We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Search the:

Apply Donate Crisis Centre

Equity groups and workshops

Student Life aims to make the campus community a more inclusive and equitable place where every student feels welcome and comfortable being themselves. Student Life runs events and discussion groups where students can share, find community, learn and promote a culture of empathy across the university.

Discussion Groups
RISE Program
Let's Talk Equity

Discussion Groups

We are committed to having open conversations focused on equity and inclusion, and invite you to join us at our discussion groups.

Black Student Centred Space

Every other Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. starting July 22

This discussion group is a space for Black students to come together for support and conversations around coping with the current and historical events of anti-Black racism. If you are a non-Black student or are looking for a space to talk about current events, education and action against racism, we encourage you to attend the “Not Another Black Life" discussion group.

Not Another Black Life

Every other Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. starting July 22

This discussion group is a space for students to come together for support, education, and collective action in response to recent and historical events of anti-Black racism and violence. We will discuss current events, self-care, how to take action, and allyship. Materials will be provided prior to each meeting as an opportunity for independent learning.

Pride Space

Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. between May 21 and August 27, 2020

This is a virtual space for 2SLGBTQ+ students and allies to come together, support each other and participate in interactive activities using Google Meets.

Equity Talks

Scheduled based on student interest

Equity Talks is a discussion group for students who support equity. It provides the opportunity to discuss current hot topics on equity-related issues. This group plans to resume in the fall semester but will be scheduled in the summer if sufficient interest is demonstrated.

Express interest in Equity Talks

Racialized Students' Discussion Group

Scheduled based on student interest

The Racialized Students’ Discussion Group seeks to provide racialized students with the space to discuss issues impacting racialized communities based on their lived experiences. This group plans to resume in the fall semester but will be scheduled in the summer if sufficient interest is demonstrated.

Express interest in the Racialized Students' Discussion Group

RISE: Respecting Individuals and Supporting Equity

The RISE (Respecting Individuals and Supporting Equity) Program is a suite of workshops that provide training and education on bystander intervention skills in order to prevent and respond to discrimination and harassment. Participants will receive foundational knowledge on how oppression manifests, and what they can do on an individual level to foster a safer and inclusive community at Ontario Tech. Students who complete the relevant requirements will be eligible to receive a RISE Certificate.

RISE Certificate

As an additional benefit of your participation in the RISE workshops, we offer students the opportunity to earn a RISE Certificate confirming attendance and participation in the RISE programming.

In order to earn the certificate, you must complete the following:

Attend the RISE: Let's Talk Equity workshop;
Attend the RISE: First Peoples workshop;
Attend four of the other nine workshops; and
Complete the mandatory online reflections (short answer reflection questions).

Please note, you are responsible for ensuring that you record your attendance with the session facilitator for certificate requirement verification. To register for the certificate, please email equity@ontariotechu.ca with your full name, university email and sessions/dates attended.

Workshops

To find upcoming dates and times of RISE workshops, visit the Student Life Portal. Below you will find a description of the different RISE workshops that we offer.

RISE: Let's Talk Equity

Participants will be introduced to bystander intervention skills that they can use to prevent and respond to discrimination and harassment. It is recommended that participants complete this workshop before attending other RISE workshops.

RISE: Anti-Ableism

Participants will identify stereotypes targeting people with disabilities, and discuss known cases of discrimination and harassment that have targeted people with disabilities.

RISE: Anti-Racism

Participants will identify stereotypes targeting racialized people, and discuss known cases of discrimination and harassment that have targeted racialized communities.

RISE: Feminism

Participants will identify stereotypes targeting women and discuss the importance of feminism as a tool of action to challenge sexism.

RISE: First Peoples

Participants will be introduced to the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada, and engage in interactive activities addressing the negative impact colonization had and continues to have on Indigenous peoples today.

RISE: Gender Identity

Participants will discuss the oppression of the transgender community focusing and the role that gender stereotypes play in the creation and manifestation of misconceptions about gender.

RISE: Health Equity

Participants will learn about the various social determinants of health, and the impact that systems of oppression have on individual and group health.

RISE: Let's Talk Sex

Participants will discuss various topics such as consent, relationships and sexual health.

RISE: Religion and Spirituality

Participants will identify stereotypes stemming from religious and spiritual differences, and discuss known cases of discrimination and harassment that have targeted religious and spiritual communities.

RISE: Sexual Orientation

Participants will identify stereotypes based on sexual orientation (ie. lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, etc), and discuss known cases of discrimination and harassment that have targeted these communities.

RISE: Sexual Violence Prevention

Participants will identify ways that they can prevent, intervene and respond to sexual violence, and discuss topics such as rape culture, consent and the spectrum of sexual violence.

If you have any questions about the RISE Program, contact equity@ontariotechu.ca.

Let's Talk Equity is a series focused on encouraging conversations about equity and inclusion, both online and offline. You can join the conversation by using the hashtag #LetsTalkEquity and following Ontario Tech Student Life on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can learn more about Let's Talk Equity and read stories from students on the Digital Community.

Toronto Pride Parade Watch Party

June 28 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

In collaboration with the Ontario Tech Pride Club, we will be "attending" Toronto Pride together as a community. You are invited to join us virtually as we watch the Online Pride Parade.

Register on the Student Life Portal

Webinar: Hello, my name is...

This webinar examined: How does identity shape interactions and how do interactions shape identity? What barriers and microaggressions do students from equity-seeking groups face at Ontario Tech? Students will share their perspectives and experiences about the current climate of equity at the university to answer these questions and more.

Subsequently, the students will make recommendations on how staff, faculty and senior administration can incorporate simple principles to facilitate more equitable interactions with students at Ontario Tech.

The Hello, my name is... equity webinar took place on May 13, 2020. For more information, contact equity@ontariotechu.ca.

View a recording of the webinar