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

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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. If you'd like to meet with the Equity and Inclusivity Advisor, you can see the drop-in hours on the Student Life Portal or in this drop-in hours document.

To view an archive of workshops and othere equity resources, visit the Equity Resource Library.

Equity Resource Library

Equity Discussion Groups
Student Centred Spaces
RISE Program
Workshops and events

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. Equity Discussion Groups are a space for all students regardless of identity or background to come together and discuss, share and learn together.

Equity Talks

Sessions biweekly on Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. until November 3.

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.

Discussion schedule:

September 15: Intro to Equity
September 29: Anti-Islamaphobia
October 27: SHARE Consent Workshop
November 3: Stop Asian Hate

Not Another Black Life

Sessions biweekly on Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. until November 10.

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.

Discussion schedule:

September 22: Intro to Anti-Blackness
October 8: Villification of Black Women and Girls
October 20: Treaty Recognition
November 10: How Allies can support BIPOC People

Student Centred Spaces are meant for students with shared experiences, identites or background to come together and support, share and learn together.

BIPOC Student Centred Space

Sessions run on Tuesdays from 4 to 5 p.m.

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.

Discussion schedule:

September 7: Ice Breakers and recipe sharing (orientation)
October 19: JackBox games night
November 16: Beyond Undergraduate

Black Student Centred Space

Beginning on November 9.

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.

Pride Space

Sessions biweekly on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. until November 11.

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.

Friday September 10: Ice breaker (orientation)
Friday September 10: Trans Student Centered Space (Orientation)

September 16: Among Us
September 23: Gartic Phone
September 30: Orange Shirt Day
October 7: Collaborative Doodling
October 21: Virtual Escape Room
October 28: Show and Tell
November 4: Virtual Games
November 11: Virtual Games

Pride Study Space

Mondays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. between November 8 and November 29

This drop-in program will give 2SLGBTQ+ students and allies a chance to study together virtually in a quiet environment. Students will learn good practices to study and take breaks together. Access the link to this drop-in event on the Events and Workshops page of the Student Life Portal or by registering for Pride Space.

If you have any questions, or require accomodations to be able to participate in this event, please email equity@ontariotechu.ca

Visit the Student Life Portal

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. between September 7 and November 1.

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: Sexual Violence Prevention

September 7 from 4 to 6 p.m.
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.

RISE: Let's Talk Equity

September 13
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-Racism

September 20
Participants will identify stereotypes targeting racialized people, and discuss known cases of discrimination and harassment that have targeted racialized communities.

RISE: Sexual Orientation

September 27
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: Trans Identities

October 4
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

October 18
Participants will learn about the various social determinants of health, and the impact that systems of oppression have on individual and group health.

RISE: Anti-Ableism

October 25
Participants will identify stereotypes targeting people with disabilities, and discuss known cases of discrimination and harassment that have targeted people with disabilities.

RISE: Feminism

November 1
Participants will identify stereotypes targeting women and discuss the importance of feminism as a tool of action to challenge sexism.

RISE: First Peoples (Indigenous Intro; Shifting the Narrative)

October 27 from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
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.

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

Let's Talk Equity

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.

Harm Reduction 101 and Overdose Prevention Training

September 9 from 3 to 5 p.m.

In this workshop, we will explore the meaning of harm reduction as a philosophy and an approach to risk reduction. Participants will learn the basic principles of harm reduction, and explore stigma and misconceptions that surround substance use. The second part of this workshop will discuss what happens during an overdose, and how to effectively respond. Participants will increase their understanding on the signs/symptoms of different types of overdoses, and how to administer naloxone.

This workshop is facilitated by Melissa Lauria, from Carea Community Health Centre's Harm Reduction & Overdose Prevention Outreach Team. If you have any questions or require accomodations in order to participate, please email equity@ontariotechu.ca

Disclosure Training: Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence

October 21 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The goal of this workshop is to develop effective and supportive responses to victims and survivors who disclose having experienced sexual and/or domestic violence to best maintain that individual's dignity and well-being.

This workshop provides information on:

An overview of sexual violence and consent.
Advice on how to effectively support someone who has disclosed, e.g. What to say, and things to avoid saying.
Referring to appropriate support.
What happens after a referral.
Confidentiality and limitations.
Navigating the university's resources on sexual violence prevention.
Understanding how to support yourself after a disclosure.
Support services available for students who receive disclosures.

Student Engagement and Equity is committed to ensuring that all persons are able to fully participate in our programming. If you require any specific accommodations to ensure your participation, please email equity@ontariotechu.ca.

#Let'sTalkSex

In response to student feedback provided to the Student Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Committee, Student Life has partnered with Durham College and the AIDS Committee of Durham to deliver some workshops to provide education and destigmatization around topics of sex and sexuality. Part of building a culture of consent and respect on campus is providing space for conversations like these.
Discussion groups on specific sexual health and relationship topics running from October to December. For session descriptions and schedule, follow the link below.

View schedule and register for #Let'sTalkSex