Laurier Fall Orientation:
Waterloo Undergraduate Schedule

Get ready for a jam-packed week of activities to introduce you to life as a Golden Hawk on the Waterloo campus.

We have a ton of orientation events happening Sept. 7 to Sept. 12. On this page, you'll find detailed event information and be introduced to Shinerama.

Looking to find your way around campus? You can do so by using our interactive campus map.

Have You Registered For Orientation?

Don't forget to register for Fall 2026 Undergraduate Orientation

Orientation Recap

Curious about what Orientation is really like?

Take a look at our Fall 2025 Laurier Undergraduate Orientation recap and experience the excitement for yourself! From unforgettable moments and vibrant campus spirit to meaningful connections and can’t-miss events, this recap video gives you a taste of the unforgettable experiences we’re planning for September 2026!

Friday, Sept. 4 Events

Overview of the Day

Residence Move-In Day
When: You will receive an email with a specific move-in date and timeslot

Orientation Headquarters (Check-In and O-Kit pick-up)
When: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Residence Community Meetings (for students with a Friday move-in)
When: 5 to 6 p.m

Residence Building Meetings (for students with a Friday move-in)
When: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Event Details

Full event details, including descriptions, times, and locations, can be found in the accordions below.

Events are open to ALL new to Laurier undergraduate students only unless otherwise noted in the event description.

Saturday, Sept. 5 Events

Overview of the Day

Residence Move-In Day
When: You will receive an email with a specific move-in date and time slot

LOCUS Off-Campus Welcome Day
When: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Orientation Headquarters (Check-In and O-Kit pick-up)
When: 11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Shinerama BBQ
When: Noon to 3 p.m

Residence Community Meetings (for students who moved in on Saturday)
When: 5 to 6 p.m

Residence Building Meetings (for students who moved in on Saturday)
When: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Dual Movie Night
When: 8 to 11 p.m.

Event Details

Full event details, including descriptions, times, and locations, can be found in the accordions below.

Events are open to ALL new Laurier undergraduate students, unless otherwise noted in the event description.

Off-Campus (LOCUS) Students
Off-Campus Advisors (OCAs) will meet LOCUS students in the LOCUS Orientation Hub before each event. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the event start time to travel with the group. If you are unsure how to find a specific event or location on campus, feel free to pop in for wayfinding assistance!

Sunday, Sept. 6 Events

Overview of the Day

Residence Move-In Day
When: You will receive an email with a specific move-in date and time slot

LOCUS Orientation Hub
When: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

We Brought What You Forgot
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Orientation Headquarters (Check-In and O-Kit pick-up)
When: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Shinerama BBQ
When: Noon to 3 p.m

Residence Community Meetings (for students who moved in on Sunday)
When: 5 to 6 p.m

Residence Building Meetings (for students who moved in on Sunday)
When: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Quad and Chill
When: 7 to 10 p.m.

Event Details

Full event details, including descriptions, times, and locations, can be found in the accordions below.

Events are open to ALL new to Laurier undergraduate students only unless otherwise noted in the event description.

Off-Campus (LOCUS) Students
Off-Campus Advisors (OCAs) will meet LOCUS students in the LOCUS Orientation Hub before each event. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the event start time to travel with the group. If you are unsure how to find a specific event or location on campus, feel free to pop in for wayfinding assistance!

Monday, Sept. 7 Events

Overview of the Day

LOCUS Orientation Hub
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Campus Walkabout with Your Icebreakers
When: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Outdoor Camp Games and Water Games
When: Noon to 1:30 p.m. (Camp Games) and 1:30 to 3 p.m. (Water Games)

Tie Dye and Totes
When: Noon to 2 p.m.

Making the Most of Your Residence Experience!
When: Noon to 2 p.m.

Shinerama BBQ
When: Noon to 3 p.m.

Hobbies Fair
When: Noon to 3 p.m.

Board Games Café
When: Noon to 3 p.m.

Orientation Headquarters (Check-in and O-Kit pick-up)
When: Noon to 4 p.m.

Quad and Chill
When: Noon to 5 p.m.

Cooking Class
When: 1 to 2 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m.

Chilling with Dogs
When: 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Accessible Learning Welcome Mixer
When: 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Line Dancing Lesson
When: 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Paint Your Laurier
When: 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Trivia
When: 3 to 4 p.m.

Orientation Carnival
When: 3 to 10 p.m.

Bingo
When: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Event Details

Full event details, including descriptions, times, and locations, can be found in the accordions below.

Events are open to ALL new to Laurier undergraduate students only unless otherwise noted in the event description.

Off-Campus (LOCUS) Students
Off-Campus Advisors (OCAs) will meet LOCUS students in the LOCUS Orientation Hub before each event. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the event start time to travel with the group. If you are unsure how to find a specific event or location on campus, feel free to pop in for wayfinding assistance!

Tuesday, Sept. 8 Events

Overview of the Day

Athletics and Recreation - Fitness Programming
When: Various times and classes/activities (see accordion for full details)

LOCUS Orientation Hub
When: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Lazaridis School New Student Welcome Reception and Remarks
When: 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Career Centre: Your Future is Golden
When: 20-minute sessions from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Faculty of Music New Student Welcome Meeting and Reception
When: 10:30 a.m. to Noon

Faculty of Arts New Student Welcome Event
When: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Craft and Crave
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shinerama BBQ
When: Noon to 2 p.m.

