What to look forward to at orientation week

The days of summer are coming to an end, but if you are coming to TMU this fall, that also means they mark the end of a very important countdown. With only a few weeks left for a fresh fall semester, anticipation and nerves are to be expected if you are entering your first year. But right before you officially become a university student, you get to celebrate seven more days of being in the exciting precipice between two stages of your academic life through Orientation week. On these days, the campus comes to life after being quiet all summer and many spaces become orientation event venues. 

Orientation week (opens in new window)  runs from August 25 to September 2. The first day is residence move-in day, followed by a full week of activities and events across campus. This is your chance to get to know the campus better, find your favorite study spots, and fill yourself up with food and fun before you officially become a university student. Here are some exciting Orientation events coming up next month:

Invocation: Kick off the week by breaking a Guinness record

Orientation week kicks off with a gathering in the biggest open green space on campus, the Quad. You’ll hear from current students, the orientation team, and office members. Expect high energy as the new batch of TMU students attempt to break a Guinness world record as per tradition. 

The TMU Hunt: Get to know the campus

What better way to navigate the campus than competing against those who know it as much as you do? The TMU hunt is going to have you divide into groups and go all around campus to find clues. First team back wins cash added on to their onecard! This is a great way for you to unleash your competitive spirit, while also getting to know different buildings on campus. 

Ballad and Boba: Sing your heart away in the company of friends and bubble tea

Karaoke and fruit drinks go well together, and that is exactly why Ballad and Boba is always a favorite event among new students. You don’t have to worry about sounding good, because the TMU campus is a judgment-free zone. Such group activities are the perfect way to make friends and shed some of those first-week nerves.

Life in Canada: Winter, classes, downtown- learn about it all

Organized by International Student Support (ISS), Life in Canada is a preparatory event to get you ready with everything you need to know about living in Canada. From winter essentials and summer adventures to data providers and a holistic food guide, this event is designed to help you navigate your first few weeks in the country. There are no bad questions, as ISS serves to empower and support you through your time in university.

Activate the RAC: Energize yourself with fun gym activities

Activate the RAC (Recreation and Athletics Centre) is your chance to find out the different facilities and activities that are available in the RAC. Home to a swimming pool, fitness center, racing track, and courts, the RAC helps TMU students get energized on campus through drop in recreation activities, sports, and exercise.

Fiesta Del Fuego: Dance and sing at TMU’s campus concert

On Wednesday night, the quad will be converted into a concert venue. With strict security around the quad’s periphery, this concert is exclusively for TMU students. With a stage set up and lots of artists across music genres, you can dance the night away with your new university friends. Artists are also usually selling their own merch, and food and water trucks will be stationed around the quad. To see who is performing this year, keep a lookout on the Student Life TMU (external link)  Instagram page. Fun fact: Drake performed during Orientation Week of 2016!

International Annual Welcome Party: The theme is beach

The annual welcome party is a yearly tradition for international students to get to know their community and meet their advisors and the international team that will support them through their journey. Happening on the DCC rooftop this year, the welcome party will follow the theme “beach”, giving you some final summer feels before you enter the fall semester.

Body Positivity Fashion Show: Witness some TMU Fashion

Lake Devo will double as a fashion show for students/models who will walk its ramp. With people from all communities representing different identities, this event is meant to invite you into the spirit of inclusion and equity that TMU emulates. This fashion show will be full of positivity and fun, and the perfect way for you to get some style inspiration before you start classes.

This is just a small preview of the large and exciting time of orientation, filled with social, academic, community based, and faculty-specific events. If you’re coming to TMU this fall, make sure you register for #RoadtoTMU2024.. You can also visit their website to see the complete list of events that are coming your way this month. International student orientation will take place simultaneously, and will give you a chance to explore your home away from home before you start a new chapter of your life. Have the best time, and don’t forget– this is just the beginning of your exciting journey!

I spent the last summer planning orientation events for new international students. Our team worked hard to put together a warm welcome and an exciting week of events. This role helped me bring out my creative and organizational skills, and also taught me the importance of those who work behind the scenes. In many ways, planning orientation week was as special in my TMU journey as attending it was!