September 18, 2025

Issue 8

Stay up-to-date with all the latest happenings in Residence and on campus.

Find your community at Queen's

If you're struggling to make new connections and find your footing, you are not alone. Here are some tips for making new friends and connecting with like-minded people:

• Try keeping your door open and chat with other people in your community.
• Study or chill out in a common room.
• Check out the Residence 2025-2026 OnQ for details on Residence and campus-wide events where you can meet people.
• Attend your floor meetings.
• Check out clubs – there are over 300 clubs at Queen's. Don't forget, every faculty has a society and Departmental Student Councils (DSC) that run events and conferences.
• Stop by Yellow House if you are Queer, and/or Trans, and/or Black, and/or Indigenous, and/or a Person of Colour (QTBIPoC).
• Check out Four Directions for Indigenous students.
• Visit QUIC (Queen's University International Centre) to connect with other international students.
• Book a session with our Residence Mental Health Therapists.
• The Student Experience Office runs programs and drop-in sessions that you may find interesting.

Residence Property and Liability Insurance Opt-Out

Queen’s University provides Property and Liability Insurance for students living in Residence. This coverage is included in your Residence Fees and protects your personal belongings, as well as any loss or damage you may be held liable for.

If you already have your own property insurance, you may choose to opt out of the program by submitting proof of alternate coverage.

Opt-out by September 30, 2025.

Demystifying the Residence Contract

This week we’re focusing on noise and failure to cooperate in your Residence Contract.

Noise



Living in Residence means learning to enjoy your space while being considerate of others in the community. Everyone deserves the opportunity to study, sleep, and relax without unnecessary disruption.

Quiet Hours are in effect:

• Sunday to Thursday: 11 pm – 8 am
• Friday and Saturday: 1 am – 8 am

Courtesy Hours are always in effect.

• This means you must be mindful of noise and disruptive behaviour at all times. If someone asks you to lower your volume, you are expected to respond respectfully and adjust accordingly.
• Hosting large groups in your room or on your floor can disturb others and interfere with their ability to study, sleep, or enjoy Residence life. Please be considerate of how your actions affect those around you.

Cooperation



Your Don and the Dons in your building are here to help you and your community maintain a respectful and positive Residence environment, in line with your Residence Contract. You are expected to cooperate when a Don asks you to lower noise levels or stop disruptive behaviour. Giving them a hard time, or giving them incorrect information about your name or building, is considered failing to cooperate and individuals who choose to do so will be held accountable through the Residence Conduct system.

Getting help

• If you find others in your community are being disruptive, try and approach them respectfully and explain how the noise volume is impacting you.
• If you need further support, call in a noise complaint to your Residence Front Desk at 613-533-2531. The Don on call will come and address the issue.
• Campus Security & Emergency Services (CSES) help ensure that Residence is a supportive environment. Uniformed CSES staff regularly patrol Residence, with additional patrols on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The Emergency Report Centre can be reached directly at 613-533-6111.
• For more information about this section of the Residence Contract, please refer to sections 4.10.1,4.10.2, and 4.10.8.

If you have questions about the Contract or your responsibilities, please reach out to Residence Conduct at residence.conduct@queensu.ca

You've Got Mail!

We know getting mail is exciting! Remember, you will need to wait for an email from the Front Desk before you pick up your mail.

All mail needs to be processed in our mail depot. Once your mail is processed, you will receive an email notification from Frontdesk@queensu.ca to inform you of your mail location and Queen's parcel ID number.

You will need your Queen’s parcel ID number and your student card to pick up your mail.

Mail at Watts Hall can be picked up Monday to Friday from 11 am – 7 pm 

Mail at Jean Royce Hall can be picked up daily from 8 am – 10 pm

Contact resmaildepot@queensu.ca for your mail-related questions.

Looking for ways to connect in Residence?

Connect with your community at these events! Please check events on OnQ for additional information, dates, locations, and registration links to get updates.

Learning Resource Fair

Come join your Residence community at the Learning Resource Fair!

Monday September 22

Victoria Hall, Upper Common Room

5:30–7:30 pm

Tuesday September 23

Jean Royce Hall, Phase 1 Front Entrance

5:30–7:30 pm

Meet campus partners offering academic support and more to help you navigate your first year with ease.

Connect with:

• Student Academic Success Services (SASS)
• QSuccess First year Peer Mentorship – Student Experience Office
• Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS)
• Athletics and Recreation
• Peer Wellness Coaches
• Peer Academic Support Service (PASS)
• Queen’s University Library
• Queen’s International Student Centre (QUIC)

Don’t miss out on these amazing resources – see you there!

Juice and Paint Nights

Biweekly on Wednesdays, starting September 24

7–8 pm, Endaayaan – Tkanónsote Community Room

Bring your friends, meet some more, and unwind with a fun time sipping tasty juice and getting creative with painting or coloring! All skill levels are welcome, and materials are provided. Open to students in Residence.

Living Learning Communities (LLC) Meet and Greet

Wednesday, October 1

6:30 pm, Ellis Hall Room 226

Are you a part of a Residence Living Learning Community? Join our LLC Meet and Greet to connect with your peers and get involved. Come for the snacks... stay for the community!

Residence Yoga and Pilates

Join us for weekly yoga and pilates classes in collaboration with the ARC! Classes will run until the week of November 24 (excluding Reading Week).

Yoga

Tuesdays, 6:30 pm

Endaayaan-Tkanónsote, Room 295



Strengthen, stretch, and sweat in this yoga class that incorporates meditation and breath-work with classic yoga poses. With variations offered in each pose, you'll learn the foundations of yoga and find opportunities to challenge yourself in new ways. Suitable for all participant levels.

