Dear Trent students:

We’re so happy to welcome you virtually and in-person to the fall semester. We’re hoping that even with everything that’s going on, you have a great academic year, and that you connect with your fellow students and with the community.

We want address an issue that has happened in the last couple of days. There have been several outdoor parties that have taken place on the Peterborough campus, and based on social media posts this included significant unsafe behaviour, including that people weren’t physically distancing or wearing masks, and in at least one case the number of people exceeded the provincial limits. This puts the Trent and Peterborough community at risk, and jeopardizes the campus reopening.

When you gather with friends, on or off-campus, please keep in mind that COVID-19 can spread quickly in group events, so it’s essential you follow safety precautions, including keeping to small groups, staying physically distanced, wearing a mask, and not sharing food or drinks. We have vulnerable people among our students, staff and faculty, and also in the Peterborough community.

Please see this letter to students from our Peterborough Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Rosana Salvaterra.

For your own safety and the wellbeing of the community, if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please immediately self-isolate and call Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000, or if you are a student living in residence, call your residence don right away for assistance. If you are concerned about people on campus not practicing safety precautions, please contact Campus Security.

At Trent we pride ourselves on caring for each other, and for our community. We hope that all students help us uphold this fundamental value. We don’t want our students to be the cause of an outbreak, and we want all of you to have a safe and successful semester.

Thank you,

Ann-Majella McKelvie, President, Trent Central Student Association
Nona Robinson, Associate Vice President Students, Trent University