Gelato for teachers: Sweetening up the 2013 OHASSTA Conference

Stephanie Crosbie, Explorica War History Expert (left) and Jenna Misener, Juno Beach Centre Association Executive Manager (right)

Recently, we attended the Ontario History and Social Sciences Teachers’ Association (OHASSTA) 2013 annual conference. Manning a booth full of Explorica swag, we had the opportunity to talk to several History and Social Sciences teachers from all across Ontario, and ran into a few familiar faces! Canadian history was a hot topic at the conference, so we shared lots of info about our Canadian History Orientations open to both new and experienced Group Leaders with Explorica. To add a sweet touch to our conference table, we invited Il Gelato di Carlotta, one of our favorite Canadian gelaterias from Niagara-on-the-Lake.

War History Expert Stephanie Crosbie and the gelato.

Their master gelato maker, Lorenzo Stangarone from Florence, brought a cart of gelato to share with all the teachers at OHASSTA, serving up scoops of coffee and stracciatella (chocolate chip) gelato, along with mango and coconut sorbetto to a crowd of very happy teachers.

A teacher excited about gelato at the OHASSTA conference.

We also had the chance to sneak a few scoops of gelato for ourselves, which made us very happy as well! Overall we had a great time at the OHASSTA conference, and can’t wait to see you all again next year.

Program Consultant Laurie Donovan and Lorenzo.

Lorenzo and Program Consultant Laurie Donovan.

The Ontario History and Social Studies Teachers’ Association is a forty-year-old organization for teachers of History and Social Science in Ontario schools, with the mission to foster and promote awareness, appreciation and respect for History and the Social Sciences as vital components of both school and life long learning. To learn more about OHASSTA and upcoming conferences, you can visit the official OHASSTA website.