Guest Information
Information on this page is for Durham ceremonies. If you are a student or guest attending a Peterborough ceremony, please visit the Peterborough Convocation site.
Trent University Durham GTA ceremonies are held indoors at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa.
Please review the following pieces of information before Convocation:
- Guest Limit
- Invitations
- International Guests
- Flowers, Frames & Gifts
- Directions, Parking & Accessibility
- After the Ceremony
Guest Limit
Durham convocation ceremonies take place in the Tribute Communities Centre, which is a very large venue, so there is no set limit of number of guests per graduates. While there is plenty of seating, having a large party sit in one row together is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Invitations
Guests do not need to register and there are no tickets. An electronic invitation is available for graduates to download and use, if they please in early 2025.
International Guests
If your relatives are international and require a visa to attend your Convocation, here are the steps for this process:
- Request an International Immigration Letter (undergraduate/certificate students) or a Verification of Enrolment Letter (graduate students) through the MyTrent portal
- Undergraduate/Certificate: Register > Verification > International Immigration Letter
- Graduate Students: Academics > Academic Record > Verification of Enrollment Request
- If you have already graduated you can provide your official completion letter
- 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.
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.
Directions, Parking & Accessibility
The Tribute Communities Centre is located at 99 Athol Street East in Oshawa.
For directions to the venue, details of nearby parking, and accessible parking information please visit the Tribute Communities Centre website.
The closest parking garage is Parkade 3 (on Mary Street between King and Bond Streets).
After the Ceremony
Oshawa Celebrates Trent Grads
It's time to celebrate your achievements in the City you've learned, grown –and for many, lived in! Convocation season is a time to celebrate with family, friends and loved ones, to show them your city. Looking for inspiration on how to celebrate downtown and around Oshawa? Check out the Oshawa Spring Guide for ideas to complement your celebrations in the City of Oshawa below.
Photo Locations
Downtown Gems
Additional Locations in Oshawa
Dining
Downtown Gems
- Avanti Trattoria
- Legend of Fazio's
- Maharaja Authentic Indian Cuisine
- Spicy Affairs
- Street Momo
- Kenzo Ramen
- Mathildas
- Pizzamunno Artisanal Pizza
- Thai Culture
- Portobello Road
Additional Quick Bites in Oshawa
- Burger Factory
- La Pizza & Pasta
- Tybah's Kebab
- Pho Vietnam 999
- Bollywood Tacos
- Cyrus Persian Restaurant
- Five Guys
Additional Sit-down Options in Oshawa
- The Canadian Brewhouse
- Azian Cuisine
- Makimono Bar & Sushi
- Wildfire Steakhouse
- Baxters Landing
- Harpo's Restaurant
- Shrimp Cocktail
- The Keg Steakhouse + Bar
Experiences
Downtown Gems
- The Biltmore Theatre
- Brew Wizards Board Game Café
- Canadian Automotive Museum
- Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- Yuk Yuk's
Additional Activities in Oshawa
- NEB's Fun World
- Cineplex Odeon Cinemas
- Oshawa Golf & Curling Club
- Oshawa Museum
- Oshawa Trails
- Treetop Eco-Adventure Park
Accommodations
Stay Downtown
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oshawa Downtown - Toronto Area, an IHG Hotel
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Oshawa
Additional Accommodations in Oshawa
Celebrate Summer in Oshawa
The summer months are a colourful and vibrant time in Oshawa. Celebrate in your City with friends, family and loved ones all summer long. Keep an eye out for upcoming events by visiting the City of Oshawa Events page or the City of Oshawa event calendar.
Share your adventures and celebrations on social media by using the hashtag #OshawaLovesLocal
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 kmaina@trentu.ca.