.

• General skills: strong communication skills, collaborative decision-making skills, effective leadership skills, as well as good time management skills to ensure appropriate preparation for meetings and discussions.
• Governance competencies: financial and/or accounting designation, human resources/people and culture, government relations, strategic thinking, understanding of governance, enterprise risk management and legal. Previous board experience is helpful, but not necessary.
• Underrepresented Perspectives: Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC); members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; individuals with visible or invisible disabilities; male perspectives; parents and caregivers – including adoptive/foster parents, single parents and those caring for a child with disability-related support needs; and individuals with lived or professional experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and/or anti-racism work.

• When considering the competencies that you may bring to the table, consider both your personal and professional life. Often we may have developed a core competency such as advocacy, in our personal life, even though it was not part of our work responsibilities or learned in school. For example, perhaps you’ve had to advocate for a child with special needs, or advocate for playground equipment at your child's school.
• Perhaps you have a perspective that we’ve never considered previously. All are encouraged to apply!

• Directors serve for a two-year term with the option to stand for re-election for two terms (for a combined total of 6 years), if desired. The election takes place at the Annual General Meeting held on the 2^nd Tuesday evening in April each year.
• Committee members are also asked to serve a 2-year term, with the option to renew.

• Directors are strongly encouraged to serve on a committee. Doing so leads to increased engagement, knowledge about RisingOaks Early Learning and contributes to a positive board experience. 

• There is a mandatory 3-hour board orientation session in April. In addition, the board meetings are bi-monthly; 5 per year - typically on the 2^nd Tuesday of every other month, plus there is a full-day Board Development / Strategic Planning session.
• For the 2026-27 year, the following meeting dates have been confirmed.
  • April 28, 2026   6:30 - 9:30 pm (board orientation)
  • May 12, 2026   6:30 – 9:30 pm
  • Sept 15, 2026  6:30 – 9:30 pm
  • Oct 17, 2026    8:30 – 4:30 pm (board development day)
  • Nov 10, 2026  6:30 – 9:30 pm
  • Jan 12, 2027  6:30 – 9:30 pm
  • Mar 9, 2027   6:30 – 9:30 pm
• Additional video conferences may be necessary.
• Total commitment: an average of 5-8 hours per month, including meeting preparation.
• Note: participation on committees may increase this time commitment.

• Absolutely. Committees often have a mix of directors and non-directors. This provides for well-rounded discussion and additional opportunities to engage with RisingOaks depending on member interests and time availability.
• Members, or RisingOaks parents, may apply to join the finance & audit and governance committee of the board, or management’s government relations advisory committee.
• The Nominating committee is comprised of only directors due to their mandate for board and director evaluation.

• Those interested in serving on the board of directors and/or a committee of the board are invited to submit an application to the Nominating committee.

• Please use the link below to complete this 3-part form which includes: an application, a board applicant survey and competency assessment.

• The form will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete and asks you to also upload a copy of your resume, or send it separately by email after completing your form.

  • Alternatively, you may submit an application by video or audio recording by responding to the same questions that are on the form. If you wish to do an alternate submission, please contact the Susie Draper, executive assistant, at 519-894-0581, ext 110 for assistance.

• The application includes a competency assessment. Applicants are also required to submit or upload a resume as part of their application. The deadline for completion is January 16, 2026 at noon.

In identifying qualified candidates for nomination to the board of directors and/or a board committee, the Nominating committee will consider prospective candidates based on merit with regard to those competencies, expertise, skills, background and other qualities identified from time to time by the board as being important. As mentioned above, lived experience is valued and will be given consideration.

RisingOaks Early Learning is currently accepting applications to fill six vacancies on the board for the 2026-2028 term. Of these, three current directors are eligible for and wish to stand for re-election.

To achieve the competencies required for the board to effectively exercise its duties, RisingOaks may give priority consideration to applicants with expertise or experience noted above as being a priority for this recruitment campaign.

All completed applications will be reviewed by the Nominating committee. Qualified applicants will participate in a phone / video interview with members of the nominating committee. A transcript or notes of this interview will be recorded and shared with all committee members.

Based on the application, phone interviews, survey, and competency assessment — and in consideration of the expertise, skills, and perspectives prioritized for this recruitment campaign, as well as the overall board matrix, the Nominating committee will recommend a Slate of Nominees to the board for approval.

• In cases where there are a number of qualified applicants and any number of them would meet the requirements for a diverse board, the committee may recommend that all proceed to the Slate for election by the members via secret ballot. For example, if there are 10 such applicants for 6 positions. In this case, members would vote for up to 6 of the 10 nominees.
• Based on feedback from prior applicants, in the event that there are only 1 to 2 more applicants than vacant positions, the nominating committee reserves the right to recommend a Slate of Nominees for the exact number of position for the members to approve, and to recommend that those additional applicants be appointed to serve on a committee and be invited to re-apply to the board the next year.

