New students were welcomed over two days of programming Aug. 17 and 18 and staff were welcomed back by Director General Diane Gauvin and Academic Dean Leanne Bennett at the annual Welcome Back Lunch on Aug. 18.

A total of 2,396 new students participated in Welcome Days and over 400 staff and faculty attended the Welcome Back address and lunch.

Student Services Coordinator, Caroline Blouin, reported that “students were happy to be at Dawson despite the rain.” They heard presentations from their sector dean, met the Dawson Student Union team and learned more about their program and the services available to them.

New students were invited to explore the College, meet our mascot Blue at the photobooth, see a magic show, and learn about opportunities to volunteer and work. They also could pick up some free popcorn, treats and merchandise.

The highlight for Trudy Ste. Croix of the Campus Life team “was the level of student engagement from our 16 student tour guides and 30 amazing student volunteers.”

Caroline’s highlight was “the use of a software program to track attendance developed by Jonathan Perlman of Dawson’s IST team. This system cut down on wait times and kept the Lower Atrium from becoming chaotic.”

“Welcome Days is a team effort meaning that it can’t be successful without the participation of multiple departments, teachers, staff and student volunteers,” said Caroline. “I’d like to thank everyone who helped make these two welcome days possible, whether you gave a program presentation, set up one of the many rooms used, worked at the sign-in table, promoted your service, took students from one place to another or handed out popcorn!”