Winter on Campus

Although the cold weather has miraculously held off so far this semester, we all know that snow, wind and negative temperatures are just around the corner.

We’ve heard from many students, faculty and staff that winter conditions have a negative affect on the Keele Campus. The harsh weather coaxes people inside and away from public spaces and outdoor walkways, which can diminish community interaction and social experiences on campus. Although the York Debaters look forward to competing in the Winter Carnival debating event all year, where they fare well against other Canadian universities, there are other options for outdoor events.

Moving the campus to a warmer climate may not be an option in combatting these issues, we can look to other Canadian universities for examples of how to embrace the winter and make the most of our time in the snow.

Winter Carnival Pageant at Wilfred Laurier University

Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo has held an annual Winter Carnival since 1960. The weeklong event was originally based around a beauty pageant, but has since transformed into a more diverse celebration of the season. Organizers run sporting events and team challenges, such as scavenger hunts and snow sculpting competitions, along with free movie and game nights and trips to watch the varsity hockey teams play away games.

Winter Carnival at Laurier

Memorial University hosts a similarly team-oriented event. Spanning 10 days at the end of January, the Winter Carnival encourages groups to compete for points and prestige in a wide variety of events, including the Lip Synch, Talent Show, Food Sculpture, Games Night and Trivia Night.

The carnival is expanded at Dalhousie University to celebrate not only the season, but also the diversity of the campus population. The World of Winter Fest is organized by the Dalhousie International Students Association and the Dalhousie Arts and Social Sciences Society and offers crafting workshops, music and dance lessons, and free performances by on-campus groups such as the Spanish Department and the Improv Club. International food vendors are also present to provide Festival-goers with the necessary nourishment to keep warm in mid-January conditions.

World of Winter Festival at Dalhousie University

The University of Guelph’s School of Fine Art and Music hosts an event also based around performances that spans one week in January. In partnership with the Guelph Jazz Festival, the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre and NUMUS, the Winter Music Festival offers free concerts, exhibitions and lectures by University of Guelph students and staff and outside artists - similar to the World Music Festival held by the Faculty of Fine Arts at YorkU in March. The Ontario Agricultural Collage hosts another on-campus winter festival that includes a week-long hockey tournament, outdoor pancake breakfasts and snow sculpting contests.

Hart House Farm Winter Festival, University of Toronto

The University of Toronto also joins in the fun by hosting their own Winter Carnival at their Hart House Farm. The weekend event invites students, faculty and staff to engage in cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating and sledding in the rural location. Attendants join in campfire sing-a-longs, chestnut roasting, winter agriculture workshops and snowman building competitions.

Do you think York University could benefit from any of these activities? What other events or initiatives might help to make the winter experience on campus more enjoyable?