Orientation Week events welcome first-year students to Laurier’s Brantford campus

Aug. 26, 2019
For Immediate Release

Brantford – Wilfrid Laurier University will welcome about 800 first-year students to its Brantford campus with a series of Orientation Week events taking place Sept. 2 to 7.

Orientation Week, organized by the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union, is an opportunity for students to learn their way around campus, meet new people and become involved in student life.

“Orientation Week is filled with activities and events to help integrate incoming students into the Laurier and Brantford communities,” said Adam Lawrence, dean of students for the Brantford campus. “The Students’ Union, Student Affairs staff, faculty members and senior student volunteers have been working extremely hard to create a transition program to help prepare students for academic and personal success in the coming year.”

Events throughout the week include Shine Day, when students wash cars to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, brunch with the mayor, a carnival in Harmony Square and a room-burn demonstration by firefighters to promote fire safety. Throughout the week, students will also learn about safety and support services at Laurier, resources to help them balance their physical and mental health, and tips and advice for academic success. A list of Orientation Week photo opportunities for media is below.

“Student life defines the privilege of being a Golden Hawk,” said Zemar Hakim, president and CEO of the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union. “There are countless opportunities for students to enhance their own experiences and the experiences of others.”

Orientation Week will begin with opening ceremonies on Monday, Sept. 2 at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, featuring a keynote and comedy show by Andy Thibodeau.

On Tuesday, Sept. 3, Brantford Fire Department firefighters will ignite and suppress a fire in a model bedroom to show how quickly a fire can spread and demonstrate the importance of smoke alarms and having an evacuation plan. The room burn demonstration takes place in the in the rear parking lot of 50 Wellington Street.

On Wednesday, Sept. 4, Mike Domitrz, author and co-founder of The Center for Respect (formerly the Date Safe Project), will present Can I Kiss You?, an interactive presentation tackling dating, intimacy, consent and sexual assault.

 The Mayor’s Brunch takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 4, with Mayor Kevin Davis and local councillors serving brunch to first-year students in Harmony Square as an official welcome to Brantford.

Saturday, Sept. 7 is Shinerama Shine Day. Students will wash cars at locations in Brantford to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. The Shinerama fundraising total will be announced during the evening of Sept. 7 at Orientation Week closing ceremonies in Market Square.

Other activities throughout the week include a carnival, disco dance party, glow-in-the-dark paint party, a hypnotist performance, concert, taste tour of downtown Brantford, cheer-off competition, movie night, games night and dodgeball competition. Visit the Students’ Union website for a full list of activities.

Laurier’s Waterloo campus will also be running Orientation Week activities. For international students, International Orientation will take place Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. Graduate Student Orientation will take place Tuesday, Sept. 3 on the Waterloo campus.

Photography opportunities on the Brantford campus

Room burn demonstration

Brantford Fire Department firefighters will educate students about fire safety by showing how quickly a room can become engulfed in flames.

• Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 1 to 2 p.m. in the rear parking lot of 50 Wellington Street

Mayor’s Brunch

Mayor Kevin Davis and local councillors will welcome first-year students to Brantford with brunch.

• Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Harmony Square

Carnival

Featuring a fortune teller, henna artist, caricaturist, inflatables and giant lit-up swings.

• Friday, Sept. 6 from 7 to 11 p.m. in Harmony Square

Cheer Off

Teams compete for the best cheer.

• Friday, Sept. 6 from 5:30 to 6 p.m. in the Research and Academic Centre West courtyard.

Tastes of Downtown

Students sample foods from Brantford’s downtown restaurants. 

• Thursday, Sept. 5 and Friday, Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Research and Academic Centre West lobby

Shine Day

Students will wash cars in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

• Saturday, Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at locations throughout Brantford

Learn more

• Laurier welcomes first-year students to Golden Hawk community during Waterloo Orientation Week events