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.

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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.

BIPOC Student Centred Space

Every other Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m. starting October 6, 2020.

BIPOC Student Centered Space seeks to provide students that identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of colour with the space to come together, support each other and participate in interactive activities using Google Meets. We ask that students that do not identify as Black, Indigenous and/or people of colour, respect this space by not attending. If you are looking for a place to learn more about anti-racism, we welcome you to join us in the "Not Another Black Life" discussion group.

This group was previously known as the Racialized Student Discussion Group.

Black Student Centred Space

Every other Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m. starting September 29, 2020.

This discussion group is a space for students that identify as Black, to come together, support each other and participate in interactive activities using Google Meets. We ask that students that do not identify as Black respect this space by not attending. If you are a non-Black person of colour, please check out the "BIPOC Student Centered Space", and if you are looking for a place to learn more about anti-racism, we welcome you to join us in the“Not Another Black Life" discussion group.

Equity Talks

Every other Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m. starting October 6, 2020.

Equity Talks is a discussion group open to all students who want to further their learning around equity issues. This group provides the opportunity to discuss current events and various equity-related topics such as feminism, anti-racism, anti-ableism, 2SLGBT+ allyship and many more. Materials will be provided prior to each meeting as an opportunity for independent learning.

Not Another Black Life

Every other Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m. starting September 29, 2020.

This discussion group is open to all students as a space for learning about anti-racism concepts and building skills to combat racism in everyday life. The group discusses all forms of racism with a particular focus on anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism. A few examples of topics we have covered in the past are tokenism, white saviourism, how to talk about race/racism, the #CancelCanadaDay and Black Trans Lives Matter movements. Materials will be provided prior to each meeting as an opportunity for independent learning.

Pride Space

Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m.

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

RISE: Respecting Individuals and Supporting Equity

The RISE (Respecting Individuals, Supporting Equity) Program is a suite of workshops that provide training and education on what participants can do on an individual level to foster a safer and more inclusive community at Ontario Tech. Participants will be introduced to several equity-related concepts, such as power, oppression, privilege, intersectionality and microaggressions. Participants will also learn bystander intervention skills that they can use to prevent and respond to discrimination and harassment. Students who complete the relevant requirements will be eligible to receive a RISE Certificate.

RISE Workshops will be held on Mondays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

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 RISE workshops.
Complete the mandatory online 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 explore an introductory understanding of Indigenous peoples and learn to shift the narrative as a stepping stone towards reconciliation. The audience will engage in a debrief and discussion with a live Q & A with facilitators.

RISE: Trans 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: 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.

Coping with COVID

October 21 from 4 to 5 p.m.

Join us as the Equity Advocates present Coping with COVID, an interactive online workshop that discusses the new struggles that COVID has brought. With online classes, the university experience has changed a lot from previous semesters.

Online classes present new stress and challenges that students must overcome. Come learn about the tips and tricks on how to navigate the online atmosphere while balancing healthy mental health habits.

Register on the Student Life Portal

Healthy Living on a Budget

November 4 from 1 to 2 p.m.

Are you grocery shopping for yourself for the first time? Have you just moved into res and are looking for food tips? Healthy Living on a Budget is a workshop, created by Equity Advocates, aimed at answering these questions. We will explore the basics of grocery shopping along with how to maintain a healthy diet as busy (and broke) students.