Events

The Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office joins the University of Toronto in condemning anti-Asian racism, misogyny, and all forms of racial violence. There is no denying the pain, sadness, and anger that many are feeling given recent events of racial and gender-based violence in Atlanta, Georgia. As we navigate and action-plan during these difficult times, the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office invites the community to collectively gather to confront, resist and denounce racism, anti-Asian racism, and White supremacy. Join us as we ignite love, compassion, support and restoration while building community during these challenging times.

This space will center a presentation and Q &A with May Lui, Educator and Consultant, on the topic, “Confronting Anti-Asian Racism: What you Need to Know”. This conversation will explore the complexities of anti-Asian racism, its impact and the principles that must be centered as we move forward to meaningful change.

• Format: Presentation and Q & A, followed by a closure activity.
• Platform: Virtual- Zoom.
• Audience: Racialized voices will be prioritized. Allies are welcome to attend. Open to students, staff, faculty, librarians, chaplains, and external community.

Please note that Jia Yao and Bristy Chakrabarty from the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre, will be available for support during this event.

Event Program:

• Opening Remarks: Karima Hashmani, Executive Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion | Office of Vice-President Human Resources & Equity
• Remarks and Moment of Silence: Dr. Joseph Wong, Vice President, International | University of Toronto
• Keynote Presentation: May Lui, Educator and Consultant
• Closure Activity: Co-Facilitated by Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office and the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre

Join the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and Indigenous Student Services on September 30 for a virtual event sponsored by Hart House commemorating Orange Shirt Day and the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

This year’s virtual event will feature the award-winning Indigenous author, teacher and poet Lee Maracle. Orange Shirt Day virtual backdrops and profile icons are also available for download.

Other ways to participate

We also invite and encourage all members of the U of T community to use the Orange Shirt Day icon as their profile photo and use the virtual backdrop (available for download here) on Teams or Zoom calls the week of September 27.

Learn more about Orange Shirt Day and the legacy of Canada’s residential school system.

Join us this month as former EngSci Chair, Professor Mark Kortschot (EngSci 8T4), highlights the key principles of 3D printing and addresses the possible benefits and limitations of this family of techniques.

Industrial designers have used 3D printing technology for almost 35 years to build prototypes of their designs, but the field has expanded dramatically over the past ten years. Now, 3D printers are used to produce a wide variety of things, including airplane parts, buildings, custom prosthetics, edible pastries, and more.

In this talk, Professor Kortschot will talk about the range of advanced materials now being used to print load-bearing parts, which has been the focus of his research over the past five years. He will also talk about the home hobbyist market, which has exploded recently due to the expiration of key technology patents.

To illustrate exactly what is involved, Professor Kortschot will present a live demonstration during the Lunch & Learn presentation. He will design a small part in a computer-aided design program on camera, create the printing file, and send it to the desktop printer in his office to show how easy the process is.

View Professor Kortschot’s professional bio and register for this free and exclusive event.

U of T Engineering alumni, join us for this monthly series.

Did you know that the Drinking Water Research Group (DWRG) at the University of Toronto has received funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), as well as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to investigate microplastics in Canadian drinking water? Efforts by the DWRG over the past three years have led to the development and subsequent refinement of advanced microplastic sampling and analysis techniques, allowing us to focus on the different health impact related issues.

But what exactly are Microplastics and why are they referred to as a “triple threat”?

Read more and register for this free and exclusive event.

Honour the experiences of residential school survivors by joining a University-wide event to recognize Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Students, librarians, faculty and staff may register to attend this event in-person or watch the livestream.

The University of Toronto will commemorate this day of recognition with remarks from Kelly Hannah-Moffat, Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, and Alexandra Gillespie, Vice-President & Principal, University of Toronto Mississauga, in The Great Hall at Hart House. Andrew Wesley, former Elder-in-Residence at First Nations House, will provide the keynote address: “Twelve Steps to Spiritual Renewal, Healing, and Forgiveness: Reflections on my Residential School Experience.”

