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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.

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UOIT to celebrate largest-ever graduating class at Convocation 2017

University to confer 16,000th degree, four honorary degrees

June 1, 2017

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology's 2017 Convocation ceremonies will take place June 8 and 9 at the Tribute Communities Centre.
The University of Ontario Institute of Technology's 2017 Convocation ceremonies will take place June 8 and 9 at the Tribute Communities Centre.

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s largest-ever graduating class will cross the stage at 2017 Convocation ceremonies on June 8 and 9. During four ceremonies, approximately 2,200 graduates will receive their degrees.

In addition to the conferring of bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees, this year the Faculty of Business and Information Technology will award its first graduate diplomas in Accounting.

Each year at Convocation, the university proudly confers honorary degrees to recognize outstanding individuals who inspire others and embody the university’s vision and mission. Recipients will have made an outstanding intellectual and/or scholarly contribution in their chosen field of academic eminence; or provided outstanding service and/or contributions to greater society through non-academic achievements and/or public service.

In 2017, the university will present honorary Doctor of Laws degrees to:

  • Ms. Jeanette Southwood, Vice-President, Strategy and Partnerships at Engineers Canada, for her career as an award‑winning engineer and a leader in the engineering consulting sector.
  • Ms. Shirlee Sharkey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Elizabeth Health Care, for her career as a trusted health-services administrator, social innovator and registered nurse, and her breakthrough leadership in community-based health-care excellence.
  • The Honourable Sarabjit Marwah, Member of the Senate of Canada and former Vice-Chair and Chief Operating Officer of Scotiabank, for his career as a Canadian banking executive, his leadership of non-profit organizations, and his championship of social inclusion in all arenas.
  • Elder Shirley Williams, Professor Emerita, Trent University, for her outstanding achievement in post‑secondary education pedagogy, her advocacy of Indigenous language teaching and her ongoing inspirational community leadership.

All ceremonies can be viewed live online at uoit.ca/convocationwebcast. The 2017 webcast recordings will be posted on uoit.ca in late June.

2017 Convocation schedule:

Thursday, June 8 – 9:30 a.m.

  • Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science
  • Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
  • Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) to Ms. Jeanette Southwood

Thursday, June 8 – 2 p.m.

  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Health Sciences
  • Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) to Ms. Shirlee Sharkee

Friday, June 9 – 9:30 a.m.

  • Faculty of Business and Information Technology
  • Faculty of Science
  • Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) to the Honourable Sarabjit Marwah

Friday, June 9 – 2 p.m.

  • Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
  • Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) to Elder Shirley Williams

Where:

Tribute Communities Centre
99 Athol Street East
Oshawa, Ontario

Media contact

Bryan Oliver
Communications and Marketing
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
905.721.8668 ext. 6709
289.928.3653 (cell)
bryan.oliver@uoit.ca

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