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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

Hello Tomorrow [Goodbye Yesterday] Durham Smart City Forum

Posted by Daniel Hoornweg on October 03, 2018

The "Hello Tomorrow: Durham Smart Cities Forum" was held on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at UOIT
Through discussions, exhibits and demos, the Durham Smart Cities Forum highlighted local examples of smart cities approaches, celebrated work already underway, and began to chart where to go next.

Last weekend, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology campus hosted the Hello Tomorrow Durham Smart Cities Forum. Ontario’s Chief Digital Officer kicked off the day and a sell-out crowd (on a Saturday!) participated in a range of sessions.

Perhaps the most compelling input was Jamie Coons, Councillor, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. His suggestion that no matter the size of the group, nor the length of the journey, a spirit of ‘leave no one behind' is critical as we start out together.

There are however, things we should said goodbye to and leave with yesterday as we journey toward smarter, more sustainable cities. We need to leave behind parochialism, a belief that we fight for our community or the Region of Durham, at the expense of other regions or the City of Toronto.

Arguments among governments - between local governments or with provincial and national agencies – fail to reflect that we are all on this journey together. There is often more than enough blame and excuses, and too little honesty on where we are and where we need to go.

We need to leave behind the belief that every house in Durham should be accessed by single-occupant, fossil-fuel powered vehicles. Or that every new resident of Durham needs 1000 square feet (93 m2) of living space.

We need to leave behind a lifestyle that requires almost 15 tonnes of CO2 emissions per person (residential emissions) when most people support the Paris Climate Accord which aims to keep global temperature increases below two degrees Celsius (with carbon emission targets of less than four tonnes per person).

We need to leave behind an attitude that the poor and the disadvantaged can fend for themselves. As Audrey Andrews, Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives for the Region highlighted, we can do many things today that will help the poor. Something as simple as helping people complete their tax assessments provides a benefit to everyone.

Finally, we need to start working together, and fast. In the words of Daniel Van Kampen, Economic Development Officer of Whitby, who suggested it at the event: ‘Before we become a smart community, we need to think collaboratively’.


Filed under: Sustainability 101

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