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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FSSH students receive 2021 Student Leadership Awards of Recognition

Two Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH) students received 2021 Student Leadership Awards of Recognition for their achievements and contributions to the Ontario Tech community.

Living out her mantra

Samantha (Sam) Brown received the 2021 Student Leadership Award of Recognition, Respect Award. This award is presented to an undergraduate student who promotes equitable practices within the university community, and who acknowledges or appreciates the perspectives and backgrounds of others and encourage others to do the same.

Dan Walters, FSSH Practicum/Internship Co-ordinator, who nominated Sam for the award lauded her community building skills and social intelligence.

“Sam just orchestrated our Faculty's best-ever ‘What To Do With Your BA’ alumni panel, and I had the great fortune of working closely with her in the months leading up to the event. Never in my life have I witnessed a student inspire her peers and community partners with such dexterous brushstrokes of integrity, inclusivity, and RESPECT... She is always quick to redirect praise to her team members (and strategically to those who need it most).”

Sam’s poise and maturity has not gone unnoticed outside of the university community and puts her in a class all her own. One panelist from the “What To Do With Your BA” event commented, “I can't believe Sam is in second year! She's literally the best master of ceremonies I've ever seen...and her ability to draw connections between everyone's points on the fly is unbelievable. She is scary-talented, and you guys are lucky to have her (as a student)."

In addition to being a Dean's List student, Sam’s resume of volunteer service is admirable. She has served as President of the Ontario Tech Humanities Society, VP of the Ontario Tech BIPOC Club, a Peer Leader, a Student Ambassador, a French and English Tutor, a Peer Mentor, and an International Orientation Leader.

Sam was honoured to receive this award and shared why.

“My name is Samantha Brown (she/her); I'm in my third year of the Legal Studies Program with a minor in Criminology and Justice and a specialization in Alternative Dispute Resolution. I have the privilege of working with many diverse individuals through my work-study and extracurricular positions on-campus. I also plan on working in the legal field once I graduate. As a result, it's essential that everyone feels listened to and respected in our interactions. ‘I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ - Maya Angelou Angelou's quote often helps me ensure that I'm doing whatever I can to be respectful of others, so I'm honoured to have received this award!”

Conscientious leadership

Farhin Mim received the 2021 Student Leadership Award of Recognition, Accountability (Ethics) Award. Undergraduate students nominated for this award demonstrate personal accountability in their leadership, exemplify dependability, incorporate ethical reasoning into their actions and uphold transparent leadership practices.

Dr. Hannah Scott, Professor in FSSH, nominated Farhin not only because of her impressive academic achievements, but also for her social awareness and engagement.

“Over the time I have known her, she has been active in the university student community. She would take part in events on campus, announce events in class, and eventually run for election (successfully) to be one of the Vice Presidents of the union, representing the downtown campus. She embraces activism, sincerely working with others to make the world a better place. She has a strong moral centre that guides her way in life. It is rare to find someone both academically and socially engaged, who excels in both realms.”

Farhin's exemplary academic success was evident in her Honour’s Thesis, supervised by Dr. Olga Marques. Focusing on the experiences of microaggressions, racism, and Islamophobia for visibly Muslim men and women university students, Farhin received Research Ethics Approval with only minor technical revisions in order to conduct qualitative research on the topic. Upon completion of her thesis and with the support of Dr. Marques, Farhin was accepted by the Canadian Sociological Association to present her findings at its annual meeting in May 2021. She and Dr. Marque later co-authored a manuscript based on her research, of which Farhin is the first author, and have already received a decision of ‘revise and resubmit’ from a peer reviewed journal.

Dr. Marques also had high praise for Farhin’s leadership and activism.

“She exemplifies personal accountability, dependability, ethical reasoning, collaboration, and a strong sense of equity and community. These traits are evident across Ms. Mim’s academic accomplishments as well as her student leadership at Ontario Tech University… Ms. Mim is hard-working, a proactive member of her community, and has a strong sense of personal, professional, and civic duty. She is most deserving of this award.”

In her final year of study Farhin served as Vice-President, Downtown Services, for Ontario Tech University’s Student Union (OTSU) where she designed and led focus groups targeting mental health and peer support. As a result of her findings, the OTSU has adopted a Peer Support Project. Farhin is currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Windsor.

Farhin shared her gratitude for the award and her pledge.

“I am grateful for this recognition, for the support of the Ontario Tech Student Union and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities towards my advocacy efforts in the Ontario Tech community. This award encourages me to continue my path forward with the utmost accountability from myself and others for an equitable future, there is a lot of work to be done.”

Other quotes

“We are very proud of these brilliant award winners. Farhin and Sam have both proven to be highly innovative, conscientious, collegial student leaders who represent the ethos of FSSH at Ontario Tech University.”
- Dr. Peter Stoett, Dean, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Ontario Tech University