As the fall academic term starts in the first week of September in Ontario, colleges and universities in Northern Ontario are helping their students cope with homesickness.
Lakehead University, with campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia, organizes fun social events once students arrive. The campus also hosts weekly activities such as board game nights, movie nights, and conversation cafés, helping students meet new people and feel more at home.
Laurentian University in Sudbury is giving students transit resources during orientation and is also running three peer-led programs focused on academics, wellness, and campus life. Each program includes both international and domestic student leaders so newcomers can connect with peers who understand their experiences and challenges.
North Bay’s Nipissing University’s Indigenous Initiatives Office provides cultural support, while the international office hosts activities such as skating lessons with the varsity hockey team. Staff see welcoming students as a shared responsibility. The university’s “More the Merrier” program during the winter break pairs students who cannot go home with staff and faculty willing to include them in their holiday celebrations, helping them feel less lonely.
Cambrian College in Sudbury helps international students with pre-departure sessions that cover everything from what to pack to what life in Sudbury will be like. Once on campus, orientation includes a community fair with banks, police, and local organizations. The college also connects students from the same country to help them build friendships and support networks.
Collège Boréal offers transition programs to help students adjust, with webinars covering practical topics such as housing, budgeting, Canadian culture, and preparing for winter. Indigenous students have access to an elder and a special centre that provides smudging and one-on-one support. Shared kitchens in residence and diverse meals in the cafeteria help students bond over food. Around the holidays, the college hosts group meals in residence to give everyone a sense of belonging.
Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie supports students through four stages: pre-arrival sessions, orientation, ongoing services, and alumni connections, to create a “second home” for students. Algoma also provides Indigenous supports and works to reflect its history as a former residential school in campus life.
Source: Faith Greco, CBC
