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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

Fair Trade at Ontario Tech

FAIRTRADE DESIGNATION 

We are proud to announce that Ontario Tech University has been awarded a Fair-Trade Campus Designation by Fairtrade Canada, in recognition of the institution's dedication to promoting fairtrade practices and sustainability on campus.

What does Fairtrade mean to us?

It's more than just a designation—it's a commitment to support farmers who produce the crops we consume.

Fairtrade guarantees:
  • A minimum price and fair wages to farmers.
  • Improves working conditions for farmers
  • Improves living conditions of families in developing countries
  • Funds community development projects (health care, sanitation, schools and building vital infrastructure)
  • Sets standards to protect the environment through sustainable agricultural practices

 

Link to the full story here.

 

                   Green fairtrade logo                classic fairtrade                   campus fairtrade logo

These are some of the ways in which we are working on promoting Fair Trade at Ontario Tech:

  • Running a Fair Trade steering committee
    • Balanced membership of volunteers and administrative representatives on our steering committee.
    • Regular meetings to discuss goals, assess progress, and adjust fair trade initiatives.
    • Expanded variety of Fair Trade certified products on campus, encouraged others to meet criteria, and submitted annual progress reports.
  • Offering Fair Trade products at campus operated dining locations
    • Fairtrade coffee (Mountain View Estates & our own brand RIDGEBACK Brew).
    • Fairtrade tea (Numi Organic Tea).
    • Fairtrade chocolate bar (camino). 
      • Offering Faritrade Catering for our events
      • Parternering up with locally sourced caterers and providing Fairtrade products at our catered events.
  • Hosting, engaging and educational Fair Trade events
    • Handing out educational materials, Fair Trade products and teaching the community on the importance of Fair Trade (events: Sustainability Book Club, Fairtrade Month Awareness and giveaway).

fair trade products