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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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Update December 22, 2020 - COVID-19 Provincewide Shutdown – Information for Researchers

Dear Research Community,

As of December 26 at 12:01 a.m. all of Ontario will enter a Provincewide Shutdown as announced December 20 by Premier Doug Ford. As a result, additional operational and safety considerations will need to be implemented by the Ontario Tech research community. In consultation with the On-Campus Research Task Force and the University Operations Task Force, I am providing the following update and guidance to help you navigate the changing requirements: 

  • Return to Remote Activities Preparedness: For researchers who prefer to, or must, transition back to remote research activities or will continue to conduct research on campus (as approved), please refer to the Return to Remote Activities Preparedness website.
  •  On-Campus Research (already approved): Approved On-Campus Research can continue under the current framework. Please ensure continued vigilance with approved safety measures to ensure a safe research environment. If you have questions, please contact your Faculty FORC or refer to the Health and Safety website. Approved researchers will be sent an email confirmation for their on-campus access that can be provided to Campus Security. Proof of completion of the COVID-19 screening questionnaire must also be provided.
  • On-Campus Research (new requests): New requests for on-campus research activities will continue to follow the On-campus research approval process –Stage 3 of the Stages to Resume Research Activities on Campus. Details regarding the Return to On-Campus Research - Process and Application are available on the VPRI website.
  • Human Subject Research: The REB is temporarily suspending all research involving in-person contact with human participants as of December 26 at 12:01 a.m.  Additionally, all on site research that is being conducted at hospitals or other in-person facilities must adhere to the policies of those facilities.

Researchers must ensure that there is a plan in place to ramp down or discontinue in-person research activities without compromising the safety of study participants while maintaining the principles of the Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 (TCPS 2). As part of the ramp down/discontinuation of research, researchers must conduct the following:  

  1. Research protocols must be modified or delayed to limit unnecessary personal contacts;
  2. Reduce in-person participant interactions and replace with telephone or online communication; 
  3. Postpone in-person study visits, focus groups, interviews, and/or conducted on-line/virtual format. 
  4. Ensure data and files are accessible remotely while respecting privacy legislations, requirements of the TCPS 2 and data management plan as outlined in the REB application.  
  5. Arrange installation of any specific computer applications required to complete work remotely.  
  6. Inform the REB of any changes that have been made to the protocol and revisions to the informed consent form that may impact a participant’s decision to continue with the research. This must be submitted to the REB through a change request application. The change request submission must include a completed copy of the University’s Ramp Down Closure checklist which can be accessed here. 

Please see the research-related FAQs for more details. Additionally, you can find our SOPs with respect to declared emergencies on the REB’s homepage. We will continue to monitor the situation and post any updates on our website.

Where possible, researchers should consider ramping down on-campus research activities. If you have any questions related to the ramping down of research activities or other question, or concerns related to COVID-19 and/or its impact on research activities, please refer to the following resources:

Research is important to Ontario Tech University. We are doing all we can under the current COVID-19 restrictions to continue to facilitate both on-campus and off-site research. If you have any questions about your research funding or other matters pertaining to your research, please feel free to contact staff in the Office of Research Services.

Wishing you, your families, and your research team members a happy and safe holiday. 

Sincerely, 

Prof. Les Jacobs, PhD, FRSC

Vice-President, Research and Innovation

les.jacobs@ontariotechu.ca