Information on this page is for Peterborough ceremonies. If you are a student or guest attending a Durham ceremony, please visit the Durham Convocation site.
Please review the following information before attending Convocation:
- Invitations & Tickets
- Guest Limit & Inclement Weather Plan
- International Guests
- Directions
- Parking
- Bus Service
- Flowers, Frames & Gifts
- Restaurants & Accommodations
Invitations & Tickets
Guests do not need to have invitations to attend Trent's convocation celebrations. An electronic invitation is available for graduates to download and use if they please. The invitation can be downloaded here.
Should the Convocation Ceremonies be relocated to the Athletic Centre due to inclement weather conditions, Guests MUST HAVE TICKETS in their student's name to enter the Gym. Students can reserve up to 3 tickets in advance when completing the RSVP form.
Please ensure your student provides you with a copy of your QR code in advance of their ceremony. This QR code will be scanned to validate your ticket, granting your entry into the gym.
Guest Limit & Inclement Weather Plan
Trent University Peterborough's convocation ceremonies are held outside on the University Court beside Bata Library in good weather. It is a beautiful setting and the students prefer it outdoors, but the setting has very limited shade. Please come prepared for sun, heat, wind, and cold. Sunscreen and a hat are strongly recommended.
In the case of inclement weather, such as rain, heat, or air quality, ceremonies will be relocated to the Gym in the Athletics Centre. Updates to ceremony locations due to inclement weather will be posted on the main Convocation webpage 1 hour in advance of ceremonies.
Although there is no limit to guests that can attend if the ceremonies are outdoors, THERE IS A STRICT LIMIT OF 3 GUESTS PER GRADUATE if the ceremonies are moved indoors due to inclement conditions such as rain, heat or air quality. Please note that guests under two years old are not included in this count.
Guests MUST HAVE TICKETS in their student's name to enter the Gym. Students reserve these tickets when they complete the RSVP form.
Additional guests above the three-person limit can watch the live-streamed ceremonies from several on-campus locations:
- Stohn Hall in the Student Centre
- Champlain College Lecture Hall Room 307
- Bata Library Theatre Room
International Guests
If your relatives are international and require a visa to attend your Convocation, please complete the following steps:
- Request a Letter of Enrollment on your myTrent
- Undergraduate Students: Register > Verification > International Immigration Letter
- Graduate Students: Academics > Academic Record > Verification of Enrollment Request
- Write a Letter of Invitation to invite your relative to Convocation. The Canadian Government provides clear information to help you write a Letter of Invitation on their website.
- A letter of invitation can help but does not guarantee the person will get a visa/permit.
- Trent University does not write a letter of invitation; you do so yourself.
- View an example SAMPLE ONLY letter. Students are responsible for customizing and writing this letter for their own purposes.
- Pass both letters to your relative to include in the visa application to be submitted for processing.
- If necessary, the 2024 Convocation ceremony schedule can also be submitted.
Directions
Trent University Peterborough is located at 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough ON, K9L 0G2. For further information, please review the How to Find Us page.
Outdoor ceremonies are held outside on the University Court, beside Bata library in good weather. Indoor ceremonies are held at the Gym in the Athletic Centre.
Parking
Map of Symons Campus in Peterborough.
Parking is free for the convocation ceremonies. Guest parking is permitted on West Bank, with overflow parking on East Bank. Ushers in safety vests will help to direct you and are available to answer any questions.
Students may be dropped off at the Student Centre on the West Bank for gowning before you park. After parking, please follow the signs and make your way to the University Court in front of the Bata Library for the ceremony.
Please note that the distance from the parking lots to the actual ceremony can be up to 0.5 km. Accessibility permit parking is available in front of the Bata Library (Lot I), beside the ceremony site. Elderly guests or persons with limited mobility may also be dropped off here. Friendly ushers will be available to assist guests to the elevators and up to the accessible seating area, which is located under a tent on the upper podium. If you use a cane, walker or wheelchair, we recommend you bring it with you to the ceremony. Please consult the Accessibility Information FAQ. For any student accessibility concerns, please contact convocation@trentu.ca.
Bus Service
Peterborough Transit has many buses that come to campus. Review the TCSA website for full service details.
Alternatively, GO Transit has a stop for route 88, beside Gzowski College, on East Bank.
Flowers, Frames & Gifts
Guests can pre-order flowers or a grad t-shirt for their graduate which can be picked up at the ceremony. The t-shirt is Trent branded and lists the names of all eligible graduates. There are separate t-shirts for Peterborough and Durham. Please wait until after the ceremony to give your graduate their flowers or gifts as they are not allowed to carry anything on stage. You can also order degree frames with a Trent branded mat and branded gifts from the Trent Bookstore. Their store and a merchandise booth will be open for the ceremonies.
Restaurants & Accommodations
Peterborough has a number of excellent restaurants if you would like to book a meal with your graduate for after the ceremony. You can find restaurant and accommodation listings on the tourism site or "The Boro" site. Alternately, you can stay on campus! Contact conferences@trentu.ca to book.
Please Note: Convocation ceremonies are public events that are recorded in various ways including webcast, video and photography. The ceremonies will be live-streamed on trentu.ca during Convocation and will be available to view after Convocation for the benefit of friends and family who are unable to attend in person. These images and recordings may be used for official purposes, such as promoting Trent University. If you have any questions, please contact convocation@trentu.ca.