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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Ms. Lyn McLeod

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa

Lyn McLeod was formally installed as the founding Chancellor of the university in 2004 and served in the role until 2008. During that time, we grew from a startup institution to a mid-sized university with a flourishing research program, a diverse array of undergraduate and graduate programs and a proven track-record of attracting and retaining some of the very best faculty, staff and students. In her role as Chancellor, Ms. McLeod was unwavering in her commitment and devotion to building a solid foundation for the institution to ensure its long-term success.

Ms. McLeod was elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1987 as the member for Fort William, which later became the riding of Thunder Bay-Atikokan. She was a member of David Peterson's Liberal cabinet from 1987 to 1990, and held the portfolios of Minister of Colleges and Universities, Minister of Natural Resources, and Minister of Energy. In 1992, Ms. McLeod became the first woman to be elected to the leadership of a political party in Ontario. Ms. McLeod was later the Ontario government representative on the Health Council of Canada, Chair of the Ontario Health Quality Council, and Vice-Chair of the Ontario Power Authority board of directors.