Visit the event website to register to attend in person, or watch the livestream on YouTube.

Other ways to participate

Purchase an Orange Shirt Day Shirt:

All members of the University community—and Canadians nationwide—are encouraged to wear an orange shirt on September 30 in the spirit of reconciliation. Doing so affirms that “Every Child Matters.”

The University of Toronto Bookstore, in partnership with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, will have a limited supply of Orange Shirt Day shirts available for purchase.

All proceeds from the sales of the shirts are being directed to Indigenous community organizations—no proceeds will go to the U of T Bookstore or the University of Toronto.

Participate virtually:

We also invite and encourage all U of T community members to use the Orange Shirt Day icon as their profile photo and use the virtual backdrop (available for download below) on Teams or Zoom calls the week of September 26.

Download Orange Shirt Day Teams/Zoom Background (jpg:1.8MB)
Download Orange Shirt Day Team/Zoom Avatar (jpg:159KB)

Learn more about Orange Shirt Day and the legacy of Canada’s residential school system.

Are you a new first-year international EngSci student? The First Year E-Buddy Program is here to support you with your transition to the Faculty and the University! 

E-Buddies are upper-year engineering peer mentors who will provide support by answering questions about life at U of T Engineering, sharing their experiences, and providing information about campus resources. They will also provide informal programming and events to build community amongst international students, as well as provide support through structured workshops and events. 

All first-year international U of T Engineering students are eligible to participate in this program. 

Find full details and registration for E-Buddy events here.

Honour the experiences of residential school survivors by joining a University-wide event to recognize Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. Students, librarians, faculty members, and staff can register to attend this event in person or watch the live stream.

The University of Toronto will commemorate the day on Friday, September 29th with remarks from Alexandra Gillespie, Vice-President & Principal, University of Toronto Mississauga, and Rose Patten, Chancellor, University of Toronto, in the Great Hall at Hart House. David Kim, Warden, Hart House, will host the commemoration.

Following those remarks, Grant Hurley, Canadiana Librarian, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Mikayla Redden, Information Services & Instruction Librarian, New College Library, and Desmond Wong, Outreach Librarian, OISE Library, will engage in a panel discussion on making Residential School Survivors’ stories accessible at the University of Toronto Libraries. Angela Henshilwood, Head, Engineering & Computer Science Library, is moderating the discussion.

Orange Shirt Day has been observed on September 30th annually for several years. In June 2021, the Federal Government passed legislation formally recognizing September 30th as the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation.

For more information regarding speakers, how to register and more, please visit the Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Commemoration event page.

Other ways to participate

Purchase an Orange Shirt Day Shirt

All members of the U of T community are encouraged to wear an orange shirt on September 29-30 in the spirit of reconciliation. Doing so affirms that “Every Child Matters.”

In recognition of Orange Shirt Day 2023 and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives has again partnered with the U of T Bookstore for a limited supply of orange t-shirts.

MJ Singleton, an Ojibwe, two-spirit student from Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation who is studying at the University of Toronto Mississauga, designed this year’s t-shirt. Their design, titled noojimo’iwe, emphasizes the importance of healing the intergenerational trauma of residential schooling by supporting and loving those around you. The design depicts three children holding hands, with flowers blooming around them.

All proceeds from the sale of these shirts will be directed to Indigenous community organizations—no proceeds will go to the U of T Bookstore or the University of Toronto.

Visit this site to purchase a shirt or learn more about MJ Singleton’s design.

Participate Virtually in Orange Shirt Day

We also encourage all U of T community members to download and use the Orange Shirt Day icon as their profile photo and use the virtual background on Teams or Zoom calls the week of September 25-30 featuring MJ Singleton’s design.

Visit this site to download the icon or virtual background.

Learn more about Orange Shirt Day and the legacy of Canada’s residential school system.