Message Centre

With the winter season upon us, we’d like to remind our community about winter safety.

Snow removal

We have a comprehensive snow removal and ice management program in place across all campus locations to maintain safe, accessible conditions throughout the winter months. Weather conditions are continuously monitored to ensure access to all sites and buildings remains safe, and unimpeded by snow and ice.

While our teams work diligently, winter weather can still be unpredictable. To help keep you safe, we want to remind everyone to take extra care when travelling to and around campus.

Safety tips for winter walking

• If you feel yourself falling, try to relax your muscles, tuck your chin to your chest if falling backward and aim to land on a fleshy part of your body (like your side) rather than knees, wrists, or spine.
  
  
• Keep your hands free; avoid walking with hands in pockets.
  
  
• Remain alert and take your time when walking outdoors, especially during or shortly after snowfall, or freezing conditions.
  
  
• Step straight down off curbs rather than at an angle.
  
  
• Use caution when approaching walking surfaces; assume wet or dark pavement may be icy and slippery. Be aware of changes in walking surfaces.
  
  
• Use handrails whenever available (ramps, stairs, etc.).
  
  
• Use special care when entering and exiting vehicles; use the vehicle for support.
  
  
• Take slow, short, shuffling steps, point feet slightly outward, bend knees and keep your centre of gravity over your feet.
  
  
• Walk only on designated pathways or sidewalks.
  
  
• Wear appropriate winter footwear to improve traction.

Reporting hazards

If you observe a snow or ice hazard on campus, report it to Campus Security at ext. 2400 or 905.721.3211, and provide the exact location and situation.

Your safety is our priority. Thank you for your co-operation in helping us maintain a safe and accessible campus environment this winter.

Helpful internal links:

• Emergency Closure Policy
• Emergency Closure Procedures
• Winter safety on campus

Helpful external links:

• Durham Region Transit service alerts and detours
• Environment Canada weather forecasts for Ontario
• GO Transit service updates
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation winter driving information

The main entrance of Charles Hall will be closed starting Wednesday, December 17, 2025. This will allow for the replacement of the current assisted lift at the entrance, with a self-operating elevator.

The new self-operating elevator will provide a more accessible experience for all building users.

During this time, a temporary entrance will be available and clearly marked with construction signage. Please follow posted directions when accessing the building. The main elevator inside Charles Hall will remain operational throughout the project.

The anticipated completion date for this upgrade is spring 2026. Your patience and understanding during this improvement project are greatly appreciated.

• View a diagram of the construction area.

Please direct inquiries to the Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability.

Registration for winter 2026 parking permits is now open. If you need to extend your fall-semester permit to cover the winter semester (January to April) or purchase an annual permit (January to August), follow the instructions below.

Please note: If you already have an annual parking permit valid September 2025 through August 2026, no action is required.

Extending your existing fall semester permit:

If you already have a fall semester permit (valid September to December 2025), you can extend it to cover the winter semester (valid January to April 2026) by registering and paying for it on the Interactive Parking Access Subscriber System (IPASS) website.

If you don’t extend your fall semester permit, your parking access card or hang tag will expire after Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

Purchasing a new annual or semester permit:

If you don’t already have a semester or annual parking permit, use the IPASS website to register and pay for your winter semester or annual permit online.

Please ensure the IPASS application indicates January 1, 2026 as the activation date.

Important: A semester permit is only valid for four months at a time:

• Fall - September 1 to December 31

• Winter - January 1 to April 30

• Spring/summer - May 1 to August 31

All annual permits expire on August 31, regardless of date of purchase.

Pay-As-U-Go (PAUG) option:

• Register for this option on the IPASS website using a credit card. You will receive an access card to park in a designated gated lot.

• Charge per day is $12 and allows the user to exit and re-enter the lot (in-and-out privilege) with no additional charge during a single 24-hour calendar day (12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.).

• Precise ParkLink monitors PAUG card use. Charges on the registered credit card will be applied at the end of each month; you will receive a monthly email statement.

• Only available for Founders 2 and Commencement lots.

General notes on registration:

• Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

• You must use your ontariotechu.ca email address to register.

• Use the IPASS registration website to pay for your parking permit. You can choose to pay in full, or set up equal monthly payments through credit card or pre-authorized payment.

• After completing the registration, you will receive an email response from IPASS within 48 hours indicating:

  • Approval, with follow-up instructions.

  • Declined registration due to:

    • Non-institutional email on application

    • Incorrect credit card or banking information

    • Full lot

  • If declined registration is due to:

    • Use of non-institutional email or incorrect credit card/banking information: Re-apply on the IPASS registration website with the appropriate correction.

    • Full lot: Forward email indicating declined registration to the Parking Services office for alternative options.

Access cards and hang tags:

• Those with parking access cards can input the card number while registering. This card will be activated upon IPASS approval. No further action will be required.