Pilates

Thursdays, 6:30 pm

Endaayaan-Tkanónsote, Room 295

This class emphasizes precise movements to activate, isolate, and stabilize core muscles. This class is great for improving posture, flexibility, balance and strength, to help you stay strong throughout your workweek. The class is a mixture of beginner and intermediate exercises and options will be given for all levels.

Please note that these classes are only open to students currently living in Residence. You must reserve your spot for each class, and you may register for as many classes as you wish.



Register on the Residence Student & Dining Portal

Navigating First Year Frenzy

Trying to do everything perfectly in your first year? Let’s let that go. In Navigating First Year Frenzy, you’ll get support, strategies, and a chance to laugh through the chaos with weekly snacks, fun activities, and a community of people who get it.

Register on the TELUS CHR Connect app

Rosh Hashanah

Enjoy round challah, honey cake, and apples and honey in the dining halls for Rosh Hashanah.

Monday, September 22 (at sundown) – Leonard dining hall

Tuesday, September 23 (dinner) – Ban Righ dining hall

Wednesday, September 24 (dinner) – Jean Royce dining hall

Top up your dining hall meals

Top up your 19 weekly meals to 21 if you are spending most of your time on campus, for $560 or less. Prorated rates will be dependent on when you top up.

Allergy and Dietary Needs

Looking for dairy alternatives?

Each dining hall has fridges with lactose-free milk and non-dairy milk alternatives. At Leonard dining hall, help yourself to items in the fridges located below the counters at the coffee and breakfast/cereal stations. 

Are you someone with celiac/gluten intolerance and struggling to access the Gluten Free Friendly Pantry?

Students who have indicated a diagnosis of celiac/gluten intolerance by submitting a Food Allergy and Dietary Need Form on the Student Residence and and Dining Portal AND who have submitted a signed waiver to dietitian@queensu.ca have had their Residence key fob programmed for access to the Gluten Free Friendly Pantry in Leonard dining hall. Students requiring separate access to the pantry in Jean Royce dining hall can email dietitian@queensu.ca.

If your fob does not work on the first try, try scanning again in the centre of the scanner. If it still does not work, ask a manager or supervisor for assistance with temporary manual access. Please then contact dietitian@queensu.ca as soon as possible to verify any further follow-up required.

Artwork designed by Kingston-based artist Jaylene Cardinal

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Queen's University is honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation from September 2 to October 11.

In support of this important moment of reflection and learning, the university will be offering activities and opportunities for the Queen's community to learn, engage, and act toward advancing reconciliation both on and off campus. No classes will be held on September 30.

Events and initiatives include:

• Waabanjigaazo, the 4th Annual Indigenous Art Exhibition at Queen's
• Elder Talk session on Communication and Relationship Building with Te ho wis kwûnt, Allen Doxtator
• Sacred Fire on September 30, 1 pm at Agnes Benidickson Field

Orange T-shirts on Campus

Support survivors of Canada's residential school system by wearing orange on September 30. Orange shirts, designed by Kingston-based artist Jaylene Cardinal, will be available for purchase on campus from September 23–30. All proceeds will be donated locally to Kahwá:tsire Indigenous-Led Child and Family Programs in Tyendinaga.

PEGaSUS Group for Survivors of Sexual Violence

PEGaSUS Group is a safe space for students who have experienced sexual violence. Through support and education, students will get an opportunity to gain skills and strengths that build resiliency and lead to a sense of self-empowerment.

At the end of this group, participants will: 

• Understand the impact of sexual violence 
• Develop effective coping skills to deal with the emotional aftermath 
• Explore issues such as trust, intimacy, setting boundaries, assertiveness, and positive body image

Fall sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 4–5:30pm, September 30 to December 2 (except October 14). Location details upon registration.

Registration closes after the second session.

Register on the TELUS CHR Connect app

Off-Campus Living

Myth Buster: Do You Really Need to Sign a Lease in October?

It’s common to hear upper-year students say, “If you don’t sign a lease by October, you’ll be stuck without a place to live next year.” This can create a lot of pressure for first-year students—but it’s not actually true.

In Kingston, most rental units don’t even hit the market until December through February. That’s because many students on 12-month leases ending in April only decide later in the school year if they’ll stay or move. By law, tenants must give their landlord 60 days’ notice if they’re planning to leave at the end of their lease term date. For leases ending in April, that notice usually comes in late February. Only then can landlords confirm which units will be available for the following May.

What does this mean for you?

• October is not a deadline. There’s no need to rush into a lease before you’re ready.
• Better options come later. Waiting allows you to see a wider range of available units.
• More time for planning. You can figure out roommates, budgets, and priorities without the stress of rushing.

Bottom line: take your time, do your research, and don’t let the October lease myth push you into a decision too soon.

Learn More about Off-Campus Living

Join the Housing Resource Fair (Oct 28–29)

Tuesday October 28 and Wednesday October 29

6–8 pm

Biosciences Atrium, 116 Barrie Street

Meet potential landlords, connect with Queen’s Off-Campus Living Advisors, learn about lease timelines, and connect with local housing resources—all in one place.

Women in Science & Engineering (WiSE)

Get involved with Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) at Queen’s! There are several channels of involvement to enrich your university experience and help shape the future of STEM.

• Outreach Volunteer Hiring until Sept. 20
• Mentee Applications until Sept. 20
• First-Year Intern Hiring until Sept. 28
• General Member Applications open year-round

Learn More