Ontario Tech University celebrates 20 years
Ontario Tech University
A historical timeline

Government of Ontario sets aside $60 million in startup funds for a new university through the Ontario SuperBuild Corporation.

Bill 109, Schedule O, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Act gains royal assent, officially founding the new university.

Exceeded enrolment projection with more than 800 applicants.

Doors officially opened to inaugural class. The first two academic structures are today’s Science Building and the Business and Information Technology Building.

Construction completed for one of the largest geothermal wells in North America.
Three hundred and eighty-four holes, each drilled 213 metres (700 feet) into the earth linked to mechanical systems provide buildings with highly efficient and environmentally friendly heating and cooling.
Learn more about this event on November 7, 2003
Officially opened Campus Tennis Centre.


First convocation held for Bachelor of Education graduates.

The Estate of Kerry Willoughby donated more than $1 million to student success.

BMO Financial Group Donated $1 Million to Help Establish Campus Library.

Ontario Tech received its first Tier 1 Canada Research Chair.


Women’s Ridgebacks hockey team played historic first game.

Group of Engineering students launched first-ever Solar Vehicle Team.

Ontario Power Generation invested $10 million in education to help meet the growing need for energy specialists.


First Canadian Master’s program in IT Security launched.

Outpaced enrolment of other Ontario universities by 21 per cent.


Dr. Ronald Bordessa announced as second President and Vice-Chancellor.

Opened the Ontario Power Generation Engineering Building.

First all-faculty Convocation conferred nearly 700 degrees.

Lenovo Canada announced $2 million donation to boost opportunities for university students.

Province invested $10 million to build new facilities and to help university grow.

Opened the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, Campus Ice Centre, and Campus Tennis Centre.

Received an A+ on the Globe and Mail’s University Report Card for the quality of technology, and included on a list of five 'Hot' universities that are leading a technology wave.

New $120-million General Motors of Canada Automotive Centre of Excellence launched.

The Faculty of Education relocated to downtown Oshawa, establishing the university’s first presence in the city’s core.


Ontario’s first Mobile Devices course launched to meet growing demands of digital economy.

Federal and provincial governments invested $73 million in the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) and the construction of the Energy Systems and Nuclear Science Research Centre, now known as the Energy Research Centre.

The number of high school students confirmed our university as their first choice for post-secondary education increased by 6.4 per cent with the system average at only 2.3 per cent.

Received ownership of the historic Regent Theatre in downtown Oshawa and announced plans for construction of new building, now known as Bordessa Hall.


The Faculty of Social Science and Humanities relocated to Bordessa Hall (55 Bond Street East), and Charles Hall (61 Charles Street).

Opened the Clean Energy Research Laboratory.


Opened the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) Core Research Facility.


Opened the Energy Research Centre, connecting to the Business and Information Technology Building.



Men’s and women’s hockey program skated into OUA playoffs for the first time.


Dr. Deb Saucier appointed Provost and Vice-President, Academic.


Dr. Tim McTiernan reappointed President and Vice-Chancellor.

Finalized campus master plan with campus partner Durham College.

Joyce Foundation invested $1-million it establish The Joyce Foundation Success Awards.

Recognized with a Healthy Workplace Award (Gold category) for the second consecutive year from Regional Municipality of Durham’s Health Department.

Reflecting telescope installed Campus Library roof.

Federal and provincial governments announced $13-million investment in Software and Informatics Research Centre.

Ridgebacks women’s soccer team captured first-ever OUA championship.


Ridgebacks earned women’s soccer OUA Team of the Year award, and women’s soccer coach OUA Male Coach of the Year award.

Office of Graduate Studies renamed to School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Dr. Steven Murphy announced as fourth President and Vice-Chancellor.

Opened the Software and Informatics Research Centre creating first academic presence north of Conlin Road.

Province of Ontario, Magna International Inc., Multimatic Inc. invested $4 million to enhance ACE with a Moving Ground Plane.

Ridgebacks added basketball to varsity program. Men’s and women’s basketball programs joined the Ontario University Athletics in 2019.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $9.46 million in funding to enhance the Automotive Centre of Excellence.

Brilliant Catalyst launched to accelerate the development of new ideas, business ventures and innovations.


Dr. Lori Livingston appointed Provost and Vice-President, Academic.

New brand introduced with the transition from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology to Ontario Tech University.



New brand captured a Bronze Award for Best Institutional Brand from the U.S.-based Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Named lead academic institution for Phase 2 of Project Arrow, Canadian-made zero-emissions vehicle design prototype.

Won a 2020 Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) Award (Silver) in the discipline of Brand Building and the category of Social Causes.

International Atomic Energy Agency designated Ontario Tech as Collaborating Centre.

Estate of Nicholas Sion supported Brilliant Energy Institute with a more than $3-million donation.

Signed Scarborough Charter to address anti-Black racism.

Dr. Steven Murphy reappointed President and Vice-Chancellor.

Installed a five-storey, 224-panel solar wall on ACE as part of the university’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emission-reduction targets.

Convocation ceremonies returned to the outdoor Polonsky Commons setting at the north campus.

Long-term commitment to downtown Oshawa enhanced with the purchase of a parcel of land at 154 Bruce Street, adjacent to existing operations in Charles Hall.

Ranked top among province’s universities for year-over-year percentage growth in applications.


Ranked among the highest in the province in year-over-year percentage increase for high school students indicating it as their top university choice (up 17.6 per cent).

Ridgebacks varsity sports awarded rights to host first-ever U SPORTS national championship.

International survey placed Ontario Tech second among Canada’s ‘youngest’ universities in international survey.
