Courses
These courses on water and social justice are regularly offered at the University of Toronto:
LAN2701: Landscape Architecture: Indigenous Perspectives on Landscapes
NEW348: Indigenous Relationships with Place in Urban Centres
ECO313H1: Environmental Economics and Policies
Sheila Boudreau, RPP, MCIP, OALA (with Seal), CSLA, MA, BLA, BA
LAN2300HS: Landscape Architecture Topics – Environment: Green Infrastructure
EEB433H1: Global Issues in Aquatic Ecosystems
EESC18H3: The Great Lakes: Introduction to Physical and Chemical Limnology
CIV250H1: Hydraulics and Hydrology
INS460H1: Indigenous Theory, Research
ENV323H1: Ontario Environmental Policy
SII (Society and Its Institutions) 199H1F: Living on the Water in Toronto
WGS (Women and Gender Studies) 434: Water and Social Justice
ANT 6033: Unsettling Settler Colonialism
ENG377H1: Topics in Environmental Literature: The Environmental Imagination
ANT463H5 Anthropologies of Water: On Meaning, Value, and Futures
WGS463H1: Advanced Topics in Gender Theory (Toxic Worlds, Decolonial Futures)
JPE 250Y: Environmental Politics in Canada (
JEP 356 (Fall): Environmental Justice
ENV320H1: National Environmental Policy
WGS335: Special Topics in Women and Gender Studies (Decolonial Aesthetics and Futurities)
TRN140Y: Ethics, Humans
GGR 288: World Freshwater Resources
GGR 348: The Great
Nicole Spiegelaar
TRN141Y: Environmental Science and Pathways to Sustainability
Robin Thorne
GGR217H5: Fundamentals of Hydrology
SJE1926HS: Race, Space
SJE5011HF: Master’s Level Participatory Action Research and Community Based Action Research
GGR334H1F: Water Resource Management
INS205: Indigenous Worldviews, Spiritual and Healing Traditions
ARC363Y1: Landscape Architecture Studio III
Current Field Opportunities
Call for Student Applications:
Dean’s Fund for International and Indigenous Initiatives
Indigeneity, Sustainability, and Food: An Interdisciplinary Perspective through Field Study with the Centre for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA), Belize
May 4 – May 12, 2019
For students
Overview: Students will participate in an experiential learning program on indigeneity, sustainability
Please note that this opportunity involves a commitment to attend an orientation day to familiarize students with Belizean society and history, outline learning objectives for the trip and initiate student conversations across the participating units. The orientation will be scheduled in late April. Students are also required to attend a Safety Abroad session, prior to departure. All students must travel together, leaving Toronto Saturday, May 4, returning Sunday, May 12.
Funding:
The total cost for airfare, housing, airport transportation, daily transportation, meals, internet access, and the administrative fee will be covered with support from New College and the Dean’s Fund for International and Indigenous Initiatives. Students are expected to contribute $200CAN from other sources such as college travel grants, student union awards and/or personal resources. Students are also responsible for costs related to VISAs, health insurance and vaccinations (if needed).
Student Selection:
Students will be selected based on their relevant course work and demonstrated interest and experience relevant to the program themes: indigeneity, sustainability and/or food.
To apply: Application should be submitted by email to Nancy Dragicevic, New College Program Support Officer: nc.progsupport@utoronto.ca
The deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 6, 2019.
The CELA application consists of the following components:
- a covering letter that includes three statements (a) why you are interested in participating in the program (150 words maximum); (b) your relevant background for the program (150 words maximum); (c) a statement confirming your commitment to activities prior to and following the CELA visit;
- a print-out of your ROSI Academic record;
- a resume;
- your student number;
- the names and email addresses of two academic referees;
- and if applicable, any previous funding you have received for an international student experience
Students may be asked to participate in a brief interview, as part of the selection process.
Past Opportunities
Call for Student Applications:
Dean’s Fund for International and Indigenous Initiatives
Aabiziingwashi Jiimaan (Wide Awake Canoe) Build with and in Wahnapitae First Nation
June 30 – July 15, 2018
For students
Overview: Students are invited to apply for an experiential learning program in which they will build a birchbark canoe in and with Wahnapitae First Nations, under the guidance of Mike Ormsby, an experienced Anishnaabe canoe builder, artist, social worker and outdoor educator, and with language instruction from Jenny Blackbird (Nehiyaw-Finnish/Canadian) and Albert Owl (Anishinaabe). Activities will include harvesting materials, canoe-building, introduction to Anishinaabemowin language, stories and teachings about water and canoes, and visiting local areas of environmental importance (visits to old growth red pine forest at Wolf Lake, local sacred sites with elders, and visits to hydroelectric sites to consider their impact on environment and on traditional canoe travel routes).
