First-year students at Laurier’s Brantford campus to receive warm welcome at Orientation Week events

Aug. 31, 2023
For Immediate Release

BRANTFORD — Wilfrid Laurier University will welcome first-year students to its Brantford campus with a series of Orientation Week events taking place Sept. 3 to 9.

Organized by the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union, Orientation Week provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to learn their way around campus, meet new people and join student groups.

“I look forward to Orientation Week every year — it’s the week we have been waiting for,” said Ivan Joseph, vice-president of Student Affairs. “The end of summer means the return of students, energy, spirit and pride to our campuses. Laurier comes alive during Orientation Week!”

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 the Research and Academic Centre (RAC) Courtyard, a rage room, 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.

“Orientation Week was hands down one of the best weeks I had at Laurier,” said Megan Spenler, president and CEO of the Students’ Union. “My best advice to students is to come out to all of our programming and to not be afraid to put themselves out there. This week is the start of some of the most memorable years of students’ lives, and we are so excited that the Students’ Union gets to be part of this experience with them. We hope they enjoy their first week and never forget that it’s great to be a Laurier Golden Hawk!”

“This is a fantastic time of year when we get to welcome our new students with a range of Orientation Week activities,” said Adam Lawrence, Laurier’s dean of students. “I applaud the tireless efforts by all of our staff and student leaders who ensure our new Golden Hawks feel welcome as part of the Laurier community.”

Sunday, Sept. 3 is Move-in Day; times will vary among the four Brantford residences depending on building and community. First-year students will receive an opening welcome from Lawrence and Spenler at 8:30 p.m. The welcome ceremony will be followed by a comedy show by hypnotist Jeff West at 9:30 p.m. at the Sanderson Centre.

On Monday, Sept. 4, consent culture educator and activist Farrah Khan will talk about consent and sexual education in her “Pleasure Principles” presentation at 10 a.m. at the Laurier Brantford YMCA. The Fitness Marshall, famous for leading fun workouts on Tik Tok, will get Brantford’s newest Golden Hawks moving between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the Laurier Brantford YMCA.

That night, mentalist Wayne Hoffman will take the stage at the Sanderson Centre at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30), followed by drag queen Tynomi Banks at 9:15 p.m.

On Tuesday, Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., students can vent any of their frustrations by destroying objects in a mobile rage room (courtesy of The Vengeance Van) at the Student Centre parking lot (103 Darling St.).

At 4 p.m., members of the Brantford Fire Department will ignite and suppress a fire in a model bedroom to demonstrate the importance of smoke alarms and evacuation plans. The room burn demonstration will take place in the rear parking lot of 50 Wellington St.

On Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and local councillors will continue the long-standing tradition of serving lunch to undergraduate and graduate students in Harmony Square (89 Dalhousie St.) as an official welcome to the city. At 9:30 p.m., comedian Hannah Berner will perform at the Sanderson Centre.

On Thursday, Sept. 7, students will check out the many student groups and clubs they can join at the Get Involved Fair and Taste of Downtown, held at the Research and Academic Centre (RAC) Courtyard from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

On Friday, Sept. 8, the RAC Courtyard will host a petting zoo from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., followed by the fun and games of the O-Carnival from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Shinerama Shine Day falls on Saturday, Sept. 9 and is open to the public and sponsored by BMO. Students will wash cars at the Student Centre parking lot (103 Darling St.) and FreshCo (50 Market St.) to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada and O-Week icebreakers and staff will participate in fun challenges. Closing ceremonies will start at 7 p.m. featuring food and activities in the basement of the One Market Atrium.

“Orientation is carefully designed to balance what you need to know to be a successful student at university with events and activities that build community, create engagement and develop friendships,” said Joseph. “Thank you to the hundreds of student volunteers and employees who work year-round to create an exceptional experience for our incoming class.”

Brantford graduate student orientation will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students can register online in advance.

A list of events and workshops for international students is detailed online.

Laurier’s Waterloo campus will also host Orientation Week activities for first-year students. 

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

Members of the Brantford Fire Department will educate students about fire safety by showing how quickly a room can become engulfed in flames. The room burn occurs on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. in the rear parking lot of 50 Wellington St.

Mayor’s Lunch

Mayor Kevin Davis and local councillors will welcome undergraduate and graduate students to Brantford with lunch. The event takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Harmony Square (89 Dalhousie St.).

Get Involved Fair & Tastes of Downtown

Students will sample foods from Brantford’s downtown restaurants and learn about clubs they can join. The event takes place on Thursday, Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the RAC Courtyard.

Carnival

The O-Week Carnival will feature cotton candy, food trucks and a mechanical bull, among other activities, on Friday, Sept. 8 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the RAC Courtyard.

Shine Day

Students will wash cars and take part in fun activities in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Student Centre parking lot (103 Darling St.) and FreshCo (50 Market St.).

Other Key Links

Fall 2023 web hub
Move-in Day
City of Brantford roads update