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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Faculty of Health Sciences

Professor Manon Lemonde, RN, PhD

Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences

With the university since its first days, Professor Manon Lemonde has seen it repeatedly surpass expectations. While many doubted a new university in Durham Region could provide students with the same education and experience as more established institutions in the province, she has watched UOIT become a leader, building a solid reputation for the research, innovation and graduates it produces.

Manon is confident UOIT will continue to eclipse expectations. The university has bold plans to increase its capacity to support the 20,000 students expected to be enrolled by 2030. Donors like Manon are a big reason for this exceptional growth. Their commitment to building a future-minded university drives ambitious research, fosters cultural and community engagement and supports graduates who will become the next generation of citizen leaders.

Manon and her husband, Pierre Hinse, were among the early arrivals to the new UOIT campus in 2003. Manon began teaching the university's first class of nursing students and Pierre enrolled in the undergraduate Mechanical Engineering program. Both have contributed to shaping this institution. Each has served on the Board of Governors – Manon representing faculty and Pierre representing students.

And Pierre, who went on to acquire a Bachelor of Engineering and then a Master of Applied Science in Automotive Engineering at UOIT, even played a role in building the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) by travelling to pick up special parts for ACE. Today he is a Development and Operations Instrumentation Engineer in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, working in the world-class testing and research facility.

"We've seen UOIT transition from a university whose name few knew to one widely known and respected because of the success of our graduates," Manon said. "Being innovative put us a step ahead." Referencing the field of healthcare in which she works, she points out the aging population and the need to educate students to be ready for new challenges. "Fortunately, we have the technology here. The simulation lab, for example, prepares them for the real world."

"UOIT has become a well-known and respected university in a short period of time because of the quality of our graduates. They really are prepared for tomorrow's work. By giving to this university we can facilitate students' journeys to complete their studies and have successful careers."