New friendships, new experiences and memories to last a lifetime. More than 3,600 new students at both the Peterborough and Durham GTA campuses, one of the largest groups of incoming students in the University’s history, will discover the Trent experience for themselves during Orientation Week 2018. 

In Peterborough, starting Sunday, September 2 with Move-In Day and running through Saturday, September 8, Orientation Week will offer Trent’s newest class the opportunity to take part in over 50 events and activities designed to welcome them to both the Trent as well as Peterborough. 

“Everyone at Trent is excited to welcome our new students to the start of their Trent experience, both academically and in the Trent community,” said Nona Robinson, associate vice-president, students at Trent University. “Orientation is a great opportunity for students to meet each other, find out about support resources, and to connect with their colleges and faculty members. We have something for everyone.”

From Trent World Fest, an event to celebrate Trent’s diverse student population, to historic Trent events like the Great Race, Orientation Week offers first-year students an opportunity to make important connections with the University and its services. New students will also have the chance to meet faculty and staff from their department of study, prepare for classes with academic workshops and seminars, and enhance their University experience through fun and interactive activities.

New this year, international students will be fully integrated into the entire week of orientation events, all aimed at helping international students acclimatize to Canadian culture and interact with Canadian students. More than 300 international students from over 80 countries around the world will be set to receive a rich mix of academic and acculturation support designed to ease their transition to life in Canada and at Trent.

“Bringing different worldviews and cultures together is what being part of a global world is all about. We’re excited to be integrating international orientation with the annual orientation week activities at Trent,” said Glennice Burns, associate vice-president of Trent International. “The week will offer an incredible opportunity for international and domestic students to come together as a united and culturally diverse Trent community.”

Helping to make Orientation Week an outstanding experience for new students, over 200 senior students, faculty, and staff dedicate their time to coordinate and run the various dynamic events.

Highlights of campus-wide orientation events offering engaging photo opportunities for media include:

Move-In Day

Sunday, September 2, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Orientation Week staff from all colleges and staff from housing services at Trent will be on hand to welcome and assist 1,750 new students and their families with registration and their move into residence.

Tipi Talks

Monday, September 3 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Gzowski College

Tipi Talks is an initiative created to provide opportunities for Trent students to learn about the Indigenous spaces on campus, most notably the tipi and traditional area, the Ernest and Florence Benedict Gathering Space, and the Nozhem Theatre.

Trent World Fest *NEW*

Tuesday, September 4, 2:00p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Bata Podium

New this year, this event brings together Trent’s diverse student groups to share their cultures with the broader Trent community. Organized by Trent International, this event is open to all and celebrates diversity at Trent through food, dance, music and cultural traditions from around the world. Here, international and local students will get to know each other in a vibrant, multilingual festival atmosphere.

Excalibur Varsity Rugby Game & BBQ

Tuesday, September 4, 6:00p.m. –8:00 p.m., Justin Chiu Stadium

The Trent Excalibur men’s rugby team take on the Laurier Golden Hawks in this year’s Orientation Week varsity game. The bleachers will be filled with spirited Trent students ready to #bleedgreen and cheer on the Excalibur.

Flavours of Peterborough

Thursday, September 6, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Students will kick off the first day of classes by enjoying great food from some of Peterborough’s finest food providers. The Flavours of Peterborough Food Festival is a fun event filled with music, games, and activities, and will feature some of the most popular food dishes in Peterborough and local vendors from the town’s Farmers’ Market.

 

The Great Race & Closing Ceremony

Friday, September 7, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Justin Chiu Stadium

The Great Race, a time-honoured tradition at Trent, is run by the TCSA, and starts off with the annual cheering competition. Each college is assigned the task of creating a new cheer for their college and Trent University. This giant relay race, which takes place at Justin Chiu Stadium, always brings out the college spirit in everyone. The race ends with a song by Unity, along with guest speakers who will congratulate the students on a successful Orientation Week, and prepare students for the start of the school year.

Orientation Week will also be held at Trent University Durham GTA, with a full-week of activities running from September 1 through September 7.

About Trent University

One of Canada's top universities, Trent University was founded on the ideal of interactive learning that's personal, purposeful and transformative. Consistently recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Here, undergraduate and graduate students connect and collaborate with faculty, staff and their peers through diverse communities that span residential colleges, classrooms, disciplines, hands-on research, co-curricular and community-based activities. Across all disciplines, Trent brings critical, integrative thinking to life every day. Today, Trent's unique approach to personal development through supportive, collaborative community engagement is in more demand than ever. Students lead the way by co-creating experiences rooted in dialogue, diverse perspectives and collaboration. In a learning environment that builds life-long passion for inclusion, leadership and social change, Trent's students, alumni, faculty and staff are engaged global citizens who are catalysts in developing sustainable solutions to complex issues. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, while Trent University Durham GTA delivers a distinct mix of programming in the east GTA.