Preparing for Your First Day
When: 1 to 2 p.m. or 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Faculty of Science New Student Welcome Reception
When: 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Live Fire Safety Demonstration with Waterloo Fire Rescue
When: 3:30 to 4 p.m. and 4:30 to 5 p.m.

Community and Connection Programming
When: 5 to 7 p.m.

Headphone Disco
When: 7 to 11 p.m.

We Got Game!
When: 7 to 10 p.m.

Event Details

Full event details, including descriptions, times, and locations, can be found in the accordions below.

Events are open to ALL new to Laurier undergraduate students only unless otherwise noted in the event description.

Orientation Headquarters: If you have questions or need to check in for Orientation and get your wristband and O-Kit, you can do so by visiting the SU Desk located on the 2nd floor of the Fred Nichols Campus Centre (FNCC) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Off-Campus (LOCUS) Students
Off-Campus Advisors (OCAs) will meet LOCUS students in the LOCUS Orientation Hub before each event. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the event start time to travel with the group. If you are unsure how to find a specific event or location on campus, feel free to pop in for wayfinding assistance!

Wednesday, Sept. 9 Events

Overview of the Day

Athletics and Recreation - Fitness Programming
When: Various times and sessions (see accordion for full details)

International Student Welcome Breakfast
When: 9 to 10:30 a.m.

LOCUS Orientation Hub
When: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Mature and Transfer Student Events
When: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Academic Resource Fair
When: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Student(ing) 101: Learning in University
When: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1 to 2 p.m.

Shinerama BBQ - CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
When: Noon to 2 p.m.

I’ve Got Your Back! Building Community Care at Laurier
When: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Waterloo Fest - CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
NOTE: The Food Passport Program is still running. See Waterloo Fest event details for more information.

When: 4 to 7 p.m.

Community and Connection Programming
When: 4 to 7 p.m.

Drag Show
When: 7 to 10 p.m.

We Got Game!
When: 7 to 10 p.m.

Event Details

Full event details, including descriptions, times, and locations, can be found in the accordions below.

Events are open to ALL new to Laurier undergraduate students only unless otherwise noted in the event description.

Orientation Headquarters: If you have questions or need to check in for Orientation and get your wristband and O-Kit, you can do so by visiting the SU Desk located on the 2nd floor of the Fred Nichols Campus Centre (FNCC) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Off-Campus (LOCUS) Students
Off-Campus Advisors (OCAs) will meet LOCUS students in the LOCUS Orientation Hub before each event. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the event start time to travel with the group. If you are unsure how to find a specific event or location on campus, feel free to pop in for wayfinding assistance!

Thursday, Sept. 10 Events

Overview of the Day

Athletics and Recreation - Fitness Programming
When: Various times and classes/activities (see accordion for full details)

Syllabus to Success: Map Your Semester
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Suicide Prevention Day Awareness with Glebe Counselling
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shinerama BBQ
When: Noon to 2 p.m.

French Montana: Welcome Back Concert
When: Doors open at 5 p.m.; Concert begins at 7 p.m.

Event Details

Full event details, including descriptions, times, and locations, can be found in the accordions below.

Events are open to ALL new to Laurier undergraduate students only unless otherwise noted in the event description.

Orientation Headquarters: If you have questions or need to check in for Orientation and get your wristband and O-Kit, you can do so by visiting the SU Desk located on the 2nd floor of the Fred Nichols Campus Centre (FNCC) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 11 Events

Overview of the Day

Athletics and Recreation - Fitness Programming
When: Various times and classes/activities (see accordion for full details)

Syllabus to Success: Map Your Semester
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Get Involved Fair
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shinerama BBQ
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday Night Live - Featuring Interactive Bingo, Serge, and Savio
When: 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Inner Tube Water Polo
When: 7:45 to 9 p.m.

Event Details

Full event details, including descriptions, times, and locations, can be found in the accordions below.

Events are open to ALL new to Laurier undergraduate students only unless otherwise noted in the event description.

Orientation Headquarters: If you have questions or need to check in for Orientation and get your wristband and O-Kit, you can do so by visiting the SU Desk located on the 2nd floor of the Fred Nichols Campus Centre (FNCC) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12 Events

Overview of the Day

Golden Hawks Football  vs. Ottawa Gee-Gees in support of Shinerama
When: Kickoff is at 1 p.m. gates open at noon

Event Details

Shinerama

Shinerama is Canada’s largest postsecondary fundraiser, originating at Laurier in 1961. Each year, students continue to raise funds and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis, the common fatal genetic disease in North America affecting children and young adults. 

Laurier Shinerama consistently has the largest campaign in Canada, with the most notable event being the infamous Shine Day that takes place on the Saturday of Orientation.

Experience one of the many ways that make us proud Golden Hawks – how our Laurier community gives back.

Donate to the Laurier Shinerama Campaign!

Students holding a Shinerama banner that says 'CF ain't no thang' on the side of the road