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Your first week on campus—Welcome Week—is packed with activities that will help you make friends, become familiar with your surroundings, and get comfortable on campus before you begin classes!
A Message from Your Welcome Week Coordinator and Chair:
Welcome Week is one of the most exciting events of the academic year and we have been working hard to make sure that this week will be the highlight of your first year. Welcome Week is a great opportunity for you to get acquainted with the university, meet amazing new people, and ease your transition into university, so you don't want to miss out!
Staff, faculty, and Welcome Week leaders are looking forward to having you join the campus community!
-Manuel and Chloé
Individual House Schedules
Complete Welcome Week Schedule (PDF Version)
Friday, August 30th, 11 AM – 4 PM Upper Campus, Forest Hill
Move-In Day
You will have the opportunity to meet Residence Advisors, Residence Coordinators, House Committee members, and Welcome Week Leaders as you move into your new home for the year. Lawn games will also be happening in the Lower Courtyard in front of George Martin Hall from 1 PM – 4 PM so make sure you stop by!
Friday, August 30th, 2:30 PM – Welcome Centre (James Dunn Hall)
Team Selection and Welcome Week Kit Pick-up
Starting at 2:30 PM, you will be able to pick up your coloured bracelet and your Welcome Week Kit at the Welcome Centre. The coloured bracelet you receive will represent your Welcome Week Team and will be chosen at random. Teams will have events throughout the week, which will give you the opportunity to meet fellow first-years from all over campus!
Your bracelet will also serve as your admission to the events throughout the week and your Welcome Week Kit contains some amazing swag and essential gear for your first week of university!
Friday, August 30th, 3:00 PM – Off-Campus Lounge (Sir James Dunn Hall)
Parents Reception
Parents are invited to join us in a welcome reception. Parents will receive a welcoming address from the Director of Student Services, Brock Richardson. Refreshments will be provided.
Friday, August 30th, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM - Kinsella Auditorium (Margaret Norrie McCain Hall)
Welcome Reception
Students are invited to join faculty and staff in a Welcome Ceremony. Students will receive a welcoming address from the Director of Student Services, Brock Richardson, as well as tips and tricks that will help them transition into university. This will mark the official inauguration of Welcome Week!
Friday, August 30th, 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM – Lower Courtyard
Cheer-Off
A Welcome Week classic and one of our favorites, the Cheer-Off is an opportunity for you to show your newly adopted pride for your residence or Off-Campus community. All of STU’s newest students will gather together sporting house/off-campus colours to scream cheers in hopes of claiming the title of the loudest, proudest, and most spirited group on campus.
Saturday, August 31st, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM – Gather in the Lower Courtyard
Shine Day!
Hit the streets of Fredericton to flip burgers, sing songs, and wash cars – whatever you can do to attract attention and raise money for St. Thomas’s annual Shinerama campaign. You will be given the opportunity to raise money for a great cause, meet classmates, and become familiar with the Fredericton community! Let’s get out and raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada!
Saturday, August 31st, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Gather in the Lower Courtyard
Summer Soulsa
The Summer Soulsa is a festival celebrating the cultural diversity we enjoy in our city through music, arts, dance, and cuisine. Head downtown to see how the city comes alive with Caribbean and Latin American Carnival, featuring music by DJs, artists, and bands; carnival parades; foods and vendors; and more.
Sunday, September 1st, 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM – Upper and Lower Courtyard
Inflatables
Join us as we turn our campus into a Carnival for an afternoon packed with fun and entertainment. Jump into a Wipe-Out inflatable, take on the mechanic bull, play some laser tag, or just hang out in our courtyards as you get acquainted with campus and your peers. Rumor has it we’ll have 75 different flavours of Hawaiian Shaved Ice! This is an afternoon you do not want to miss!
Sunday, September 1st, 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM – Rigby Ballrooms
Casino Night
Another Welcome Week classic! Enjoy some mocktails in the Rigby Ballroom while you face off against your friends in a variety of casino games. At the end of the night, a prize auction will be held and you can use the monopoly money you’ve won to bid on prizes.
