The University of Toronto was abuzz with excitement Wednesday as orientation activities got into full swing, with the highly anticipated Tri-Campus Parade and Clubs Carnival welcoming incoming students.
The tone for the day was set prior to the parade, with students from all three campuses gathering in Varsity Stadium for 2019's Cheer-Off, trading chants, cheers and banter.
The parade then set out on its route along Bloor, Yonge and College Streets before emerging at King’s College Circle for the Clubs Carnival, with students lapping up the opportunity to learn about campus clubs and groups covering every interest from fencing and Ukrainian heritage to bioethics and poker.
"Everyone's so welcoming, kind and supportive," said Sarah Abdelgalil, a first-year life sciences student at U of T Mississauga who attended the parade. "I’m the type of kid who’s really shy, but when people around me are filling the air with energy, I like to fill the air with energy as well and make new friends."
President Meric Gertler, who mingled with students at the Clubs Carnival, said "the energy level seems to be particularly high this year, and you can feel the enthusiasm.
"It’s a great incoming class and I’m looking forward to getting to know them and seeing what they can get up to.”
President Gertler encouraged students to take full advantage of their time at U of T.
“One of the remarkable things about U of T is how many opportunities there are for extracurricular and co-curricular engagement with clubs and groups to suit every interest,” he said. “It’s a great way for students to meet people other than folks who are in their program or residence or people they already knew when they arrived. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to begin to build your co-curricular record, which increasingly becomes important when you look for a job or apply for graduate school.”
Here are some images of the day by photographer Nick Iwanyshyn:
