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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

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

Women in Research Council

In keeping with Ontario Tech University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and the Office of Research Services (ORS) are launching the Ontario Tech University Women in Research Council (WIRC). The specific mandate of the Council is to develop and implement initiatives to invest in gender equity at Ontario Tech by helping to actively nurture and retain talented women who can help advance and lead the university in research, teaching and beyond.

*Anytime we refer to “women”, we are referring to all women, which includes, but is not limited to trans women, gender non-conforming women, non-binary women, individuals who are feminine of centre, femmes and cisgender women.

The funding for this program is provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Institutional Grant program.

  • Advisory Committee

    The Advisory Committee is invested in the development and implementation of WIRC initiatives at Ontario Tech University. The Committee is dedicated to nurturing and retaining talented women faculty, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. The WIRC Advisory Committee is comprised of:

    Image of Dr. Karla Dhungana-Sainju

    Dr. Karla Dhungana-Sainju (she/her), WIRC Chair and Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

     

    Image of Dr. Theresa Stotesbury

    Dr. Theresa Stotesbury (she/her), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science





    Image of Dr. Jana Abou Ziki

    Dr. Jana Abou-Ziki (she/her), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

     

     

    Image of Dr. Janette Hughes

    Dr. Janette Hughes (she/her), Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2), Faculty of Education




     


    Image of Dr. Carolyn McGregorDr. Carolyn McGregor (she/her), Associate Dean, Professor and two-time Canada Research Chair, Faculty of Business and Information Technology

     

     

    Image of Dr. Amy LeachDr. Amy Leach (she/her), Associate Dean and Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

     

     

    Image of Dr. Carol RodgersDr. Carol Rodgers (she/her), Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences

     

     

    Image of Eileen AdamsEileen Adams (she/her), EDI Project Co-ordinator, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

     

     

    Image of Victoria GinsleyVictoria Ginsley (she/her), PhD Student (Criminology and Justice), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

  • Women In... at Ontario Tech

    Women in.... at Ontario Tech!

    The WIRC would like to highlight other women-centered groups at Ontario Tech. There are incredible student-led groups, as well as non-profit organizations, dedicated to nurturing and expanding the role of women in various industries. They promote the inclusion and promotion of women identified students and faculty members. Below are a selection of the incredible groups at Ontario Tech.

    Women in Business
    Ontario Tech Women in Business Association's goal is to provide resources to women on their corporate and entrepreneurial journey with our exclusive events. Women in Business want to educate, create, and inspire! They aim to provide learning opportunities for both the student population and faculty, addressing common obstacles women face in all areas of the business world. They create a fun and safe environment for students to receive resources and provide opportunities for them to thrive in both an entrepreneurial and corporate career

    Women in IT
    WIT is a student-run sub-association (within the Business & IT department) that is committed to empowering and improving the experience of females in IT fields, both inside and outside Ontario Tech University. Past events include a Women in the Workplace conference, Women in Leadership events, game nights, movie nights and equity talks!

    Women in Engineering
    Founded in 2004, the Women in Engineering Society at Ontario Tech University, is a non-profit organization within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. It was created by a female engineering professor and an engineering advisor to address the issue of a lack of female engineers within the faculty. Since its creation, Women in Engineering has grown to include over 100 female engineering students. They also run a mentorship program for upper year engineering students, matching them with women in the engineering field!

    Women in STEM
    Ontario Tech University's Women for STEM program provides opportunities for female students to fulfill their potential in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based fields. Women for STEM is built on three pillars to engage and empower women: Mentorship and networking opportunities; Scholarships for women in STEM fields of study; Celebrating the achievements of women as innovators, entrepreneurs and change agents. Their goal is to raise $2 million dollars to provide 200 entrance scholarships and 600 in-course scholarships to Ontario Tech students over a 10-year period.

    SHE LEADS
    She Leads was created when our team was identifying certain needs on our campus and in our larger social environment and we noticed a lack of female empowerment opportunities. A female’s voice is just the thing that is needed in this day and age to make a long-lasting impact throughout communities. We can accomplish a lot with the right platform and an everlasting ambition. With every project we initiate, we strive to connect females within our community so that, as per our slogan, She Leads, She Empowers, and She Succeeds.

    Stay tuned for more features to come!

  • Ontario Tech Faculty Achievements

    Ontario Tech faculty achievements

    steam3dbanner.png

    Directed by Dr. Janette Hughes, the STEAM-3D Maker Lab is a graduate research facility aimed at providing mentorship and opportunities for women through a focus on STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Proficiency in STEAM is widely regarded as a driver of innovation, yet a significant gender imbalance in academic programs and careers has persisted for decades. The Maker Lab explores how STEAM (through an integration of the Arts) can create additional entry points for girls and women in STEAM. The Maker Lab supports initiatives and conducts research on issues that primary affects women. For example, Dr. Hughes and her Lab were instrumental in supporting the development of the Kimberley Black Graduate Scholarship, awarded annually to a graduate student in the Faculty of Education who demonstrates a commitment to women’s issues.

Stayed tuned for future spotlights of faculty and students

Stayed tuned for future spotlights of faculty and students

Follow the WIRC on Twitter

Follow the WIRC on Twitter