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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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Nursing community wellness

Ashley Wannop | Class of 2014

Bachelor of Science, Nursing

"I have always been interested in pursuing a career within the mental health field," says Ashley, "and I thought nursing was a good way to accomplish my goals."

Today Ashley is Registered Nurse in the Assessment and Stabilization Unit of Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. Employing almost 1,200 staff, Ontario Shores is a public hospital in Whitby that provides a range of specialized assessment and treatment services to those living with complex and serious mental illness. 

The field of mental health was a common topic of conversation in Ashley's home because her mother is a mental health nurse. Ashley was pleased to be accepted into the University of Ontario Institute of Technology because the campus was nearby and offered exactly the program she was looking for. She enjoyed the hands-on courses and field placements. "UOIT provided me with the supportive learning environment I needed to become a competent and confident nurse."

Ashley is gratified to be embarking on the career she's been looking forward to for many years – and with the employer she aspired to work for. She's also looking forward to contributing to the mental health of people in the community.