Student Experience Centre extends friendly welcome to UOIT’s neighbours

A special new initiative aimed at building bridges with the communities near UOIT’s north Oshawa location took place on September 8 as the Student Experience Centre (SEC) sent a large group of volunteers off campus to engage local residents in a meet-and-greet event billed as the Welcome Wagon. 

UOIT staff and students teamed up with a number of community partners and went door-to door, visiting 235 homes along Dalhousie Crescent, Concordia Court, Niagara Drive, Sheridan Street, Erindale Crescent and McGill Court. The volunteers greeted student and non-student residents with a reusable environmentally friendly tote bag containing giveaways and resources that included helpful information about UOIT services, City of Oshawa bylaws, landlord/tenant relationships, Durham Region tourism, and much more.

“We were delighted with the positive response from local residents,” said Kimberley Young, co-ordinator, Community Services, SEC. “Many of the items in the Welcome Kit were specifically included to meet needs expressed by members of the neighbourhood who participated in a survey conducted back in June. This pilot project has laid the groundwork for similar endeavours down the road, and we fully expect to roll out the Welcome Wagon again in 2012.”

SEC staff were joined on the Welcome Wagon by staff and students from UOIT’s Aboriginal Resource Centre, Outreach Services, and the Student Association (SA) along with representatives from the Region of Durham (Smart Commute), Downtown Oshawa BIA, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery and the Oshawa Community Museum.
“The start of the new academic year seemed to be the right time to say hello to our neighbours,” said Donna Robbins, director, SEC. “Together with our partnering community organizations, we are committed to supporting a successful off-campus living experience for our students and building strong, safe and thriving communities throughout Oshawa and Durham Region.” 

Many of the residents were also excited to be invited to an SA Community BBQ event which was held two days after the Welcome Wagon initiative. There have also been calls for similar outreach events in the future, such as a community clean-up. 

For more information about the SEC’s Off-Campus Living Service, you can visit their website at www.uoit.ca/ocl, email the office at ocl@uoit.ca, or call 905.721.8668, ext. 6561.