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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6 ways to celebrate Pride month during the pandemic

June 10, 2021

Written in collaboration with Sylvia Harnarain.

June is Pride Month! It is dedicated to celebrating, empowering, and supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Here are some ways that you can celebrate Pride month from home this year:

Watch the Flag Raising

On June 1st, 2021 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Pride Month will be kick-started with the raising of the Rainbow and Transgender flags at City Hall. You can watch the event live on Facebook or Youtube.

Join us for our Pride Month celebrations

On June 23rd, 2021 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. join the AIDS Committee of Durham Region (ACDR), Ontario Tech University, and Durham College in celebrating Pride Month with a fun-filled virtual event offering a variety of activities! Bring your friends or make new ones!

Attend a RISE Workshop

Student Engagement and Equity has a variety of RISE workshops planned for the month of June and beyond. Attending these workshops is a great opportunity to learn more about the history of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities and engage in meaningful and supportive discussions with your peers.

RISE: Sexual Orientation

June 22nd, 2021 3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m
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 2SLGB+ communities.

RISE: Trans Identities

June 29th, 2021 3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m
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

Watch the Pride Toronto Parade

On June 27th, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Toronto’s 40th Annual Pride Parade will be available to be live-streamed digitally! This event aims to honour Toronto’s history, talent, and community.

Virtual Pride Events Happening Around The World

There are many virtual pride events happening during the month of June all around the world, this article features many events you can check out to take part in celebrating pride month. These events will be taking place in countries like India, Australia, Singapore, and the Philippines. There will be events like virtual drawing sessions to a 21-day challenge to a live stream on twitch. Keep note of the dates and be sure to tune in when they happen!

Celebrate using these Ontario Tech Pride backgrounds

An easy way to celebrate pride can be using our very own OTU pride backgrounds! All you have to do is download the image and now you can show your pride during meetings, classes, and events.