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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Meet our Team

Vanessa Ironside

Engineering Outreach Coordinator

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Hi! My name is Vanessa Ironside and I am one of the Engineering Outreach Coordinators. I currently hold Bachelors of Science in Human Biology and History and Philosophy of Science and a Masters of Education in Development Psychology. This is my 7th year working within the realm of STEM Outreach, previously working at the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto. In my role a the university, I run c_wonder: Teacher Professional Development, organize and run c_wonder: Community STEM Camps and I am the Engineering Outreach Specialist on-site at two Durham Public Schools. I am passionate about making STEM Education accessible, inclusive and engaging to all students and preparing educators with the tools to implement innovative new teaching practices.

Contact:vanessa.ironside@ontariotechu.ca

Ellen James

Women in Engineering & Engineering Outreach Coordinator

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Hello, My name is Ellen James and I am the Women in Engineering and Engineering Outreach Program Coordinator. I graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Western University, where I was involved in the Women in Engineering program, volunteered for the Engineering Outreach program, and completed an internship at Union Gas. After graduation, I joined Ferrero, the leading global chocolate and confectionery manufacturer (Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, and Kinder Chocolate) as a project coordinator, and moved to Alba, Italy. Now back in Canada, I hope to use my experiences to help inspire women, spark joy, and promote the many opportunities women have in the world with an engineering degree. My door is always open!

Contact: ellen.james@ontariotechu.ca

Volunteer with Engineering Outreach!

Engineering Outreach is always looking for Ontario Tech Engineering Students to help run programming for elementary and highschool students throughout the year. Get involved with one of our many events, workshops, or after-school clubs, and add valuable engineering experience to your resume!

If you are interested in volunteering, please email engineering.outreach@ontariotechu.ca