U of T Mississauga Positive Space

Mississauga Positive Space committee

Mississauga

UTM’s Positive Space Campaign engages in tri-campus initiatives whenever possible and works in conjunction with university equity policies and offices. We aim to foster a sense of community at the University of Toronto and create a safer environment for 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty, and librarians. It is our responsibility to identify particular areas of concern and develop strategies to address them. Positive Space acknowledges that anti-discrimination policies are not enough, and that we must go above and beyond to actively include and celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ people on campus.

If you have questions about events at our Mississauga campus, email us at positivespace.utm@utoronto.ca. For ongoing updates, you can also find the latest news through our Positive Space Listserv.

About the UTM Positive Space Committee

The Positives Space Committee at UTM meets each semester to plan social activities, build community connections with 2SLGBTQ+ campus members and allies, and discuss issues emerging to support sexual and/or gender diversity and the Positive Space Campaign. Please inquire through contacting us to join the committee or the UTM Positive Space listserv.

The Positive Space Campaign, reporting to the Office of the Vice-President and Principal, challenges the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students, staff, faculty, and librarians, even in environments with anti-discriminatory and inclusion policies. It proactively creates opportunities to foster constituent awareness and engagement and promotes inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ persons in every area of campus life. The Positive Space Campaign exists to prevent particular negative occurrences from arising and to respond when they do occur. 

UTM’s Positive Space Campaign is led by two co-chairs named by the Vice-President and Principal. A staff / faculty representative, who serves as one of the Co-Chairs, is appointed for a period of two years and is eligible for re-appointment at the end of their first term but may not serve more than two consecutive terms. A student representative serves as another Co-Chair and is appointed for a one-year period. 

The Co-Chairs and committee members help develop and support the campaign and contribute to its annual projects. The composition of the committee is open to representatives of campus constituencies including 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty, and librarians, and their allies, and represents a variety of skills, knowledge, and experience. Committee members promote the Positive Space Campaign in their department/area and within the university, represent their area of the university, and bring information back to their department, groups, colleagues, and/or peers. Committee membership may include ad hoc members to support campaign initiatives. 

Resources to support the campaign are provided by the Office of the Vice-President and Principal with administrative support provided by the UTM Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office. The UTM Positive Space committee meets as needed for its planning activities. Meetings are scheduled by the co-chairs in consultation with all members. The committee will decide if it will function under any specified rules of order. 

The Positive Space Campaign engages all sectors of the campus in activities and events that create a positive, diverse and inclusive community for learning, working and living. It identifies areas of concern, develops strategies to address them and initiates and conducts awareness projects that reflect its mandate. 

UTM’s Positive Space Campaign engages in tri-campus initiatives whenever possible and works in conjunction with university equity policies and offices. 

The Campaign co-chairs submit an annual report to the Principal at the end of each academic year that summarizes the committee’s activities, provides an overview of areas of concern and recommendations for remedies of these areas. 

Supports & Resources at UTM

Browse below for a list of supports for the 2SLGBTQ+ community at UTM. UTM Positive Space wants all members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community to feel safer and welcomed on campus. We are privileged to have several resources & services that are here to help.

UTM Equity, Diversity,
and Inclusion Office (EDIO)

The EDIO advances an equitable and inclusive campus community, free from discrimination or harassment in which human rights are respected and the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion are integrated into all areas of academic, work, and campus life. The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office facilitates equity and human rights related programming and systemic change initiatives at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Instagram: @utmedo

UTM Health and
Counselling Centre

The UTM Health and Counselling Centre has a team of medical staff experienced in working with diverse university populations and comfortable discussing all topics related to student health and wellness. Here, students can make appointments to discuss a wide range of health concerns, including gender-affirming care. 

Instagram: @utmhccwellness

UTM Sexual
Education Centre

The UTM Sexual Education Centre is a student run organization whose goal is to provide UTM students with education and resources on healthy sexuality. Using a non-judgemental and objective approach, this unit welcomes students of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, sexualities or political affiliations. 

Instagram: @utmsec

Sexual & Gender
Diversity Office (SGDO) 

The SGDO builds supportive learning and working communities by working towards equity and challenging discrimination. The Office provides innovative programming, resources, support, and workshops on sexual and gender diversity for students, staff, faculty, and librarians.

Instagram: @uoftsgdo

Sexual Violence
Prevention & Support Centre

The Centre works to create a campus environment where all members of the University community can study, work and live free from sexual violence. With locations on each campus, the Centre helps campus community member who have been affected by sexual violence or sexual harassment access support, services and accommodations. 

Our Centre is available to current students, staff, faculty, and librarians at the University of Toronto. People from all gender identities, expressions, and sexualities have access to our services, and will be welcomed by our highly skilled and compassionate team. 

Instagram: @uoftconsent

UTM Women and Gender
Equity Centre (WGEC)

A student-led/run resource centre that strives to make our campus safer and more accessible for women, trans folks, and non-binary students. The Women & Gender Equity Centre (WGEC) does this by offering safe spaces to students on campus, with designated times for female and trans students where they may ask us for support, access to resources, and peer support. WGEC also offers general peer support during regular office hours, providing students with the opportunity to voice their concerns, struggles, and seek appropriate remedies.

Email utmwgec.equity@gmail.com to be in contact.

Instagram: @utm.wgec