Monday, September 2nd, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM – Margaret Norrie McCain Hall and Brian Mulroney Hall
Student Life 101
Our university boasts an amazing staff and faculty that is always there to help you navigate university life! This event will provide sessions on career development, mental health, and time management, where our staff will discuss services that can ease your transition into university life. You will also get the chance to meet some of our student leaders who will provide you with advice from their first-year.
Monday, September 2nd, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM – Kinsella Auditorium (Margaret Norrie McCain Hall)
Comedy Night with Adrienne Fish
Based out of Toronto, Adrienne Fish has been making her mark on Canada’s comedy scene. She has recorded four nationally aired TV tapings, has appeared on CBC’s The Debaters, and was most recently nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award. Take off the pressure that comes with transitioning into university by sitting down and laughing the night away.
Tuesday, September 3rd, 8:45 AM – 12:30 PM – Kinsella Auditorium (Margaret Norrie McCain Hall)
Academic Orientation Day
Academic Orientation Day occurs the day before classes begin and provides you with the chance to experience a university classroom setting, meet faculty, and chat with upper-year students.
Tuesday, September 3rd, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Rigby Ballrooms
STU Commencement Ceremony
The Commencement Ceremony is STU’s official welcome to the incoming class. At the ceremony, you will receive a T-Pin – the “T” is the symbol all St. Thomas students identify with while they are attending STU and long after they graduate.
Tuesday, September 3rd, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM – Kinsella Lobby (Margaret Norrie McCain Hall)
Adult Learners and Transfer Students Reception
Adult Learners and transfer Students are invited to join us in the Kinsella lobby for a reception and a chance to connect with staff and faculty. Refreshments will be served.
Tuesday, September 3rd, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Kinsella Auditorium (Margaret Norrie McCain Hall)
Get your Hand Up! Orientation Day Inspiration with Andy Thibodeau
Join motivational speaker Andy Thibodeau in his session: "Get Your Hand UP!” This session will discuss the importance of asking and answering questions, and will motivate you to maximize the opportunities STU has to offer. Andy has delivered thousands of fun and inspirational presentations across North America to over two million people in 10 Canadian provinces and 40 American states.
Wednesday, September 4th, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM – Fredericton Playhouse
Hypnotist Cyrus
STUdents are invited to see the legendary professional Hypnotist Cyrus perform at the Fredericton Playhouse for FREE! This will be a one-of- a-kind show you won’t want to skip. The Fredericton Playhouse is a cultural staple in the downtown community, which hosts hundreds of amazing musical and theatrical performances all year long!
Thursday, September 5th, 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM – Meet in Lower Courtyard
Freddy Beach BBQ and Downtown Exploration
Each year, the City of Fredericton hosts a welcome back BBQ for the students of St. Thomas University, the University of New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Community College and others. There will be live performances and free food. Join your fellow classmates in this exciting downtown event where dignitaries from the city and post-secondary institutions will welcome you to Fredericton!
This will also be a great opportunity for you to explore Downtown Fredericton, enjoy the Garrison Night Market and feel a part of the Fredericton Community.
Friday, September 6th, 2:00 PM – Lower Courtyard
Celebration of Indigenous Culture
Join us in the Lower Courtyard to talk about Indigenous culture, dance, and Powwow etiquette. This is a great learning opportunity for all students where you will be given the chance to take part in traditional social dances.
Friday, September 6th, 4:00 PM – Holy Cross House Field
Paint Fight
Come shake all the nerves off with us at our annual paint fight! One of our most successful events every year, the paint fight brings out our students’ competitive edge in the spirit of good fun. The battle doesn’t end until all the paint is gone, so come join us!
Friday, September 6th, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Rigby Fields
Outdoor Netflix
Join us for a night of movie watching under the stars. This event is the perfect way to relax as we head into our last day of events. Our team will provide the snacks—need we say more? Movie TBD.
Saturday, September 7th, 8:30 PM – 1:00 AM – Rigby Ballrooms
STU Social
The grand finale of your first week at STU is the STU Social! Throughout the night there will be contests and prizes, as well as great music!