Students’ travel, accommodation
Instructors:
Bonnie McElhinny is Principal of New College and Associate Professor, Anthropology and Women
Jenny Blackbird (Nehiyaw-Finnish/Canadian) is a multidisciplinary artist, hand drummer, singer, fashion designer, and jingle dress dancer. Jenny works with Ciimaan/Kahuwe’yá/Qajaq, an Indigenous language initiative of the Centre of Indigenous Studies that
Mike Ormsby is an Anishinaabe artist, craftsman, writer, storyteller, outdoor educator, and canoe builder. He builds birch bark and wood canvas canoes. Mike signs his work as W’
Albert Owl is from Sagamok Anishnaabek First Nation. Anishinaabemowin or Ojibwe is his first language. He works in the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) language as a translator and interpreter. Albert also facilitates full immersion Anishinaabemowin workshops, such as he has for the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. Recently Albert began working with the Toronto District School
Student Selection:
Students will be selected for participation based on their relevant course work and demonstrated interest and experience in Indigenous,
Eligible students must not have already received funding for an Arts & Science international opportunity including 398 REP, ICM, DFIII (formerly DIIF) or CFHU.
Students must be in good standing in the Faculty of Arts of Science at the University and Toronto and currently enrolled in an academic program at the time the proposed activity takes place.
To apply: Students should submit applications by Feb. 28 to nc.principal@utoronto.ca
The applications should include the following: (1): a CV/resume, which includes the names and contact information for two referees, (2) an informal transcript, (3) a cover letter in which the applicant includes 3 statements: (a) statement (no more than 200 words) describing why the student wants to participate, (b) a statement (no more than 100 words) describing related experiences (in classes or outside of them), (3) a statement (no more than 100 words) of how the student will disseminate knowledge gained from the experience upon returning to U of T. Students may be asked to participate in a brief interview, as part of the selection process.
Call for Student Applications:
Dean’s Fund for International Indigenous Initiatives
The CELA application consists of the following components:
- a covering letter that includes three statements (a) why you are interested in participating in the program (150 words maximum); (b) your relevant background for the program (150 words maximum); (c) a statement confirming your commitment to activities prior to and following the CELA visit;
- a print-out of your ROSI Academic record;
- a resume;
- your student number;
- the names and email addresses of two academic referees;
- and if applicable, any previous funding you have received for an international student experience
Students may be asked to participate in a brief interview, as part of the selection process.
Student Groups
Ontario Water Works Association University of Toronto Student Chapter
The OWWA Student Chapter (OWWASC) at the University of Toronto is a student-run group that was established in 2005. The Chapter provides students with opportunities to learn about the water industry through networking events, socials, technical seminars, and plant tours. Visit their website here.
Leap UofT is a student activist group committed to climate justice. Leap U of T is based around the principles of the Leap Manifesto, a call for a just transition to a sustainable future (www.leapmanifesto.org). Currently, Leap U of T’s focus is on relaunching the fossil fuel divestment campaign at U of T.
water.org University of Toronto Chapter (
Water.org is an international non-profit organization aiming to dissolve the barriers between people and access to safe water and sanitation. For over 25 years, Water.org has been fighting the water crisis by implementing innovative and sustainable solutions, recognizing that charity alone is insufficient. What makes Water.org unique is that they seek sustainable financial solutions, such as their Water Credit initiative. As a student chapter, our overall mission is to raise awareness of Water.org and the global water crisis to the students of the University of Toronto St. George campus. Our vision is to become a prosperous, secure, and passionate club that has informed the majority of students on the St. George campus about the water crisis. Through this club, we hope to motivate other current and prospective students to get involved in solving the water crisis
Research
Water Research with University of Toronto Engineering
New courses are added every semester at St. George, Mississauga, Scarborough campuses. Please visit again soon as course calendars and departmental offerings are updated.