On Friday, September 10^th thousands of Ryerson students paraded through the streets from our campus to Queen’s Quay and headed over to Toronto Island for a free outdoor concert in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Ryerson’s Parade and Picnic event.

The event is a great way to welcome our first year Rye students in to the Ryerson community.  My friends and I didn’t get the opportunity to join in last year but this year’s festivities quickly made up for that.  With performances by Kid Sister, Shad and JFK of MSTRKRFT, everyone had an awesome time.

Many different Ryerson Course Unions created cool props and cheered along with their student groups.  In particular, the Early Childhood Education Course Union had many cool props hand-made from recyclable food containers. This all culminated in a cheer-off with other Course Unions.

All in all, it was a great event.  Congratulations Ryerson 50 years of amazing Parade and Picnic’s.

(Pictured above:  Ryerson students parade from campus to Toronto Island for a free concert.)

Submitted By: Prasha from Ryerson University



Orientation week has officially concluded.  This statement elicits mixed emotions from students who just spent their entire week participating in numerous social events as part of the transition into a new journey before immersing themselves in the life of a university student consisting of seemingly endless readings and studying for both mid-term and final exams. All negativity aside, I had the sudden urge to reminisce about the old times being a first-year merely three years ago.

In the midst of Welcome Week, as I was strolling by the Waterloo campus while savouring the aroma of lingering autumn air, I couldn’t help but notice how the entire school had instantly become the city’s main attraction in contrast to its usual serene atmosphere.  UW encompassed a myriad of enthusiastic upper years sporting a multitude of vibrant colours and of course, the Frosh who seemed a tad oblivious to their surroundings and other surprises in store for them throughout the week-long event.

One theme shared between the Math and Science faculties that I found endearing was the display of larger-than-life sized symbol to commemorate each faculty’s history and yearly tradition namely the Pink Tie and Goggles respectively. The former, measuring at 40 by 15 feet was originally thought as the former professor’s vision and must be worn and worshipped by Math students throughout Orientation week while the enormous Science Goggles is used to embody the students’  hard-work and perseverance as scientists.

How did your campus kick off Orientation Week? Drop us a comment below and let us know!

(Pictured above:  Faculty of Math Science Goggles, Faculty of Science Pink Tie, students enjoying orientation.)

Submitted by:  John from the University of Waterloo

Over a thousand Brock University students banded together at this year’s Shinerama, a fundraiser for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Saturday, September 11^th.  Students were allocated to 16 different locations within the St. Catharines and Thorold area.

The day started at 8 a.m. when Shinerama volunteers gathered together at Isaacs, Brock’s nightclub and student cafeteria, to receive their free t-shirt and breakfast. At around 9 a.m., students met up with their assigned site leaders and headed off to their designated locations. Volunteers received a free pizza lunch and in appreciation of their hard work, they were awarded a free ticket to see Lights perform later that night.

After the fundraiser, volunteers piled back into Isaacs in anticipation to see Lights and a new and upcoming band – Michou. When Lights played, the Brock crowd just went berserk!

(Pictured above: Volunteers in West St.Catharines and from Brock’s Zeta Psi)

Submitted By: Michael from Brock University