History & Highlights

The Head of the Trent/Alumni Homecoming is one of Trent’s longest-standing traditions. This annual Trent event attracts thousands of alumni, students and community members for a busy weekend full of activities framed around the exciting Head of the Trent rowing regatta, the largest single day event of its kind in North America. 

Rowing Regatta

The founder of the Trent University Rowing Club, Chris Leach, organized the first Head of the Trent regatta in 1971. Today, Head of the Trent is North America’s largest single-day, head-race regatta, comprising over 1,200 athletes from over 50 universities and clubs across Canada and the northern United States. The regatta is hosted and organized by the Peterborough Rowing Club and the Trent University Rowing Club. Races take place on the Trent-Severn Waterway, starting at the Parkhill Road Bridge and winding through the Trent Canal to finish 5km later at the University’s Symons Campus, cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd. Visit the Regatta website for more info and to view results on race day.

Alumni Homecoming

In 1972 the Trent University Alumni Association held the first homecoming event during the Head of the Trent regatta, marking the beginning of a beautiful partnership. Each year, well over a thousand alumni return to Trent to watch the races, celebrate with old friends, get caught up on campus developments, participate in special reunions and family festivities, and attend the Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association. For alumni who are not able to return for Homecoming, the University provides a virtual experience with photos and video posted online throughout the day of all aspects of this exceptional festival. Visit the Alumni Affairs website for more info.