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, please connect with them to set up an appointment by emailing: equity@ontariotechu.ca.
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. Find the current groups running and register on the Student Life Portal.
Equity Talks
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
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.
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
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.
Black Student Centred Space
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
This is a weekly virtual space for 2SLGBTQ+ students and allies to come together, support each other and participate in interactive activities using Google Meet.
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. Find the workshop schedule and register on the Student Life Portal.
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: 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: 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: 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.
RISE: 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 (Indigenous Intro: Shifting the Narrative)
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 Identities
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: Anti-Racism
Participants will identify stereotypes targeting racialized people, and discuss known cases of discrimination and harassment that have targeted racialized communities.
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. Check out the current schedule of events and register on the Student Life Portal.
Breaking Barriers Series: the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) Experience in Careers and Job Search Edition
Breaking Barriers is a series branching out of the Student Life BIPOC and Black Student Centered Spaces. The series will focus on the barriers that marginalized folks encounter when starting their career. It will be about centering BIPOC however, all are welcomed to attend.
#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.
Check out the current schedule of events.
