November 5, 2026

Issue 14

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

Celebrate Pride Week in residence from November 9–13! 🌈

What is Pride and why are we celebrating now?

Pride Week in residence is a time to honour 2SLGBTQ+ communities at Queen’s and across Canada. While many Pride festivals happen in the summer, we celebrate in November to ensure all students can connect, reflect, and celebrate together.

The history of Pride in Canada is rooted in resistance, courage, and community. From the first gay rights protest on Parliament Hill in 1971 to the Toronto Bathhouse Raids in 1981, queer Canadians have continually stood up for justice against oppression. These moments paved the way for the inclusive spaces we strive to create today, including right here in residence.

Celebrate Pride with us next week to honour the past, celebrate the present, and build a future where everyone thrives!

Events!

Explore campus and community connections at the Resource Fair, get creative with custom pronoun pins, enjoy drag bingo with local legend Rowena Whey, and round it all off with trivia – Pride edition! Explore full details in the events section below.

Share your honest input in the Mid-Year Residence Experience Survey for your chance to WIN!

We want to hear from you! You will have received an email with an individual survey link to share confidential feedback about your Don.

Please take a few minutes to complete the Mid-Year Residence Experience Survey and support performance evaluations that help guide improvements in our community.

Complete the survey by November 19 at 12 pm noon for your chance to WIN:

• An iPad (A16)
• One of 2 sets of AirPods 5
• One of three prizes of $100 in Flex $!

Thank you for helping us make residence an even more supportive and inclusive place to live and learn!

Upcoming Residence Events

Explore our Pride Week lineup below! We're also celebrating Diwali, commemorating Remembrance Day, connecting you with SASS resources to support your academic success, and offering ongoing yoga classes.

Find all details and more events on the Residence Event Calendar.

Diwali Henna and Diya Painting

Friday, November 6

6–8 pm

Jean Royce Hall Private Dining Room

Join us to celebrate Diwali by painting your own diya and taking part in an optional henna activity!

Diwali Diya Painting

Sunday, November 8

6–8 pm

Leonard dining hall

Missed us on Friday? Join us over dinner to paint your own diya!

DIY Pronoun Pin Making 🌈

Monday, November 9

5–7 pm

Ban Righ dining hall

We're kicking off Pride Week with personalized pronoun buttons! Find the Residence Education and Positive Space teams at Ban Righ during dinner.

SASS Booth

Monday, November 9

6:30–8:30 pm

Smith House

Visit the SASS Peer Volunteers to learn more about the resources and appointments available with Student Academic Success Services.

Pride Resource Fair 🌈

Tuesday, November 10

5–7 pm

Victoria Hall Upper Commons

Celebrate Pride and community at our Resource Fair! Explore campus and local 2SLGBTQ+ resources, connect with community members, and take part in interactive activities at different stations. 

Whether you're looking to learn, make new friends, or just enjoy the festivities, there's something for everyone. Come as you are – all are welcome!

DIY Pronoun Pin Making 🌈

Wednesday, November 11

11 am – 1 pm

Ban Righ dining hall

Missed us on Monday? Find the Residence Education and Positive Space teams at Ban Righ during lunch to create personalized pronoun buttons!

Letters to Veterans

Wednesday, November 11

5–7 pm

Leonard dining hall

Come learn about Queen's history and the alumni who served. Write a postcard to a veteran and sign your name on a tree of peace.

Drag Bingo! 🌈

Wednesday, November 11

7–8 pm

Ellis Hall room 333

Join the fabulous Rowena Whey for a Drag Bingo Night!

Residence Yoga

Thursday, November 12 (weekly)

4:30–5:30 pm

Yoga Room, Endaayaan–Tkanónsote

Join Athletics & Recreation for free yoga! All levels welcome. Registration opens two days before each class.

Trivia 🌈

Friday, November 13

8–9 pm

Jean Royce Barista

Join us in Jean Royce dining hall for a night of Pride-themed trivia with the Shift Project! Stay afterwards and enjoy the Jean Royce Barista, open from 9 pm to 12 am.

Winter Break and stayover information

While we may only just have crossed into November, we know many of you will be thinking about the end of term – and we are too!

Key dates, extensions, and stayovers



• To maintain a quiet study environment for all students during the exam period, you are required to leave Residence by 3 pm on the day following your last exam.
• Residence closes for the Winter Break at 2 pm on Tuesday, December 22.
• You must submit an extension and/or stayover request form through the Housing and Ancillary Services Portal if you:
• Need to extend your stay in residence beyond 3 pm on the day after your last exam; and/or
• Need to stay over the Winter Closing period between December 22, 2026 – January 3, 2027.
• There is no cost to staying over; however, we do need to know who will be remaining in residence. All requests are approved pending a check with the Residence Conduct and Support Office.

Important: No or limited services during Winter Closing

Hospitality Services

• The last Dining Hall meal will be brunch on December 22 until 2 pm.
• The Lazy Scholar will remain open to include breakfast on December 23 (9:30 am – 1 pm).
• The first Dining Hall meal in January will be dinner on Sunday, January 3, 2027.  

IT and Front Desk services

• ResNet / ITS support is not available until January 4, 2027. Any WiFi or network outages will not be resolved until after the Winter Closing.
• The Victoria Hall Front Desk will remain open until December 24 at 12 pm noon. The Front Desk will reopen on January 3 at 7 am. There will be no mail or parcel service during the winter break. 

Campus Security and Emergency Services (CSES) remain active

• Contact CSES for lockouts and in crisis/emergency situations at 613-533-6111. 

Diwali Dinner

Sunday, November 8

Dinner at all three dining halls

Enjoy Diwali-inspired menu features, taste-tested and approved in consultation with ResSoc members and the student community.

Bonus: Paint your own diya with the Residence team at Leonard from 6–8 pm!

Pride Week Treats 🏳️‍🌈

November 9–13 across campus

Celebrate Pride Week in Residence with tasty Pride-themed treats! Stop by dining halls and retail food locations across campus to enjoy a sweet celebration of identity, inclusion, and community.

Hanukkah Menu Tasting – express your interest ASAP

Do you celebrate Hanukkah? We are looking for 4–8 students to participate in a Hanukkah menu tasting on November 10.

Please email dietitian@queensu.ca by tonight, Thursday, November 5, to express your interest.

Participants will be compensated with an honorarium.

Service of Remembrance at Queen's

Wednesday, November 11

10:50–11:30 am (classes cancelled from 10:30–11:30 am)

Grant Hall

You are invited to join us in Remembrance of the sacrifices made during the First and Second World Wars, of individuals who have served in more recent operations, and of the members of the Canadian Armed Forces serving today.

Learn more about this year's theme, Remembrance Through the Ages, and the service program here.

Have you seen the Blue Light emergency phones around campus?

Blue Lights were installed across campus in 1990 in response to women on campus taking a stand against misogyny and sexual violence and advocating for their safety. These emergency phones remain an important part of our campus security system today.

Press the red button to be connected to the Emergency Report Centre if you:

• Feel unsafe
• Witness an emergency
• See suspicious activity
• Need urgent assistance
• Need a Safe Walk escort

If you cannot communicate, security staff will respond to the activated phone location. Stay near the phone if it is safe to do so.

These phones are for emergencies only. When they are misused for pranks, it takes important resources away from real emergencies.

Find Blue Light locations across campus

Learn More

Not sure where to go?

• Book with a Peer Wellness Navigator for personalized guidance exploring resources and navigating next steps across campus.
• Explore Student Resources here.
• Follow @queensures on Instagram for updates and to discover events and services across campus! Plus, our link hub features up-to-date residence and campus-wide resources in one central place.