Annual renewal starts April 1, 2026 and runs until May 31, 2026. We will be collecting data for the year 2026-27.
Last year, COTO began asking occupational therapists to voluntarily share their racialized group identity during annual renewal.
We thank every occupational therapist who took part in this initiative. We are beginning to build a clearer picture of the diversity within Ontario’s occupational therapy profession. A diverse and representative health workforce is widely recognized as a strategy to help reduce inequities that affect both patients and providers.
2026 Data Collection
Optional questions, structured according to the data set created by CIHI, will be included again in annual renewal 2026. COTO continues to collect sociodemographic data to help us better understand the diversity of our registrants. Please note: Participation is voluntary.
How will this data be used?
In October 2026, the anonymized data from 2025 annual renewal will be shared in aggregate with the Canadian Institute of Health Information(CIHI). The data collected during 2025 annual renewal will also be reported in COTO’s 2026 annual report, which will be released in October 2026. Reports are available on our website.
In October 2025, a baseline profile of the profession was shared with the Board at their annual education day. This information will be used by the Board for their strategic planning in fall 2026.
Comments or questions?
This data collection aligns with COTO’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and the strategic priority of integrating the practices of EDI throughout the College and profession.
We understand you may have questions about sociodemographic data collection, your participation, and the use of your data. We hope the information in our Sociodemographic Data Collection FAQ is helpful.
We know that collection and use of data is a sensitive topic and our approach is continuously refined. If you have suggestions or comments, please email Kim Woodland, COTO Program Director, at cotoprogramdirector@coto.org or call 416-214-1177 ext.225.
View the College’s Sociodemographic Data Collection and Use policy