Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 78.59
Liaison Beverley Ayeni
Submission Date March 1, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of Toronto Mississauga
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

1st Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
City of Mississauga

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? :
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe?:
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership?:
Sustainability-focused

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? :
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability:
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between UTM and the City of Mississauga to formalize the partnership between the City and university. The MOU provides a foundation for UTM and the City to combine efforts to tackle shared challenges, achieve mutual goals and ultimately put Mississauga on the map as a primary destination for research, business and innovation. Some of the shared priorities relate to truth and reconciliation, racial equity, healthy populations, economic development, sustainability, talent acquisition, city-building, funding opportunities and more.

News release: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/main-news/utm-and-city-mississauga-partner-equity-innovation-and-sustainability

2nd Partnership

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
ICUBE

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (2nd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (2nd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (2nd partnership):
Sustainability-focused

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (2nd partnership):
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
ICUBE is a hub for idea exploration, early-stage business development, and co-working. ICUBE provides expert support, resources, and access to opportunities for entrepreneurial students and community members across all industries.

ICUBE partners with various businesses and provides them with co-working space, grants, and resources. Many of these businesses are sustainability-focused, including Accelerate Her Future (Black, Indigenous & women of colour pursuing careers in tech and business); Alt Tex (Sustainable fashion and textiles); Hope Pet Foods (sustainable pet food); and Sitti (fair wage employment for refugees).

This year (2023) ICUBE UTM and Say hi to the Future is hosting The Sustainable Innovation Challenge, bringing together industry partners and student innovators with a shared goal: addressing sustainability challenges and creating practical solutions. This unique platform enables industry partners to present sustainability-related challenges while inviting students and innovators to respond with innovative ideas.

They partnered with Sobeys to support creative ideas that would help them achieve their target of reducing food waste by 50% by 2025. There is a real opportunity for ideas to be developed and implemented in collaboration with Sobeys and participating teams.

Additionally, ICUBE hosts various pitch competitions that are inclusive of all community members such as: #UofT PRIDE PITCH which aims to include individuals who identify as 2SLGBTQ, and Pitch with a Twist that requires a self-identified woman founder or co-founder.

https://icubeutm.ca

http://www.spyder.works/

3rd Partnership 

Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
U of T Mississauga Indigenous Centre and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Yes

Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing

Which of the following best describes the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Sustainability-related

Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (3rd partnership):
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
The Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII) at UTM works to mobilize University of Toronto’s commitments to Truth and Reconciliation as outlined in Answering the Call – Wecheehetowin. Following the recommendations of the report, the OII guides the University of Toronto Mississauga's efforts in amplifying Indigenous voices and Indigenous placekeeping on campus. UTM’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives has an ongoing relationship with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), and partnered to deliver the first All-Nations Powwow event attracting over 1,500 guests and performers.

https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/indigenous/powwow

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution’s other community partnerships to advance sustainability:
Below for information on some of the activities and programs that are supported by the University:
• Peel Environmental Youth Alliance (PEYA) EcoBuzz Conference and Amazing Green Race
• United Way of the Region of Peel
• Community on Campus
• Campus tours
• MBot - Mississauga Board of Trade

Website URL where information about the institution’s community partnerships to advance sustainability is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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