Membership and Community
Working within a professional team with a common goal while guiding a family through the transition of separation in a respectful, transparent process may seem radical but every collaborative professional has experienced it. You can too!
Contact Your Local Practice GroupEvents and Education
Stay on top of collaborative-related training and events taking place within and beyond Ontario. Click on an item for further information. The listing of events and trainings on the website does not imply an endorsement by the OACP, except where indicated. The OACP does not regulate the delivery of programs.
Featured Event
There are no upcoming events, please check back soon.
A Growing, Supportive Community
Since its beginnings in Minnesota in 1990, collaborative practice has expanded globally. Stu Webb dreamed of a supportive, transparent, peaceful process that would benefit the clients as well as the professionals working with them, and that would necessarily avoid going to court. There are now over 5,000 collaborative professionals in 24 countries around the world!
620
Ontario Professionals
20
Ontario Practice Groups
5000
Professionals Worldwide
Why Become a Collaborative Professional?
Join this Innovative Divorce movement!
Collaborative professionals in Ontario are transforming the divorce experience for their clients using interest-based negotiations in a supportive, inter-disciplinary team environment. Leave behind the negativity created in an adversarial climate. Resolve conflict in a more human-centred approach.
Benefits of Becoming a Member
By its nature, the collaborative process cannot be done alone; it requires a team. Membership provides networking and training at practice group meetings, conferences and social events. You will be offered support as a new member, as well as opportunities to learn, and to grow your collaborative practice.
Teamwork
Attending meetings of your local practice group will reward you with networking opportunities, continuing education and problem solving discussions with other collaborative professionals.
Support
Whether you need help with a particular issue or an ongoing problem within your collaborative practice, a volunteer Mentor will be available at your request!
Education
Once you have completed the introductory training, you will find a selection of courses offered around Ontario. Our annual conference offers world-class educators, workshops, and programs.
Additional Benefits
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Blue Cross offers group health benefits for members who apply within their first 60 days of membership, without a medical exam. For more visit Your Friend with Benefits.
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We are happy to announce a partnership between OACP and VIA Rail Canada. Everyone is entitled to a 5% discount every time they travel with VIA Rail Canada. You will have access to a special corporate discount code. The corporate rate applies for all destinations, and all fare categories, with the exception of the Escape fare and Prestige. Moreover, this discount applies to your leisure travels (on top of your professional travels). You can have up to 3 people (friends, family, colleagues) traveling with you and they also benefit from the discount, as long as you are traveling with them from point A to point B. For more information about this discount, contact OACP Executive Director Judith Huddart at exec-dir@oacp.co.
I practice collaborative because it's consistent with my core values. I can use my skills as a lawyer and still be true to myself as a person.
Erik, lawyer, St. Catharines
Advanced Collaborative Professional Designation
The OACP offers an advanced designation for experienced collaborative professionals. This designation is not a requirement to be a collaborative professional; it requires additional training and a minimum number of successfully completed collaborative files. Although it is not required, we do encourage all members to aspire to be an Advanced Collaborative Professional and we applaud those who have achieved this milestone.