• Upon receiving your application, you will receive an email from the Nominating committee to confirm its receipt. This email will remind you of the key dates and scheduled meetings.
• The Nominating committee will meet on January 20 to review all applications received and to identify applicants to proceed to the next stage.
• A member of our Nominating committee will contact you to complete a brief telephone interview between January 26 and February 6.
• Results of the telephone interviews are discussed at the February 17 Nominating committee meeting.
• Qualified applicants will be identified for the Slate of Nominees. These individuals will be asked to submit a Records Check Request prior to Feb 23 and to complete additional paperwork including a Consent to Serve. A short bio and photo will also be required.
• The Slate of Nominees is presented to the board for approval at the March 10 meeting.
• The Board Recommended Slate of Nominees must be released to the membership 21 days prior to the AGM.
• Nominees will be formally presented at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 6:30 pm.
  • At this time, Nominees will be introduced on the virtual stage.
  • Should more nominees be presented than positions vacant, an election will be held by secret ballot.
  • Those who are not elected will be given the opportunity to serve on a committee.

Thank you for your consideration. We hope to receive your application to join RisingOaks Early Learning board of directors and/or a committee soon!

• Committees do the work in preparation for the board’s approval.
  • The finance committee reviews monthly financial reports and does a deep dive into the budget, cross-checking budget assumptions and data.
  • The governance committee develops policies, evaluates risks and supports the board in implementing its governance model.
  • The nominating committee manages the board recruitment and selection process, facilitates board meeting evaluations, and manages director performance check-ins.
  • The government relations advisory committee works together with the chief executive officer to identify and act on advocacy opportunities.

• Yes, directors may choose to chair a committee or assume an officer role such as treasurer, vice chair and eventually chair.
• There are also leadership opportunities as a mentor to new directors and to research and present key topic of interest to the board.
• Members of the nominating committee also serve as a mentoring triad lead, responsible for checking in with new directors and scheduling a pre-meeting triad check-in.

• Typically, board meetings occur in person at our head office located at 2-10 Washburn Drive, Kitchener.
• Committee meetings are held via Zoom video conferencing.

• Complete required pre-reading in advance of meetings
• Regular attendance at prearranged meetings
• Active participation in board meetings
• A willingness to accept fiduciary responsibility
• Regular electronic communication with other board members
• Active participation in the board mentoring program. You will be assigned to a mentoring triad that meets briefly during the week before each meeting.

• Meetings are considered mandatory. Attendance is tracked and reviewed as part of our evaluation program. The Board Code of Conduct and Board Norms detail procedures for missed meetings and other board expectations.

• Officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary*, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)*
• Directors: up to 7 additional directors elected at the Annual General Meeting or appointed by the board as per RisingOaks' By-laws.

*Ex-officio/non-voting

• The directors:

  • respect…member expectations.
  • reflect…on organizational results.
  • select...prominent leadership.
  • connect…for board relations.
  • direct & protect…organizational performance.
  • expect…great board-management interaction

• From a legal perspective, There are 11 duties of directors of a non-profit organization:

  • Duty of Knowledge
  • Duty of Care
  • Duty of Skill & Prudence
  • Duty of Diligence
  • Duty to Manage
  • Fiduciary Duty
  • Duties as Trustees
  • Investment Powers
  • Delegation by Directors
  • Duty of Avoid Conflict of Interest
  • Duty to Act Within Scope of Authority

For example, directors must consent to fulfil their fiduciary duties. Fiduciary duty relates to acting in good faith and with honesty. It places on board members an obligation to subvert their own personal interest, or that of any other individual or group, and act entirely in the interest of the organization upon which they serve as a director.

More information on each can be found in Section 8 of the Board Orientation Handbook available.

• There are various forms of protection in place for directors serving on RisingOaks’ board. Two of the most important are indemnification and directors and officers
  (D & O) liability insurance.
• RisingOaks pays the premiums for the D & O policy on behalf of directors. A director is entitled to confirm the amount of insurance and request a certificate of insurance.

More details about the protection of directors can be found in Section 9 of the Board Orientation Handbook.

• A 3-hour mandatory board orientation session will be held from 6:30 pm-9:30 pm on the 4^th Tuesday in April, 2 weeks following the Annual General Meeting. During this session, new directors are provided with a virtual board handbook which acts as a reference document outlining key terms, processes, governance structure and more.
  • Committee members will receive an informal orientation from the committee chairperson on or before their first meeting.
• Each new director will be assigned to a mentoring triad to help guide you during your first year on the board. Your triad will connect briefly during the week before each board meeting. The triad is a great resource and a safe place to ask questions or seek clarity.
• In mid-October, all directors will participate in a full-day board development day. Topics for this day are determined based on the overall competency assessment and identified gaps.
• The chair, vice chair, Nominating committee and CEO are here to guide you and help you develop as a director.

• There is no financial compensation for directors or committee members.
• Some meals may be provided in the course of board meetings.