BRANTFORD – Wilfrid Laurier University will welcome first-year students to its Brantford campus with a series of Orientation Week events taking place Sept. 4 to 10.
Orientation Week, organized by the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union, is an opportunity for students to learn their way around campus, meet new people and become involved in student life.
“We have been looking forward to welcoming our students to our campuses with an in-person, face-to-face greeting for a long time now,” said Ivan Joseph, vice-president of Student Affairs. “There is nothing like feeling the energy and enthusiasm that ripples across our community during Orientation Week. Thank you to all the student leaders, volunteers, faculty and staff who go out of their way to showcase the Laurier community spirit and demonstrate what is so Golden about the Laurier student experience.”
Events throughout the week include Shine Day, when students wash cars to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada (founded at Laurier in 1961), lunch with Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis, a carnival in Harmony Square, a headphone disco and a room-burn demonstration by firefighters to promote fire safety. Throughout the week, students will also learn about safety and support services at Laurier, resources to help them balance their physical and mental health, and tips and advice for academic success. A list of Orientation Week photo opportunities for media is below.
“My advice to students is don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and take the opportunity to engage with your fellow Golden Hawks,” said Shane Symington, president and CEO of the Students’ Union. “I hope students lose themselves in the moments where they’re at Headphone Disco or other events and find themselves as they get their first taste of a community that will embrace them, and truly make them feel like they belong. We hope they make this experience their own.”
“We’re excited to have a full complement of students engaging in Orientation Week activities this year,” said Adam Lawrence, Laurier’s dean of students. “Many thanks to the O-Week organizers, and a warm welcome to Laurier’s newcomers.”
Sunday, Sept. 4 is Move-in Day; times will vary among the four Brantford residences depending on building and community.
On Monday, Sept. 5, students can attend a painting tutorial inspired by the late painter and TV host Bob Ross. The event takes place in the lobby of the Research and Academic Centre West building. A Welcome to Campus Dinner will also take place in the basement of 1 Market restaurant.
On Tuesday, Sept. 6, Brantford Fire Department firefighters will ignite and suppress a fire in a model bedroom to show how quickly a fire can spread and demonstrate the importance of smoke alarms and having an evacuation plan. The room burn demonstration takes place in the rear parking lot of 50 Wellington St.
On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and local councillors will serve lunch to first-year students in Harmony Square as an official welcome to Brantford.
Saturday, Sept. 10 is Shinerama Shine Day. Students will wash cars at the Student Centre parking lot and FreshCo. (50 Market St.) to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. O-Week icebreakers team and staff will participate in fun challenges tied to the amount of funds raised. Closing ceremonies start at 7 p.m. featuring amazing food and activities.
Other events throughout the week include a carnival, headphone disco dance party, glow-in-the-dark paint party, a hypnotist performance, drag hour, taste tour of downtown Brantford, lip-sync battle, movie night, games night and dodgeball competition. Visit the Students’ Union website for a full list of activities.
Laurier’s Waterloo campus will also be running Orientation Week activities.
In addition to O-week events international students can register for the Senior Executive Officer and Faculty Reception & Lunch at 11:30 a.m. Graduate Student Orientation will take place Wednesday, Sept. 7 highlighted by Ivan Joseph’s speech, “The Role Confidence Plays in Academic Success.”
For a full list of events, go to the Laurier Students’ Union O-Week web page.
Photo Opportunities for Brantford Orientation Week
Room-Burn Demonstration
Brantford Fire Department firefighters will educate students about fire safety by showing how quickly a room can become engulfed in flames. The room burn occurs on Tuesday, Sept. 6 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the rear parking lot of 50 Wellington St.
Mayor’s Lunch
Mayor Kevin Davis and local councillors will welcome first-year students to Brantford with lunch. The event takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Harmony Square.
Tastes of Downtown
Students sample foods from Brantford’s downtown restaurants. The event takes place on Thursday, Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Research and Academic Centre West lobby.
Carnival
The carnival features cotton candy, a dunk tank and many other carnival delights. The event takes place Friday, Sept. 9 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Harmony Square.
Shine Day
Students will wash cars and take part in fun activities in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Student Centre parking lot and FreshCo. (50 Market St.).
