APRIL 28
Conestoga welcomes new students at upcoming spring orientation

Activities including entertainment, giveaways, music, food and refreshments will be held at Brantford, Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener, Milton and Waterloo campuses, primarily on May 1 and 2. 

Students can find a full list of events, program session dates and times and all the other essential information on the orientation website. 

In-person campus welcome day (dates and times vary by location) allow students the opportunity to explore their new campus and find their classes, talk one-on-one with key Conestoga services and supports and pick up their ONE Card.

As always, volunteers and student ambassadors will contribute to hosting orientation. There will be more than 50 student ambassadors and 120 volunteers along with over 40 vendors at nine campuses during orientation.

Diana Mutoni remembers feeling overwhelmed when she started at Conestoga in 2022, not only new to the college but also Canada. Everything was unfamiliar and she didn't know anyone.

"Orientation changed that for me. It gave me a sense of direction and comfort when I needed it the most. I got a guided tour of the campus, was able to find my classrooms in advance, and got one-on-one help with things that were confusing."

The day was helpful, but meeting new people was the most memorable part.

"While waiting for the campus tour, four girls approached me and we instantly clicked. We were all new, all nervous, and all figuring things out. That moment made me feel less alone, and those girls became my very first friends in Canada. We stayed connected from that day on."

Now Mutoni is a student ambassador eager to be part of that welcoming experience for others and help them navigate their new environment. "Whether it's helping them register, find their classrooms or get their ONE Card, I'm proud to be someone they can count on."

New features at this spring orientation include a guided Brantford walking tour to find out more about the campus and community, information sessions at select campuses, express therapeutic chair massages, and Words of a Condor Wall where people can share inspirational messages.

"Every orientation is always a little bit different than the one before. This means that new students are always getting a unique experience that varies by campus and is tailored to changing student needs and current trends," said orientation co-ordinator Kendy Sandy.

"From a new open-air walking tour in Brantford to interactive stations that get students to focus on well-being and community, orientation re-imagines itself. This is fitting for spring as the season is known for symbolizing change. Like the spring season we find joy in the new: welcoming new energy through our campuses, developing new and inquisitive minds, re-inventing ourselves, and offering new students positive experiences that formulate new memories."

Find all the spring 2025 orientation information including a helpful checklist on the orientation website.