• Those without parking access cards will receive one at no charge. You can request a replacement card for $25.

• By Friday, January 9, visit the Parking Services office in the Gordon Willey Building at the north Oshawa campus, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to:

  • Pick up your new access card or hang tag.

  • Have a new permit sticker applied to your existing hang tag.

Daily parking:

• Available in:
  • gated lots
  • pay-and-display lots

• Fee: $5 per hour ($18 daily maximum).

• Tap debit and credit card payment is available at exit gates.

• Pay stations accept cash, coins, debit and credit cards. They are located in Founders Lot 2 (southeast corner), and the Commencement Lot at the north Oshawa campus.

• Downtown daily and short-term parking is available for purchase through the Honk app or by scanning the QR code located in the lot at the designated parking areas.

Lots and rates – semester | year:

• Charles Hall: $350 | $700

• Founders 1 (waitlist only): $350 | $700

• Founders 2: $325 | $650

• Founders 3 (waitlist only): $350 | $700

• Founders 4 (Campus Ice Centre): $300 | $600

• Founders 5 (north Campus Ice Centre): $200 | $400

• Commencement: $325 | $650

• Simcoe Village: $325 | $650

• Ball Diamond: $300 | $600

Contact:

• For information specific to the IPASS registration website, see the IPASS frequently asked questions or complete and submit the contact form. IPASS will respond to all questions submitted through this portal within 48 business hours.

• For general inquiries, contact Parking Services.

In preparation for the installation of a new HVAC system, construction will occur on the fifth floor of Bordessa Hall from December 19, 2025 to January 16, 2026. During this time, the fifth floor will be inaccessible. Please do not schedule any activities in the building during this time.

To accommodate welding work on the roof, the entire building will be closed from December 26, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Faculty and staff should plan accordingly and make alternative arrangements.

For more information, contact Patrick Neil, Senior Project Manager, Office of Campus Infrastructure and Sustainability.

Over the past month, the university has made multiple attempts to re-engage the Faculty Association (FA) in bargaining discussions. During this period, the FA has not returned to the table or responded to the university’s outstanding questions related to its proposals. On Wednesday, the FA informed the university of its intention to file an unfair labour practice complaint. 

The FA stepped away from the bargaining table during negotiations, and meaningful progress requires active dialogue and sustained participation at the table. The university remains fully committed to reaching a fair and responsible agreement that supports faculty and advances our institution; however, reciprocal engagement is necessary. 

Despite the university putting forward a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that has been with the FA since early September and would represent historic gains for faculty members, bargaining has stalled. The FA has not met with the university in a month, and with a new bargaining mandate now required, prior progress is at risk. It is disappointing that the FA has characterized the university’s decision not to simply accept its full list of demands as evidence of bargaining in bad faith.

To be clear, the university remains ready to resume bargaining. Open and timely communication is essential, and we will continue to provide transparent and regular updates to the community. We strongly encourage the FA to return to the table so that we can work together to finalize an agreement that reflects the interests of all faculty members.

Each winter in Ontario, weather conditions such as heavy snow, freezing rain and/or ice pellets can make basic travel difficult. During such situations, questions often arise about whether campus operations will change.

During most winter weather, the campus remains open and activities remain unaffected.

It’s important to keep in mind that different organizations—public and private—follow their own protocols and best practices. When they make the decision to cancel operations or to close, university operations and activities may remain scheduled as normal.

How the university communicates weather-related operational changes

If operational changes are implemented due to a winter storm warning or inclement conditions, the university will issue information as soon as possible using MyOntarioTech, the mobile app and the service disruptions page.

Depending on the situation, the university will also:

• Communicate via other means as needed, including messages sent to Ontario Tech student, faculty and staff email addresses, social media, and on-campus digital signage.

• Forward official university messages to regional newspapers and radio/television stations.

• Post full information about our campus status on our home page.

Travelling to campus

Monitor your email, the university’s mobile app, MyOntarioTech, and our website for late-evening and early-morning updates on severe winter weather days, or for class cancellations.

If you’re travelling to or from campus, allow for plenty of time, and travel with due caution and care, especially if you are in an area heavily affected by the weather. If you are in an area heavily affected by the weather and cannot get to campus, contact your supervisor or professor regarding your absence. 

Students, faculty and staff are reminded they are responsible for determining when weather conditions make their travel unsafe.

If you observe a snow or ice hazard on campus, report it to Campus Security at ext. 2400 or 905.721.3211, and provide the exact location and situation.

Helpful internal links:

• Emergency Closure Policy
• Emergency Closure Procedures
• Winter safety on campus

Helpful external links:

• Durham Region Transit service alerts and detours
• Environment Canada weather forecasts for Ontario
• GO Transit service updates
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation winter driving information