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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Commas

Commas generally reflect pauses in speech and are used to separate words or expressions that interrupt the normal progression of a sentence.

The university does not use the Oxford comma; in a series, place commas after each item but not before the final and, or and/or nor.

For example: Students waited in line to buy their textbooks, notebooks, pencils and pens.

When a sentence includes the word and in a number of instances, use a comma to separate for clarity.

For example: The faculties of Engineering and Applied Science, and Social Science and Humanities tied for first place during Orientation Week’s Wild Goose Chase.

For direct quotes, place commas and periods inside the quotation marks.

For example: “Everyone at Ontario Tech University is tremendously proud of the members of the university’s Formula SAE team,” said Dr. Hossam Kishawy, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

For example: Dr. Hossam Kishawy, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, is proud of the Formula SAE Motorsports team.

When writing a specific date that includes a day of the week, place a comma between the day and the month.

For example: Lectures begin on Thursday, September 6.