Most parents who want to report a teacher don't know there are two different paths. Which one you need depends on what went wrong. Pick the wrong one and you can lose weeks.
Two Paths, Two Different Problems
Path A — A school or board decision
Examples: a discipline decision, bullying the school didn't act on, special education support that never came, a busing or enrolment problem. This goes to the principal, then the school board, then, in some provinces, the provincial Ombudsman.
Path B — The teacher's own professional conduct
Examples: inappropriate behaviour toward a student, serious incompetence, or conduct unfit for a teacher. Besides telling the school, you can report the teacher to the body that licenses teachers in your province. That body can investigate and discipline the teacher's teaching certificate.
Some situations call for both paths. A school that ignored a teacher's misconduct is a board problem, and the misconduct itself is a regulator problem.
Path A: Principal → Board → Ombudsman
1Write to the teacher or principal. Most boards require this before they'll accept a formal complaint, and it gives you a paper trail.
2Escalate to the school board. Ask for its formal complaints policy by name. Your elected trustee can help push a complaint that has stalled.
3Go to the provincial Ombudsman if the board doesn't resolve it. In Ontario, the Ombudsman oversees 72 school boards and 10 school authorities. It says the most common complaints are about enrolment, student safety, and support for students with special needs. BC and Manitoba have similar oversight. Our school complaint guide lists every province, with phone numbers.
Path B: Report to the Teacher Regulator
| Province | Teacher regulator |
|---|---|
| Ontario | Ontario College of Teachers |
| British Columbia | Commissioner for Teacher Regulation |
| Alberta | Alberta Teaching Profession Commission |
Ontario College of Teachers. Anyone can submit a concern about an Ontario Certified Teacher. Use the online form, call 437-880-3000 (toll-free 1-833-966-5588), or write to the Registrar. Include your name and contact details, the teacher's name, and what happened. Anonymous concerns typically aren't investigated, and the College handles only professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity.
BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation. Reviews the conduct and competence of certified teachers in BC, and anyone can make a complaint. Intake: trb.intake@gov.bc.ca or 604-775-4870.
Alberta Teaching Profession Commission. Handles complaints about a teacher's professional conduct: 780-427-3663.
In other provinces, ask your school board which body handles teacher certification and discipline.
Get your concern written down clearly, with dates and what was said, before you send it to the school, the board, or a regulator.
Draft It With Asya →Frequently Asked
How do I report a teacher in Canada?
Put your concern in writing to the principal first. If it's about how the school or board handled something, escalate through the school board's formal complaints policy. If it's about the teacher's own professional conduct, you can also report it to your province's teacher regulator, such as the Ontario College of Teachers or BC's Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.
How do I report a teacher to the Ontario College of Teachers?
Use the College's online intake form, call 437-880-3000 (toll-free 1-833-966-5588), or write to the Registrar. Include your name and contact details, the teacher's name, and what happened. The College typically doesn't investigate anonymous concerns.
Can the Ontario Ombudsman investigate a teacher?
The Ombudsman oversees Ontario's school boards, not individual teachers' professional conduct. It can review how a board handled your complaint once the school and board have had a chance to respond. Teacher misconduct goes to the Ontario College of Teachers.
Who do I report a teacher to in BC?
BC's Commissioner for Teacher Regulation reviews the conduct and competence of certified teachers, and anyone can make a complaint. Its intake office is at trb.intake@gov.bc.ca or 604-775-4870.
Sources & Verification
Figures and contacts in this article come from official sources:
- Ontario Ombudsman — Ombudsman marks 10 years of oversight of Ontario school boards (Sept. 2, 2025)
- Ontario College of Teachers — Submit a concern
- BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation
- Alberta Teaching Profession Commission — Contact
Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.