Dal's club football team played their first homegame against the Holland College Hurricanes earlier this month. (Nick Pearce Photo)
This year’s homecoming celebrations have a lot to celebrate.
The events planned for Thursday, October 21 to Saturday, October 23 will mark the first homecoming weekend in 15 years for Dalhousie. Added to that, the lead up to this year’s homecoming celebration coincides with the relaunch of a Dalhousie University football team for the first time since the late 1970s.
“It’s just a coincidence — but a very happy coincidence — that the football team will be in its first season. It’s a very good rallying point and I’m sure there will be a good turnout for the game that weekend, one of the many events that will be happening during homecoming weekend,” says Floyd Dykeman, vice-president external at Dalhousie.
While homecoming celebrations across the Maritimes usually centre around football, organizers at Dalhousie have planned a full slate of activities, such as lectures, tours and rallies — along with several varsity sports games — with an aim of making the weekend a showcase event for the entire campus.
“We wanted to take the opportunity to show off a little and celebrate the students, staff and faculty — the full range talent that make up the Dalhousie community,” says Mr. Dykeman.
For those looking for some inspiration along with the fun and festivities of the weekend, bestselling writer, Robin Sharma, author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and The Leader Who Had No Title, will be a guest speaker at the annual dinner, this year to be held at the Cunard Centre on the Halifax Waterfront on Thursday, October 21.
Another key feature of the homecoming weekend is be the Masterminds Lecture Series, featuring professors Deborah Buszard, a plant scientist, and Claire Campbell, an historian, with a lively debate on the many connections between humanity and the natural world, to be held Friday, October 22, 10:30 a.m. in the McInnes Room of the Student Union Building.
The Faculty of Management has planned a Zero Footprint Rally for Friday afternoon, challenging alumni and guests to team up with fellow alumni, students, faculty and staff in an Amazing Race-styled campus event, to be completed in 100 minutes or less.
“Over the past several years we’ve been rebuilding our alumni program, looking at ways to reconnect with our alumni and keep them in touch with the many changes that are happening at Dalhousie,” says Mr. Dykeman. “Homecoming is an ideal opportunity to celebrate what Dalhousie means to the many students who went through here and to share our stories.”
What's on during homecoming
Thursday, October 21
Registration at the Welcome Desk: get information on the weekend activities and pick up your homecoming package. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Union Building, 6136 University Avenue.
54th Dalhousie Annual Dinner (and Dance): 6 p.m. for a 6:30 p.m. dinner at the Cunard Centre, 961 Marginal Road. Bestselling author Robin Sharma is the guest speaker. Dance follows dinner with the Chess Club Band. Tickets $85 and must be purchased in advance.
Friday, October 22
Medical School Tours: Join faculty, staff and students to find out about exciting work and rapid advances, such as the latest in robotic neurosurgery and a display on Atlantic PATH, the largest detailed population based study ever undertaken in Atlantic Canada, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dalhousie Medical School, 5850 College Street
Masterminds Lecture Series: Prepare to be inspired at the interdisciplinary and interactive approach taken at Dalhousie's College of Sustainability with professors Deborah Buszard and Claire Campbell, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the McInnes Room of the SUB
Campus Lunch: relive that cherished "student lunch" experience, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Risley, Howe or Sherriff Meal Halls
Carl C. Coffin Lecture Series: Given by graduates of the Department of Chemistry who have distinguished themselves in their careers since leaving Dalhousie University, this year’s series features Dr. Ken Edgecombe, Executive Director at High Performance - Computing Virtual Laboratory (HPCVL), Queen's University, 1:30 p.m. in Room 226 at the Chemistry Building.
Science Sphere: Demonstration from the Canadian Animated Sphere for the Presentation of Environmental Data (CASP-ED), 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Dunn Building
Zero Footprint Rally: Team up with fellow alumni, students, faculty and staff to solve destination clues to various locations across campus. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., beginning at the Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6135 University Avenue.
Sexton Lecture and Panel Discussion: Two significant downtown projects — the Halifax library and the Halifax Farmers Market — will be discussed, with input from a panel of experts from the fields of Architecture, Engineering, Development, and Urban Design, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Medjuck Building Auditorium, 5410 Spring Garden Road.
Soccer (Women), Dal vs St. FX, 5 p.m., Wickwire Field
Volleyball (Women), Dal vs Saint Mary's, 6 p.m., Dalplex
Hockey (Women), Dal vs UPEI, 7 p.m., Memorial Arena.
Sunset Rally: Enjoy a Dal street party and late supper around the bonfire, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., end of University Avenue, past LeMarchant Street.
Soccer (Men), Dal vs St. FX, 7:15 p.m., Wickwire Field
Volleyball (Men), Dal vs Trinity Western, 8 p.m., Dalplex
Sloan at the Grawood: Hear one of the country’s hottest bands. 8 p.m. in the SUB. Homecoming badge or student ID required. Tickets are $15.
Saturday, October 23
Sport Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Studley Gymnasium.
Dal Tailgate Party: Bring family and friends to celebrate Dal’s athletes, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Studley Quad.
Soccer (Women), Dal vs UNB Varsity Reds, 1:15 p.m., Wickwire Field
Soccer (Men), Dal vs UNB Varsity Reds, 3:15 p.m, Wickwire Field
Football, Dalhousie Tigers vs Moncton Raiders, 6 p.m., Wickwire Field
BIG Ticket Concert, Homecoming badge or student ID required, 8 p.m., SUB
